New town. New school. Same routine-until Charlotte Galloway catches the attention of Lucas Andrews and Aiden Woods, two of Brookhaven High's most notorious bad boys.
She never expected to be caught in the middle of their game. She definitely never e...
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The warmth of the morning sun filtered through the curtains of my room, wrapping around me like a soft blanket. I could hear the faint sounds of my siblings stirring, the excited chatter of my younger sister, Grace, bubbling over like a fizzy drink, mixed with the rhythmic thud of my brother, Liam, likely bounding in from the bathroom. It was the first day of school, a moment I'd both anticipated and dreaded, and sleep had evaded me for most of the night.
With a sigh, I sat up, running a hand through my long, wavy blonde hair. My hair was tangled, as if sharing in my unease. I glanced at the clock; it was time to get moving. I swung my feet onto the cool wooden floor and pushed myself up. I glanced around, reminding myself that this year marked the beginning of a new chapter—we were all stepping into uncharted territory.
After a quick shower, I dressed in my favorite red top and a pair of black skinny jeans that hugged comfortably. I smiled at my reflection, trying to quiet the nervous knot twisting in my stomach. I could hear Grace squealing in the kitchen, animatedly talking about her first day in elementary school, which made me chuckle. She had that contagious enthusiasm that could spread like wildfire.
“Lottie! Come on, I need your help with my hair!” Grace shouted from the kitchen, where I could smell the sweet scent of pancakes wafting through the air.
I quickly gathered my things, slipping on my converse sneakers. I gave my blonde hair one last brush through, letting the waves fall as they would, and dashed downstairs. Grace was bouncing in her chair, her curls bouncing in tandem.
“Okay, okay, but hold still!” I said, crouching down beside her. I pulled her hair into two playful pigtails, securing them with bright pink ribbons. “There! You look adorable,” I declared, as if I were an artist admiring my masterpiece.
“Thank you, Lottie!” she beamed, her face lighting up with glee. She then dove into her plate of pancakes as I poured syrup over mine, savoring the moment together. For a moment, my nerves melted away. This was what home felt like.
“Lottie! Look at my new backpack!” Grace spoke a mile a minute, showing me her glittering pink bag, practically vibrating with excitement.
“It’s perfect, Grace!” I said, leaning down to give her a quick peck on the cheek.
Liam sat at the table with a half-finished pancake and a light smirk on his face. “She’s gonna swap all her crayons for snack time,” he teased.
“Shut up!” Grace shot back, sticking her tongue out at him.
“Alright, alright, let’s save the bickering for later,” I said, rolling my eyes. I snagged a pancake and quickly finished my breakfast. “We gotta get moving if we’re going to drop you off at Brookhaven Elementary first.”
