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"Good morning, sweetie."

"Morning, mom."

"Your plate's on the table already. I wasn't sure if you wanted orange juice or water so I didn't fix you anything to drink."

"It's okay. Thank you for breakfast."

My mom shut the stove off, grabbing her plate and sitting in front of me. "Are you ready for your first day of junior year at a new school?"

"I'm as ready as I'll ever be. I was freaking out about it in the shower and my conditioner flew off the shelf." I chuckled.

"Dad's telling you not to stress yourself out about it."

"I know. I've been trying to calm myself down, but I woke up this morning really nervous."

"That's normal, sweetie. You're starting at a brand new school, but I think it'll be fine. Either you'll fit in or you won't care enough to even try to do so."

"That's true. My main focus is really just getting through these next two years and graduating."

Looking up from my plate, I caught my mom staring at me with wet eyes and a smile on her face.

"What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Nothing." She sighed. "I'm just really proud of how well you'be been handling everything. You haven't let it throw you off track."

"I learn from you, mom. You're the strongest woman I know and I'm grateful to have somebody like you as a mom and as a mentor."

She patted under her eyes. "I wasn't expecting to cry today." She chuckled. "I'm going to go re-freshen up and then we can go because it's about to be seven. You have to be at school by seven-twenty and I have to be to work at eight so we have to get a move on."

"Okay, I'll clean up. Go freshen up and I'll be done in here by the time you finish."

She scooted back from the table, leaving the dining room and going upstairs towards the back of the house to where the rooms are.

I finished off my bacon and orange juice before taking our plates, rinsing them off in the sink and then loading them in the dishwasher. I picked my phone up from the table and grabbed my book bag.

My phone vibrated in my hand and Kenz's contact name popped up.

"Good morning, Dri."

"Good morning, Kenz."

"Are you excited about today?"

"I was, but I'm a little nervous now. Are you excited about going back to school without me?"

I heard her sigh. "Hell no. Don't be nervous, it'll be fine. You're fine as hell and easy to get along with, but don't go make new friends because I'll kill them."

"You know I'm not friendly. You on the way to school?"

"Yea, I actually just pulled into the parking lot. I see so many freshman, it's disgusting."

I laughed. "You're so mean."

"Tell me about it. I'm about to go inside though, I just wanted to call you and wish you good luck before you go to school. I love you and I'll text you throughout the day."

"Thank you, I love you too. If you don't text me, I'll definitely be texting you."

"Okay, bye sis. Good luck."

"Good luck."

I got emotional when realization really set in that I was going to a new school where I knew absolutely nobody.

I missed my best friend so much. This would literally be so much easier with her here.

This problem wouldn't even exist if my dad was still alive and breathing, but I won't even get into that right now.

"Ready?"

"Ready."

"Okay, let's head out."

I climbed into the passenger's side as my mom climbed into the driver's side. Placing my bag between my legs, I closed the door and buckled on my seat belt.

"I'll be there to pick you up as soon as you get out of school."

"Okay, sounds good. What does your day at work look like today?"

"I have to study a couple of property listings, I have one interview, and I have to meet up with a family to check out a house on the other side of town."

"So you're not as busy as usual, huh?"

"Finally."

In the past three weeks that we've been here, my mom has worked her ass off at work. We moved in one night at 10 pm and she was at work the next morning at 5 am. Ever since, she's been working a bunch of 10 to 12 hour shifts, but that's who my mom is. If she isn't working, she feels like she's not doing her job as a mom.

Today was the first day where she was going to work after 5 in the morning, but I'm sure it was because today was my first day.

"I love what I do though so it never really feels like like I'm working. That's why I hope you land the job you want, sweetie. Because, I'm telling you, once you get a job that you love, you'll never feel like you're at work. That's when you know all your hard work has paid off, and I know one day yours will."

"I can't wait for that day, honestly. It's not that I hate school or anything, but I would much rather be surrounding myself with animals all day than to be sitting in four different classrooms a day."

"Oh trust me, sweetie, I know."

After weaving through traffic and sitting in a drop-off line, we finally made it to Miami Beach Senior High School.

"Have a good day, sweetie. Call me if you need anything. I love you."

"I love you too, ma. Have a good day at work. Drive safe."

"I will."

Grabbing my bag, I climbed out of the car shutting the door behind me.

"ID card?"

I scrunched up my face because I had no idea what this security guard was talking about.

"You can't enter the building unless you have a school ID card."

"Um today's my first day here."

"Okay, wait right here."

One of the security guards spoke into his walkie-talkie and a few moments later, the principal came walking outside. I only knew it was her because she and my mom had a Skype conversation before I was enrolled here.

My mom wanted to make sure it was a safe environment for me. Miami can be a little... wild sometimes.

"You must be Audriana?"

I smiled, shaking Mrs. Bru's hand. "That's me."

"Follow me inside and I'll get you your student ID card and we can print out your schedule." I walked into the school behind her, going into her office.

"How are you feeling about today?" She questioned while she typed away on her computer. "I know first days can be very nerve-wracking."

"I'm a little nervous, but I think I'll be fine."

"I think you will be too. If at any time you feel uncomfortable or if your nerves get the best of you, you can come in my office to talk. I'm here all day."

Mrs. Bru handed me an ID card with my yearbook picture from last year at my school in Vegas, and a schedule.

I took it smiling. "Thank you. I'll keep that in mind."

"Sure thing. I'll walk you to your first class to show you around a little, come on."

I grabbed my bag, stuffing my ID in my back pocket and keeping my schedule in hand.

"Since today is an odd day, you're going to go to your first, third, fifth, and seventh period. You have Mr. Tane for English first period. He's in building two." I stepped on the elevator behind her. "Each first number of your class's locations is the building they're in, the second number is the floor they're on."

"Okay. That should be easy to remember." I mumbled to myself.

"Mr. Tane is one of the favorites here so he'll definitely help ease your first day jitters."

After paying for my Subway at lunch, I peeped around the cafeteria to make sure no security was watching me before I stepped outside.

Apparently there was a big fight here at school last week so they lost the privilege of being able to have outside lunch. I could have easily just said I'm new here and I didn't know, but Mrs. Bru made sure to tell me personally and she announced it over the intercom before lunch shifts started.

I'd been avoiding people all day and I was going to continue to do so for my next two classes... and for the next two years.

"We ain't 'posed to eat out hea'." I heard a male voice behind me.

Turning around, I seen it was the guy that was trying to flirt with me in my third period. I kindly declined each of his attempts though.

"I know." I shrugged.

"Why you out hea' then? You gon' get in trouble on ya first day."

"That's fine."

"You always mean as hell or you just act like this 'cause you'on know me?"

"I'm not mean. I just don't like talking to people I don't know. No offense to you."

He smirked. "Well get to know me. I'm Angel Roman and I would love to get to know you."

"I'll pass, thank you."

Standing up from the table, I laid my bag over my shoulder before picking up my half-eaten sandwich.

"Wait wait wait. You related to somebody hea'?"

"No. Why?"

"You look like this girl that go hea'. Her name Dayna. You'on know ha'?"

"Nope."

Not giving him the chance to say anything else, I made my way back into the building. I decided to go by the gym, put my earphones in my ear, and wait for the bell to ring to go to my next class.

I heard somebody from behind me yelling.

"Day!"

There was nobody around me, to the side of me, or in front of me so I had no idea who they were talking to.

"Dayna!"

A boy came up, tapping me on my shoulder.

"Day-oh shit. My bad, I thought you were somebody else." He chuckled, shaking his head. "Who you is though? You fine as hell."

I rolled my eyes, walking to my initial destination.

By the time I got comfortable and put my earphones in, the bell rang which only irritated me because I wanted a few seconds to myself until I had to go introduce myself and tell the class three facts about me as if we were in 5th grade.

I walked through the courtyard and to the first building, up the stairs and to my Biology class. There were name tags on the lab tables so I walked around the room and sat down on the stool in front of my name.

Looking around the lab table, I took in the other three names that were on there.

Natalie.

Dayna.

Angel.

Oh how I pray that it's not the Angel that's been trying to talk to me all day.

I took out my phone to text Kenz.

👯‍♀️💛

🙄🙁

I sighed, sliding my phone in my back pocket when two minutes had passed and she didn't reply.

The music began to play through the speaker in the hallway that indicated there was only a minute left to get to class. If you weren't in class once the music stopped and the bell rang, the teachers would lock their doors and if you were in the hallways, the security would sweep through the hall and take you to ISS for that period.

"I think this is a sign that we should be friends." I heard a familiar voice next to me.

Rolling my eyes, I turned towards him. "I don't think so. I think we just have the same credits to take to graduate so we may end up in a few of the same classes. That's all."

He chuckled, licking his lips and sitting on the stool across from me.

"Mr. Powell, nice to see you again! What a pleasure having me as a a student again, huh?"

"It's always a pleasure having you, Dayna."

I looked towards the direction of the door, my eyes slightly widening when I took in the appearance of the girl.

We looked alike and it was kind of creepy.

This is who Angel asked if I was related to. And who some weirdo mistook me for by the cafeteria.

Now I completely understand why.

"Ew. It's never a pleasure being in your presence."

Angel laughed. "I know you missed me ova' the summer, Day. I missed yo' evil ass too."

"Definitely didn't miss you. Don't flatter yourself." She sat on the stool next to me. "Woah, who are you? You're gorgeous. Are you new here?"

"Yea, thank you." I smiled softly.

"Where are you from? And why did you move here? I hate it here."

I chuckled. "I'm from Las Vegas. I moved here because my da- my mom found better job opportunities here so."

Angel stared at the both of us, causing Dayna to scrunch up her nose and flick him off. I simply ignored it.

"Y'all don't think y'all look-a-like?"

Yes.

"Um, no." She shook her head. "Her smile is a lot more perfect than mine. I spent two years of my life with braces for, what seems to be, no reason. Have you ever had braces?"

I shook my head. "No."

"See. Ugh. Some people are just so blessed." She pouted, turning towards me. "You're blessed."

"Thank you..."

The teacher cleared his throat at the front of the classroom. "Ms. Mandez, do I have to move your seat already?"

"Yes!" Angel shouted.

Dayna pushed him off of his stool. "No, Mr. Powell. I'm fine right here. You won't have to worry about me."

"I sure hope not."

🥰❤️😭😂

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