The next morning, Chesa was getting herself ready for school.

As she brushed her hair, she gazed out the window, taking in the unfamiliar view of her new neighborhood. The trees seemed to stretch on forever, their leaves rustling gently in the morning breeze. Chesa felt a pang of nervousness as she thought about starting at a new school. She had always been a bit of a introvert, and making new friends didn't come easily to her.

Just then, her mom poked her head into the room. "Hey, kiddo! Almost ready for school?" she asked, eyeing Chesa's outfit.

Chesa nodded, smoothing out her clothes. "Yeah, I think so. What's the plan for getting to school, anyway?"

Alette smiled. "I've already arranged for you to ride the bus. The stop is just a block away from here. And don't worry, I've got all the paperwork and schedules taken care of."

Chesa nodded, feeling a mix of relief and anxiety. She grabbed her backpack and followed her mom downstairs, where Chona was already eating breakfast.

As they sat down to eat, Chesa couldn't help but wonder what the day ahead would bring. Would she make any friends? Would she get lost in the new school? And what about Isander's strange warnings about the house?

Chona looked at Alette, "so, Mom, what are the names of the schools we're going to?"

Alette took a sip of her coffee before responding. "Chesa, you'll be attending Ravenswood Academy, and Chona, you'll be going to Oakwood Middle School. I've heard great things about both schools, and I'm sure you'll both do wonderfully."

Chesa's eyes narrowed slightly as she processed the information. Ravenswood Academy sounded fancy, and she couldn't help but wonder what kind of students attended a school with a name like that.

Chona, on the other hand, looked excited. "Oakwood Middle School? That sounds awesome! Do you think I'll make friends, Mom?"

Alette smiled and put a reassuring hand on Chona's shoulder. "I'm sure you'll make plenty of friends, sweetie. You're a very outgoing and friendly person."

As they finished up breakfast, Chesa couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation about her first day at Ravenswood Academy. What would the school be like? Would she fit in?

She picked up her backpack and Chona grabbed her own bag as Alette grabbed the car keys.

"Wait, Mom, I thought we were taking the bus?" Chesa asked, confusion etched on her face.

Alette smiled. "I was thinking it would be easier to drive you both to school on the first day, just to make sure you know where you're going. Plus, it'll give us a chance to talk a bit more before I drop you off."

Chona's face lit up. "Yay! I love riding in the car with Mom!"

Chesa rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "You're such a goofball, Chona."

As they headed out the door, Chesa couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nerves about the day ahead.

"I call shotgun!" Chona playfully proclaimed. Chesa rolled her eyes, "you do realize you're thirteen, right?"

"Age is just a number," Chona remarked with a smirk.

Alette chuckled as she unlocked the car. "Well, I think Chona's earned the right to ride shotgun on the first day of school. Besides, Chesa, you can navigate from the backseat."

Chesa playfully groaned, tossing her backpack onto the backseat. "Fine, but don't think this means I'm letting you control the radio, Chona."

Chona grinned mischievously as she buckled herself into the passenger seat. "We'll see about that."

Alette started the car and she started driving.

Chesa looked out the window. She couldn't help but wonder if her dad was watching over them. She sighed softly and fiddled with her backpack straps.

"What kind of job do you have, Mom?" She asked, hoping to pass the time.

Alette smiled, her eyes flicking to the rearview mirror to meet Chesa's gaze. "I'm a freelance writer, sweetie. I write articles and stories for various publications. It's a job that allows me to work from home, which is great for us, especially with the move."

Chona chimed in from the passenger seat, "Yeah, Mom's a great writer! She's always working on something new."

Alette's smile grew wider. "Thanks, kiddo. I love what I do. It's flexible and allows me to spend time with you both."

As they drove, the scenery outside changed from residential areas to more commercial zones. Chesa watched as they passed by shops, restaurants, and schools. She felt a flutter of nerves in her stomach as she realized they were getting close to her new school.

Chesa's grip tightened on her backpack straps as she stared out the window, her gaze lingering on her new school.

Ravenswood Academy loomed before them, its imposing stone façade and manicured lawns exuding an air of elegance and refinement. Chesa's heart skipped a beat as she took in the sprawling campus, her mind racing with thoughts of navigating unfamiliar hallways, meeting new teachers, and making friends.

Alette pulled up to the curb, and Chona turned around, a reassuring smile on her face. "Hey, Chesa, you'll be great! Just be yourself, and you'll make tons of friends."

Chesa forced a smile, feeling a mix of gratitude and apprehension. She took a deep breath, shouldering her backpack as Alette leaned over to give her a quick hug. "I'll be here to pick you up after school, okay? Have a great day, sweetie!"

Chesa returned the hug, smiling. "Heh, I'll try," she said. She looked at Chona, "you have a great day too, sis. And try not to start any competitive fights." She playfully winked.

Chona giggled and playfully rolled her eyes. "I make no promises, Chesa! But don't worry, I'll try to behave... for the most part, anyway."

Alette chuckled and handed Chesa a lunchbox and a water bottle. "Alright, kiddo, you're all set. Have a great day, and don't hesitate to reach out if you need anything."

With a final smile and a wave, Chesa climbed out of the car and watched as Alette drove away with Chona. She took a deep breath, shouldering her backpack and gazing up at the imposing façade of Ravenswood Academy. It was time to face her first day of school.

There were students, most of them new. They were chatting and laughing.

Chesa looked around curiously as she walked into the school.

As she entered the school, Chesa was immediately struck by the bustling atmosphere. The foyer was filled with students, all chatting and laughing as they caught up with friends or made new ones. The sound of lockers slamming and the murmur of conversations created a lively din that was both overwhelming and exhilarating.

Chesa's eyes scanned the crowd, taking in the diverse group of students. She noticed a few clusters of kids who seemed to know each other, but there were also plenty of students standing alone, looking just as uncertain as she felt.

A friendly-looking girl with curly brown hair and a bright smile caught Chesa's eye. She was standing by the entrance, holding a stack of papers and looking like she was trying to get everyone's attention.

"Hey, welcome to Ravenswood Academy!" the girl called out, waving a paper in the air. "If you're new here, please come sign in and pick up your schedule. We've got a welcome packet with all the info you'll need to navigate the school."

Chesa smiled and walked over. "Thanks. I'm Chesa Silver."

The girl's smile widened as she took Chesa's hand in a friendly handshake. "I'm Emilia Wilson, one of the student council members. Welcome to Ravenswood, Chesa! I'll get you set up with your schedule and welcome packet."

Emilia efficiently handed Chesa a packet filled with papers, a map of the school, and a schedule. "Here you go! Your first period class is English Lit, room 214. It's just down that hallway," she said, pointing to a corridor to their left.

As Emilia helped Chesa get organized, a group of students walked by, eyeing Chesa with curiosity. One of them, a tall, dark-haired boy, caught Chesa's eye and flashed her a charming smile before continuing on his way.

Chesa blinked in surprise and she looked at Emily. "Who's that?" She gestured towards the dark-haired boy.

Emilia followed Chesa's gaze and smiled knowingly. "That's Ashton Blackwood. He's one of the most popular guys in school, and he knows it." Emilia's tone was lighthearted, but Chesa detected a hint of wariness beneath the surface.

Ashton Blackwood? The name sounded familiar, but Chesa couldn't quite place it. She turned back to Emilia, her curiosity piqued. "What's he like?"

"He's smart and a soccer player," Emilia explained with a smile, "he's also got a girlfriend who's a snob. Her name is Veronica Johnson. So I'd watch out for her. She's a cheerleader."

Chesa's eyes widened slightly as she took in the information. She wasn't surprised to hear that Ashton had a girlfriend, given his charming smile and confident demeanor. But she was a bit wary of the warning about Veronica. A snobbish cheerleader didn't sound like someone she'd want to cross paths with.

"Got it," Chesa said, nodding her head in understanding. "I'll keep that in mind. Thanks for the heads up, Emilia."

Just then, the bell rang, signaling the start of the first period. Emilia smiled and gestured towards the hallway. "Well, I should get going. I've got a meeting with the student council. You should head to your English Lit class, though. It's just down that way."

Chesa nodded and she walked to her class. When she went inside, she saw an eighteeen year old girl sitting by the window.

She had porcelain skin, spring green eyes and light green hair with dark green highlights. She wore a long-sleeved white shirt, brown jeans and light tan and yellow shoes.

Chesa tilted her head curiously.

"Ah, you must be one of the new students," the teacher said.

The teacher, a middle-aged woman with a kind smile, gestured for Chesa to take a seat. "Welcome to English Literature, I'm Ms. Thompson. We're just about to start our first lesson. Please, take a seat and introduce yourself."

As Chesa scanned the room for an empty seat, her gaze drifted back to the girl with the striking green hair. The girl caught her eye and smiled, and Chesa felt a sense of curiosity and intrigue. Who was this girl, and what was her story?

Chesa took a seat near the back of the classroom, trying not to draw attention to herself. She pulled out her notebook and pen, ready to take notes as Ms. Thompson began the lesson.

As the teacher started speaking, Chesa couldn't help but sneak glances at the green-haired girl, wondering if she'd get a chance to talk to her later.