Shadows of the Moon

First Impressions

Sarah awoke to the sound of birds chirping outside her window. She rubbed her eyes and stretched, feeling a mix of anticipation and nervousness. Today was her first real day at the new school, and she hoped it would go smoothly. She dressed quickly and made her way downstairs, where her mother was already in the kitchen, making breakfast.

"Morning, Mom," Sarah said, taking a seat at the table.

"Good morning, sweetheart. How did you sleep?" Claire asked, glancing up from the stove.

"Pretty well, considering," Sarah replied. "I'm a bit nervous about today, though."

"You'll do great. Just be yourself, and everything will fall into place," Claire said with an encouraging smile.

Victor bounded into the kitchen, his face lit up with excitement. "I'm ready for school, Sarah! Let's go!"

"Alright, alright," Sarah laughed. "Eat your breakfast first."

After they finished eating, Sarah and Victor grabbed their backpacks and headed out the door. Monique was waiting for them at the edge of the driveway, her face bright with a welcoming smile.

"Morning! Ready for your first full day?" Monique asked.

"As ready as I'll ever be," Sarah replied, adjusting her backpack.

The walk to school was refreshing, the morning air crisp and cool. Monique chatted animatedly, filling Sarah in on more details about the school and its students. Victor skipped ahead, his energy boundless.

When they arrived at the school, Monique led them to Victor's classroom first. He hesitated at the door, looking up at Sarah with wide eyes.

"You'll be fine, Victor. I'll see you after school, okay?" Sarah reassured him.

Victor nodded bravely and entered the classroom. Sarah watched him for a moment before turning to follow Monique to their side of the school.

As they walked down the hall, Monique pointed out various classrooms and introduced Sarah to a few more students. Sarah's nerves began to settle as she felt more and more welcomed.

In their first class, English, Monique introduced Sarah to her friends: Emma, a bubbly girl with curly red hair, and Liam, a tall, quiet boy with glasses. They greeted Sarah warmly, making her feel even more at ease.

"So, how do you like the school so far?" Emma asked as they took their seats.

"It's nice. Different from my old school, but I think I'll like it here," Sarah replied.

"That's good to hear. If you need anything, just let us know," Liam added with a shy smile.

Class began, and Sarah tried to focus on the lesson, but she couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching her. She glanced around the room and noticed Ronan sitting in the back, his eyes fixed on her. He didn't look away when she caught his gaze, and she felt a strange, electric connection.

During lunch, Monique and her friends led Sarah to their usual table. They laughed and talked, sharing stories and gossip. Sarah was starting to feel like she was part of the group, but her thoughts kept drifting back to Ronan.

"Hey, Sarah," Monique said, breaking into her thoughts. "You seemed a bit distracted in English. Everything okay?"

"Yeah, just... adjusting, I guess," Sarah said with a small smile.

Monique glanced over at Ronan's table, where he sat with his usual group. "Are you curious about them?" she asked quietly.

Sarah nodded. "A little. There's something... different about them."