Jessie stretched and yawned as the morning light streamed through her curtains. Just as she sat up, her bedroom door swung open, and her parents Lizzy and Daniel Setch, walked in holding a cake.
"Happy fourteenth birthday, sweetheart!" her mom cheered, her voice filled with warmth.
Jessie's heart swelled. A genuine smile spread across her face-one she hadn't worn in a long time. The past year had been rocky for her and their family. Ever since her elder brother, Josh, died of a drug overdose, her mother had struggled with depression, and their finances had taken a huge hit. Jessie had spent months watching her parents grieve, barely holding it together. But now, seeing them standing before her, smiling, even laughing, felt like a gift itself.
"Make a wish," her dad encouraged, his voice was steady but soft.
Jessie closed her eyes. For a moment, she hesitated. What did she truly want? Then, with a deep breath, she made a wish-one no one would have expected. As she blew out the candles, a quiet sense of determination settled in her chest.
After the small celebration, she headed to the bathroom, letting the warm water wash over her as she reflected on what lay ahead. High school. She had been waiting for this moment for years, but now that it was here, she wasn't sure how to feel. Excited? Nervous? Maybe both.
Just as she was about to leave the house, her best friend Sasha called. I'm outside! Let's go!"
Jessie grabbed her bag and rushed out, where Sasha stood beside her car, grinning. "Ready for the big day?"
Jessie and Sasha had been friends and neighbors since kindergarten. They both attended the same schools and had the nickname" the beauty and the brains." Jessie being the beauty and Sasha being the brains. As Jessie slid into the backseat of the car, she froze for a split second. Behind the wheel she saw Max, Sasha's elder brother, a sophomore and her secret boyfriend. She greeted him casually and gave a hug to Sasha and Denise, her close friend in middle school who everyone knows has a big crush on Max. Sasha and Denise wished her a happy birthday and gave her a big hug.
On their way to school, Sasha and Denise chatted excitedly about their cheerleading camp, their voices tinged with sadness as they mentioned how Jessie couldn't attend. Jessie just forced a slight smile, nodding along as Sasha and Denise talked. If only they knew that her summer had been anything but dull-it had been the best of her life. It was the summer that she fell in love with the love of her life, Max.
As they arrived at school, Max wished them all a great first day but then motioned for Jessie to wait behind. Jessie quickly lied saying that she was looking for her purse in the car and asked Sasha and Denise to go ahead. Once they left, Max turned to Jessie, kissed her, and whispered that he missed her. Jessie could only blush, her heart racing, as she tried to hide her feelings-feelings she wasn't ready to share just yet.
As Jessie rushed to meet Sasha and Denise, a message popped up on her phone. She ignored it, assuming it was from her mom and dad reminding her to have a good day. When the three friends walked into the school, they were immediately overwhelmed by the crowd of students. Jessie noticed the sea of unfamiliar faces and felt the weight of all eyes on her. She could see some group of students chatting excitedly, some laughing, others rushing between classes. It was all a bit too much for her.
Suddenly a girl named Mara approached them with a big smile, her presence instantly calming their nerves "Hey, I'm Mara," she introduced herself, her voice friendly and warm. "I'm your guide for the next week, so if you need anything, just ask!"
Mara was a Nigerian girl whose parents immigrated to the United States when she was still young. She was a tall girl, with a glowing dark skin and a perfect smile, making her the most beautiful girl Jessie had ever seen. She was also one of the wealthiest in school, known for her impeccable fashion sense and expensive accessories. Mara was considered the "black finest" girl in the school-far more beautiful than Jessie-and the students seemed to gravitate around her. But Mara wasn't just known for her looks; she was also incredibly smart. She didn't typically bully anyone, but she always had a way of getting what she wanted, whether it was influence over the teachers or the students.
"Follow me," Mara said, gesturing for them, to follow her. As they walked through the busting hallways, she pointed out various classrooms, explaining how the schedule worked and where they would need to go after each period.
Jessie couldn't help but feel out of place, noticing how some students seemed to admire Mara. She could feel eyes following them as they passed, but Mara remained unbothered. She was the type of person who was always calm and in control.
When they reached the counselor's office, Mara turned to them and smiled. "Alright, this is where I leave you. My job here is done," she said with a wink, before disappearing down the hallway.
The three friends entered the office, feeling a little less tense than before. The counselor, a woman in her late thirties, greeted them with a warm smile. "Welcome to high school," she said, handing them a stack of files. "These will help you get started. You can head to your first class once you're done here."
As the bell rang, signaling the start of first period, the tension from earlier seemed to dissipate. Jessie looked around at Sasha and Denise. The first day was always the hardest, and though it still felt a bit intimidating, Jessie felt a glimmer of hope. They were going to get through this together.