Luna stood at the gates of Crestwood High, clutching the straps of her bag so tightly her knuckles turned white. The towering brick building loomed in front of her, its walls covered in ivy that swayed in the chilly morning breeze. Students bustled around her, laughing and chatting in small groups as they made their way inside.
She adjusted her bag and took a deep breath, forcing her feet to move. Her boots crunched on the gravel path leading to the main doors. Each step felt heavier than the last as she tried to ignore the curious stares of the other students.
"Here goes nothing," she muttered under her breath, her voice barely audible over the morning chatter.
Inside, the hallways buzzed with life. Lockers slammed shut, sneakers squeaked on the polished floors, and laughter echoed from every corner. Luna clutched her schedule in one hand, scanning the numbers on the lockers as she searched for her homeroom.
"Excuse me," she said softly to a passing group of girls, but they brushed past her without a glance.
She sighed, brushing her hair behind her ear. Her eyes landed on a teacher standing near the end of the hallway, clipboard in hand.
"Hi, I'm new," Luna said, her voice hesitant as she approached. "Can you help me find Room 204?"
The teacher smiled kindly. "Of course, dear. Just head down this hall, take a right, and it's the second door on your left."
"Thank you," Luna said, relief flooding her voice.
She followed the directions and found the room, slipping inside quietly. The classroom was half full, and no one seemed to notice her arrival. She chose a seat near the back, hoping to go unnoticed.
As the bell rang, the teacher walked in and introduced herself as Ms. Harper. "Class, we have a new student joining us today. Please welcome Luna Everhart."
Luna felt every pair of eyes in the room turn toward her. Her cheeks flushed, and she managed a small wave, her heart pounding in her chest.
"Welcome, Luna," Ms. Harper said with a warm smile. "I'm sure you'll settle in quickly."
Luna nodded, avoiding the curious gazes of her classmates. She focused on her notebook, pretending to jot something down as the lesson began.
By lunchtime, Luna's nerves had settled a little. She made her way to the cafeteria, clutching her tray of food and scanning the room for an empty seat.
She spotted a table near the window with only one girl sitting there. The girl had dark hair and a kind face, her nose buried in a book.
"Hi, is this seat taken?" Luna asked, her voice tentative.
The girl looked up and smiled. "No, go ahead."
Luna sat down, feeling a wave of relief. "Thanks. I'm Luna."
"Lily," the girl replied, closing her book. "You're new, right?"
Luna nodded, taking a bite of her sandwich. "Yeah. Just started today."
"Crestwood can be... intense," Lily said, glancing around the cafeteria. "But stick with me, and you'll be fine."
Before Luna could respond, a loud laugh rang out across the room. She looked up to see a group of girls walking toward their table.
At the center was a tall blonde girl with piercing blue eyes and a smirk that screamed trouble. She was flanked by two others, both equally intimidating.
"Well, well," the blonde girl said, stopping in front of their table. "If it isn't the new girl."
Luna stiffened, her grip tightening on her sandwich.
"Selena," Lily said, her tone wary. "Leave her alone."
Selena ignored her, leaning closer to Luna. "What's your name again? Luna, right?"
Luna nodded, her throat dry.
"Luna," Selena repeated, her voice dripping with mock sweetness. "That's... cute. Like a stray puppy lost in the big, bad woods."
Her friends snickered, and Luna's cheeks burned. She stared down at her tray, willing herself to stay calm.
"Let's get one thing straight," Selena continued, her voice hardening. "You might've gotten lucky being let into Crestwood, but you don't belong here. Stay out of our way, and maybe we'll let you survive the year."
Lily stood up, her fists clenched. "Back off, Selena."
Selena's smirk widened. "Oh, relax, Lily. I'm just welcoming her to our little family."
With one last sneer, Selena turned and walked away, her entourage trailing behind her.
"Don't let her get to you," Lily said, sitting back down. "She's all bark and no bite."
Luna managed a small nod, but her appetite was gone.
The rest of the day passed in a blur. Luna kept her head down, avoiding Selena and her friends whenever she saw them in the hallways. But it didn't take long for the whispers to start.
"Did you see her hair? So weird."
"Bet she doesn't even know how to dress."
"Why would they even let her in here?"
The comments followed her like a shadow, their voices low but loud enough to sting.
By the time the final bell rang, Luna felt like she'd been through a war. She gathered her things and headed to her locker, eager to leave.
As she opened it, a piece of paper fluttered to the ground. She picked it up, her stomach sinking as she read the words scrawled in bold letters:
Go back to where you came from.
Her hands trembled, and she shoved the note into her pocket, slamming her locker shut.
That evening, Luna sat on her bed, staring at the pendant in her hand. The day's events played over and over in her mind. She felt the weight of her mother's words—Trust no one—heavier than ever.
But as tears pricked her eyes, she also remembered Lily's kindness and the way she stood up to Selena. Maybe she wasn't entirely alone.
Luna clenched her fist around the pendant, determination flickering in her chest. She wouldn't let Selena or anyone else push her down.
She was an Everhart, after all. And Everharts didn't back down.
Across town, in a dimly lit room, a shadowy figure stared at a map pinned to the wall.
A red circle marked Crestwood High.
"She's there," the figure murmured, their voice low and menacing. "It's only a matter of time."