All I Want To Do...

... is to become a sophomore

Today is Jaya's first day of sophomore high school and it won't be in Guthrie. Over the summer before freshman year, she met Devi's two best friends, Fabiola Torres and Eleanor Wong. They quickly included her into the bestie circle and filled her in on all of the gossip they know I'm this town. The hotties, the nerds, the sports teams, everything. And she quickly fell into step with them and she developed a crush on Paxton, a hot jock in their school.

Jaya is in her messy room she will clean after school today. She's starting high school! She's kneeled before her rosary and things with her hands together.

"Hey, Gods, it's me again." The last time Jaya prayed was when she went back to Guthrie to spread Saavani's ashes in their river with Tory's help. "I'm still in the San Fernando Valley in Sherman Oaks, California with Nalini and Devi. I'm about to become a sophomore." She continues telling the Gods what all she wants to do now that she's in high school. She wants to get a boyfriend and rock high school and eventually go to college.

"Today will be a good day, Jaya Singh," she says to herself.

"Jaya! Let's go!"

Jaya fixes her brown blouse she's wearing with some leggings. She slips her feet into her black flats and brushes her long, black hair and goes downstairs. She looks at a picture Nalini keeps of her parents and she smiles. She's an orphan and she's still heartbroken over their death, but she knows she'll be okay.

"I'm here, I'm ready," Jaya declares. "Ready for sophomore year, Cousin?"

"I am."
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Fabiola is the captain of the robotics club at school, Eleanor is the president of the drama club, and Jaya is the leader of the tutoring club in school. They're all pretty set and happy. Jaya is still crushing on Paxton, who's on the swim team. He is the hottest guy in Sherman Oaks High. Jaya will always like him.

Jaya glares at people as they stare at Devi but her glare doesn't phase anyone. They go outside to the back and they see Fabiola standing with Eleanor. They hurry over to the,.

"Guys, sophomore year is gonna be our year," Devi declares. "I can feel it."

They start walking together, Devi and Jaya in the middle.

"Sophomore actually means 'wise fool' in Greek," Fabiola says.

"Fab, I'm the one who taught you that," Jaya comments.

Fabiola smiles. "I know yo pay did, Jay."

"Oh, my God," Eleanor suddenly gasps. "I just realized this is our last first day of sophomore year we'll ever have. I'm gonna cry."

"Right," Devi says. "This reminds me of a problem I want to talk to you guys about. We're not cool."

"Uh, would a not cool person wear..." Eleanor moved her hair and shows a pink feather "one dangly earring?"

"Was that a choice or did you lose your earring on the bus?" Devi asks.

"I didn't ride the bus," Eleanor says. "I rollerbladed." She holds up her rollerblades.

"Who says we're not cool?" Fabiola asks. "We're the only students who get to eat in the teacher's lounge."

"Yeah, we can't do that anymore," Devi says. "We need to eat with kids our own age."

"Do we really?" Jaya asks her cousin.

"Guys, don't you want a better high school experience?" Devi asks. "I mean, last year was a freshman shit-fest." She pulls out her notebook and pencil.

"Are you saying that 'cause of your mobility issue?" Fabiola queries.

"What? No," Devi claims. "Nobody even remembers that."