A Hidden Face

The first step

(September 1rst)
Early in the morning, 6:00 am

The first light of dawn crept through the curtains, rousing Ava from her sleep. She groaned, stretching her arms above her head as she blinked away the remnants of sleep. Today was the first day at Oakwood Academy, and she had set her alarm extra early to ensure she wouldn't be rushed. Ava swung her legs out of bed and padded over to her mirror, taking in her reflection. Dark circles lingered beneath her eyes, a testament to the late nights spent practicing guitar riffs and writing lyrics. She quickly brushed her teeth and washed her face, before pulling her hair into a messy bun. She rummaged through her closet, settling on a simple outfit: black skinny jeans, a white band T-shirt (ironically, not her own band), and a black leather jacket. She checked the time - 6:45 AM. Ava grabbed her backpack and tucked a few last-minute items inside: her guitar pick, a water bottle, and a fresh notebook for notes. She glanced one final time at the mirror, taking in the determined expression on her own face. With a deep breath, she turned and headed out the door, ready to face whatever challenges her first day at Oakwood Academy had in store for her. The sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon as she made her way down the quiet streets, filled with a mixture of excitement and anxiety. As she approached the school's grand iron gates, Ava noticed a group of students gathered nearby, cigarettes in hand. Among them was a tall, broad-shouldered boy with messy brown hair and a smirk that seemed permanently etched onto his face - Jake Hartley, Oakwood's resident bad boy and notorious bully. Ava kept her head down as she walked past them, trying her best to blend into the crowd of students hurrying through the gates. However, as she passed, Jake's eyes locked onto her, and his smirk widened. "Hey, new girl," he called out, his voice loud and taunting. Ava's heart raced as she quickened her pace, but Jake easily kept up with her. "Slow down, sweetheart," he said, falling into step beside her. "I'm Jake, and you are...?" He reached out and grabbed her backpack strap, pulling her to a stop. Ava glared up at him, her eyes flashing with determination. "Ava," she replied curtly, "and I'm not your sweetheart." She wrenched her backpack free from his grip and continued on her way. To her surprise, Jake fell in step beside her again. "Feisty, I like it," he chuckled. "So, Ava, what brings a girl like you to Oakwood?" Before she could respond, the bell rang, signaling that it was time for everyone to head to their homerooms. Ava breathed a sigh of relief, grateful for the interruption. "Gotta go," she muttered, darting into the crowded hallway. Jake watched her go, his smirk fading into a thoughtful expression. Little did she know, their paths would continue to cross throughout the day, and with each encounter, his interest in the mysterious new girl would grow. As Ava made her way to her homeroom, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched. She glanced over her shoulder, but the hallway was bustling with students, making it impossible to pick out a specific face. Just as she reached her classroom door, a hand reached out and grabbed her arm. Ava spun around, ready to tell whoever it was to let go, when she found herself face to face with none other than Jake. "What now?" she asked irritably, trying to tug her arm free. Jake just smiled and leaned in close, his breath warm against her ear. "Just wanted to give you this," he said, letting go of her arm and pressing a small piece of paper into her hand. Ava looked down at the paper curiously, her chest suddenly feeling tight. It was a note, scrawled in Jake's messy handwriting: "Meet me at the old oak tree behind the football field after school. I want to talk to you without an audience." Ava's heart pounded in her chest as she crumpled the note and stuffed it into her pocket. "What do you want from me?" She asked aloud, her voice barely above a whisper. Jake just chuckled and turned to walk away, calling over his shoulder, "You'll find out soon enough. See you at the oak tree, Ava." Ava watched him go, her mind racing with questions. Why did he want to talk to her? Was this some kind of prank or trap? She hesitated, then stuffed the crumpled note into her bag, determined to figure out what Jake Hartley wanted with her. Throughout the day, Ava struggled to focus on her classes. Between wondering what Jake wanted and trying to navigate the social landscape of her new school, her mind was elsewhere. When the final bell rang, she gathered her things and slowly made her way towards the football field. As she approached the old oak tree, she saw Jake already leaning against its gnarled trunk, his arms crossed over his chest. He pushed off from the tree and sauntered over to her, his eyes never leaving hers. "Glad you showed up," he said, his tone more serious than before. Ava tried to hide her nervousness behind a cool facade. "I'm here," she said, keeping her voice steady. "So, spit it out. What do you want to talk about?" Jake took a deep breath and looked at the ground before meeting her gaze again. "I don't care who you are or what your secrets are," Jake said, his voice harder than before. "I'm going to make your life a living hell." Ava blinked, taken aback by his sudden hostility. "What... why?" "Cause, I have a bad feeling about you and I don't like it." He looked at her with suspicion. "So you're going to bully me cause you have a bad feeling about me? Seriously?" She was confused as to why she gave him a bad feeling. "Not just bully you," Jake said, his eyes narrowing. "I'm going to ruin your life. I'll make sure everyone hates you, that no one will ever want to be your friend." He sneered at her. Ava's face paled, but she stood her ground. "You're pathetic," she spat. "You think threatening me will make me pay attention to you? Newsflash: it won't. In fact, you've just given me a reason to ignore you even more." Jake's face contorted with anger. "You'll regret that!" he shouted after her as Ava turned and walked away, leaving him standing alone under the old oak tree. She quickened her pace, eager to put some distance between them.

(7:00 pm, band practice)

Ava stormed into the band room, slamming the door behind her. Her bandmates looked up from tuning their instruments, surprised by her sudden entrance. "Whoa, what's wrong with you?" asked Alex, the Lead singer. Ava took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "I just met the most infuriating guy," she muttered, unzipping her guitar case. "Some jerk named Jake Hartley. He's determined to make my life miserable." The band exchanged curious glances, and Emma, the drummer, leaned forward with interest. "Jake Hartley?" "Do you know him?" Ava asked, hoping for any information that might help her deal with the situation. Emma and Alex shared a look before she finally nodded. "Yeah," said Emma. "He's the new student in town." "Great," Ava groaned, pulling her guitar out of its case. "So, he's not only a jerk but also a newcomer like me. That's just perfect." Alex cleared his throat, hesitating for a moment before speaking. "There's something else you should know about him." "He's... well, he's not exactly your average new student," Alex continued. "His family just moved back here after his father got a job at the local university. And, rumor has it, Jake's got some kind of... dark past." Ava raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite herself. "Dark past?" she echoed. "Like, he's a secret criminal mastermind or something?" Emma giggled, shaking her head. "No, nothing like that. It's just... people say he's had some really tough stuff happen to him. Like, his mom left or something." Ava bit her lip, feeling a pang of sympathy despite Jake's harsh words earlier. "Maybe that's why he's so angry," she murmured, more to herself than to her friends. Alex nodded solemnly. "Could be. Either way, just watch out for him, okay? He's intense." The band practiced for the rest of the afternoon, Ava's mind only partially focused on the music. Instead, she found herself distracted by thoughts of Jake and his mysterious past. As she played her guitar riffs, she wondered what had happened to make him so bitter and angry...

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And that is all for today! Next chapter, tomorrow! Hope you enjoy.