My days at West bridge high

The pounding on my door was the first thing I heard that morning. “Elena! Wake up!” I groaned and pulled the blanket over my head. “Elena!” “I’m awake,” I mumbled. “No, you’re not.” The door opened, and Mum stood there with her arms crossed. She stared at me for a few seconds before looking at the clock beside my bed. Her eyes widened. “Seven thirty-five?” My eyes flew open. “What?!” I practically jumped out of bed. “Why didn't you wake me up earlier?” Mum gave me a look. “I did. Three times.” I froze. “You did?” “Yes. And if I have to come back here and wake you up again, Elena, I swear I will hit you.” “Mum!” “You've been sleeping like the dead since we moved here. Get up!” She walked out, shutting the door behind her. I stared at the clock. 7:36 a.m. “No, no, no, no…” Today was my first day at Westbridge High. My first day. And I was already late. I threw the blanket aside and rushed out of bed, nearly tripping over the box I'd forgotten to unpack. “Ugh!” I grabbed my uniform from the chair and ran into the bathroom. As I brushed my teeth, I stared at my reflection. My hair was a mess. My eyes were still puffy from sleep, and I looked like I had spent the entire night fighting for my life instead of sleeping. “Can't believe I'd still be late on my first day at school,” I groaned around my toothbrush. “Seriously, Elena?” I rinsed my mouth and hurried through the rest of my morning routine. By the time I ran downstairs, Mum was waiting by the front door. She looked at me. Then at the clock. Then back at me. “Don't.” I chuckled. “I didn't say anything.” “Your face did.” I grabbed my bag from the sofa, “Where's Ethan?” “In the car.” “Already?” “He woke up on time.” I rolled my eyes. “Of course he did.” Mum handed me a piece of toast,“Eat.” “I don't have time.” “You have time to complain, so you have time to eat.” I took it. “Yes, ma'am.” A few minutes later, I climbed into the back seat beside Ethan. He looked at me once before looking back at his phone. “You're late.” I narrowed my eyes. “Good morning to you too.” “You almost made us late.” “You could've come upstairs and woken me.” “I did.” “When?” “Before Mum.” I stared at him. “You did not.” “I did.” “You probably whispered.” “I shouted.” “You have the world's weakest shout.” He finally looked at me. “And you have the world's strongest ability to sleep through anything.” I opened my mouth to respond, but Mum started the car. “Both of you, enough.” Ethan turned back to his phone. I folded my arms. “You're annoying.” “Thank you.” “That wasn't a compliment,” I scoffed. “I know.” I rolled my eyes and looked out the window. The streets were still unfamiliar to me. Everything about this place was. We had only recently moved here, and although Mum kept insisting it would be good for us, I wasn't convinced. A new house. A new neighbourhood. A new school. A new life. It sounded exciting when Mum said it. It felt terrifying when I thought about it. Especially when I remembered why we had needed a new life in the first place. My father had been gone for two years. Two years, and we still didn't know where he was. I looked away from the window. I didn't want to think about that today. Today was supposed to be a fresh start. At least, that's what I kept telling myself. Mum drove past the school's high walls and I suddenly felt chills through my spine. The first thing I noticed about Westbridge High was how loud it was. Not loud in the way my old school had been. This was different. Cars honked near the gates. Students crowded the sidewalks, laughing in groups as though they had known each other their entire lives. Someone was running across the parking lot with a half-eaten sandwich in his hand, while another group stood near the entrance taking pictures. I stared through the window. "Westbridge High." The name was printed across the front of the massive school building in polished silver letters. It looked huge. Much bigger than my old school. “You're staring,” Ethan said. I turned to him,“At what?” “Everything.” “It's a new school.” “Exactly. Stop looking like you're about to write a documentary about it.” I scoffed. “You're one to talk.” “I wasn't staring.” “You've been staring since we turned the corner.” he concluded, looking away. “I'm observing.” “Same thing.”he scoffed. Mum parked the car. “Okay,” she said, turning around to face us. “Have a good first day.” Ethan grabbed his bag. “Thanks, Mum.” I reached for the door, but Mum stopped me. “Elena.” I looked back. “Don't be nervous.” “I’m not.” She smiled knowingly. “You are.” I sighed. “Maybe a little.” “You'll be fine.” I nodded. Then I stepped out of the car. The moment my feet touched the ground, I felt a strange knot form in my stomach. Nobody here knew me. Nobody knew my family. Nobody knew about my father. Nobody knew why we had moved. Nobody knew anything. And maybe that was a good thing. Maybe being the girl nobody knew was exactly what I needed. I adjusted my backpack and stared at the entrance. I took one deep breath. Then another. “Okay, Elena,” I whispered. “New school. New people. New beginning.” I walked toward the entrance. I had no idea if, before the end of the school year, Westbridge High would become the place where I made my best friends, met people I wished I'd never known, fell for someone I probably shouldn't, and learned that sometimes, being innocent didn't mean people would believe you. But that morning, all I knew was that I was the new girl. And as I walked through those doors, everyone was watching.