His Redemption

Diana POV “Diana, hurry up! Breakfast is ready!” my mom called from downstairs. I barely had time to put on my silver eyeshadow and lip gloss, but I didn’t want to keep her waiting. My feet made soft taps on the floor as I rushed to the dining table. When I reached the dining area, my eyes widened. My mom had made a full, beautiful breakfast. The smell of warm croissants and fresh coffee filled the air, making my stomach growl. “Wow, my favorite!” I said when I saw the steaming eggs benedict, the rich Ethiopian coffee, and the bright strawberries arranged on my plate. I’ve lived with my mother for over seventeen years, and with a perfect stepdad. Unfortunately, he got into an accident on my twelfth birthday, while he was returning to us in Paris, where we used to live. Stephen had been everything anyone could ask for in a father. He wasn’t my biological father, but he took my mom in when she was still pregnant with me. After his death years ago, Mom decided we should move to New York and start over. It would be an understatement to say I liked the idea. I hardly had any friends back in Paris, so I expected the same here in New York. With him around, I never bothered asking about my biological father. For a while, we were happy. But who is he? What does he do? Why did he abandon us? “Take it easy, long legs, or you’ll end up choking yourself,” she said as I swallowed the last bite. The flavors were perfect, and I felt ready for my first day at Teens Heart Academy, a school known for producing some of the smartest students. I wore my specially made uniform with the silver pin of the school’s badge. I felt excited and nervous at the same time. After finishing breakfast, I grabbed my bag while my mom cleared the dishes, then headed out the door. “Hey be careful out there”. I heard her yelling. Standing at the school gate, I read the big words: “Teens Heart Academy — Where Excellence Meets Ambition.” A smile spread across my face as I hugged my bag. The school had huge grassy fields and modern buildings. Everything looked so perfect. I had worked hard for this, and here we were. As I walked toward the principal’s office, some students stared at me. I knew people had heard that I was one of the few students who won a special scholarship, and I was determined to make the most of it. Ms. Evana Theo, the principal, welcomed me with a warm smile. She looked through my papers and said, “You received the Golden Scholarship. That’s very impressive, Diana. Your hard work shows.” I smiled quietly as she handed me a map with my classroom marked. “And if you need anything, please come to me. I’m here to help,” she added kindly. Walking out of her office, I felt peaceful , like I finally belonged somewhere. But that feeling didn’t last long. I bumped into something hard wall or maybe someone’s chest and before I understood what happened, I fell onto the cold floor with a painful thud. “Ow,” I hissed, rubbing my sore tailbone. When I looked up, six boys stood around me. They looked confused and amused. But the boy I’d bumped into stood out. His piercing blue eyes glared sharply at me. His whole face looked angry, but somehow I couldn’t look away. He looked like one of the guys in magazines — dark hair curling down to his forehead, muscular, with a slight slimness. In fact, all six boys had almost the same build. I couldn’t have picked one over the rest if I tried. “Is she still breathing?” one with blue hair asked, frowning. I snapped back to reality when I realized I’d been staring far too long. “She’s new?”. They whispered softly. I quickly got up and brushed off my uniform, expecting him to at least say sorry. Instead, his voice cut through the hallway. “Get the fu_k out of my way.” My breath caught in my throat. He shoved me aside without a second thought. Again, I fell onto the cold floor with a painful thud. I felt like trash — like I didn’t even matter. The other boys followed him silently, their playful expressions gone. “Seriously, what was that?” I muttered under my breath. The last thing I wanted was to get on anyone’s bad side. They seemed popular and well put together, the way they all carried themselves. I picked up my file and checked my map again, finding it difficult to identify the specific class I was posted on. Then I heard a soft voice. “Are you lost?” I turned and saw a girl with a warm smile. Her eyes were kind, and she felt safe somehow. “Hi, I’m Sia,” she said cheerfully. I hesitated, still embarrassed from what happened, but her friendly smile helped me relax. “Hi, I’m Diana,” I replied. “Yeah… I think I’m a little lost.” Sia took the map from my hands. “Oh, you’re close. Come on, I’ll walk with you,” she said. We started walking, and she talked about the school’s groups, teachers, and little secrets. I listened carefully, trying to remember everything. “So, what’s your story?” Sia asked. “You’re new, right?” I nodded. “Yeah. I just moved here. I’m on a scholarship.” Her eyes widened. “No way! That’s amazing. What’s your background?” I hesitated, then answered softly, “My mom works really hard. We don’t have much, but I studied a lot to earn this scholarship.” Sia nodded with respect. I’d come to notice she was a free spirit — didn’t judge and was respectful no matter your background. Everyone had a story, and yeah, she was good at making you feel that. We turned a corner, and Sia pointed to a door. “That’s our classroom. Perfect timing too.” I blinked. “Our classroom?” I repeated. _We’re in the same class? Sia laughed. “Yes! Come on, let’s sit before the teacher arrives.” We took seats in the back. A moment later, the professor walked in. He had a strong presence, like someone who controlled the whole room. I took a deep breath. My first official class at Teens Heart Academy had begun…..