Ere'ana adjusted the strap of her bag as she walked into the bustling hall of Silver Ridge High School for her senior year. The air was alive with chatter, laughter, and the shouts of friends reuniting after the summer break. She was excited, but a slight unease lingered in the pit of her stomach. Senior year came with its own set of pressures—college applications, final exams, and for Ere'ana, navigating the tricky waters of dating again.
"I'm telling you, senior year is going to be our year," Avarina said confidently, looping her arm through Ere'ana's. "No more letting boys ruin our vibe, right?"
Ere'ana laughed softly. "Right. I'm focusing on me this year."
"Sure, you are," Avarina teased with a sly smile. "That's why you were giggling on the phone with that new guy all summer. What was his name again? Jack?"
Ere'ana rolled her eyes, a faint blush dusting her cheeks. "It's not that serious. We just talked… a lot."
Avarina smirked. "Talked, huh? Just admit it—you're into him."
Maybe she was. Jack had been a surprise. He'd slid into her DMs one day after noticing her post about the latest indie rock concert in the city. Their conversations had started casually—music, school, random memes—but over time, they'd grown deeper. Jack was charming in a way that felt easy and natural. But there was something about him that felt... familiar.
Ere'ana shook the thought away. "Anyway, let's get to homeroom before we're late."
As they turned a corner, Ere'ana caught sight of a tall figure leaning casually against the lockers. He was laughing at something his friend said, his sharp black hair falling slightly over his eyes. Even from a distance, his presence was magnetic—strong, confident, and maybe just a little intimidating.
"Who's that?" Avarina asked, nudging her.
Ere'ana shook her head. "No idea. Probably some new guy."
The boy, Jack, glanced up, catching Ere'ana's gaze for a split second. His smile faltered as something flickered in his expression—recognition? No, that wasn't possible. He quickly turned back to his friend, Ira, brushing the moment off.
Jack wasn't new to Silver Ridge. He'd been here before, though no one seemed to remember him. Not that he cared. The person he used to be—the impulsive, short-tempered freshman—was dead and buried. He'd spent the last few years changing, rebuilding himself after Ere'ana had dumped him. And now, he was back.
"I can't believe you're already catching attention on day one," Ira teased, smirking as Jack leaned against the lockers.
Jack shrugged. "I'm not catching anything. Let's just get to class."
By lunchtime, Ere'ana and Jack had unknowingly crossed paths several times without realizing their shared history. Both of them were so wrapped up in who they thought the other was now that they couldn't connect the dots.
Ere'ana sat with Avarina at their usual table, laughing as their friend group debated the best senior prank ideas. Her phone buzzed, and she glanced at it, smiling when she saw Jack's text.
Jack: How's your first day going?
Ere'ana: Pretty good. Weirdly feels like a fresh start, y'know?
Jack: Yeah, I get that. Sometimes, you just gotta leave the past behind.
Ere'ana paused for a moment, his words striking a chord. It was funny—Jack seemed to understand her in a way that felt almost too perfect. Shaking her head, she typed back a quick response and slipped her phone into her pocket.
At another table across the cafeteria, Jack was having a similar conversation with Ira.
"So, you've got this girl you've been talking to all summer, and you're just now telling me about her?" Ira asked, raising an eyebrow.
Jack smirked. "It wasn't that serious at first. She's… different, though. I don't know. I like talking to her."
"Different how?"
Jack thought for a moment, trying to put it into words. "She gets me. Like, really gets me. It's like we've known each other forever, even though we haven't."
"Sounds like you're into her."
Jack shrugged, but the small smile on his face gave him away.