Falling for you

Chapter 1

Yvonne’s POV

Hey there! I’m Yvonne Mc’Roué, 17 years old, and somehow still figuring out life. It all started at an orphanage, left behind with a cute little note when I was just two months old. Yeah, abandonment is a strong word, but they wished for me to be kind, caring, and all that. Life didn’t exactly roll out the red carpet for me, but I’ve survived.

Now, I’m here in Sydney, leaving behind the cozy (and drama-filled) streets of Melbourne. Why the sudden switch? Long story short—my ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend decided to turn my life into a soap opera. Classic, right? Now, thanks to their drama, trust is something I hand out like free samples—never.

Living on my own now, juggling part-time shifts at a convenience store just to keep the fridge stocked. Tomorrow’s a big day though—my first day at a new school. Let’s see if I can make it through without a disaster.

The Next Day

The alarm blares, and naturally, I’ve overslept. Perfect start. I go into hyper mode—quick shower, light breakfast (because gastritis loves to remind me it exists), and I’m rushing out the door. And, like a scene from a comedy, I manage to spill apple juice all over this guy who looks like he’s ready to walk a runway. I barely get out a “Sorry!” before the bell rings, and I have to sprint off, leaving my chaos in my wake. Great first impression, right?

Johnny’s POV

Just my luck. Brand new shirt, and someone decides to throw juice on it. “Hey, watch it! You just spilled your juice thingy!” I tried to stay cool, but seriously, this shirt was expensive. I barely caught a glimpse of the girl before she bolted when the bell rang.

Back with my friends—Dylan and Joel—who naturally couldn’t wait to make fun of me. “Jay, that’s a bold new look. Juice stains are totally in right now,” Dylan snickers. Joel, never one to miss a joke, says, “Hey, at least you met the new girl, right?”

Rolling my eyes, I’m trying to get the stain out, muttering, “I just bought this shirt.”

“Relax, man, it’s just a shirt,” Joel says, always the laid-back one. “Yeah, but it’s new,” I reply, still annoyed.

Then I realize… she was kinda cute though. I mumble that out loud, and of course, Dylan picks up on it. “Ohhh, Jay’s got a crush?” he teases, and I walk off before I end up the joke of the day.

Oh yeah, I’m Johnny Austern. I’m 18, living the life thanks to my dad’s business empire and my mom who runs the show with him. I’ve got a sister, Brenda, and we’re basically living the dream. I roll with Dylan and Joel—my best friends—and yeah, we’re kind of a big deal at school. Popular, well-dressed, and now apparently experts in juice-stained fashion.

Yvonne’s POV

I finally get to the office where I meet Miss Ave, my guide to this new school. She’s cool, asks me if I’m a freshman, and we get the paperwork sorted. Then she’s taking me to Mr. Dave’s math class—because obviously, math is what I need first thing at a new school.

As I step into the room, I can already feel the stares. “She’s stunning.” “Who’s that?” “She looks like trouble.” Ah, the typical high school welcome. Brenda, a girl who seems pretty chill, waves me over to sit next to her, and the day begins.

At lunch, Brenda, Lina, and Lea become my new friends. Lina’s the talkative one, and Lea, well, she just kind of watches everything quietly. They start asking all the typical new-girl questions. Why’d you transfer? What’s Melbourne like? Oh, and I drop the bomb that I’m an orphan because hey, why sugarcoat it?

And just when I think the awkwardness is fading, a guy walks up to our table. Yep, it’s the apple juice guy. He looks a little less mad now, but I can tell he hasn’t forgotten the spill.

“Hey, freshman, right? What’s your name?” He’s smiling like we’re all cool, but I’m still cringing inside. I casually take a bite of my sandwich instead of answering because, honestly, I’m not sure how to play this.

Brenda gives me a curious look. “You guys know each other?” she asks. I shake my head. “Nope, not really.”

The guy grins, and before I know it, he’s launched into the whole story about how I spilled juice on him this morning. Great. Could this get any worse? Brenda looks a bit surprised, but then laughs it off. “That’s my brother, by the way.”

Wait. Brother? What?!

I glance between the two of them, trying to connect the dots. The guy grins again, “Yeah, I’m Johnny Austern. Nice to meet you properly this time.” He gives a little wave like this isn’t totally awkward, and then strolls off with another one of those smiles.

As soon as he’s out of earshot, Brenda smirks. “You’re lucky he didn’t make a bigger deal about the shirt. He can be dramatic about his clothes sometimes.”

Lea, finally chiming in, says, “Well, now you know why everyone’s staring—Johnny’s, like, super popular. That, and the juice incident didn’t help.” Lina nods enthusiastically, adding, “He’s one of the ‘big three’ here. Dylan, Joel, and Johnny—the school celebs.”

Awesome. I just made a mess of things with one of the most popular guys in school. First day, and I’m already “juice girl.”

Johnny’s POV

I didn’t expect to run into her again so soon, but there she was, sitting with Brenda and her friends. Yeah, I could’ve ignored the whole thing, but where’s the fun in that? She seemed a little uncomfortable, which honestly made it even better. A little payback for my shirt, right?

But I’ve gotta admit, even after all that, there’s something about her. She’s not like the others at this school—there’s a toughness, like she’s been through something. I can respect that.

For now, I’ll let it go, but I have a feeling this isn’t the last time we’ll cross paths.

Yvonne’s POV

Back home, I crash onto my bed, completely drained. First day, and it already feels like I’ve lived a whole week’s worth of drama. Apple juice guy is Brenda’s brother, and he’s basically the king of the school. Of course. Why wouldn’t he be?

I sigh, staring up at the ceiling. Tomorrow, I’ll have to deal with all the whispers and stares. But for now? I’m just going to close my eyes and pretend I’m back in Melbourne, where life was messy—but at least it was my kind of messy.

#newgirlproblems #whydidthishappentome