Welcome to Reefside (editing in progress)

Tracy's First Day at Reefside High

3.1: Pep talk (sort of) and bus ride 

Normal POV

Tracy Burlew is a seventeen-year-old girl around 5'3'' with "dark blonde Hair  with cool undertones and soft blue eyes. She is wearing a t-shirt that says "I'm sorry if I fall asleep in class today, sir/ma'am. It's not that what you're teaching isn't important, I'm just fighting jet lag." and a pair of blue jeans with a butterfly sequined on the upper part of the right leg. She is standing with her mother, Christi, in the driveway outside their new house by the ocean, discussing how much she wants to go back home to Michigan. Christi is a management analyst in her late 40s. She is slightly above average height, with very long, straight, white-blonde hair, and dark blue eyes. Her husband, Benjamin, is a truck driver in his early 50s. He is tall, has long, pale red hair, and pale green eyes. He left for work a few hours earlier.

"Mom, did we really have to move?" Tracy asks.

"Yes, sweetie, you know how tough things were getting back in Michigan," Christi answers.

"But couldn't we have waited to move until I graduated?" Tracy adds.

"I know you miss your friends back home, but things will get better, don't you worry," Christi says reassuringly. "My company is expanding into new markets, and Reefside is a strategic location for this expansion. They offered me a key role in managing this project, and it's a great opportunity for my career."

"But why did we have to move now?" Tracy asks, trying to understand.

"Well, my boss gave me an ultimatum. Either I take this promotion and move to Reefside, or the company would have no choice but to demote me with less pay if I stayed. It was a tough decision, but it's best for our family in the long run," Christi explains.

"Can't I stay home and help you unpack?" Tracy asks.

"Nice try, honey. I called Reefside High, and they are expecting their new student today. Plus, the counselor received your transcripts as well," Christi says.

"Okay, fine, you win. Can I borrow your car?" Tracy asks politely.

"Sorry, but I need it," Christi informs her.

"Great, I have my driver's license, but I still have to take the school bus - nice," Tracy whispers under her breath.

"You'd better get going; you don't want to miss it now, would you?" Christi asks.

"Yes," Tracy answers quickly.

Christi gives her daughter the evil look. Tracy tells her mom that she is going. Christi hands her daughter her Michigan State book bag and her lunch. Tracy slowly walks down the driveway and makes a left turn to walk down the street to the bus stop. About five minutes later, she reaches the designated area. She notices a strange pink rock sitting next to the stop sign. Tracy reaches down and picks it up.

"Well, this is a pretty strange-looking rock. I wonder what it's doing here," Tracy says, feeling an inexplicable chill run down her spine.

She hears the bus start to pull up. So she puts the rock in her pocket. The bus's brakes squeak as it comes to a complete stop, and the doors swing open. She sees the bus driver, Michelle Garcia. Michelle has a warm, friendly smile and a no-nonsense attitude. Her long, straight black hair is pulled back into a practical ponytail, and her dark brown eyes sparkle with kindness.

"Hi, there, I'm Michelle. Climb aboard the Reefside express," Michelle says with a welcoming wave.

Tracy climbs the steps and enters the bus. She watches the doors slowly close behind her. She sits down in an empty seat and sets her bag down beside her. She stares out the window and watches as the sign marking the bus stop gets smaller and smaller as the bus drives away.

"Man, I hate feeling like a freshman again," she says with a frown on her face.

Then a girl with a bright, energetic presence approaches her. Amber has short, strawberry blonde hair that frames her friendly face, and her blue eyes twinkle with curiosity. She's wearing a casual outfit that suggests she's comfortable and confident.

"Hi, I'm Amber Torres. What's your name?" She asks with a cheerful smile.

"Tracy, it's nice to meet you," she says.

"You can come over and sit with me and my friends if you want," Amber offers, gesturing to a group of students a few rows back.

"No thanks, Amber. I don't want to intrude or anything," she says, feeling a bit shy.

"Hey, Amber, why don't you invite your new friend over?" a male voice calls out from the back of the bus.

They look over in the direction from which the sound is coming. Tracy sees a boy with baby-blue eyes and curly sandy-blonde hair, giving him a youthful, playful look that makes it hard not to notice him

"Hey, Amber, who's that?" she asks, trying to hide her curiosity.

"Oh, that's Mike Andrews. He's pretty cute, right?" Amber says with a wink. "Do you want to go over and say hi to him?"

"No thanks, Amber, I'm good," Tracy says, feeling her cheeks flush slightly.

"Well, I guess I'm just going to have to go back over there and tell him that you like him," Amber says with a mischievous grin.

"No, you can't do that," she says frantically.

"I guess I'll have to invite him over," Amber says, already standing up.

"Okay, Amber, you win. I'll go over there," she says, taking a deep breath.

They walk over to where Mike and his friends are sitting. Mike moves over so Tracy can sit by the window. He has a charming, slightly cocky smile and a twinkle in his eye that suggests he's used to getting his way.

"Hi, I'm Mike, and what would your name be, beautiful?" Mike says smoothly, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

"Do you call all the girls beautiful?" she asks him, trying to match his playful tone.

"Just the beautiful ones like you. So, what is your name?" he says with a flirtatious wink.

"Tracy," she says, trying to keep her composure.

"Well, a pretty name for an even prettier girl," He says with a smile that could melt ice.

Mike continues telling her how beautiful she looks the entire ride. Tracy tries to respond, but her words get caught in her throat. Amber sits down next to her best friend, Lilly Flores. Lilly has a dynamic, energetic presence. Her slanted brown eyes are full of life, and her thick, wavy, sand-colored hair bounces as she moves. Her deeply tanned skin and hourglass figure make her stand out, and she exudes confidence and charm.

"Well, it looks like they're hitting it off," Lilly says with a knowing smile.

"Yeah, I know," Amber agrees, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

"Who is the girl anyway?" Lilly asks her best friend, leaning in closer.

"Oh, that's the new girl, Tracy," Amber answers, her voice low and conspiratorial.

"Well, I guess you could say that her first day at Reefside is off to a good start," Lilly says, giggling softly.

"You can say that again, Lilly," Amber says with a smile, her eyes never leaving Tracy and Mike.