My name is Aliena Brown, and today was my first day at Seraphine High School. I live a little far from the school, so I usually have to choose between taking the bus or a ride from my parents. Since they both had to go to work, I decided to take the bus this morning. My stomach was fluttering with a mix of excitement and nervousness as I waited at the bus stop, watching the sunlight glint off the rooftops and listening to the distant hum of traffic.
The moment I got off the bus, the world seemed to hit me all at once. The streets were alive with noise the roar of engines, laughter from groups of students, and the occasional honking of impatient drivers. I kept my backpack snug against my shoulder and started walking quietly toward the school entrance, taking in the warm sunlight and the gentle summer breeze. It felt like the kind of day made for a picnic rather than the anxiety of a first day at a new school.
As I carefully crossed the road, a pretty girl with long brown hair and green eyes approached me.
"Are you new here? I've never seen you before," she asked with a friendly smile.
"Yeah, I'm pretty new," I replied, feeling my cheeks warm slightly under her gaze.
"In which class are you?" she continued, her curiosity evident.
"Oh, I'm in Class 10A. And you?"
"Wow! I'm in the same class as you. Since we're in the same class and you're new, I can give you a quick tour of the school," she offered, her smile reassuring.
"That would be so helpful. Thank you very much. Let me introduce myself properly. I'm Aliena Brown, 15. You can just call me Liena or Lina that's what my friends call me," I said, feeling a little more at ease.
"I'm Sofia Norris, 15. You can call me Sofi," she said.
We walked together toward the school, chatting about minor things how long the school day would be, the layout of the campus, and what the cafeteria had to offer. I was grateful for her company; starting at a new school felt less intimidating with someone friendly by my side.
When we reached our classroom, we were a little late, but thankfully, not everyone had arrived yet. There were 27 students in total, though one person was absent. Just a few minutes after we settled in, a girl named Liliana Welson hurried into the room, slightly out of breath. The teacher scolded her lightly before letting her take her seat.
Then, it was time for introductions. The teacher asked each of us to say a few words about ourselves.
A boy named Eren Parker kept glancing at me as if I were something out of the ordinary. I caught his gaze and smiled politely, muttering under my breath, Why is he staring at me like that?
After introductions, the teacher explained the school rules, grading system, and courses. The explanations were thorough, but my mind wandered at times, thinking about the coming school year, the friends I might make, and the experiences I would have.
Finally, the bell rang for a 25-minute break. Students poured out of the classroom, talking and laughing.
"Do you want to go to the school bar?" Sofi asked softly, nudging me slightly.
"Why not? Let's go," I replied.
We walked toward the small school café, and soon, four boys and two girls joined us. That made eight people in total. Wow, that's a lot of people, I thought, feeling both excited and a little overwhelmed.
The girls chatted about school schedules and upcoming classes, while the boys talked about video games, sports, and weekend plans. We bought some snacks and walked outside to a small hill behind the café. The view was breathtaking, with the sunlight reflecting off the distant rooftops and the gentle breeze making it a bit chilly but refreshing.
We introduced ourselves properly and shared small stories about our hobbies and interests. I even had a brief conversation with Eren, which made me realize he wasn't as intimidating as he looked.
"Let's make a group chat," Sofi suggested. She and Nicole were clearly the most energetic of the group.
"Yeah, let's do that," Liliana agreed. Everyone nodded enthusiastically.
"What should we name it?" Sofi asked.
"What about EIGHTFOLD? There are eight of us, and it also symbolizes a group that empowers each other, inspires their fans, grows together, and shines their light while chasing dreams," I suggested.
"Wow, you're good with names!" Jessica exclaimed.
"Maybe… sometimes," I replied with a small smile, feeling proud yet slightly embarrassed.
After our little break, we returned to class. The rest of the morning passed with lessons in math, science, and literature, each teacher introducing themselves and giving us an overview of what to expect this year. By lunchtime, I was beginning to feel a sense of belonging, even among so many unfamiliar faces.
The afternoon was filled with physical education and art class, where we got to do some fun exercises and sketching. By the time the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, I felt tired but happy.
Sofi and the group walked me to the bus stop. The sun was starting to dip behind the buildings, casting long shadows across the streets. As I boarded the bus, I waved goodbye to everyone. My heart felt light, my mind buzzing with the day's events, and I realized that maybe, just maybe, this school year was going to be something special.