I slid into a vacant seat by the window just before the bell rang, waving Via off as she aggressively mouthed 'Ask her' at me from outside the classroom, gesturing at Miss Dawson. I couldn't help but smile though, as I watched her walk off to her next class. She'd made me promise to meet her at the "circle" after class, which I learned was the central courtyard on campus, so we could spend our last period free together. "I have big plans for you, Elle," she'd told me, a sparkle in her green eyes. Apparently she'd decided it was her mission to show the new girl around town. Maybe this day was looking up after all.

"Hey, neighbor." Or maybe not.

My smile dropped immediately, and I assumed the scowl that was in frequent use whenever he was near. My face had grown pretty used to it throughout the day, and I was worried by the end of this year it would be permanent.

Drew plopped down directly behind me, grinning, "Fancy seeing you here."
"Mm," I grunted noncommittally. A woman, no older than 35 or so, with dark auburn hair cropped close to her chin and red framed glasses shuffled some papers as the final few students drifted in from lunch. She was Miss Dawson, the woman I was supposed to ask about the school paper. The woman Via had basically ordered me to ask about the school paper. My stomach turned over itself just thinking about it.

"Hey," whispered Drew, and I felt his hot breath at the back of my neck. I very pointedly ignored him as I trained my eyes on the front of the room, listening intently as the woman introduced herself and handed out the syllabus for the year. "Neighbor," he hummed, nudging the back of my seat with his foot. I continued to ignore him, but he was not to be deterred. "What are you doing for your free period next?"

"None of your business," I muttered, trying to focus.

"Aren't you wondering how I know you have a free period?"

I wasn't actually. He probably had the same one, given that we practically shared a schedule and all. I scanned the syllabus, determined to block out whatever was going on behind me. Some of my favorite books were on the reading list for the year, and I smiled down at my paper. This teacher had good taste.

"...plagiarism will, under no circumstances, be tolerated in my class," Miss Dawson was saying. "Assigned reading should always be completed, and there will be random reading quizzes to ensure this." She seemed intense, but fair. I could tell I was going to like her class, especially judging by the volume of books she planned to get through each semester. I just knew she was the type of teacher who never gave full marks on a paper. I liked her already.

I liked her even more as the class continued and she talked about how she wrote her thesis on the parallels between female writers like Toni Morrison, Amy Tan, Kate Chopin, and Flannery O'Connor and female lyricists like Lana Del Rey and Taylor Swift. She worked at the New York Times right out of college until she decided she wanted to teach, which was just about the coolest thing I'd ever heard. I had stars in my eyes by the time class ended.

The bell rang, and I felt my anxiety spike as everyone around me began packing up their things. I was infinitely more nervous to ask her now than had been before class, which seemed impossible, but after hearing all the amazing about her, I desperately wanted to impress her.

Slowly, I packed up my own things, waiting for everyone to drift out of the classroom. Drew gave me a curious look as he exited the room, and I wondered if he thought it was because I was trying to avoid walking out with him. Which, you know, was one perk of this situation.

I shouldered my backpack, shuffling my way up to Miss Dawson's desk.

"Um...Miss Dawson?" I squeaked out, my palms already sweating.

"Yes?"

I gulped. "You're in charge of the newspaper, right?"

She looked up from her computer, folding her perfectly manicured nails under her chin. Now I had her full attention. She smiled, "You're the new girl, aren't you?"

"Yeah," I nodded. "Sorry, I'm Eliza."

"Don't be sorry, it's very nice to meet you, Eliza," she replied kindly. "I am indeed the faculty advisor for our paper. Why do you ask?"

"I was wondering— I mean— well, I heard you might be looking to fill some editor positions," I said, my heart betaing a mile a minute. "I really like to write, um...and I love journalism, and I'd love to get involved with the newspaper if possible."

"You heard correctly," Miss Dawson confirmed. "Who's your favorite journalist?" she asked, eyeing me carefully.

"Joan Didion," I answered immediately, not even having to think about it for a second. "I know it's such a cliché answer, but I'm from LA, and she's just— I mean, she's really done it all."

"And done it well," added Miss Dawson, in what I hoped was a sign of approval. "You have good taste, Eliza."

I breathed a sigh of relief, unable to stop a smile creeping up my cheeks. "So do you," I said honestly, "the Virginia Woolf representation on our reading list this year is impeccable."

She laughed, "I'm glad you think so." My heart swelled, and I felt as if a huge weight had been lifted off my chest. "Send me some writing samples, past work, any other publication, etc.," she instructed, "but between you and me, my editor in chief graduated last year, and I haven't replaced her yet." She winked, "Almost half my staff graduated, actually, so I'm glad you approached me."

"Thank you so much," I gushed, elated. "I will get it to you as soon as possible."

"I look forward to it, Eliza," she waved goodbye as I practically skipped out into the hall. I couldn't wait to tell Via. I made a quick pit stop by my locker, stuffing everything I needed into my bag before I headed to the "circle". It hit me suddenly that my first day of school as the new girl had basically ended. I'd made it. I couldn't believe I'd actually gotten through the whole day without hiding in the bathroom, or eating lunch in my car, and now I wasn't even using my last period free to escape to the safety of my house.

I spotted Via immediately, and she beckoned me over excitedly, blazer slung over her shoulder. Light literally seemed to emanate from her. Seriously, it was like she had her own personal glow, shining just a little bit brighter than everyone around her.

"How'd it go?" she asked expectantly.

"Good, I think," I beamed. "She asked me to send her my stuff. I don't know— it seemed promising."

"Yes!" cheered Via, flinging her arms around me. "I knew it. Didn't I tell you it was perfect?"

"I didn't get the position yet," I chuckled. Via made a noise in the back of her throat that suggested she thought that detail was very inconsequential.

She grabbed my hand, "C'mon, let's go sign out." I dutifully followed her to the front office, because I had very quickly learned that it was best to just listen to Via. "Did you drive here?" I nodded. "Good, because I didn't," she laughed, "lead the way, Elle."

I found my car quicker than I had expected. I really had come such a long way today. To think, I'd been so worried about driving to school at all, because Aaron was literally my personal chauffeur back home, and now I was driving around someone else.

After I put my bag in the trunk I slid into the drivers seat, digging around in the glovebox for my sunglasses. I was suddenly very grateful that Connecticut was not as sweltering as I know Los Angeles was right now. My car had black interior, and from May to October I would be burning my ass every time I failed to find a parking spot under a tree.

I handed over music privileges to Via, and started backing out.

"Where are we headed?"

"My favorite coffee place of all time," Via declared, turning up the volume. "Diet Mountain Dew" by Lana Del Rey began to play. "Turn left here."

"If it's Starbucks I will have to leave you stranded there," I said.

She threw me an affronted look. "You have so little faith in me, Elle," she shook her head sadly. "The East Coast is quirky coffee shop central, thank you very much." Well, I could hardly argue with that. Though, to be fair, I think the West Coast had them beat on burritos. I hadn't found a decent one since I'd been here.

When I took my first sip of my iced cold brew with almond milk, I knew Via wasn't lying.

"Oh my god," I groaned, the caffeine giving me a needed shock to my system. "I'm never doubting you again," I promised, in absolute heaven. I'd gotten a scone too, which smelled almost as good as my coffee.

"You better not," Via folded her arms smugly, looking very very pleased with herself. It was undeniably cozy in the coffee shop, and I imagined how cute it would be when it snowed, because it snowed here. Crazy. I knew it was going to be good when we walked in and there was a bookshelf corner and an orange tabby cat wandering around the tables. "By the way," she mentioned, sipping on her iced mocha, "I already signed you up for the cheer mailing list. Tryouts are Friday."

"I never agreed to do cheer," I spluttered, taking a bite of my scone.

"You basically did," Via waved her hands airily. "Besides, after seeing you in class today you're more than qualified."

"I really don't dance."

"And I really don't believe you," Via hummed cheerfully. "Come on," she wheedled, "it'll be fun. I know you like to dance."

I used to love it.

"Has anyone ever told you that you're relentless?"

Via grinned, "It's only my best attribute."

"I—" My phone began to vibrate, interrupting my refusal which would undoubtedly be met with resistance. It was Aaron. I checked the time, they were probably all still at the pier. I could call him later.

"Who's Aaron?" Via waggled her eyebrows at me suggestively. "Los Angeles boyfriend?"

"Put a space between those two words and you got it," I corrected, rolling my eyes.

"Cute?"

"Sure," I acknowledged. Aaron pulled like crazy back home. "He's also attracted to men."

"Gay," Via nodded in understanding.

I laughed, "Very."

"Okay, well, is there an LA boyfriend?" she tilted her head at me questioningly.

I snorted, "Nope."

"Has there ever been an LA boyfriend?" I felt like a criminal in the interrogation room. I was dead on with the relentless thing.

I took a long, drawn out sip of my coffee, prolonging the moment where I'd have to respond. "You have a lot of questions."

Her green eyes narrowed, "That's not an answer."

"Am I dropping you off at home?"

"And now she's changing the subject," she clucked her tongue knowingly, a smirk playing on her lips.

"You know I think our meter's probably up."

"I'm going to figure you out, Elle," Via declared, a determined glint in her eye. "Just you wait."

Honestly, I believed her. If today was any indication, Via had an uncanny knack for bending people to her will. She was a force of nature. I mean, she'd gotten me to do things I never would have dreamed of doing at my old school, let alone in this strange, unfamiliar place. I was probably trying out for cheer this Friday.

Oh, who was I kidding? I was definitely trying out for cheer this Friday. I wasn't sure I really had a choice in the matter.

We stayed at the coffee shop until they closed. Literally, the had to kick us out. Via helped me compile my best work from previous classes and personal writing to send to Miss Dawson, and made sure I actually pressed the send button.

After dropping Via off at an absolutely gorgeous house ridiculously close to the school, because of course she lived there, I drove back to the house, hoping Drew wasn't lurking somewhere nearby.

I pulled into the driveway and briefly checked my phone.

Mags: so did you survive?

Mags: aaron's worried

Mel: how'd the first day go?

Ana: give us the debrief girl

Aaron: PICK UP MY CALLS

Aaron: are you okay? was it super awful and miserable?

Aaron: i need to talk to you before i get MESSY drunk

Aaron: hot nico is going to be there !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Aaron: eliza

Aaron: call me bitch

Aaron: before i send the fucking police

I smiled at the screen, relieved to know my friends had not entirely forgotten about me.

"Dad?" I called out as I opened the door.

"At work," my sister shouted back. I found her curled up in the reading nook scrolling through Instagram. Waverly was already out of her uniform, and had evidently made herself a snack, given that it looked like a tornado had blown through the kitchen. "Where have you been?"

"Coffee," I told her, setting my keys down on the counter.

"By yourself?" she wrinkled her nose. "That's so depressing for you."

"I was not by myself, thank you very much," I retorted, tugging her braid as I passed by. "How was your day, Miss Judgmental?"

Waverly shrugged noncommittally, "It was whatever."

"Did you make any friends?"

"Mmhmm," she mumbled, eyes never leaving her phone.

"Do you like the school?"

"It's school," she shrugged again. "Are you done yet?"

"Alright, good talk," I sighed. Sometimes Waverly was so thirteen it hurt. Middle schoolers are scary. Like, really scary. "I'm going upstairs."

"Cool."

"Text if you need anything." Waverly grunted in response, as I headed up to my bedroom to call Aaron back. I pulled my hair back into a ponytail, letting the phone ring as I changed into comfier clothes. I wondered when my dad was going to get home, or if it was a fend for yourself dinner kind of night. Aaron didn't pick up, but I figured I'd try a second time.

"ELIZA!" Aaron's voice screeched through the speaker, and I nearly jumped. "How dare you ghost me for an entire day. You could've been dead in a ditch somewhere for all I knew!"

"You are so dramatic," I rolled my eyes. "I texted Magnolia earlier."

"You texted Magnolia and not me?" Aaron gasped. "I'm wounded."

"I missed one of your calls."

"That is one too many, Eliza." he stuck his tongue out at me. "So, tell me everything. How are you feeling? Was it the worst day ever?"

"It was actually sort of...okay," I lifted a shoulder.

"Sort of okay?" Aaron's eyes widened in surprise. "That's a ringing endorsement coming from you. What happened?"

"Well—" I broke off, an email popping up in my notifications. It was from Miss Dawson. "Oh my god."

"What?"

Shakily, I opened the email, scanning the message as quickly as I could. My mouth fell open. "Oh my god!"

"What?" Aaron repeated, confused. "Eliza?"

"So sorry, Aaron," I apologized breathlessly, reading the words over and over again. "I have to go— I have to— I'll call you back—"

"Eliza? What do you—" I clicked the end call button and scrolled through my contact until I found Via's, which she had added less than an hour ago. She picked up on the first ring.

"Elle?"

"Via!" I exclaimed. "I got it! I got the editor position."

I got the editor position.