The next morning, Mom is making a cup of coffee, and I'm having my bowl of cereal while scrolling through my phone.

"What the hell?!" I exclaim, my voice laced with disbelief as I stare at our town's daily news update online. The headline glares at me from the screen of my phone. The words "The Mayor's New Chauffeur" are splashed across the top of the article, accompanied by a picture on the driver's seat of the mayor's SUV.

Paparazzis.

"What's the matter, honey?" Mom asks, looking puzzled.

"This is some kind of joke." I drop my phone, covering my face.

My mom picks up the phone and reads the headline out loud. "The Mayor's New Chauffeur."

I nod, unable to bring myself to meet her gaze. "Yeah, apparently I'm the latest gossip in town," I mutter bitterly, my frustration simmering beneath the surface.

Mom's eyes grow big as she scrolls down the article. "Oh these..." she pauses, refraining from using a cuss word. "They're messing with the wrong family. So what if your father used to be a pizza delivery guy and that I'm working in retail?"

"Oh God. I'm going to have the worst school day ever."

Unfair doesn't even begin to cover it. The mere thought of being scrutinized and mocked by students at Grootview High, all because of some intrusive paparazzi photos and a sensationalized headline, makes my blood boil.

"You worked very hard to get a scholarship at Grootview High, I don't understand how they could just assume that the Mayor's influence got you where you are today," Mom continues, her tone tinged with indignation. "If they only knew the Mayor the way I..." Mom stops her sentence and clears her throat. Then she continues, "Prying on a child just to make juicy headlines is crazy. I'm going to give this journalist a call."

"Mom, don't. It's not worth it."

She then reaches across the table to squeeze my hand reassuringly after she sets my phone down on the table. "Honey, don't let their gossip get to you. You know why you're there and how you got there. And that's all that matters."

Taking a deep breath, I nod, steeling myself for the day ahead. It's going to be a long one, that's for sure.

My mom then disappears into her room, and I can hear her shouting at Dad. I can't help but feel that this is all my fault. If I hadn't driven that SUV, and dad could have just been honest to the Mayor about being drunk, my parents' lives wouldn't have been exposed to the public like this.

That headline is not the only thing that's trending. On Tiktok, Max's fighting clip at the party he was at last night is also trending.

The video captures a chaotic scene at the party. In the center of the frame stands Max's friend, Riley, his fists clenched and his expression contorted with rage as he confronts Max. The tension is palpable as the two exchange heated words, their voices drowned out by the noise of the crowd.

Suddenly, the situation escalates, and fists start flying. Riley throws a punch fist, which angers Max, his movements fueled by adrenaline. The other partygoers gather around, some cheering on the fight while others attempt to intervene and break it up.

As soon as I wake up from my chair and wash my bowl up, my parents step into the kitchen. "Have a great day ahead, honey." Dad chirps as I head for the door. He rocks up in front of me and gives me a kiss on my forehead. "I love you and don't bother about that silly headline."

One bicycle ride later, I arrive at school.
As I park my bicycle in the car park, I catch Max staring at me while sitting in his black Jeep. I lock my bicycle and pick my head up to see he's broken contact.

As I walk down the hallway, I can feel the weight of their judgmental stares bearing down on me, as if I'm wearing a scarlet letter for all to see.

"Did you hear about Lily?" I hear someone whisper as I pass by in the hallway. "They say she's been driving Max around like some kind of chauffeur. Can you imagine?"

"I heard her father has a criminal record, and he only got the job because they were really struggling financially and mayor stated that he believes in second chances. The mayor is such wonderful person."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut, and I struggle to hold back the tears that threaten to spill over. The worse thing you could become in this school is a cruel joke.

But amidst the whispers and the laughter, I refuse to let myself be defeated. I square my shoulders and hold my head high, determined not to let the cruel words of others define me.

As the days pass, the initial shock of Max's fight and the subsequent gossip begin to fade, replaced by the usual hum of school life. But for me, the memory of those hurtful words and mocking glances lingers, a constant reminder of the cruelty that lurks beneath the surface of teenage society.

But despite the whispers and the stares, I find solace in the knowledge that I am stronger than the rumors and the taunts. I may be the school's joke for a moment, but I refuse to let that define me. I am Lily, daughter of a chauffeur, but also a force to be reckoned with, determined to rise above the petty gossip and prove my worth to the world.

◇

The final bell rings, signaling the end of another mundane day at school. I rush out of school like lightning bolt to avoid anymore attention and hop on my bicycle.

I pedal along the familiar streets, lost in thought. The wind whips through my face and the rhythmic motion of my legs against the pedals lulls me into a sense of tranquility. But just as I round a corner, my peaceful reverie is shattered.

Without warning, my bicycle lurches to the side, throwing off my balance. Panic floods my veins as I grasp desperately at the handlebars, but it's too late. With a jolt, I'm sent hurtling towards the ground, the hard asphalt rushing up to meet me.

"Oh no!" I scream.

Time seems to slow as I tumble, limbs flailing in a futile attempt to regain control. The world spins around me in a dizzying blur, and for a moment, all I can hear is the rapid thudding of my heart in my ears.

Finally, with a sharp jolt, I come to a stop, sprawled out on the pavement in a tangle of limbs and twisted metal. Pain shoots through my body as I slowly push myself upright, assessing the damage. That's when I see it - the telltale hiss of air escaping from a punctured tire.

How did I end up with a flat tire? I must have went over something sharp. Groaning in fustration, i curse at my unawareness, then dust myself off and pick up my fallen bike.

As I resign myself to the reality of my situation, I heave a heavy sigh and abandon any hope of riding my bicycle. Instead, I grip the handlebars tightly and begin to push, the weight of the punctured tire making each step a struggle.

The once smooth glide of my ride is replaced by the gritty resistance of rubber against pavement. With each push, I feel the strain in my muscles, the frustration building with every inch of progress.

The sun sinks lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the sidewalk as evening descends.

With each push, I remind myself that setbacks are just temporary obstacles, mere blips on the radar of life.
With each push, I remind myself that setbacks are just temporary obstacles, mere blips on the radar of life - just like scientists and engineers. They face challenges head-on, tirelessly working to overcome hurdles and innovate solutions. In their pursuit of knowledge and progress, they embrace failure as a stepping stone to success, learning, and growing with each setback.

However no matter how much I motivate myself, this bicycle is really heavy. Suddenly a car rolls up next to me, I look to up, and it's Max Straton's black Jeep with the tinted windows. One of them rolls down. "Hey? Are you okay?"

I nod my head yes and make a motion like he should just go. He rolls the window back up, and I think he's really going to drive off, but then he pulls over to the side and parks.

He climbs out and starts inspecting my bicycle.

"A punctured tire."

I nod.

"Fortunately my bike is gone for maintenance and I have space for your bicycle on the back of Jeep."

"No thanks, I don't need to be anymore headlines."

"If you tell your dad that I didn't help you and it goes to my father's ears, I wouldn't hear the end of it. Especially when he's my dad's favorite."

Don't you mean it will hurt you and your father's political image?

"I won't tell him."

"I bet you there's at least one paparazzi hanging around right now."

I glance around, half-expecting to see a camera lens poking out from behind a nearby bush or parked car.

"Fine," I relent, reluctantly accepting his offer.

Max raises an eyebrow, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes. "Don't worry, there won't be anymore headlines about you or your dad."

Max loads my bicycle onto the back of his Jeep all by himself. I offer to help, but he wavers me off. Once my bicycle is safely secured and stowed away, I climb into the passenger seat of Max's Jeep.

Suddenly, my phone buzzes. Something in my stomach tells me to check the message. I can't help but chuckle at the notion that my gut is trying to give me directions. Seriously, since when did I start taking advice from my stomach? Nevertheless, I humor the whim and pull over to check my phone.

With a grin plastered on my face, I tap the screen, and I'm greeted by a cryptic message that sends a shiver down my spine.

"If you're wondering how you suddenly ended up with a flat tire... you can ask me."

I gasp.

"Who's got you gasping like that?" Max inquires with a smirk.

"A ghost." My tone dripping with fear.

I glance nervously at the side-view mirrors, checking both mine and Max's side, then casting a wary glance behind us. The remnants of the threatening text still linger in my mind, fueling my paranoia. After all, you can never be too careful, especially after watching one too many true crime shows.

Max arches an eyebrow, clearly not buying my response. "A ghost, huh?" he says, his tone laced with skepticism. "Well, that's a first."

I swallow nervously, my mind racing with the implications of the message I've just received. "Yeah, well, it's been a weird day," I mutter, trying to brush off the unsettling feeling creeping over me.