A/N: Hi all! Thanks so much for choosing to check this story out, I truly appreciate it. As of 2/4/2025, I am posting the first 10 chapters, and the rest will be coming in a week or two, 

This story contains mature topics such as language, drug/alcohol use, death, homophobia, and explicit sexual scenes. Please read with caution <3 

Let's get into it, shall we? 

Who the fuck starts at a new school 2 months before graduation?

Me, apparently.

I assumed everyone else thought so as well, considering I'd been at Rollins Academy for a month now and barely anyone spoke to me.

That was until I met Heather Rayne.

I noticed her, of course. She was pretty much my type to a T.

However, I'd never spoken to her, and I didn't even think she knew I existed.

I was set to graduate at the end of May, and at the very end of April, I was eating lunch alone in the library , like I had been every day. I sat at one of the small wooden tables and stared at nonsense on my phone as I listened to music at the same time.

That's when I saw Heather walking toward my table. Out of the corner of my eye I checked to see if anyone was around me that she could be walking toward, but I was the only one in the general vicinity.

I found myself staring at Heather as she pulled out the chair across from me and took a seat. I took out my AirPods and she started to speak.

"Alice, right?"

I nodded, "That's correct, yes."

Heather flashed me a bright smile, "Pleased to meet you, I'm Heather."

"I recognize your name, we have a couple of classes together."

"Exactly why I'm over here. I figured I would introduce myself. I've seen you eating lunch by yourself a few times in the library."

So, someone has noticed me.

"I don't mind eating alone," I said, "Though I appreciate you introducing yourself."

Heather's dark eyes were on me as she continued, "It's not every day that someone starts at a new school just two months before graduation."

"You're curious as to why, I'm guessing?"

Heather's dimples showed as she grinned again, "Guilty."

"Well, it's not all that interesting. My mom got a new job and we moved. Only about two hours away, but it was enough for me to change schools."

"How do you like it here?" Heather asked me, leaning back in her chair.

I shrugged, "I mean, it's not horrible? You're honestly the first person that's taken the time to speak to me."

"People here are way too wrapped up in themselves. Now, Alice. Do you want to sit with my friends and I at lunch for the remainder of the year?"

I looked at Heather for a moment, considering her offer.

"Do you sit with a lot of people?" I asked her, "I don't do well in crowds."

"No, just three others. They're cool like me," Heather flashed me a cheeky wink which suddenly made my heart rate quicken.

I nodded slowly, "Okay. Tomorrow I'll find you and your friends in the dining hall."

That's how I started sitting with Heather and her three good friends, Lucy Saltzman, Mallory Viera, and Edwin Johnson.

Heather was without a doubt the ringleader of the group. Lucy was smart as a whip and quite witty. Mallory, on the other hand, was a bit ditzy with her head in the clouds, but very sweet. Edwin was the toughest nut to crack, as he was quite sassy and always seemed to have an attitude, but I caught glimpses from time to time of him being a very good friend.

I had been sitting with Heather and her friends for about a week and a half before they started to ask me personal questions.

"Alice," Heather looked at me with her pretty dark eyes, "You told me that you had to move due to your mom's job. What does she do for work?"

"She's a Doctor," I responded, "She got a job at a local hospital.

Yet I don't even live with her anymore.

"My dad is a Doctor as well," Mallory said to me.

"Nice," I nodded toward her.

Edwin looked at me, "Well, you must live a pretty cushy life, then. With your mom being a Doctor and all."

I wanted to roll my eyes, but I didn't. Instead, I decided to hit him with a dose of reality.

"I don't even live with my mom anymore," I responded to Edwin.

He looked a bit taken aback as he said, "Oh, sorry. My bad for assuming."

"You know what they say about people who assume, Edwin," Heather shot him a look, "Who do you live with now, Alice?"

"My Aunt and her...husband," I said, begrudgingly.

"Did you not like living with your mom?" Mallory asked me.

"Living with her was perfectly fine, until she kicked me out," I responded.

"Well, that'll do it," Lucy grimaced.

"What did you do?" Edwin asked me, wide eyed.

"Be a lesbian," I responded, "My mom is apparently super homophobic and she kicked me out a few weeks ago."

"You had to start a new school and you got kicked out of your home?" Heather looked at me, "That's so rough, I'm sorry. Just know you have a place here. Four out of the five of us are LGBTQ."

I knew Edwin was. It was, well, obvious. He was quite flamboyant. I also had a funny feeling about Heather. Though I wasn't sure between Lucy and Mallory.

"Obviously I'm gay," Edwin said, "It's no secret."

"So am I," Heather said as well, holding my gaze.

"I'm the odd one out," Mallory pouted, "Straight as a ruler."

"I'm pansexual," Lucy said, taking a bite of her sandwich.

"Good to know," I looked around the table, my eyes lingering on Heather for a moment too long. She noticed, and her mouth turned upwards into a smirk.

We all went our separate ways after lunch, however in the hall, Heather caught up with me.

"Can I ask you something?"

I nodded, "Of course."

"Are you not happy living with your Aunt and her husband?"

I looked at Heather, "Not especially. Why do you ask?"

"Your expression turned sour when you said you live with them."

I paused before saying, "My Aunt's husband, Marc, is a creep. I feel uncomfortable living with him, but I had no other place to go."

Heather narrowed her eyes, "What does he do?"

"The way that he looks at me makes me super uncomfortable. It's hard to explain."

"I get it," Heather said, "I hate that you have to live with that until college starts."

"I'll manage. I avoid him as much as humanly possible."

I glanced at Heather, and I could tell that she was thinking about something.

I wonder what's on her mind?

I found out the next day at lunch.

"Hey, Alice," Heather looked at from across the table, "I want to ask you something. I won't be upset if you don't agree to it."

"What am I possibly agreeing to?"

"Come spend the summer with me. My family has a house in the mountains. I promise it'll be a great time," Heather said with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

I raised my eyebrows, "You want me to spend the whole summer with you?"

"Would you rather stay here?"

"No," I said, "I'll take you up on that."

What I didn't know was that this was about to be the craziest summer of my life.