the name of the game - e.j caswell

01

The crisp autumn air was heavy with both promise and trepidation as Annalise Wright pulled her silver sedan out of the driveway, the familiar hum of the engine a small comfort against the chaos in her mind. This car, old and slightly worn but beloved, had once belonged to her dad, and every turn of the wheel felt like carrying a piece of him with her. The road stretched ahead, lined with trees shedding their golden leaves, a poignant reminder of change—a theme that felt all too familiar to Annalise. Transferring to East High was supposed to be a clean slate, a chance to escape the weight of her past, but the idea of leaving behind everything she had known filled her with a mix of unease and longing. Her fingers tightened around the steering wheel as doubts crept in like uninvited guests. 

What if starting over wasn't as easy as she hoped? What if the memories of North High, the whispers of her past followed her here? 

She bit her lip, her fiery red hair catching the sunlight streaming through the windshield, and turned up the radio in a futile attempt to drown out her spiraling thoughts. But the upbeat pop song felt hollow, unable to cut through the fear that clenched her chest as she drove closer to her new beginning.

The towering facade of East High loomed ahead, the worn-out bricks glinting under the morning sun, starkly different from the modernized buildings of North Ridge. The sight of the sprawling campus was enough to momentarily still Annalise's racing mind as she pulled into the parking lot, scanning the rows of cars for an empty space. The size of the school wasn't as intimidating as North High. But, the bustling students made her feel like an outsider before she'd even stepped foot inside. She finally eased into a spot near the far end of the lot, her hands gripping the steering wheel tightly as the reality of the moment settled in. This was it—her first day at East High, her first real attempt at starting over. 

"You can do this," she whispered aloud, her voice shaky but determined, as if saying it might make it true. She sat for a moment longer, inhaling deeply, letting the cool air seep into her lungs before finally grabbing her bookbag from the passenger seat. Swinging the door open, she stepped out into the brisk morning air, the sound of the world around her momentarily overwhelming. Just as she closed the car door and turned toward the school, two boys on skateboards came hurtling past her, so close that she stumbled back in surprise. "Hey, watch it!" she shouted, her hand flying to her chest as her heart leaped into her throat. The boys didn't even turn to acknowledge her, their laughter fading as they skated off, leaving her standing alone in the parking lot, her nerves now doubled.

As she locked her car and slung her bag over her shoulder, Annalise glanced around, her eyes scanning the crowded lot for any sign of familiarity. She'd been so focused on the fear of seeing him—the one person who knew her secrets—that she hadn't stopped to think about what it would feel like to be completely alone in a sea of strangers. The chatter of students filled the air, their voices blending into a symphony of laughter, greetings, and excited conversations about the first day back. Annalise felt like an outsider looking in, her presence unnoticed as she weaved through the groups of friends clustered around the entrance. She swallowed hard, her palms sweating despite the chill in the air, and reminded herself that this was what she wanted. But the knot in her stomach tightened with every step, the fear of failure clinging to her like a shadow she couldn't shake. Reaching the doors, she paused briefly, her hand hovering over the handle as if crossing this threshold might somehow transform her. "Don't blow it," she muttered under her breath, her voice barely audible over the hum of activity around her. With one final deep breath, she pulled the door open and stepped inside, the noise and energy of East High swallowing her whole.

The bustling hallways of East High were a sensory overload, with students rushing past with an energy that seemed both chaotic and contagious. Annalise hesitated for a moment, her eyes darting from one end of the hall to the other as she tried to orient herself. Her old school had been smaller, its layout so familiar that she could navigate it with her eyes closed. Here, she felt like she'd been dropped into a maze without a map. Before she could fully take in her surroundings, the loudspeaker crackled to life, and a cheerful voice announced, "Good morning, students! Please make your way to the gym for our annual back-to-school kickoff!" 

The directive was clear, but for Annalise, it posed an immediate problem—she had no idea where the gym was. The crackling voice over the intercom didn't help her nerves and so, groaning softly, she ran a hand through her hair, the fiery strands falling back into place as she glanced around for someone who might help. Spotting two girls chatting near a set of lockers, she hesitated before approaching them. "Uh... excuse me, do you know where the gym is?" she asked, her voice tentative but polite. 

One of the girls, with long brown hair and a warm smile, turned to her and asked, "Are you new?" Annalise nodded, her cheeks flushing slightly under the girl's kind gaze. "I'm Kourtney," said the other girl, who wore her curly hair in playful pigtails. She extended a hand, her confidence and friendliness immediately putting Annalise at ease. "That's Nini," Kourtney added, motioning to her friend. "Here, follow us," Nini said, her tone calm and reassuring. Annalise felt a rush of gratitude as she trailed behind them, the knot in her stomach loosening ever so slightly. Relief washed over her as the two girls led her through the crowded halls, their friendly chatter easing her nerves.

The gymnasium was packed with students seated on the bleachers, the hum of excitement filling the air. Annalise hesitated for a moment at the entrance, overwhelmed by the energy of the room. "C'mon, you'll be fine," Kourtney said, motioning for her to follow. They found seats near the middle of the bleachers, just as the principal stepped up to the podium. "Welcome back, students! I hope you're all ready for another amazing year at East High!" he began, his voice booming through the microphone. Annalise tried to focus on his words, but her mind kept wandering. 

The newness of it all was overwhelming, and she couldn't help but feel out of place. "What grade are you in?" Nini asked, snapping her out of her thoughts. "Senior," Annalise replied quickly. "Transfer," she added, hoping to avoid further questions. "What school?" Nini pressed gently. Annalise hesitated, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Oh, uh, I don't think you'd know it," she said, hoping Nini would let it go. Thankfully, the girl seemed to pick up on her reluctance and didn't push further. Annalise let out a quiet breath of relief, grateful for the unspoken understanding. As the principal continued his announcements, Annalise's attention was drawn to a lively blonde woman who bounded up to the stage. 

The sound of a microphone crackling brought Annalise's attention back to the stage as a blonde woman stepped up, her energy immediately captivating the room. "And I would like to announce our new drama teacher. She has an announcement that she swore would not cost too much money," the principal said, stepping aside as the woman approached the podium. The teacher introduced herself as Ms. Jenn, her dramatic flair instantly filling the room with contagious excitement. "When I heard that the high school where High School Musical was shot had never staged a production of High School Musical: The Musical, I was shocked as an actress, inspired as a director, and triggered as a millennial!" she exclaimed, earning scattered laughs and intrigued murmurs. Annalise couldn't help but smile at the woman's enthusiasm, though she wasn't sure how she felt about jumping into another school production after everything that had happened.

As Ms. Jenn continued her speech, a boy in a yellow jacket joined her on stage, introduced as Carlos, the new student choreographer. His confident demeanor and bright smile seemed to charm the crowd instantly. Annalise noticed how Nini and Kourtney exchanged excited glances, clearly thrilled about the announcement. She found herself smiling softly at their enthusiasm, momentarily distracted from her own worries. 

As the assembly continued, Annalise glanced down at the beaded bracelet on her wrist, the small charm inscribed with two words: Mamma Mia. The bracelet had been a gift from her old drama teacher, a reminder of the spring musical she had left behind at North High. The memories of that show were bittersweet, filled with both triumph and heartbreak, but the bracelet was a token of the determination she hoped to carry with her. As she sat in the crowded gymnasium, she allowed herself a small glimmer of hope. Perhaps East High would be the fresh start she needed, a place to rebuild and rediscover herself, even if the fear of encountering her past still loomed in the back of her mind.