The Girl They Never Saw Coming

Chapter 17 — The Invitation

By Thursday morning, Westbrook High had completely transformed.

The upcoming school celebration seemed to be the only thing anyone could talk about.

There were posters on the walls, announcements over the speakers, and conversations about outfits happening in almost every hallway.

Even students who usually looked half-asleep during first period suddenly seemed excited.

I walked through the entrance with Eva, Sophie, Naomi, and Andrew.

Andrew looked around dramatically.

"This school has lost its mind."

Eva laughed.

"You're the one who was excited first."

"I've changed."

"You changed five minutes ago?"

"People grow."

Sophie shook her head.

"You're impossible."

I smiled.

For the first time since arriving at Westbrook, I wasn't thinking about whether people were watching me.

I was simply enjoying being there.

That felt strange.

But good.

My phone buzzed.

I already knew who it was.

Chloe.

Chloe: Good morning.

Mia: Morning.

Chloe: Big day.

Mia: Why?

Chloe: Party tomorrow.

Mia: Oh.

Chloe: "Oh"?

Mia: What do you want me to say?

Chloe: Maybe that you're excited.

Mia: I haven't decided if I'm excited.

Chloe: You're going.

Mia: How do you know?

Chloe: Because you're going to regret it if you stay home.

I smiled.

Mia: You think?

Chloe: I know you.

Mia: Sometimes I hate how well you know me.

Chloe: That's what best friends are for.

I put my phone away.

"Chloe?" Eva asked.

"Yes."

"What did she say?"

"She thinks I should go to the party."

Eva smiled.

"She has excellent judgment."

Andrew nodded.

"Finally, someone sensible."

I looked at him.

"You weren't sensible yesterday."

"Yesterday was different."

"How?"

"I was hungry."

We all laughed.

---

Our morning classes passed quickly.

In geography, our teacher reminded us about the upcoming assessment.

"Friday's test will cover everything we've discussed over the past few weeks," she said.

A few students groaned.

I opened my notebook.

I had studied.

I wanted to do well.

Geography wasn't just another subject to me. It was one of the few things at school that made me forget about everything else.

When I studied maps, climates, population patterns, and physical features, there was no room for rumors.

Everything had a reason.

Everything connected.

After class, my teacher stopped me at the door.

"Mia."

"Yes?"

"You're well prepared for tomorrow, aren't you?"

"I've been studying."

She smiled.

"I can tell. Keep going."

"Thank you."

I walked away feeling encouraged.

Then I remembered something.

Tomorrow was also the party.

Test in the day.

Party at night.

My life suddenly felt much busier than it had been a few weeks ago.

---

At lunch, we gathered around our usual table.

Andrew was eating while scrolling through his phone.

"Okay."

Eva looked at him.

"What now?"

"The official party schedule is out."

Sophie immediately leaned closer.

"Let me see."

Andrew turned his phone around.

"There'll be music, food, games, a photo area, and some student performances."

Naomi smiled.

"That actually sounds fun."

"It does," I said.

Everyone looked at me.

"What?"

Eva smiled.

"You sound excited."

"I might be."

Andrew pointed at me.

"Progress."

I laughed.

Then I noticed someone standing a few feet away.

Trent.

He wasn't looking at the flyer.

He was looking at me.

Our eyes met.

He smiled.

I smiled back.

Then he walked toward our table.

"Hey."

"Hi."

He looked at the others.

"Can I talk to Mia for a second?"

Eva immediately stood.

"Of course."

I gave her a look.

She pretended not to notice.

I followed Trent a few steps away from the table.

"What did you want to talk about?"

He seemed unusually quiet.

"About tomorrow."

"The test?"

"The party."

I raised my eyebrows.

"Oh."

He smiled.

"Are you still going?"

"I think so."

"Good."

There was a pause.

Then he took a breath.

"Would you want to go with me?"

I stared at him.

For a moment, I didn't know what to say.

"Like...together?"

He nodded.

"Yeah."

My mind immediately went to Iris.

Trent and Iris.

The rumors.

Their complicated history.

The way everyone at Westbrook seemed to know something about them.

"Are you sure?"

He frowned slightly.

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"Because..."

I stopped.

I didn't want to bring Iris into the conversation.

But he seemed to understand anyway.

"Mia, whatever happened between me and Iris is complicated."

"I know."

"And I'm not trying to drag you into it."

"I don't want drama."

"Neither do I."

He looked at me.

"I just enjoy talking to you."

I didn't know what to say.

He smiled slightly.

"You don't have to answer right now."

"Okay."

"Think about it."

He walked away.

I stood there for another moment.

Then I returned to the table.

Eva was staring at me.

Andrew was staring at me.

Sophie was staring at me.

Naomi was staring at me.

I sat down.

Nobody spoke.

Finally, Andrew said,

"So..."

I covered my face.

"Don't."

Eva laughed.

"What did he say?"

I looked around.

"He asked if I wanted to go to the party with him."

The table went silent.

Then everyone started talking at once.

"I knew it!"

"I told you!"

"Okay, that's actually cute."

"What did you say?"

I raised both hands.

"Nothing! I haven't answered!"

Andrew leaned back.

"Why not?"

"Because of Iris."

Eva's smile faded.

"That's fair."

Sophie nodded.

"Trent has history with her."

"I don't want everyone thinking I'm trying to take him from her."

Naomi shook her head.

"But that's not what you're doing."

"People might see it that way."

Andrew looked at me.

"Mia, you didn't create their relationship."

"I know."

"You didn't break them up."

"I know."

"And you didn't ask Trent to like you."

I looked down.

"Exactly."

Eva reached across the table.

"Then don't make your decision based on Iris."

I looked at her.

"Make it based on what you want."

Her words stayed with me.

---

Unfortunately, Iris had seen enough.

From across the cafeteria, she watched Trent return to his table.

Then she looked at me.

Her expression was completely different from the one she'd worn earlier in the week.

There was no smile.

No pretending.

Just anger.

One of her friends leaned toward her.

"Are you okay?"

Iris didn't answer immediately.

Then she said quietly,

"She's doing it on purpose."

"Who?"

"Mia."

Her friend looked confused.

"What did she do?"

Iris looked across the cafeteria again.

"Nothing."

"Then why are you angry?"

Iris looked away.

"I just don't like her."

---

After lunch, I walked toward my next class.

Iris passed me in the hallway.

Our shoulders almost touched.

She stopped.

"So, you're going to the party?"

I turned.

"I haven't decided."

She smiled coldly.

"You should be careful."

"About what?"

"Nothing."

She walked away.

I stood there for a moment.

I wasn't going to let her scare me.

But I couldn't deny that her words bothered me.

---

When I got home that afternoon, Mom was already there.

She was sitting at the kitchen counter sorting through some paperwork.

"You're home early."

"Yeah."

She looked up.

"How was school?"

"Good."

She studied my face.

"That doesn't sound like your normal 'good.'"

I laughed.

"What does my normal good sound like?"

"Like you're trying to convince me."

I sat beside her.

"There's a school party tomorrow."

Her eyebrows rose.

"A party?"

"Yes."

"Are you going?"

"I don't know."

She put down the papers.

"Do you want to go?"

I thought about it.

"Yes."

"Then why don't you?"

"There's just...a lot going on."

She smiled.

"Mia, school is supposed to be about more than grades."

"I know."

"You're allowed to have fun."

I smiled.

"Even if I have a geography test tomorrow?"

"Especially then."

I laughed.

She continued sorting the papers.

"You've worked hard since we moved here."

I looked down.

"I miss the UK sometimes."

Her expression softened.

"I know."

"I miss my old friends."

"I know."

"But I'm starting to like Georgia."

She smiled.

"That's good."

"I just don't want to forget where I came from."

"You won't."

She reached over and squeezed my hand.

"Moving doesn't erase your past. It just gives you somewhere new to grow."

I smiled.

"That's actually really good."

"Thank you."

"Did you rehearse that?"

She laughed.

"Maybe."

---

Dad came home later that evening.

We ate dinner together.

For once, the conversation wasn't about school drama.

Dad talked about work.

Mom told us about something funny that had happened at her workplace.

I told them about the party.

Dad looked at me.

"Are you going?"

"Probably."

"Good."

Mom smiled.

"You should enjoy yourself."

I looked at both of them.

"Thanks."

It felt good.

Normal.

Family.

Something that existed outside Westbrook.

After dinner, I went upstairs to study.

Tomorrow's geography test was still waiting for me.

I studied for almost two hours.

At around nine, my phone buzzed.

Chloe.

Chloe: Decision?

Mia: About the party?

Chloe: Obviously.

Mia: Trent asked me to go with him.

There was a long pause.

Then:

Chloe: WHAT?

I laughed.

Mia: Calm down.

Chloe: You cannot just casually say that.

Mia: I don't know what to do.

Chloe: Do you want to go?

I stared at the screen.

Mia: Yes.

Chloe: Then go.

Mia: But Iris...

Chloe: Mia.

Mia: What?

Chloe: You cannot spend your entire life avoiding things because you're scared of what Iris might do.

I sighed.

She was right.

Mia: I'm just worried about the drama.

Chloe: Drama follows people who create it. You don't have to create any.

Mia: True.

Chloe: Go. Have fun. Be yourself.

Mia: What if things get weird?

Chloe: Then you handle it.

Mia: You're making it sound easy.

Chloe: It won't always be easy.

Chloe: But you're stronger than you think.

I smiled.

Mia: Thank you.

Chloe: Now go study.

Mia: You're becoming my mother.

Chloe: Someone has to.

I laughed.

---

The next morning, I woke up earlier than usual.

I stood in front of my closet for several minutes.

Not because I was dressing for anyone.

I just wanted to feel good about myself.

I eventually chose an outfit for school and got ready.

Before leaving my room, I looked at myself in the mirror.

I smiled.

"Okay, Mia."

I grabbed my bag.

"One thing at a time."

First, the geography test.

Then the party.

And whatever happened after that.

---

At school, the atmosphere was even more exciting.

Everyone was talking about the celebration.

As I walked through the hallway, I saw Trent.

He smiled when he saw me.

"Morning."

"Morning."

"Ready for the test?"

"Ask me after."

He laughed.

"Fair."

He walked beside me.

"About yesterday..."

I looked at him.

"I've been thinking."

"And?"

I took a breath.

"I'll go with you."

His face immediately brightened.

"Really?"

"Really."

He smiled.

"Good."

I smiled back.

Then I noticed someone watching us from the other side of the hallway.

Iris.

She was standing with her friends.

She wasn't smiling.

She wasn't talking.

She was simply watching.

I turned away.

For once, I didn't let her expression change my mind.

I had made my decision.

I was going to the party.

Not because I wanted to prove anything.

Not because I wanted to make Iris angry.

And not because I wanted everyone at Westbrook to notice me.

I was going because I wanted to have a good time.

I wanted to make memories.

I wanted to enjoy being young and surrounded by people who had become important to me.

And maybe...

Just maybe...

I wanted to find out what Trent had been trying to tell me without actually saying it.

Tomorrow night would give me the answer.

Or at least, I hoped it would.