The Ugly Duckling

Chapter 1: So it begins

Eliza Green didn’t have much patience for preppy things. Her sister, Chloe, was the epitome of everything Eliza found annoying. Chloe's world was one of sparkles, designer handbags, and perfectly coordinated outfits. Eliza's world was simpler: faded jeans, worn-out sneakers, and T-shirts that didn’t necessarily match.

Today, though, the two worlds were colliding. It was the first day of high school, and Eliza knew what was coming as she sat at the kitchen table, wolfing down a bowl of cereal. Chloe was upstairs, no doubt adding the finishing touches to whatever overly put-together ensemble she had chosen for her own first day of junior year.

“Eliza, you’re not really going to school like that, are you?” came the inevitable voice from the staircase.

Eliza sighed, not even looking up from her cereal. “Why would I wear anything else?”

Chloe appeared in the doorway, a vision in pastel pink with matching accessories. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a perfect ponytail, and her makeup—though subtle—was flawless. She gave Eliza a critical once-over, taking in the worn-out flannel shirt and black sneakers with visible disdain.

“Seriously, Eliza, you could at least try. Freshman year is important. It’s where you set the tone for the rest of high school,” Chloe lectured, hands on her hips.

“Exactly. So I’m setting the tone of not caring,” Eliza retorted, shoving another spoonful of cereal into her mouth. She knew Chloe meant well in her own way, but the thought of caring about what others thought of her appearance seemed like such a waste of energy.

Chloe sighed dramatically. “Well, don’t come crying to me when you’re not invited to any parties or don’t make any friends because you refuse to put in a little effort.”

“Noted,” Eliza said, already tuning out as she finished her breakfast and grabbed her backpack. It was covered in patches from bands she liked and random buttons she had collected over the years. It was a sharp contrast to the polished, brand-new bag Chloe had sitting by the door.

They walked to school together, as they did every day. Chloe kept up a steady stream of chatter about how excited she was to see all her friends, how she couldn’t wait to get back to her cheerleading squad, and how she hoped this year’s homecoming would be even better than last year’s.

Eliza nodded along, throwing in the occasional “uh-huh” or “sounds great” to keep the peace. But her mind was elsewhere. The truth was, she was a little nervous about starting high school. It wasn’t so much the classes she was worried about—she could handle those. It was more about finding her place. Middle school had been rough, and Eliza wasn’t looking forward to another four years of feeling like an outsider.

They reached the school, a large brick building that loomed in front of them like a challenge. Chloe waved cheerily to a group of her friends gathered by the entrance. “Well, good luck, Eliza! Try not to embarrass yourself!” she called out as she hurried off to join them.

Eliza rolled her eyes but couldn’t help a small smile as she watched her sister disappear into the crowd. Chloe might be annoying, but she was still her sister.

Taking a deep breath, Eliza stepped through the doors and into the chaos of the school hallway. Freshman year, she told herself. Just survive it, and everything else will fall into place.

As she made her way to her first class, Eliza felt a small thrill of excitement despite herself. High school was a new start, a chance to be whoever she wanted to be. And maybe, just maybe, she could figure out who that was.

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A/N: ahhh hope you guys enjoyed, still working on more chapter and the direction of the story!!! <3