Chapter 7
Serena
For the last three years, I never needed to buy new clothes during tax-free weekends, perks of being homeschooled . I do have a few decent items in my closet in case I need to make an appearance somewhere, but most of the time I just go for pajama-looking outfits and avoid shopping at all costs.
I was so stressed at the mall yesterday. Why does a simple shirt have to say “forever young” on the front? Why can’t it be simple? What’s the difference between all these jeans? Alli could see how overstimulated I was at American Eagle, so she offered to pick a few things out for me. So, I let her. Anything to put me out of my misery. Buying new clothes a day before school was one less thing to worry about.
After spending my entire paycheck at the mall, she begged me to choose my first-day outfit. I didn’t think anything of it. I assumed she went all motherly-like like all moms do when it’s their children’s first day of school .
As I’m standing in front of my mirror, I regret my decision to let Alli pick out my outfit for my first day. The ensemble consists of a black, button-up corduroy mini dress paired with a white, short-sleeved undershirt. It reaches about mid-thigh level, but I swear if I bend over, it’s a free show.
I let out a massive sigh to calm my nerves. Fuck it, it’s fine. I’ve worn shorter things because of cheer. Then again, I was seven, and everything was small on me.
It’s a cute outfit for sure, but not what I expected to wear. I’m normally a casual dresser not a ’put on a dress regularly’ person. I take another twirl in front of the mirror and accept it. It’s my first day, I might as well look nice. I touch up my hair for any last-minute knots and fix up the curtain bangs that I styled earlier for good measure.
A knock at my door disturbs my peace. “Ready?” Jared leans against my door frame, noticing my outfit.
You wouldn’t guess we’ve been siblings for years. With bright blue eyes just like Ralph’s, a decent smile when he decides to not frown in public, and dirty blonde hair that’s slightly damped from a morning shower, there was absolutely nothing that would tell you we’re related.
“What the fuck are you wearing?” He asks, protectiveness dripping in his voice. “You’re seriously wearing that? ”
I roll my eyes as I grab my school bag to do a last-minute check for everything I’ll need for the day.
There are moments where Jared and I are still navigating our brother-and-sister relationship, but after years of living together, there’s one thing that’s certain: the overprotective brother syndrome. No cure in the making. “If I hear anyone making a pass at you, I’m bringing you gym clothes to change into.”
“I got it, I got it.” I throw my backpack on. “Let’s go, Alli says she’s going to wait for me at the school entrance.”
Multiple thoughts run in my head as Jared drives us to school. My fucking first day. I only know two people at Skyline. Alli and Jared. It seems unlikely that we’ll have every class together, let alone lunch.
Oh God, what if I don’t have lunch with anyone I know? Will I have to eat in the bathroom stalls like Cady from Mean Girls?
Before I know it, we’re at Skyline High School. Jared swiftly parks in his designated senior parking spot. Once the car’s parked, he turns to look at me, beaming a supportive smile. “If you need me, just text me. I’ll see you around school. If not, then meet me here after school.” He pats my shoulder, which slightly calms my nerves. “You got it, trust. ”
I deliver a nervous smile, not sure if it’s being seen as genuine because I’m nervous as fuck. “Thanks, bro.” I hold out my fist for a fist bump, which Jared returns with a chuckle.
We get out of the car and we part ways. Terrifying . He sees his group of friends in the near distance, leaving me to walk up the steps to head over to the front entrance where I’m greeted by Alli.
“Hola, chica.” Alli eyes me from top to bottom, looking proud of her work. “You clean up nice.” She claps her hands. “It’s nice to see you wear things other than leggings and a t-shirt.”
“You’re not funny.” I give her a sarcastic laugh and wave my middle finger. “Jared almost went to war with me this morning.”
She shrugs, pretty sure she doesn’t care about what my step brother thinks. “Fuck him.”
We make our way to the front entrance of the school, side by side. “You technically did, which is still repulsive.”
Again, she shrugs. “It was last summer, I’m over it.”
Long story short, something came over them. Mutual friends and a group camping trip was all they needed. One thing led to another, and you could guess the rest from there.
Spoiler alert, they hooked up and acted like it never happened .
Alli opens the front door and allows me to enter first. “Welcome to Skyline High.” She gestures her arm out and I take a deep breath.
As I stepped through the high school’s glass front doors, it felt like crossing a threshold into a new universe. The unfamiliar halls echoed with excited chatter, nervous freshmen, sophomores who don’t really care, juniors chatting with their friends, and seniors relaxing in the center spot of the atrium.
Alli steps in front of me, temporarily pausing the running thoughts going through my head. She claps and puts her hand out as if she wants me to give her something. “Give me your schedule, so I can help you. I have to meet my guidance counselor, so I won’t be able to show you around.”
I look at her with wide eyes and reluctantly dig through my bag for my schedule. I hand it off to her with a sigh. “You’re not going to show me around? What if I get lost?”
“One, you’re eighteen, not eight,” Alli retorts without looking up from my schedule, her eyes tracing the rows of classes. “Two… this will be easy,” she shrugs it off as she shifts her gaze to me. She perches a hand on her hip, and starts gesturing down the halls, indicating the location of each wing.
I nod, committing everything into memory so I don’t get lost like a puppy on my first day. “That makes sense, I think? ”
“We’re in the atrium now, it’s basically the connecting lobby from the front entrance. The campus is big, but it’s not a maze. After today, it’ll be a breeze for you.”
I glance at my schedule:
First block–AP Literature–B wing
Second block–AP Environmental Science–D wing
Third block–AP Trigonometry–A wing
Fourth block–Senior study hall–E wing
I hum in response. “I think everything makes sense. So where should I meet you for lunch?”
A warm smile spreads across her face. She’s so happy I’m here, I can tell she’s about to pass out from how much smiling she’s doing. “Meet me here in the atrium. You brought lunch?”
I nod, “Aunt Lina made us our favorite.”
Alli gasps and clasps her hands together. “ Kua mee noodles?!”
“She made enough for you and me. She thought we deserved a good first-day lunch.”
Before we can continue the conversation, the bell rings. Signaling we need to part ways until lunch. Unfortunately, Alli and I don’t have any classes at all together, which makes me sigh and nod to myself.
Alli pats my shoulder and begins to back away with a reassuring smile. “ Tú puedes . Trust.”
I salute her with two fingers and make my way to my first class of the day.
The first block went by super quick. My AP Literature teacher is running through the syllabus with ease. Ms. Chambers announces the two books we’ll be reading throughout the semester, both of which I read last year, so I didn’t even have to cross my fingers to hope for the best. Seems doable .
I find my second block class easily, AP Environmental Science. I can’t tell you why I chose this class, it sounded interesting on the registration forms.
After going through the syllabus, we watch an introduction video our teacher put together. There’s a knock on the door. Mr. Cabello greets the visitor, only to receive a note. He reads the note and calls for me, “Ms. Inthavong?”
I raise my hand. Mr. Cabello saunters to my desk, dropping the note to my desk. “The front office says you haven’t picked up your textbooks and need to take a picture for your school ID. They want you to pick them up before they go back into storage.”
“Oh, okay. Um, where can I do all of that?” I feel eyes burning my back just standing in the front.
“Front office, just show them the note. There’s only about twenty minutes left in class, so why don’t you take your things there so you can head straight to third block?”
“Thanks.” I lean over to grab my backpack and exit the classroom.
I stand in the empty halls, looking left and right. The front offices are in the atrium .
I grab my phone from my bag and begin checking my student emails to see if there’s anything else I need to inquire about while I’m in the office. I’m about to turn the corner and suddenly, I hear footsteps pacing against the linoleum floors in the opposite direction of me. Before I can even look up to see the commotion. I’m knocked down, landing on my ass, phone sliding against the ground, and backpack slipping off.
“Ouch.” I wince in slight pain, slightly annoyed.
“I’m so sorry, here, let me help you up.” The student shoots up quickly and lends out a helping hand as the other hovers over my back to get me back up on my feet. “I wasn’t watching where I was going.”
I rise on my feet, brushing off nonexistent dust from my dress. “It’s f–” I look at the towering figure. My breath hitches in my throat .
Blue eyes like the summer skies. Oh my god, it’s him. It’s Thai gr–
“Thai green tea,” Tyler says as if he was reading my mind. His eyes crinkle as he smiles in my direction. “You go to Skyline?”
“Yeah, it’s my first day,” I mumble, crouching down to gather my stuff.
Tyler meets me halfway, helping me grab my things. “Let me help, this is my fault. Again, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have been running down the halls like that.” He grabs the binder that fell out of my arms and hands it to me. Our hands brush against each other just like that day at Boba Republic. The subtle contact leaves a tingling sensation. An electric feeling that lingers for a few seconds, but then passes.
“Thanks and no worries about that.” I ignore the unknown feels dancing through my body and hastily tuck my binder over my chest. “I, um, have to go to the front office.” And just like that, I scurry off to get back to the main task at hand. Pretty sure I ruined our chance encounter.
Tyler watches me go, a playful grin tugging at the corners of his lips. As I walk away, I can feel his eyes on me, sending chills down my spine.
I’m starting to think the universe is on my side .
Lunch rolls around and I’m standing in the atrium, waiting for Alli to meet me like we agreed upon this morning. I watch my surroundings, students hustle and bustle around me as they head into the cafeteria, while a few students opt to eat their lunch in the atrium.
Where the fuck is this girl ?
Minutes pass and she’s still not here. I check my phone to see she texted me a couple of minutes ago.
Alli: got carried away talking to my teacher!! go ahead and grab a table for us and i’ll come find you.
I stash my phone into my bag as I bob and weave entering the buzzing cafeteria by the doors closest to the lunch lines. I find an empty four-top table and quickly claim it. I place my lunch on the top, pulling out my container as I wait on Alli.
I turn slightly to reach for my backpack to grab my water bottle and a voice picks up at my side.
“The first time is chance, the second time is coincidence, and the third time is fate…” Lifting my eyes, I’m greeted by a grinning Tyler. One hand holds onto his backpack strap while the other clutches his brown bag lunch.
“Tyler.” I place my water on the table and lean back against the chair .
“Serena.” He takes the seat across from me. It doesn’t look like he’s settling down as he’s not taking off his backpack, so I assume he’s here for a quick chat. “I stopped by the boba shop the other day, I didn’t see you.”
Oh… sounds like he wanted to. Better play it cool, though, Serena .
“You must really like Thai green tea.”
Tyler smirks at me and looks over my shoulder, which prompts me to look over to see Alli. “Not the only reason.” He stands and winks at me before departing. “See you around, Serena.”
I watch him back away, eyes on me for a couple of seconds before he disappears into the bustling high school crowd.
And just like that, a mini butterfly starts to bloom inside my stomach. Before I can even process it, Alli joins me… along with two unfamiliar faces.
“I would say sorry I’m late and made you find your own way here, but,” Alli’s eyes dart towards Tyler’s direction. He’s not sitting nearby, but he’s also not far. Definitely not in earshot, which is likely the only reason why she says the following, “Looks like you didn’t need help?” She winks at me and starts poking my arm.
I slap her advances away to get her off my metaphorical dick. “It’s nothing. ”
“Nothing?” One of the unfamiliar tablemate’s questions. “We saw you drooling.”
I look down and begin unboxing my lunch. “It’s nothing.”
Because it is nothing . I hardly know the guy.
His name is Tyler. He likes Thai green tea. He goes to Skyline High. He’s the only person I’ve ever opened up about being perfect all the time.
Alli facepalms herself. “I’m so rude.” She turns to me and waves a hand towards the two strangers sitting with us. “These are my friends. Grant Johnson and Priya Singh. I’ve known them since freshman year.”
Sometimes I forget Alli has friends outside of me. It doesn’t necessarily make me upset or jealous that she has friends beyond me, but I’m wary about making new friends. And I’m slightly scared Alli will be the only friend in like… ever. Alli’s gentle pat on my arm is reassuring, silently telling me that Grant and Priya are genuinely good people.
I might have mommy and trust issues, but I hundred percent trust Allison Castillo. So, with a silent agreement with her, I turned my attention to Grant and Priya. “It’s nice to meet you both. I’m Serena.”
Grant waves and starts unwrapping his BLT. “Oh, we know, we’ve been dying to meet you since Alli told us you’re attending. ”
I let out a soft giggle and start picking at my noodles while sharing them with Alli. “Well, I can only hope you heard good things about me.”
Priya starts making small talk, ripping her bag of chips open. “So, do you have any socials? We can follow each other.”
“Oh yeah, I took a hiatus, but I just downloaded the app the other day. Let me log in and send you a request.”
I reach for my phone and log back into Instagram. It was a part of my New Year’s resolutions to take a break from social media, but then I thought since I’m going to school, I should go back to being somewhat active and document my life online.
Instagram loads up, and I’m not expecting too many notifications since I don’t have too many followers, mainly just family, cousins, and Alli. I have some new follower requests from spam-looking accounts and cousins, and just then, I see it.
TyWestman liked your post.
What? How did he even find me ?
I don’t have time to investigate before Alli peers into my phone, taking note of the notification.
“Why did Tyler Westman like your picture?” Alli pokes the bear, making Priya and Grant turn their heads at me.
I continue eating my noodles, instantly locking my phone to hide it from Alli’s curious eyes. “He’s a customer at the boba shop,” I look at Grant and Priya, “where I work. We just ran into each other this morning and he recognized me. I don’t know how he found me, honestly.”
I leave out the part where we ran into each other at the lake party. And the one where we spoke about our worries and feelings.
Grant slaps the table at my words, a few tables around us stare, but we ignore them. “Tyler Westman?! Shut the fuck up.” He whispers a yell.
“What?”
“Tyler Westman is golden as fuck.” He says.
I raise a brow, confusion written on my face. “Golden?”
“Golden,” Grant says, like it’s common knowledge around here, “Everyone’s favorite person. Handsome and in with the popular crowd. Tyler Westman is the golden boy on campus. He’s captain of the lacrosse team, won state last year, he’s insanely perfect in everything he does and he’s drop dead gorgeous. Just look at him.”
Grant’s gaze drifts toward Tyler, who’s focused in a conversation with his friends, his easy charm is shown even from a distance. I finally take a good look at him compared to the days at Boba Republic and the lake party .
In both run-ins during summer, he was so friendly and open towards me. There was this confidence about him like he owned the place without even trying. It’s kind of annoying, but also kinda impressive to see him take command of any social setting he’s in.
And now, seeing him in his element, it’s like he’s a different person on another level with an outer shell that’s warm and charismatic. It’s a revelation, and for the first time, I actually see Tyler Westman, the golden boy who lights up rooms and… can get any girl he wants. He’s tall and confident, his smile genuine as he interacts with his friends and passersby who stop to say hi.
A pang of unfamiliar feelings settles into my chest. It’s not jealousy, nor is it envy. I can’t exactly pinpoint what it is, actually.
“Ignore him,” Priya waves a hand in Grant’s direction. “Changing subjects, how’s your first day?”
I start playing with my noodles, which makes Alli move the container closer to her so she can take more bites.
“It’s going well, the campus is big but I’m able to navigate around.”
“Have you joined any clubs or activities yet?” Alli says, mouth full of noodles, enough to where you can see a few strands hanging out of her mouth .
I hand Alli a napkin to cover her mouth and shake my head. “Not yet, I’ll find something soon. I’m not sure what I want to do yet.”
Alli pushes the container back to me, letting me finish up the rest of our lunch. “Isn’t that number three on your list?”
Grant perks up. “List? Like an agenda or something?”
I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. “Yeah. I have a list of things I want to accomplish for my senior year. I’ve been deprived of a lot of young adolescents’ things, so my goal is to get them done by the time we graduate.”
“Oh my gosh, I fucking live for lists and goals,” Priya states, grinning ear to ear. “You let me know how I can help.”
I grab my journal from my backpack and flip through the pages to find my list of goals. My journal is a bit raggedy, with the bind barely holding on, but I’ve had this journal since I was twelve when I practically begged my dad to buy it for me at Daiso. I find the page and slide it towards Priya and Grant. “It’s nothing extraordinary.”
Serena’s senior bucket list
1.Go to a Friday night game
2.Make new friends
3.Join a club or extracurricular activity
4.Go to high school partie s
5.Watch the sunrise
Grant nods in approval. “Good list, I think we can get most of these done by the end of semester.”
“I agree.” Priya hands me my journal back. “I mean, you have already accomplished the second one.”
I laugh in agreement and relief. I thought the second one would be kind of difficult to accomplish. Given my track record with friendships, I wasn’t sure when this would happen. I grab a pen from my bag and strike a line to signify completing one goal. “Make new friends, done.”