Chapter 2
1305 Words
Chapter 2 – “Schedules, Secrets and a Seat by the Window”
The next morning the bus rattled down the same suburban street, sunlight glinting off its windows. Amy slid into the same seat as yesterday and balanced her thermos of tea on her knees. She had been too restless to sleep; Ridgeway High replayed in her mind all night—the noise of the cafeteria, Sophie’s warm smile, and Jayden Reed tipping an invisible hat with that maddening grin.
She took a sip of tea, burned her tongue, and muttered under her breath. Focus, Amy. Books, not boys. But even as she said it she caught herself smiling. She hated that.
By the time she stepped through Ridgeway’s iron gates again, the campus was alive. Students were pinning flyers for the autumn talent show to bulletin boards. Someone was practicing a trumpet solo near the gym. The faint smell of syrup drifted from the cafeteria—pancake day.
Sophie materialized beside her as if on cue. “Morning! I saved you a seat at assembly. You survived your first day.”
“Barely,” Amy said, clutching her schedule. “Does every day feel like that?”
Sophie laughed. “Pretty much. But you’ll get used to it. The trick is knowing where to sit so you don’t get dragged into the drama.”
They pushed into the auditorium, where rows of folding chairs faced a low stage. The principal, Ms. Daniels, stood at a podium shuffling papers. Amy and Sophie slid into seats near the back. Students murmured and checked phones. Amy glanced at the stage; Jayden was two rows ahead, leaning back in his chair, spinning a pencil between his fingers. When he noticed her, he gave a small salute. She stared at her lap.
“Tell me you’re not falling for him already,” Sophie whispered.
“I’m not,” Amy whispered back. “I’m just…looking.”
“Mm-hmm.”
The principal cleared her throat and the room quieted. “Good morning, Ridgeway! A few announcements: Sign-ups for the talent show close Friday. The library will be open late for study hours next week. And please remember to keep the cafeteria clean.”
Amy scribbled notes even though she wasn’t sure why. She had always found comfort in lists and schedules. Jayden, she noticed, was drawing something in the margin of his notebook instead. When the assembly ended, he was gone before she could even stand.
Their first class was English. Ms. Whitaker, a young teacher with sharp glasses and an enthusiasm for Shakespeare, handed out sonnets and asked them to work in pairs to interpret the meaning. Sophie immediately turned to Amy. “We’re partners, obviously.”
But before Amy could reply, Ms. Whitaker said, “Jayden, why don’t you partner with our new student? Amy Carter, right?”
Amy blinked. Sophie raised her eyebrows and mouthed Good luck.
Jayden strolled over, notebook under his arm. “Looks like we’re stuck together, Beloved.”
“Amy,” she corrected.
“Amy,” he repeated, as if testing the sound. “Let’s sit by the window.”
They moved to a table in the corner. Jayden unfolded the sonnet. “So, Shakespeare. My mom would be thrilled.”
“You don’t like Shakespeare?” Amy asked.
“I like card tricks better.” He grinned. “But hey, I’ll try. What’s it say?”
Amy glanced at the page. “‘Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds…’ It’s about real love staying constant.”
Jayden raised an eyebrow. “Deep. So what’s your take?”
She hesitated. “That love isn’t just about feelings. It’s…steady. Loyal.”
He tapped his pencil thoughtfully. “Guess that’s why high-school relationships never last.”
Amy looked at him, surprised at the flicker of seriousness. But then he smirked. “Except maybe ours, right? Our partnership. For this assignment.”
She rolled her eyes but felt her cheeks warm. “Focus. We need to write a paragraph.”
They worked in silence for a few minutes, Jayden doodling hearts in the margin while Amy composed neat sentences. When Ms. Whitaker collected their papers, she nodded approvingly at Amy’s notes and gave Jayden a pointed look. He just grinned.
At lunch, Amy and Sophie sat under a tree in the courtyard. Sophie unwrapped a sandwich. “So? What’s he like up close?”
Amy shrugged, pretending indifference. “Distracting.”
“That’s Ridgeway royalty for you,” Sophie said. “But watch out. Rumor is he’s planning something big for the talent show.”
Amy frowned. “Like what?”
“No one knows. But last year he filled the principal’s office with balloons. The year before, he rewired the morning announcements to play ‘Never Gonna Give You Up.’”
Amy stifled a laugh. “That’s terrible.”
“That’s Jayden,” Sophie said.
The afternoon dragged. In chemistry, Amy accidentally spilled a beaker and earned a mild scolding. In history, she forgot to raise her hand before answering and the teacher snapped at her. By the time the final bell rang, she was exhausted.
She headed toward the library for a quiet hour before her bus. The corridors had emptied; only a few students lingered at lockers. As she rounded a corner, she almost collided with Jayden.
“Whoa,” he said, steadying her books. “Easy there.”
“Thanks,” she murmured, clutching them.
“You okay? You look like you just sat through three hours of calculus.”
“Close enough.”
He tilted his head. “Come on. I’ll show you something better than the library.”
“I should—”
“Five minutes. Promise.” He flashed that grin again.
Against her better judgment, she followed him down a back stairwell and through a door marked Maintenance. Beyond it was a narrow corridor lined with storage closets. At the end, a small window looked out over the football field, sunlight streaming in.
Jayden dropped his bag and climbed onto the windowsill. “Best view in the school. Nobody comes here.”
Amy set her books down and looked out. The field stretched green and empty, bleachers glinting in the sun. It was strangely peaceful.
“Why are you showing me this?” she asked.
He shrugged. “Everyone thinks I’m just a clown. But I like quiet places too. Plus, you looked like you needed a break.”
Amy glanced at him. “Do you always rescue stressed-out scholarship students?”
“Only the ones who correct me when I call them Beloved.” He smiled. “Seriously though, how’s Ridgeway treating you?”
She hesitated. “It’s…a lot. But I’ll manage.”
“I bet you will.” His tone was sincere again. “You’re tougher than you look.”
They sat in silence for a moment, sunlight warming their faces. Then he pulled something from his pocket—a folded piece of paper. With a few deft twists he turned it into a tiny rose and handed it to her.
“For you,” he said.
She blinked. “Origami?”
“Learned it from my sister.” He looked almost shy for once. “Consider it a welcome gift.”
Amy took the rose carefully. “Thank you.”
A distant bell signaled the late bus. She gathered her books. “I should go.”
Jayden hopped down. “See you tomorrow, Amy.”
As she walked away, she glanced at the paper rose in her hand. It was delicate and perfectly folded. She smiled despite herself.
On the bus ride home, she set it on her lap and watched the streets roll by. Ridgeway might be overwhelming, but maybe—just maybe—it had surprises worth staying for.
- Writer
