FLIPPED: MARK LEE

2: First Day Of Hell

I thought I'd just have to deal with Juli Jung at home, but the first day of school proved me spectacularly wrong.

Standing outside the classroom, I could hear the buzz of kids chatting and laughing, and honestly, it felt like a live-action circus waiting to swallow me whole. I hoped the kids would be decent-nice, or at least manageable-because being stuck with a bunch of troublemakers for years would be, well, dreadful.

But I might have tempted fate.

The first thing that happened when I walked in was getting ambushed by a hug, by some random boy. Not just any hug-a full-on, bear-hug-of-doom! I was wrapped up so tight it felt like I was being squeezed by a giant, friendly pillow. It was kind of comforting, in a "being choked by a warm blanket" sort of way.

Then I noticed everyone around us was staring, giggling, and pointing.

At that moment, the cozy hug transformed into a full-blown embarrassment fest.

I wriggled free, brushed myself off, and tried to regain some dignity.

Then I looked up to see who'd attacked me. My first thought was, "Who's this miniature cowboy, and why is he hugging me?". The kid had curly hair sticking out in every direction, pants that looked two sizes too big, and a plaid shirt that could've been borrowed from a wild west film.

He looked quite funny. But something about his face gave me a sense of familiarity.

"Mark, it's me!" The mysterious boy announced, grinning like he'd just won the lottery. His voice was unmistakably not boyish, which only added to my confusion. "It's Juliana~ Your neighbor!" She leaned in, whispering with an exaggerated wink. "And your first kiss."

Then it clicked.

This wasn't a random cowboy- it was Juliana. The girl who'd somehow ended up being my accidental kiss.

Without her raincoat and hood, she looked like a tiny, disheveled boy. Perhaps it was because of her short hair, and the fact that it was curly made it look even shorter. Or maybe it was her boyish clothes. All other girls around her wore dresses and skirts. She looked pretty dude-ish to me.

I had to stifle a laugh.

Seeing her now, minus her raincoat, was like realizing the cute puppy you'd known was actually a scruffy raccoon in disguise.

"You're... Juliana?" I said, my head tilting like I was trying to understand a complicated math problem. "But you look like a... boy."

Of course, this led to a symphony of giggles from the class.

I felt my face get hot and wished I could sink into the floor and disappear. But Juliana seemed utterly unfazed. She just beamed at me as if my comment had been a compliment.

"I get that a lot," She said, shrugging and giggling as though we were old friends catching up. "But Mark, welcome to Mayfield! You're gonna love it here. I promise to be the best friend ever!"

Then, as if I hadn't had enough, she flung herself at me again, pulling me into another enthusiastic embrace.

The room erupted with squeals and laughter. "Juli, is that your new boyfriend?", "Mark and Juli, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!", "Are you guys getting married?"

It was clear that Juli Jung wasn't just a quirky neighbor; she was a full-blown whirlwind of relentless enthusiasm. And as I stood there, trapped in her hug and the chaos of the classroom, I knew I was in for a ride of epic proportions. Whether I liked it or not.

Walking into the classroom on the first day of school, I was practically bouncing with excitement. It wasn't just the new year that thrilled me; it was the chance to make friends and be part of a class where maybe, just maybe, I'd find my place. I'd been looking forward to this day for weeks, dreaming of new faces and new adventures.

But as I glanced around the room, I could feel the familiar pang of uncertainty. I was always a bit of an oddball, and though I tried to be friendly, it seemed like my enthusiasm sometimes made others wary. I often found myself on the fringes of groups, with only the occasional chat with teachers to keep me company.

But that didn't really bother me. I liked my own company a lot.

I spotted a couple of empty seats near the front and made my way over, hoping to settle in and maybe strike up a conversation. The chatter and laughter of other kids buzzed around me, and I tried to ignore the little voice in my head reminding me of how I didn't always fit in.

Just as I was about to sit down, I saw him-Mark. He was standing by the door, looking nervous and trying to gather his bearings. My heart skipped a beat.

I knew Mark from the neighborhood, and seeing him here was a delightful surprise. I hadn't expected him to be in my class. I was so thrilled that I barely noticed the way a few kids turned to look at him with curiosity and then quickly looked away, as if their attention was something they'd rather avoid.

Without a second thought, I darted over to him. I couldn't let this chance slip by. I'd never forget how he'd been such a good sport during our last adventure with the mud and all. As I flung my arms around him in a bear hug, I felt an immediate warmth, like I was home again.

It was only when I felt the giggles and heard the whispers of my classmates that I remembered, oh yeah, I might be making a scene.

I stepped back and saw Mark's face-his eyes wide with surprise and a touch of confusion. Those eyes! They were just as I remembered, big and round, full of curiosity and something else I couldn't quite place. They were mesmerizing, and in that moment, they seemed to sparkle with unspoken stories.

Ah, and they're back! The butterflies in my stomach.

"Mark, it's me!" I announced cheerfully. "It's Juliana! Your neighbor!" I leaned in for a secretive whisper, "Your first kiss."

"Uh, you're Juliana?" Mark said, tilting his head like he was trying to solve a particularly tricky riddle. "But you look like a... boy."

"I get that a lot," I said, trying to sound nonchalant as I shrugged my shoulders. "But Mark, welcome to Mayfield! You're gonna love it here. I promise to be the best friend ever!"

Then I couldn't help myself- I gave him another enthusiastic hug.

The room filled with the sounds of giggles and teasing, but I was too busy soaking in the joy of having Mark with me.

As the teasing continued and the laughter flowed around us, I glanced at Mark's face again. Those doe eyes of his were the highlight of my day. I couldn't wait to spend every day with him, to share my school experiences and adventures.

Mark's presence meant that maybe this year wouldn't be so lonely after all.