Love, After Dark

Chapter 23

The moment I stepped inside the school, the quiet elegance followed me in. Polished floors, high ceilings, sunlight pouring in through tall windows. It felt more like a college campus than a high school. I adjusted the strap of my backpack and headed straight for the main office like my mom had told me to. Behind the front desk sat a woman with perfectly styled hair and reading glasses perched low on her nose. She looked up as I approached. “Hi,” I said, offering a polite smile. “I’m new. I need my schedule and syllabus.” She returned the smile, already typing. “Of course, dear. Name?” “Sirena Baxter.” She nodded. “Welcome to Redhaven High. I’m Mrs. Banks.” The printer hummed behind her as she continued clicking away. A moment later, she handed me a small stack of papers. “Here you are. Your class schedule, syllabus, and locker assignment.”

I glanced down, my eyes landing on the bold print. “Locker A26… um, where would that be?” Mrs. Banks opened her mouth to explain, then paused, her gaze lifting over my shoulder. “Ah, perfect timing.” I turned just as another girl stepped out of the principal’s office, eyes glued to her phone, thumbs moving at lightning speed. “Ms. Martinez,” Mrs. Banks called. “Would you mind showing our new student to her locker?”

The girl barely looked up. “Huh?” The principal himself appeared in the doorway then- a tall man with salt-and-pepper hair and an easy smile. “Yes,” he said smoothly. “Ms. Martinez will be happy to show you where your locker is. Your first classroom, as well. In fact,” he added, eyes twinkling, “think of her as your personal tour guide today.” The girl finally looked up from her phone. She and the principal exchanged a look- hers unreadable, his amused. Then she gave him a tight smile. “Sure.”

She turned toward me and, for the first time, actually looked at my face. Holding the door open, she nodded her head toward the hall. “Follow me.” We walked side by side through the bustling hallway, lockers slamming and voices echoing around us. After a moment, she glanced over at me. “So,” she said casually, “what’s your name, new girl?” “Siri,” I replied. “Sirena Baxter. But I go by Siri.” She smiled. “Nice. I’m Keisha”

We stopped a few lockers down from where she was already unlocking one of her own. “Here you go,” she said, pointing. “A26.” I blinked. “You’re kidding. We’re practically neighbors.” She smirked. “Guess you’re stuck with me.”

As I slipped my backpack inside, she asked, “What’s your first period?” I checked my schedule. “Uh… Mr. Barnabee?” Keisha groaned. “Oh wow. We’ve got that in common.” I laughed nervously. “Is that bad?” She shrugged. “He’s a weirdo. Probably still lives with his mom. Nice enough, though. Wears bifocals so thick you can literally see his pupils, and he’s balding but refuses to admit it.” I bit back a smile as we headed down the hall. When we stepped into the classroom, the teacher looked up immediately.

“Lakeisha,” he said, peering over his glasses, “nice of you to join us.” Keisha grunted in response and handed him a note from the office. He unfolded it, squinting as he read. “Class, it looks like we have a new student today… Sirena Baxter.” “Siri,” I corrected gently. “I go by Siri.” He nodded. “Well, Siri, welcome. Please take a seat.” I scanned the room and found an empty desk on the right side of the classroom. As I sat down, I glanced across the room and spotted Keisha near the windows. She caught my eye, gave me a quick wink, and smiled. I smiled back, then turned my attention forward, ready to survive my first class at Redhaven High.