The first day of school- well, for me- finally arrives. Whereas I should be fixing up my requirements and mentally and physically preparing, I am instead watching a rerun of How I Met Your Mother in my living room as I eat a bowl of fruit loops.

The doorbell rings in the middle of the episode, distracting me. I tear my gaze away from the screen and reluctantly set my bowl down, getting up on my feet.

"I'll get it," I announce to my parents who are eating breakfast as well, but in the dining area.

I head to the door, wondering who would be visiting us at this hour. It's a school day and quite early in the morning, so it's a highly unlikely occurrence. I peek through the glass on the sides to know who's outside, and when I realize who it is, I swing open the door.

"Scott," I greet.

My cousin grins broadly at me. "Hi Riles. We're here to pick you up."

"We?"

"Hi Riley!" I hear Stiles. I look behind Scott and see Stiles's jeep parked there with him inside, waving madly.

I laugh and shake my head. "Hold on, I'll go tell my dad not to drive me anymore." I turn to walk back in, but stop and face Scott again. "You know, just come in. My parents obviously won't mind."

"Right, okay."

Scott steps inside after me, not bothering to even shut the door. I'll make sure to order him to do exactly that next time.

"Mom, Dad," I say, catching my parents' attention. My mom was simply eating her toasted bread and eggs while my dad was reading the newspaper. In unison, they both look up to see Scott and I standing there.

"Oh, hello Scott." Dad smiles, noticing the boy first.

"Scott and Stiles offered to pick me up," I tell them.

"So I won't drive you anymore?" Dad clarifies and Scott and I nod. "Alright then."

"Have fun in school!" Mom says excitedly as if I was going in to kindergarten.

"'Kay," I say simply. "Bye!" Then I lightly push Scott to move. He does so and I jog into the living room, grab my bag and binder, then face him.

"Ladies first." He gestures to the door.

I roll my eyes but I have a slight smile on my face and follow him anyways, leaving first. We walk a number of steps already and I haven't heard Scott close the door yet again.

"Shut the door this time, would you?" I say to him without looking back. A second later, the sound of the door clicking shut is heard and I smile triumphantly. I instantly get in the back seat of the jeep, knowing I'm supposed to sit there, and then I wave at Stiles.

"Hiya," I smile, just as Scott goes inside as well. Stiles then starts the car and we head to Beacon Hills High School.

The car ride is silent, but I don't mind because I am crazy nervous. Not only is it my first day in this school, but it's also my freshman year. Plus, I've got a cheerleading team tryout tomorrow, and I'm more anxious about being accepted as a person than actually getting in.

I watch the houses pass by as I fret about any possible thing that might happen today.

"Stop worrying," Scott suddenly says.

"Huh?" I ask, looking at him. "How could you tell? You can't even see me."

"I can see you," he says quickly. "And I can just tell. Besides, you don't have time to worry 'cause we're already here."

I suck in a breath upon seeing the school, students already going in and out. I don't even notice Stiles and Scott leave the car already until their faces appear on the window I was worriedly looking out of.

Stiles knocks on the door rapidly and then opens it.

"Come on, let's go," he orders enthusiastically and the two of them literally pull me out.

"No, no, no, no," I say, squirming.

"Quit moving, you look weird," says Scott.

"But I don't want to go," I whine, tripping when one of the boys push me. "Hey!"

"Sorry," Stiles apologizes and I glare at him. "Seriously, though, you- we, look crazy. Two juniors pushing an innocent little freshman into Beacon Hills High School."

"She's not innocent, she's evil," Scott hisses, and when I face him, he smiles funnily.

"Thanks Scott, glad to know my cousin has my back."

"I do," he insists, "but you really are."

"Ugh," I groan.

Finally, we make it to the front doors and I take a deep breath. I also smoothen out my white skirt and adjust my floral top.

"You can do this," says Stiles encouragingly.

"She's just entering the school," Scott says weirdly.

"Whatever," I say to him and confidently push open the doors, the two boys walking somehow both behind me and beside me at the same time.

People watch as we walk, and I like to think that it's because I'm a new student, specifically a freshman, with two juniors from the lacrosse team, one of them the team captain, walking with me. I also like to think that it's because I look cool.

"Do you think people are staring because we look like her minions?" Stiles ask, furrowing his eyebrows.

"Probably," Scott nods, his mouth slightly parted as he looks around.

"I like it," I shrug, winking at the two, then flipping my dark hair as I face forward again. "Now, could you guys show me where my locker is?" I ask, showing my paper.

"Follow me," Stiles says after reading it, marching on front of me. We weave through the crowd of students and don't even have to turn one corridor on the way to my locker. All I have to remember is to walk straight ahead.

"Here we are," says Stiles, making a grand gesture towards the lame locker.

"Thanks," I laugh at his actions, starting to unlock the locker. When I finish, I place my books not needed for the day inside, then close it again.

"Your locker's right next to Lydia's," Stiles says.

"Who?"

"That's me," a new voice says and I whip around. There stood a petite girl, surprisingly somewhere around my height considering the fact that I am also short. She's basically really pretty, with plump red lips, reddish hair- maybe strawberry blonde (since I'm not sure, I'll just have to to ask Scott. Or Stiles)- ivory skin, and a good sense of fashion.

"H-Hi," I say, slightly intimidated.

"Hi," she says back, eyeing me. "Nice outfit," she says simply before unlocking her locker.

I glance at Scott and he just shrugs.

"So um, where's History with Mr. Yukimura?" I ask him.

"I'll take you there," Scott offers. "I'll meet up with you later," he tells Stiles who nods.

Scott tells me a bit about Beacon Hills High School so that I would know more what to expect. Of course, he couldn't tell me about the students in my classes that I was so worried about.

When Scott leads me to a room with an open door, I notice two people in there: the first is whom I assume is the teacher since it's a man and a much older looking one than the next person who is a very pretty girl. I can tell they're both Asian, but I am unsure of what exact nationality they are.

"Hey Mr. Yukimura, Kira," Scott greets, smiling sweetly at the girl.

"Hello," Mr. Yukimura says.

"Hi Scott." Kira smiles widely. "Who's she?"

"Oh, this is my cousin, Riley," Scott introduces, pointing at me.

"Hi," I wave timidly at the two.

"Hi, I'm Kira Yukimura," Kira says, stepping forward.

"I'm Riley Bales," I repeat. "So are you two...?"

"Yes, he's my dad," she answers, sounding as if she's been asked that question already. "It gets kind of weird sometimes."

"Kira," says her dad.

"What? It's true." I giggle a bit at that.

"You should both head to class now, and Riley, I'm guessing this is your first?"

"Yes, it is," I answer with a nod.

"Okay, bye dad," says Kira, leaving. Scott gives me a thumbs up before following the girl.

"You may choose any seat," says Mr. Yukimura.

I awkwardly choose one somewhere in the middle, take a seat, and slowly take out my phone.

"Don't worry, you can use it since class has not started yet," Mr. Yukimura says from his desk. I sheepishly look up and notice that he isn't even looking at me as if he knew I would do that. I then look back at my phone and play a random game to kill time and spare myself from more awkwardness.

Soon, more people file inside and take random seats, and most of them know each other- I can tell because they're all talking to one another already.

A tan, blonde girl wearing jeans and a tank top sits in front of me. She then twists herself, facing me.

"Hi," the girl says happily, surprising me a bit at her straightforwardness.

"Hi," I say after a moment and smile back.

"I'm Lacey," she says, pushing her blonde hair away.

"Riley."

"You new here or have you been here since junior high?" Lacey questions.

"New," I say unsurely, hoping she would still be nice.

"Cool, I've been here since the seventh grade," she explains with a smile on her face.

I don't say anything else because I just really don't know what to say, but thankfully, Mr. Yukimura chooses this moment to start the class.

"Hope we can get to know each other more," Lacey whispers in a friendly tone and I send her a bright smile, not talking anymore for class is already starting.

→ → →

Finally, I get to the period right before lunch: Math. I have to find my own way to my next class, and fortunately, I come there on time.

I sit alone near the door for literally just a few seconds.

"Riley Bales."

I jump in surprise at the voice and look at my left, seeing the one and only Liam Dunbar taking a seat there.

"You scared me," I say playfully.

"Well hello to you, too," he says sarcastically.

I scoff and say, "Hello, Liam Dunbar."

"That's better, isn't it?" Liam leans in, sounding like he is purposely trying to annoy me based on the tone of his voice.

"Whatever," I say. I say that a lot when I'm at loss for words.

"So, do you know who our teacher is?" he suddenly asks.

"Nope, I just hope he or she is a good one. I plan on getting a better grade this year," I say truthfully.

"Is this your... er, worst subject?" says Liam carefully, seeming like he didn't want to insult me.

"Kind of, I guess? Well, I'm not technically bad at it, it's just my the one I'm least good at... I'm a slow learner in this subject."

He laughs at what I say with a shake of my head. "You're cute."

I blush and just smile shyly, not sure what he means by that. After that, though, we have a conversation about different topics, and I am really happy at how good we were conversing. It isn't a plain talk, but one with occasional banter.

When an okay math class ends, I don't really think about how I walk out with Liam, talking with him easily. Before I know it, we reach the cafeteria together, get our own tray of food, them find a table together. I also take note that I haven't seen Lacey from history class at all so far.

"You mentioned the other day that you play sports," Liam begins, sitting across me, and I am oddly flattered that he remembers. "Are you trying out for any teams?"

"Just the cheerleading team of this school," I reply, taking a sip of my iced tea. "Just that, and I'm continuing archery somewhere, I guess."

"Okay, I'm going to start asking lots of questions," Liam warns me.

"Alright," I say slowly, "only if I can ask you, too."

"Sure, so basically we're playing 20 questions?"

"Uh huh."

"Okay then. Favorite subject?"

"Science. Favorite color?"

"Blue. Any dislikes?"

"Well, I hate soda and don't really like pizza-"

"You've got to be kidding me on that one," Liam interrupts loudly.

"I am not," I say firmly and his jaw drops.

"I'm still taking that bit of information in," he pauses and I giggle.

"Anyways," I say, still giggling a bit. "Any pets?"

"Sadly, no. Okay, uh something about your family?"

"Dad's a doctor," I say simply.

"No way, my step dad is, too." Liam beams.

I grin back, once again happily thinking about the fact that I've actually made a friend on the first day, even before we started school here officially.

A/N: Okay, so this chapter has way too much dialogue. Nevertheless, I hope you liked it! Go vote and comment your thoughts as well, please 😜 Thanks 💕