Beginning of new school academic year
1557 Words
Rita
"Tiiiiiiiiii" I was again being disturbed by the phone alarm. I don’t even know why I set it every morning since all it does is interrupt my sleep and annoy me.
I groaned and turned to the other side, trying to ignore it, but it kept ringing like it had a personal vendetta against me. With a frustrated sigh, I finally reached out and turned it off.
Oh my God.
Today was the beginning of our senior year.
For a moment, I just lay there staring at the ceiling, letting that sink in. One final year, and then we would be done with high school. Free. Finally stepping into the real world.
I wouldn’t say I’m the kind of person who gets overly excited about school. In fact, I’m usually the opposite. School has always just been something I had to deal with, not something I looked forward to.
But this… this was different.
It was my final year.
And somehow, that made it feel important.
I sat up slowly, running my fingers through my long black hair as a small smile crept onto my lips. Maybe this year would actually matter. Maybe this year, I would try harder.
The thought of getting a scholarship for college crossed my mind, and for once, I didn’t immediately push it away.
The science fair would be happening too. I had always avoided things like that, but this time… I might actually participate.
A new year. A new beginning.
That alone was enough to get me out of bed.
But if I was being honest, there was something else I was excited about.
Jenne.
It had been weeks since we last spent real time together. Sure, we texted and called when we could, but it wasn’t the same.
She had traveled to South Africa to visit her parents, and from the little she told me, it sounded like she had the time of her life.
I couldn’t wait to see her.
I quickly made my bed and headed to the shower, letting the warm water wake me up properly.
My mind kept drifting back to everything that was waiting for me today—new classes, familiar faces, and endless conversations about vacations.
After getting ready, I stood in front of the mirror for a moment, adjusting my outfit. I looked good, as always. Not that I tried too hard. It just came naturally.
Just as I was about to leave my room, my phone vibrated.
I picked it up lazily and checked the message.
It was really amazing last time… hope we do it again soon. —Jake
I rolled my eyes immediately.
Seriously?
I had only met him a few days ago. We spent some time together, had our fun, and that was it. At least, that’s what I thought.
Apparently, he had other ideas.
“Poor boy,” I muttered under my breath.
It wasn’t like he wasn’t attractive. He was. And he definitely knew how to keep things interesting. But that didn’t mean anything beyond the moment we shared.
I don’t do relationships.
It’s just not my thing.
No matter how charming or good-looking a guy is, I never let it get deeper than it needs to. I’ve seen what love can do to people, and I want no part of it.
My mother is proof enough.
She loved deeply. Trusted completely. And in the end, she was left with nothing but pain. The man she gave everything to walked away, leaving her to pick up the pieces alone.
Leaving us.
I clenched my jaw slightly, pushing the thought away.
We survived, though.
My mother is strong—stronger than anyone I know. She worked hard, built a stable life for us, and made sure I never lacked anything. To me, she’s everything.
And because of that, I made a decision a long time ago.
I would never let myself end up like her.
I ignored Jake’s message and tossed my phone onto the bed before continuing with my preparations.
"Honey, try to hurry! You’ll be late!"
My mother’s voice echoed from downstairs.
I sighed lightly.
If I didn’t move now, she would definitely come up and start knocking on my door like it was an emergency.
My mother takes school very seriously. To her, education is the key to independence, and she has always made that clear.
“I’m coming!” I called back.
After finishing up, I grabbed my small backpack and headed downstairs. The smell of breakfast greeted me immediately.
As expected, my mother had already prepared something.
She never lets me leave the house without eating.
I sat down and quickly had my usual—coffee and a light snack—before grabbing my car keys.
“Drive safe,” she said, giving me a quick look.
“I always do,” I replied with a small smile.
Moments later, I was out the door.
I got into my car and started the engine, feeling a small rush of excitement build inside me.
First day of senior year.
The drive to school usually takes about fifteen minutes, but today the roads were surprisingly clear. No traffic. No delays.
For once, everything seemed to be going my way.
I arrived earlier than expected and parked in the school lot, grabbing my bag before stepping out.
The familiar environment greeted me instantly—the noise, the laughter, the groups of students catching up after the long break.
Nothing had changed.
And yet, everything felt different.
I walked past a group of girls I recognized immediately—Sherry and her usual crew.
I didn’t even bother acknowledging them.
To this day, I still don’t understand why they hate me so much. I’ve never gone out of my way to cause problems for them.
Well… not intentionally.
There was that one incident.
I had spent some time with one of the popular guys at school, and somehow she found out. Apparently, she liked him. A lot.
Unfortunately for her, he didn’t feel the same way.
And somehow, that became my fault.
I tried explaining that it meant nothing, but she didn’t want to hear it. Since then, she’s made it her personal mission to dislike me.
I shook my head slightly.
People can be so dramatic.
I continued walking toward the hallway when suddenly—
"Ritaaaaaa!!!!!!"
I froze for a split second before turning around.
No way.
There she was.
Jenne.
Running toward me with the biggest smile on her face, arms wide open.
I couldn’t help but smile back as I moved toward her.
We met halfway and immediately pulled each other into a tight hug.
“I missed you so much,” she said.
“Same, baby girl,” I replied, laughing softly.
We pulled apart, but the excitement between us didn’t fade.
She looked radiant—happy, glowing even.
“I have so much to tell you,” she said quickly.
“I hope you do,” I replied. “Because I’ve been waiting.”
We started talking immediately, walking side by side as we caught up on everything we had missed. She told me about her trip, the places she visited, the experiences she had.
And then… her boyfriend.
The way her eyes lit up when she mentioned him said everything.
Jenne has always believed in love.
Real love.
The kind that lasts forever.
I just hope, for her sake, that this guy is worth it.
Because people like her… they love deeply.
And that can be dangerous.
Eventually, we had to part ways since we were in different classes. She was focused on English and literature, which honestly explained a lot about her romantic nature.
As for me?
Sciences.
I want to study medicine.
It surprises people sometimes. They assume I don’t care about school, but the truth is, I’m actually good at it. I just don’t show it all the time.
I walked into my classroom and headed straight to the back.
My usual spot.
From there, I could sit comfortably and do my own thing without too much attention.
Students slowly filled the room, some familiar, some new. I didn’t pay much attention, scrolling through my phone instead.
Then suddenly…
Silence.
That kind of silence that only happens when a teacher walks in.
I quickly locked my phone and looked up.
And that’s when I saw him.
Oh my God.
For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.
He stood at the front of the class, confident, composed… and undeniably attractive. There was something about him—something different.
His presence alone commanded attention.
I found myself staring longer than I should have.
Then his eyes met mine.
And everything around me seemed to fade.
It was strange.
I’ve seen attractive men before. I’ve been around them, talked to them, even spent time with them.
But this…
This felt different.
I couldn’t look away.
I didn’t even realize he had started speaking until the class began introducing themselves.
I was too distracted.
Too lost in my own thoughts.
"Yes?"
My heart skipped.
I blinked, suddenly aware that all eyes were on me.
Great.
It was my turn.
I straightened slightly, trying to gather myself as my eyes met his again.
For the first time in a long time…
I felt completely off balance.
And I had no idea why.
- Writer
