Through the Seasons of Us

Chapter 1: The New Year Begins

---*Willow Creek High School. The chilly air of January seeps through the cracks of the old building as students hustle through the halls, catching up after winter break. Lockers slam shut, laughter echoes, and the PA system crackles faintly with morning announcements.*---Ava Miller adjusted her scarf as she stood by her locker, her fingers cold despite the gloves she wore. She hated crowds, and the first day back from winter break was always the worst. People shouted over each other, comparing holiday stories, while others darted around, trying to remember their schedules. Ava sighed. **Ava thinking:** "Why does it feel like everyone has a story except me?"*Ava's winter break had been uneventful, spent sketching in her small attic room and listening to her parents bicker over bills downstairs. Not that she minded the quiet—most of the time, she preferred it. She closed her locker, her sketchbook tucked under her arm, and made her way toward English class. The heels of her boots clicked softly against the polished tiles as she tried to avoid the stampede of students. As she turned a corner, her head was buried in a mental checklist: *"English essay, history notes, return library book..."* She collided with someone—hard. **Ava speaking:** "Oh! I'm sorry!" Her sketchbook tumbled to the ground, pages splaying open. She knelt to retrieve it but froze when a voice, low and annoyed, cut through the noise. **Ethan speaking:** "Watch it." Ava looked up and met the sharp, piercing gaze of Ethan Blake. His dark hair was tousled like he'd just rolled out of bed, and the leather jacket he wore looked almost too cool for a high school hallway. His jaw tightened as he towered over her, his expression unreadable. **Ava speaking:** "I... I didn't see you." He scoffed, stepping around her without another word. Ava blinked, still crouched on the floor, her sketchbook clutched in her hands. She watched as Ethan disappeared into the crowd, leaving her with a mix of embarrassment and irritation. **Ava thinking:** *"Rude much?!"*---*In the English class. The room is filled with the smell of fresh notebooks and the occasional squeak of sneakers against the floor.* ---Ava slid into her usual seat near the window, hoping to avoid any attention. She pulled out her notebook and began doodling in the margins, her thoughts still lingering on the rude boy from the hallway. Mrs. Harper, the English teacher, clapped her hands to get the students' attention. **Mrs. Harper speaking:** "Alright, class. Welcome back! I hope you're ready for an exciting semester because we're diving right in. This year, we'll be working on something a little different—a year-long creative project." Groans erupted from the class. Ava's heart sank. **Ava thinking:** *"Creative project? That sounds like group work. Please don't let it be group work."*Her fears were confirmed when Mrs. Harper continued. **Mrs. Harper speaking:** "You'll be paired up with a partner to create something that reflects your personal interests and talents. Writing, art, music—it's up to you. I've already assigned the pairs, so check the board on your way out." As soon as class ended, Ava shuffled to the board, her stomach churning. She scanned the list until her eyes landed on her name. **Ava reading aloud:** "Ava Miller... Ethan Blake?" She stared at the name next to hers in disbelief. **Ava thinking:** *"You have got to be kidding me."* A soft chuckle behind her made her turn around. Ethan was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, his smirk unmistakable. **Ethan speaking:** "Looks like we're stuck together, princess." Ava glared at him, her cheeks burning. **Ava speaking:** "Don't call me that." He shrugged and walked off, leaving Ava fuming. **Ava muttering:** "This is going to be a disaster." ---*Later that afternoon, Ava sits alone in the school courtyard, staring at her sketchbook. The faint sound of the bell rings in the distance as she tries to calm her nerves.* ---Ava didn't know much about Ethan Blake, but what she did know was enough to worry her. He was the kind of guy who always seemed to have detention or skipped school entirely. Rumors about him floated through the halls like wildfire—parties, fights, even run-ins with the police. **Ava thinking:** *"Why me? Why not someone who actually talks to him?"* She sighed and flipped to a blank page in her sketchbook, sketching the outline of a tree. But her lines came out jagged, her irritation bleeding into the page. **Ava thinking:** *"Maybe it won't be so bad. Maybe he'll actually help. Or maybe I'll be doing this entire project by myself."*The thought was enough to make her groan. ---*Ava looks up from her sketchbook to see Ethan standing in the distance, leaning against the bike racks. For a moment, their eyes meet, and Ava quickly looks away. She doesn't notice the small smile that flickers across his face as he watches her leave.* ---