HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEARTS

Chapter 3 : A world apart

                                   Emma's Pov:

As we all stood by the car, I felt like the outsider in their tight-knit group. Miles was cracking jokes with Jax, and Olivia was leaning into Alex , laughing at something he said. I mostly stayed quiet, clutching the strap of my backpack, trying not to look too out of place. The buzzing energy around the school was hard to ignore—people greeting each other, catching up, groups forming quickly like they had never been apart.

Then the bell rang, loud and piercing, breaking through the chatter.

"Alright, showtime," Miles said with a grin, giving me a nudge. "What's your first class?"

"History," I replied, managing a small smile. It was one of the few things that excited me about school. History had always been a safe space for me—old stories, ancient civilizations, things that made more sense than the messiness of real life.

"History, huh? Nerd," Jax teased lightly, his eyes on me for a moment, but it wasn't mean. More like he was testing me, seeing how I'd react.

I shrugged. "I guess."

"Hey, don't let him bother you," Olivia chimed in with a smile. "History's actually pretty cool. You'll do fine."

I nodded, grateful for her words, even though I was still nervous.

"I'll see you later," Miles said, throwing his arm around Alia as they started walking in the opposite direction. "Text me if you need anything, okay?"

"Yeah, sure," I called after him, watching as he and Jax disappeared into the crowd as everyone dispersed.

I turned toward the main building, taking a deep breath. This was it. My first class, my first day.

As I walked down the crowded hallways, the noise around me faded into the background. I focused on finding my way, clutching my schedule like a lifeline. Eventually, I found the history classroom tucked near the end of the hallway, away from the chaos of the main entrance.

The door was open, and students were already settling into their seats. I scanned the room quickly, looking for an empty spot in the back—somewhere I could sit unnoticed and blend in. Thankfully, there was one by the window, away from the clusters of students who already seemed to know each other.

I slipped into my seat, taking out my notebook and pen, feeling the tension in my shoulders start to ease just a little. History was familiar. I could lose myself in it, focus on the past instead of this strange new present. Maybe, just maybe, I could get through the day without feeling completely lost.

As the teacher started the lesson, I let myself relax. Today we were diving into ancient Egypt, one of my favorite topics. The world outside the classroom began to fade away, and for the first time since I'd moved to Ridgeview, I felt a small sense of calm.

But in the back of my mind, I knew it wouldn't last forever.

                 *        *        *        *       *       *

By the time lunch rolled around, I was feeling less tense. The morning had passed in a blur of unfamiliar faces, but nothing terrible had happened, and I hadn't gotten lost. So, I counted that as a win.

I made my way to the Art class after lunch, grateful for the break from the overwhelming atmosphere of the hallways. Art had always been a quiet escape for me, a place where I could express myself without needing words. I walked into the classroom, the smell of paint and charcoal already calming my nerves.

The room was bright and open, with large windows letting in the afternoon light. Easels were set up around the room, and students were already chatting and setting up their supplies. I found a seat at one of the back tables, pulling out my sketchbook and pencils, hoping to lose myself in the assignment.

As I was settling in, a girl with short, curly brown hair slid into the seat next to me. She wore a colorful scarf and had paint stains on her fingers, which made me smile a little. She looked like she belonged here.

"Hi! I'm Lizzy," she said with a bright grin, her voice easy and warm. "You're new, right?"

"Yeah, I'm Emma," I replied, feeling a little shy but glad someone had spoken to me first.

"Nice to meet you, Emma." She smiled, pulling out her own sketchbook. "I haven't seen you around before. Are you new to Ridgeview or just the school?"

"New to both," I admitted. "I just moved here a few weeks ago."

"That's gotta be rough. Where'd you move from?"

New York," I said, bracing myself for the inevitable questions.

Lizzy's eyes widened. "No way! I've always wanted to go there. You must have loved it. The art scene alone must've been amazing."

"It was," I said with a small smile. "But this place isn't so bad either."

Lizzy laughed. "It's definitely quieter, but hey, it's got its charm. And the art teacher here is great. You'll love this class."

As we got to work, Lizzy and I started talking more, and I realized how easy it was to talk to her. We shared a love for painting, sketching, and even had a mutual obsession with Shakespeare. It turned out she'd played Juliet in the school's production last year, and we spent a good few minutes quoting lines back and forth, laughing like we'd known each other for ages.

For the first time since I'd moved, I felt a little more at ease. Ridgeview didn't seem so overwhelming anymore, not with someone like Lizzy around.

By the end of class, we had swapped numbers, and I left the room with a lighter heart. Maybe this place wasn't so bad after all.