I slipped on my cute kicks and stood in front of the mirror, striking a few poses just to admire the fit. My outfit? A cozy two-piece jogger set in warm brown tones, topped with a matching jacket I wore loosely over a white singlet. I zipped it halfway and let the jacket fall casually off my shoulder.
"Liana!" My mom's voice snapped from downstairs.
"Yes, Mom! I'm coming!" I called back, grabbing my suitcase before dashing out of my room.
On the staircase, I paused for a second and peeked down. "Is it already time to leave?"
Mom nodded. "Yes, it is. Is your bag ready?"
"Yeah, I'll go get it!" I spun on my heel and rushed back up, grabbed my suitcase, and returned. But something felt off.
"Mom, where's Dad?"
She didn't flinch. "We'll meet him at the airport."
I just nodded. It was expected. The silence between them had been growing lately.
The ride to the airport felt heavier than my suitcase. I leaned against the window, watching familiar places blur past—the bakery with the softest muffins, the corner where I used to meet up with my best friends… who were now laughing on the street like nothing had changed. I wasn't expecting them to cry or anything, but… couldn't they at least look sad?
The car rolled past the large airport sign: Welcome to… blah blah blah Airport. I didn't even read the rest. I just stared ahead, swallowing the lump in my throat.
Inside, Dad was waiting. I walked into his arms without hesitation, hugging him tightly. He smiled down at me. But the moment I looked between him and Mom—they smiled too. At each other. A polite, practiced smile. Like they thought I couldn't see the cracks beneath it.
I smiled back. Because what else could I do?
We boarded the plane. I sat by the window, of course. My last word whispered in the UK was, "Goodbye."
From the air, our new home looked surprisingly beautiful—mountains framed in morning mist, roofs glinting like polished stones. When we landed, Dad joined us to the new house. It was... stunning. Modern, clean, with walls whispering of beginnings. My room had just a bed and a mirror, but somehow, it felt like a reset button. I lay down, let out a deep sigh, and drifted off into sleep.
The next morning, Mom's voice jolted me fully awake.
You what!?
"We registered you in school." she replies
"You don't want to get dumb, do you?" she replied casually.
"Mom! We literally just moved—"
"You missed three days already from all the packing. It's time."
Dad chimed in, too. "You have to go, Liana. It's done."
I groaned. "Fine."
Then, just to twist the knife, Mom handed me a uniform.
"Wait—how did you...?"
"Got it yesterday. You were asleep."
I didn't have the energy to protest. I went upstairs, changed, and came back twenty minutes later. Ready—sort of.
"Oh, and there's a cafeteria, so no lunch," Mom added while sealing two sandwiches in an airtight bag. I took them, munching as we drove. I stared out the window. Yeah… maybe this country wouldn't be that bad.
The school looked good. Not that I'd say I was shocked, but it was better than expected.
Inside the principal's office, a warm-looking woman greeted me. "Welcome, Liana. You're lucky—you've been placed in one of our best classes."
A genuine smile crept onto my face. "Really?"
"Yes. And call me Principal Sage," she said, offering her hand.
"Okay… Ms. Sage," I replied, shaking it.
She handed me a timetable. "I see you've got AP classes. Smart one, aren't you?" she winked. "One of our students is waiting outside to show you around."
I turned to my parents for one last comforting glance. After a quick hug, I stepped outside.
There she was—short, brown skin, ginger hair, and an energy that radiated friendliness.
"Hi! You must be Liana. I'm Nia. I'll be showing you around!"
"Nice to meet you," I smiled, shaking her hand.
She led me to our first class—AP calculus. Apparently, we had it together. We walked in, and she slid into a seat at the front, so I followed. I was still unpacking my books when the teacher entered.
Old. Grumpy. Wore his glasses like he hated them. The room fell quiet the moment he stepped in.
He scanned the room. His eyes locked on me.
"Oh, we've got a new student today. Stand up and introduce yourself."
I stood awkwardly. "Hi, I'm Liana Everhart. I just moved here from the UK."
"Pleased to meet you, Miss Liana," he said, surprisingly with a smile. Then the lesson began—something about limits.
Lunch came fast. I met up with Nia again, and we went to the cafeteria. After grabbing food, I made a move toward an empty table. But Nia's eyes went wide.
"Liana! Get up!"
"Huh?"
"That's Tiffany Lawton's table."
"And… who is that?"
"The meanest girl in school. Her dad basically owns half the town."
"It's just a seat—"
But before I could finish, a blonde girl stomped over. She was all gum, eyeliner, and loud attitude.
"Why is this poor rat in my seat?" she shrieked.
My eyes blinked. Rat?
"You'll get your ugly germs on it!"
I was this close to getting up when a guy in a hoodie strolled past. She froze. Puppy eyes. Voice flipped into a sweet purr. She ran after him, practically hanging on him. He gently shrugged her off, not even looking at her.
I looked down at my sandwich and kept eating.
"Who was that guy?" I asked Nia.
But before she could answer—ding!—the lunch bell rang.
After school, I wandered to the library. Books were my safe space, always had been. Back home, they drowned out the noise of fighting parents.
"Hi, do you have After by Anna Todd or Once Upon A Broken Heart?" I asked the librarian.
I spotted a copy and reached out—but so did someone else. We tugged at the same book like it was the last slice of pizza.
Then—yank!—I pulled harder, and the force sent me flying onto the floor, books tumbling off shelves.
"Whoa. Didn't know it was war to get a book," a voice said.
I looked up, annoyed. "Excuse me, you were—"
"Yeah, yeah," he interrupted, walking off before I could finish.
Rude. Just... rude.
I stacked the books back and sat down. But something bugged me. That hoodie… it was the same one from lunch. Was he the guy Tiffany drooled over?
I sighed. Cute face, ugly attitude. Shame.
And why was I still thinking about him?
Ugh. I shut the book and went to return it, then decided to check it out instead. After settling things with the librarian, I headed toward the door—and bam! I bumped into someone. Hard.
"What the heck?"
That voice…
I looked up. It was him. Again.
His phone had hit my forehead. His drink? Now on both our shoes.
"Oh—sorry. I mean, wait—you weren't watching either!"
"I was texting. What's your excuse?"
"I was thinking."
"Thinking? Wow. Great excuse."
"Fine! I said sorry. Now your turn."
"Do I look like a child?" he said, already walking off.
"Wait! You also hit my forehead and made me fall earlier in the library!"
"Okay, first of all—your forehead was already big."
Gasp. I touched my forehead.
"Second—I spilled it on my own shoe, too. And third, that book I gave you? Consider it a peace offering."
He scoffed, turned, and walked away.⁰jjo
I stood there, fuming.
If I wasn't in public, I'd go full crazy on him.
Okay guys this is all for today idk when we'll update next that'll be after we're done though thxs to my friend for doing this with me though I really appreciate oh and I kinda like Nia
***Random out of the blue next chapter there's gonna be the song love me not***