LAST FOREVER( Complete ✅️)

Chapter 15: SO I'M COOL NOW?

I strolled into school, a swirl of confusion and exhaustion still clinging to my thoughts. The unexpected excitement that greeted me was like a slap of cold water in the face.

"Sierra, hey!" The voice belonged to Sasha, one of the popular girls, the type you'd usually see in school magazines or hear about in hushed tones. She was heading my way, her bright smile as genuine as it was surprising.

"Um, hey," I replied, a bit taken aback.

Sasha's enthusiasm was almost contagious. "Congratulations on winning the boxing match! You totally rocked it!"

I blinked, my brain struggling to catch up. Boxing match? Oh right, that thing I'd completely forgotten about in the midst of my chaotic life. Sasha handed me a school magazine, and I stared at it in disbelief. There was a picture of me on the cover, my fists raised triumphantly in the air.

"I... I didn't even know they were taking pictures," I stammered.

Sasha laughed. "Well, you're kind of a big deal now. Seriously, Sierra, we should totally hang out around lunchtime. The girls and I want to get to know you better."

My head was spinning. Me, hanging out with the popular crowd? It felt like the universe had suddenly flipped my life script. But could I really trust this unexpected twist?

As Sasha chatted away, I couldn't help but wonder if maybe, just maybe, the tables had turned for the best. Had I stumbled into a new chapter where I wasn't the lonely girl with a tragic backstory but someone others wanted to be around? It was a strange feeling, and part of me was still waiting for the punchline.

"Sure, lunchtime sounds great," I finally said, offering a tentative smile.

Sasha beamed. "Awesome! See you then, Sierra."

As I walked down the school corridor, I couldn't help but feel like I'd stepped into some alternate universe where I wasn't invisible anymore. It was like a scene from a teen movie where the underdog suddenly becomes the hero. The kids in the hallway watched me with smiles, some even gave me nods of admiration. It was like they knew who I was now, and the feeling was exhilarating.

I mean, fitting in wouldn't be so bad, right? All of a sudden, I was Sierra the boxer, not just Sierra, the girl with a tragic backstory. It felt like I'd been handed a backstage pass to the coolest party in town.

I tried to play it cool, tossing my hair – which was loose and wavy today, by the way – and offering casual nods and smiles in return. It was as if I'd unlocked a secret achievement in the game of high school life, and I was determined to level up. Screw Haden, screw Andy, this was my life now!

I couldn't help but let a grin creep across my face. "Sierra the boxer" had a nice ring to it. Maybe this was my chance to rewrite the script of my life, to become someone important, someone who mattered.

As I headed to my next class, I couldn't stop replaying the scene in my mind. I even did a little happy dance in my head, but only in my head because dancing in the hallway might have been pushing it.

The truth was, this newfound attention was intoxicating. I'd spent so long feeling like an outcast, like I was on the sidelines of my own life, and now I had a taste of the spotlight. It was like I'd been given permission to be the star of my own story, and I was going to run with it.

And you know what? If this was the kind of attention that came with boxing, then maybe it was time to take it to the next level. I had dreams, and now, they didn't seem so out of reach. After all, if the cool kids could get what they wished for, why couldn't I?

*** *** ***

Lunchtime had never looked quite like this before. I sat at the table with Sasha, her blond hair gleaming in the cafeteria's fluorescent light. Felicia, a striking brunette with a talent for makeup, was engrossed in a fashion magazine. Tamara, with her impeccable style, wore a designer jacket that seemed more suited for a runway than a school cafeteria. Kayla, the resident trendsetter, sported colorful accessories that could rival a jewelry store.

But that wasn't all. The jocks sauntered over, led by senior heartthrobs Damien, his piercing blue eyes, and unruly dark hair making hearts skip a beat. Alan, the athlete with a charming smile, was the ladies' man, while Toby, the class clown, seemed more interested in telling jokes than eating lunch. And then there was Tristan, with his tousled brown hair and eyes that looked like they'd been carved from crystal.

I tried not to stare too openly at Tristan. It wasn't easy. His presence was magnetic, and I couldn't help but feel a tug of attraction, which totally caught me off guard. Who knew the popular kids could be so... well, good-looking?

But then there was Toby. The guy seemed friendly enough, but I couldn't help but think he was working with half a deck. He was chatting animatedly, cracking jokes that had the girls giggling. I almost rolled my eyes at some of his comments. It was clear he was riding the wave of his looks because, in the brains department, he seemed to be on vacation.

As if on cue, Andy appeared, looking anxious. He wanted to talk to me, but I wasn't ready for that conversation. I waved him off, and he reluctantly retreated.

Sasha seized the moment to steer the conversation toward juicier topics. "Can you believe Emily got pregnant at Tristan's party?" she whispered, leaning in.

The table erupted in whispers, fueled by shock and scandal. "Disgusting!" Felicia exclaimed.

"I know, right?" Kayla chimed in. "Such a shocker."

"wasn't she like your best friend" I commented. They used to hang out all the time now that she was pregnant she was disgusting.

Sasha bit her lip "we were but I mean it's just shocking you know"

I raised an eyebrow at her and decided to ignore their gossip session.
I couldn't help but feel a strange mix of excitement and discomfort. It was like I'd suddenly become a character in one of those teen dramas, and the plot twists just kept on coming.

Tristan, however, seemed more interested in me than the gossip. He leaned closer, his eyes locking onto mine, and I felt my heart race. The cafeteria buzzed with activity around us, but in that moment, it was as if we were the only two people in the room.