Selena stood in front of the mirror, smoothing out her school uniform. It was her first day of high school, for the second time in her life. She was determined to make a good impression this time, stick to herself, and study hard. Her parents, James and Molly, had opted to keep her home for another day, saying it was her medication as the reason. But Selena was eager to get back to her routine.
Downstairs, the breakfast table was set with cereal, toast, and fresh fruit. Molly poured herself a cup of coffee, her eyes fixed on Selena's bruised legs.
"Selena, sweetie, are you sure you're okay with going to school today?" Molly asked, her voice laced with concern. The seizures had scared the shit out of her.
Selena shrugged, pulling her socks up past her knees. "I'm fine, Mom. Really."
Molly hesitated, then relented. "Okay, but if you start feeling unwell, you come straight home, okay?"
Selena nodded, her eyes sparkling with excitement. James, who had been quietly observing the exchange, spoke up.
"Hey, kiddo, don't forget your lunch money and your bus pass," James said as he packed her things with a lot of concern.
Selena grinned, snatching up her backpack. "Got it. Thanks, James."
As she headed out the door, Molly called out, "Selena, wait a minute!"
Selena turned, expectant. Molly handed her a note. "Just in case, okay? This is a note excusing your absences, and you can come home if you need to." Molly popped a house key in her hands.
It wasn't like James wasn't home, but if he was off taking an order to a customer. They had started picking up dry cleaning and even bringing it to and from the store. Now, they got a discounted rate since they centralized, and the profits from tips and the service fees were bringing in enough income that she barely needed to work outside the home.
Selena nodded, tucking the note into her pocket. With a quick wave, she was off, running down the sidewalk to catch the city bus. She nearly missed it, but the driver, a kind-faced woman, waited for her to climb aboard.
As the bus rumbled down the street, Selena gazed out the window, her eyes fixed on the passing scenery. She was dressed in her school uniform, a crisp white blouse and a plaid skirt that fell just above her knees. Her dark hair was pulled back into a neat ponytail, and her brown eyes sparkled with excitement.
When the bus finally stopped in front of St. Theresa High School, Selena gathered her belongings and stepped off onto the sidewalk. The school loomed before her, a massive structure of stone and glass that seemed to stretch on forever. The sign above the entrance reads "St. Theresa High School" in bold letters, and the sound of chatter and laughter drifted out into the morning air like the call of monkeys in the forest. She knew she was going to have a high amount of tolerance for teenage behavior. She was going to school with people who were literally kids to her now. She was physically one of them but mentally an elderly lady.
Selena took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest, as she stepped onto the campus of St. Theresa High School. The year was 2003, and although gun violence wasn't as prevalent as it would be in the future, the memory of a recent incident still lingered, leaving a sense of unease in its wake. Two security officers guarded the school for now. Selena knew that in the future, the school would implement metal detectors and security measures in 2006, after her nemesis started attending the school.
As she walked down the halls, Selena couldn't help but notice the outdated hairstyles and makeup of her fellow students. She had no nostalgia for it, it was hideous. The early 2000s were a time of low-rise jeans, crop tops, and chunky highlights, awful tans, skinny eyebrows and silver eyeshadow looks.
Selena felt a pang of embarrassment for her peers. She wore soft brown shadow tightlined eyes with a slight winged eyeliner and curled her thick black eyelashes. She used a little peach blush and some white shimmer shadow as a highlighter.
A young couple kissed with some passion in the hallway, and Selena looked away. "So gross." Selena thought to herself. Despite the awkwardness of her surroundings, Selena walked with confidence, her head held high and her shoulders back. She was a new student, and she knew it wouldn't take long for the gossip mill to start churning out rumors about her. But she was determined to make a good impression to her teachers, to show her new classmates that she was more than just a pretty face and that learning was cool.
As she turned a corner, Selena's eyes landed on a group of students who seemed to embody the very essence of popularity. "Oh shit, I want to run. Ignore. Ignore them," Selena thought. There were three of them, and they were all impossibly good-looking for their age. Two of them were twins, Jakob and Liam Reinhold, with chiseled features and piercing blue eyes. Jakob's hair was a darker blond than Liam's, and his eyes seemed to sparkle with mischief. Liam, on the other hand, had a more serious expression, but his eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled.
The third member of the group was Gunn Whitehaven, a boy with a messy mop of fluffy hair that seemed to stick up in every direction. He was a bit shorter than the twins, but there was something about him that caught Selena's attention. It was the sadness. But his smile seemed so kind. "Could he be good? I have never actually seen him smile?" Selena thought.
But as Gunn's eyes met hers, Selena saw a flash of recognition, followed by a defensive look. She realized that he must have recognized her from the hospital, where she had seen him crying. His expression turned hostile, and Selena felt a jolt of nervousness. She had never seen anyone's demeanor change so quickly, and she couldn't help but wonder what had caused it.
As she continued down the hallway, Selena couldn't help but sneak glances at Gunn, wondering what had made him so hostile. She noticed that he seemed to be sizing her up, his eyes lingering on her face and body before dismissing her altogether. "Oh great, he's insecure about his masculinity." Selena thought glad that she kept her face under control.
Gunn's eyes locked onto Selena, his mind swirling with a mix of emotions. He felt vulnerable, exposed, and humiliated, knowing that she had seen him at his weakest. The memory of his father's abuse, of the pain and the fear, still lingered, and Gunn's self-esteem was fragile, shattered by years of neglect and cruelty.
As he approached Selena, Gunn's anger and resentment simmered just below the surface. He wanted to lash out, to hurt her, to make her feel the same pain and vulnerability that he felt.
"Hey, you're the girl from the hospital, right?" Gunn sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "I didn't think you'd be stupid enough to look at me." Gunn felt himself vibrate with insecurity and rage. He hated that he was caught in such a vulnerable position.
Selena looked up at him, her expression calm and unruffled. "I'm sorry, do I know you?" she asked, her voice cool and detached. In her head she begged that he would just fuck off. She fought the urge to roll her eyes.
Gunn's eyes narrowed, his face twisting in anger. "Don't play dumb with me," he snarled. I know you saw me at the hospital. I know you think you're better than me."
Selena shrugged, her expression unchanging. "I have no idea what you're talking about," she said, her voice firm but polite. "Excuse me, I have class."
Gunn's face turned red with rage as Selena walked away, leaving him feeling frustrated and humiliated. He seethed with resentment, his mind spinning with plans for revenge.
He would make Selena pay for ignoring him, for not acknowledging his pain and vulnerability. He would torture her, push her to her limits, until she cried, until she begged for mercy. And then, maybe, Gunn would feel like he was worth something. Maybe he would feel like he was in control, like he was the one with the power.
But deep down, Gunn knew that it was all just a facade, a desperate attempt to hide the pain and the fear that had haunted him for so long. He was trapped in a never-ending cycle of abuse and neglect, and he didn't know how to escape.
Liam watched the exchange between Gunn and the mysterious girl with a furrowed brow. What was Gunn's problem? Was he really that insecure just because she was pretty? The girl didn't seem to care about Gunn's antics, and Liam found himself intrigued by her aloofness.
As Gunn sulked back to his friends, Liam asked, "Hey, where are you going, Gunn?"
Gunn grumbled under his breath, his eyes fixed on the floor. He couldn't believe that girl had dismissed him like that. It made him feel small, insignificant. He touched his hair, feeling a pang of insecurity. Was he that unnoticeable?
Jakob turned from his locker, a smirk on his face. "Dude, you want some gel? You've got bed head."
Jakob plopped a massive palm down on top of Gunn's head, making him wince. The two of them had grown over the summer, and Gunn felt like he was still stuck in childhood. It wasn't fair. He was so little, and they were so big.
But Gunn refused to show his vulnerability. Instead, he looked up at Jakob and teased, "No goop for me, it looks crusty."
Jakob chuckled and ruffled Gunn's hair. "You're such a dork, Gunn. Chill out."
Liam smiled, watching the exchange between his friends. But his eyes kept drifting back to the mysterious girl, who was now walking down the hallway, oblivious to the commotion she had caused.
As the teacher took attendance, Selena's eyes scanned the room, her pencil poised over her notebook. "Selena MacDonald," the teacher called out, looking around the room.
Selena's hand shot up, and she smiled politely. "Here! I have a note for my absences."
The teacher, Mrs. Johnson, nodded and took the note from Selena. "Thank you, Selena. I'll make sure to excuse your absences. Welcome to advanced biology. I trust you're catching up on the material?"
Selena nodded, her voice confident and smooth. "Yes, ma'am. I've been reviewing the textbook and notes from the first few classes."
Liam, who was sitting two seats away from Selena, couldn't help but notice the way she carried herself. He found himself stealing glances at her throughout the class, admiring the way her dark hair fell in loose waves down her back.
It was the third period, and Liam was glad to be in a class without Gunn and Jakob. Those two were always causing trouble, and Liam was happy to have a break from their antics.
As the class progressed, Liam found himself growing more and more interested in Selena's behavior. She was smart, confident, and beautiful - a potent combination that left him feeling tongue-tied and awkward. She gave poignant answers to all of the questions and was very much an erudite that did not care about socializing with others like him.
He couldn't believe that Gunn had tried to intimidate her earlier. Selena seemed like the kind of person who could hold her own, no matter what life threw her way. Liam found himself wanting to get to know her better, to see if she was as amazing as she seemed.
As the teacher droned on, Liam found himself lost in thought, his eyes drifting back to Selena again and again. He felt a pang of guilt for staring, but he just couldn't help himself. There was something about Selena that drew him in, something that made him want to know more.