NEW TOWN NEW RULES

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Sienna Blake stared out of the car window as the WELCOME TO RAVENCREST flash pass, she had mastered the art of pretending to be fine, even though she didn't want to leave her life back at her old town.

As the youngest professional lawyer in her

law firm, Mrs Blake had worked tirelessly to climb the corporate ladder. So when the firm offered her a major position in Ravencrest, she hadn’t hesitated to uproot their entire lives for it.

And her dad being the supportive husband

transferred to Ravencrest as a professor. Ava bubbling and excited voice rang out humming a rhyme. At least someone is happy about the change she thought

The town was picture-perfect, the kind of place with tree-lined streets, oversized houses, and luxury cars parked in every driveway. It looked like something out of a movie—one where she didn’t belong.

“Wow! Look at that park!” Ava squealed from the backseat, pressing her tiny hands against the glass.

Sienna’s five-year-old sister had been excited for the move ever since their parents announced it. Sienna, on the other hand, had spent the past month dreading it. Senior year was supposed to be about enjoying the last bit of high school with friends—not starting over in a town full of strangers.

“Ravencrest is a good place, Sienna,” her dad said from the driver’s seat, as if sensing her reluctance. “New start, new opportunities..

Sienna swallowed and looked away. She didn’t want to talk about it. She just wanted to be okay.

———

As their car rolled into their new neighborhood, Sienna’s eyebrows lifted slightly. The houses weren’t just big—they were huge. Some had fountains in the front yard, others had balconies with sweeping views of the tree-covered hills. Their own house was impressive too—two stories, wraparound porch, freshly painted white walls with navy-blue shutters. Definitely a step up from their old place.

The maze of boxes filled up the living room, Sienna choose the room at the second floor overlooking the streets.. It was spacious, with pale gray walls and a giant bay window—perfect for reading. She spent hours putting up her bookshelves, hanging fairy lights, and organizing her desk just how she liked it.

She placed Her collection of highlighters. The soft blanket she had since childhood and framed photo of her old friends on the nightstand, even though looking at it made her chest ache.

The house itself was huge. Too huge.

It had five bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a kitchen so modern that Sienna was afraid to touch anything. The walls were freshly painted, the furniture delivered in perfect condition, and yet… it didn’t feel like home.

The rest of the weekend was a blur of unpacking boxes, rearranging furniture, and trying to make the new house feel like home.

“Sienna come down for dinner, mum ordered your favorite” dad shouted “ hurry up or your sister with eat them up”

She groaned too tired to move but had no choice, Ava the little foodie could be mean at times when it comes to food not even sparing a bit for her. After dinner, mum stood sternly on the porch receiving insistent phone calls, her job had spared her little time to spend with the family always going on frequent trips or working till late hours of the day, even at home she was always busy.

Meanwhile dad took Ava to her room to rest, she could hear his gentle voice coaxing her to sleep. Smiling she made her way to her room to get some sleep, peeping through the door of Ava room, she laid on her pink bed with dad sitting by the side.

Ava had made a mess of her room building princess castle all day and now so tired and has fallen asleep. The weekend has being stressful for Sienna with all the arrangements and now tomorrow she will start a new phase of life in Ravencrest Academy, successfully complete her high school with good grade, graduate and get accepted to her dream college.

She spent and hour on her desk reading and going through her new textbooks, looking at the wall clock the time was past nine, closing the books she laid on the soft bed starring at the polished wooden floors—felt too perfect. Too new.

She had only been here for a few hours, and yet she already missed the creaky floors of their old house, the messy bookshelves, the familiarity, closing her eyes Sienne signed.

New school. New people. New everything.

She groaned and pulled the covers over her head. Tomorrow was going to be a disaster.

NEW GIRL AT SCHOOL

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Ring Ring Ring

Sienna groaned in displeasure at he beeping of the alarm clock, waking up early was totally not for her, feeling her way around her nightstand with sleepy eyes she put off the alarm clock.

“Way better” she mumur covering her head with the duvet going to sleep.

“Sienna sienna wake up and get dressed mum's driving us to school “ Ava shouted excited about making new friends shaking the sleepy Sienna.

”hmm hmm am so sleepy now baby can you let me off today“ she mutter

”Absolutely not, hurry up or we will be late” Ava added as she ran downstairs for breakfast.

Sienna groggily found her way to bathroom to get dressed.

Starring at the beautiful girl in front the mirror, fair skin, flawless heart shaped face with a tear drop mole below her eye enhancing her features, moving hazel eyes filled with stars, so bright and pure, pearly white teeth and cherry lips.

She stood with quiet confidence, her uniform crisp and neatly pressed, accentuating her poised demeanor.

Her white sleeve dress shirt was tuck in a short plaited ash skirt with matching jacket and black shoes, it had a very pretty design at the left side of the jacket written Ravencrest Academy.

The fabric hugged her slender frame just right, the clean lines adding to her polished appearance.

Strands of her hair, carefully tucked behind her ears, framed her face, where bright eyes shimmered with intelligence and warmth. A faint smile played on her lips—subtle yet captivating, as if she carried a secret known only to her.

There was a quiet elegance about her, a beauty that went beyond just looks—one that came from the way she carried herself, confident yet kind, strong yet gentle, on her head a matching hair band.

Looking nice a little lip gloss and some mascara will do, she thought .

A brown sling bag on her shoulder she made her way down the stairs to the dining.

“Wow! Sis you look so pretty” Ava said looking her up and down with a wide smile her big eye twinkling, mouth agape with unchewed pancakes.

“My little kiddo has really grown pretty” dad added wiping non existent tears, showing an expression of heart ache.

Laughing in her heart at their antics, she sped up her meal. “Alright kids let get you to school am running late“ mum voice was heard from the drive way.

”Make new friends at school have fun“ dad shouted behind them

———

After saying goodbye to Ava at the kindergarten drop off, mum drove through the bustling streets, starring as the scenery flash pass outside the window, tea houses, shops, boutique, vendors arranging their wears and lot more.

”Alright we are here, you can get off now“ Her voice breaking the lon due silence.

“Be sure to get home early”

She urged giving one more glance as the car sped away.

Ravencrest Academy—a towering, ivy-covered building that looked more like an elite college than a high school. The students walking through the grand entrance were straight out of a teen drama—designer bags, expensive shoes, effortless confidence.

She clutched the map and schedule she’d been given at the front office, trying to navigate the maze-like hallways. The first bell was about to ring, and She had no idea where She was going. She wove her way through the excited chatters of the crowd not paying attention along the way, she bumped head first into a solid hard chest, sending Her straight to the floor on the butt.

“Ouch! She exclaimed rubbing her forehead her eyes becomes teary from the impact.

Looking up she saw a tall guy about 1.88 feet tall, strikingly handsome with piercing eyes that exude confidence and mystery. His jet-black hair is tousled in a deliberately unkempt style, complementing his chiseled jawline. Cold and expressionless face with multiple piercings adorn his ears and a subtle silver hoop graces his eyebrow, enhancing his rebellious aura.

Intricate tattoos snake up his forearms and peek from beneath the collar of his fitted black leather jacket, which clings to his athletic frame. Underneath, he wears a crisp white shirt, partially unbuttoned, hinting at a disregard for convention. Uniform trouser and rugged boots adding his ensemble, embodying the quintessential dangerous bad boy aesthetic. A sight for sour eyes.

She scrambled to gather her fallen papers. “I’m so sorry,” She said quickly, brushing dust off her skirt, feeling her surrounding go eerily silent with few mummurs from the once bustle.

“Seriously” He said grumpily his icy glare made her freeze up mid- motion, a trace of impatience flashed pass those deep eyes.

She looked up eyes narrowing

“Excuse me”

“Watch where you're going," a cold voice drawled

The guy smirked, leaning casually against the lockers. Like he had all the time in the world. “Let me guess. New girl? Lost? Completely clueless?”

“Sienna clenched her jaw. Oh, hell no”.

“I may be new,” she said, standing up straight, “but at least I’m not an arrogant jerk who blocks the hallway for fun.”

A few gasps sounded around them. People were watching.

“You know what, you’ve got quite the mouth, princess.”

“And you’ve got quite the ego,” she shot back.

The hallway was dead silent.

” He backed her against the locker, his face icy as a thousand year glacier, his height intimidating towering over her, masking her fear, a trace of panic flash pass her eyes.

For a moment, she thought he might retaliate. But then, a voice called out from the end of the hall.

"Xander, come on! Coach is looking for you."

He glanced over his shoulder, then back at Sienna, his expression a mix of anger and something else she couldn't quite place.

"This isn't over," he muttered before turning and walking away, the crowd parting to let him pass.

Having seen enough drama the crowd desperse scrambling to their next class as the bell rang, talking in low tone.

STAY CLEAR

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Sienne signed looking at the door number, She finally found the classroom after having spent half the physics period moving in circles, regaining her composure She walked in.

The once noisy class quiet down, students talking in hushed tone watching sienne with hawk like gaze.

“ Are you the new transfer student?” The physic teacher asked

“ Yes ma'am, am very sorry for being late, Sienne replied,” She couldn't find the classroom through those maze like hallway and somehow got lost and only found her way when the disciplinarian passed through the hallway ready to catch frolicking students.

A beautiful lady dressed modestly on work suit, bringing out her femine curves. Her eye brow furrow into a slight frown which couldn't hide the gentleness in her eyes.

”Alright find your self a seat, but do well to come early next time“ the teacher smiled.

”Yes ma'am ”

“Alright class get settled” the physic teacher continued her lessons.

Scanning around she finally found a seat beside a blonde with blue eyes, multiple piercing, giving a cool tomboyish aura, walking over Sienna sat down. The rest of the class drone on till the bell rang.

Ring Ring Riing…

“ We have come to the end of the class, do well to submit your assignment to Harrison, see you all on our next class.“ She packed up her books leaving the class.

The original quiet class became so heated, student talking about different things, while leaving the class in groups.

Sienna also packed up ready for her next class.

The whispers followed her down the hall, and even though she refused to look back, she could feel the curious stares burning into her, people pointing at her while checking their phones.

Well well so much for trying to blend in on her first day of school Sienna thought, its all that jerk fault,she hissed under her breath seething with anger.

Seeing a familiar figure from afar by the lockers, on closer look it was her deskmate replacing her books for the next class. Walking across stood Sienna new locker typing the code to the locker, a click sound was made, organizing her locker she took out all other books from her bag leaving only those for the next class.

“Hey, do you know where Room 207 is?” she turn to face the blonde.

The girl blinked, clearly startled by the intrusion of the voice. “Oh! Uh, yeah, that’s upstairs. I can show you?”

Sienna smiled, already feeling a little better. “That’d be great. I’m kind of lost.”

The girl nodded, adjusting her wristband hiding a life like butterfly tattoe. “ I'm,Skylar Hayes by the way.”

“Sienna Blake.”

“Yeah, I figured.”

Sienna frowned. “You figured?”

Skylar winced. “Someone posted your little altercation with Xander. You are quite popular on the school forum.“

“What is that” a confused look etched on her face

“ Oh my bad, I forgot you are a newbie, she said holding up her phone to show me. An interface popped up on her phone. All you need do is to register with your ID, once done you can get all latest campus gist and information posted, but you have to be cautious of what you post as the teachers are admin of the forum although anonymous post are allowed, but if it's a fake news and causes cyber bully, due punishment are given after the IP address is traced, how about i help you register.“

“What do you think”

“Okay I guess”

“What name do you think is suitable”, a pondering look on her face, what about little fox, a smile blooming on her face.

“ Okay”

Sienna handed her phone to her, not long she gave her back the phone. Scrolling through, an eye catching post caught her interest.

SHOCKING NEWS

“NEW GIRL AND XANDER”

Bellow it was a description of what happened at the hallway in a dramatic way, the writer should be given an award on how well he/ she painted the story. A picture of her back view was attached. Tapping her phone to see the picture clearly, it seem to have been taken after she left the hallway.

Scrolling through the comment and post.

Barbie Doll: “Any one has an idea of who she is.“

Prince Charming: “she does have a lot of guts, maybe she is one of those attention seekers”, but I do pity her bad luck,seeing no one else to offend but Xander.“

Lollipop: “Now I remember she sat with us for AP physics, she is really good looking, Too bad, a downcast emoji followed.“

Keeping her phone aside, she wasn't interested on any more post of her.

Of course she couldn’t just have a normal, unnoticed first day.

They walked up the stairs, Skylar keeping a cautious but curious glance on her. “You… really didn’t know who he was?”

“Nope.”

“Wow.”

Sienna sighed. “Let me guess. He’s the king of the school, and I just committed social suicide?”

Skylar hesitated before shrugging. “Not exactly… but also, kind of.”

“Great.”

Skylar glanced around and lowered her voice with a laidback casual style

“Xander isn’t just popular. He’s untouchable. No one talks back to him. Ever.”

“Well, someone had to,” Sienna muttered.

Skylar gave her a look that was somewhere between admiration and deep concern. “You’re either really brave or really stupid.”

“Why not both?”

You don't seem to be the type to fear someone, looking at Her curiously.

“The name Xander spells bad omen, although I don't fear Him, having nothing to do with Him is way better, the clique of friends are complicated, will explain better during lunch.“

Skylar cracked a smile, and Sienna relaxed a little. At least she made one friend today.

“Alright we are here”, looking ahead was really the number 207

“Thanks Skylar”, Sienna said while smiling

Go in. She urged,” mine is two hall ways from here

See you at lunch” She waved good bye racing to her next class.