"I'm off to school now, Mom!"
I shout from outside as Evans, my driver, starts putting my things in the car. She comes out teary-eyed, and I already know what she's about to do.
"Aww, come on, Mom. Don't start crying—you know I have to go," I say, a bit tiredly.
"I know, my angel. I just can't believe how much you've grown," she says, a few tears sliding down her cheeks before she pulls me into a tight hug.
"Come on, Mom. I'm already running late for school—I have to go," I say, gently pulling away. We say our goodbyes, and then I hop into the car, excited.
I'm Riley, and I'm transferring to a boarding school. I'm two years away from college—currently in Grade 11.
When we arrive we step down from the car and I take a moment to look at the school, the school looks huge, and by the look of things, everyone here is filthy rich. Not that I’m not rich too 🤑.
I step out of the car with Evans carrying my stuff. We head to the check-in area, where they search for contraband.
Phones aren’t allowed, but laptops are. 😑So much for being a baddie—I hid my phone in my sock.
After check-in, I say goodbye to Evans and head to the matron’s office to get my room assignment. She instructs two students to show me to my dorm. I thank them, and as I open the door, I freeze.
Two girls are making out.
Another girl is glued to her laptop, typing away.
“Oh shit, sorry you had to see us like that. I just can’t help myself around my girlfriend. You must be our new roommate, Riley, right?” says the girl on top.
“Yeah, I’m Riley. I don’t really mind. What’s your name?” I reply, awkwardly.
“I’m Mandy, this is my girlfriend Coral, and the laptop zombie over there is Mirabella—Mirabel for short,” she says, helping me carry my things in.
The room is huge and spacious, with two king-sized beds—one red and one pink. The walls are painted sky blue.
“So you’ll be sleeping on the red bed with Mirabel, while I share the pink one with Coral,” Mandy says with a dreamy grin. Then she leans in and whispers,
“Oh, and in case you're gay—Mirabel is freaking straight.”
“I heard that,” Mirabel says, chuckling.
I smile. They seem really close and fun.
After settling in, we start talking.
“So, Riley, what grade are you in? We’re all in Grade 12,”Coral asks.
“Grade 11,” I reply, realizing they’ll graduate next year.
They’re just so cool. 😎
“Too bad—we’ll be gone next year,” Mirabel says.
Then the bell rings.
They explain it’s lunchtime, and we all head to the dining hall.
As we're walking down the hallway towards the dining hall, I spot my bestie.
"James, you came!" I coo, embracing him in a tight hug.
We've been inseparable since childhood. When I told him I was transferring, he decided to transfer too. Such a considerate bestie ☺️.
I introduce James to the girls, and he kisses me on the left cheek before saying he has to get back to his gang.
James is a complete extrovert—he knows how to roll with all kinds of people and is a big flirt too. Meanwhile, I'm more of an ambivert.
"He's one hottie, you know that," Mirabel says.
"God, I'm falling for him already," Mandy chirps in, and Coral slaps her arm, feigning annoyance. We all laugh and join the food queue.
When it’s my turn, I take lots of food—I forgot to mention I’m a total foodie—then we settle down to eat.
"Riley, can you finish all that?" Mirabel asks, concerned.
"Yes, I'm a big foodie," I purr as I start eating.
"No wonder she's got big boobs and a butt. I wonder if they'll ever fit in anyone’s hands," Coral says, eyes fully on my chest.
"They weren’t made to fit anyone’s hands," I reply, trying to pull my shirt up to hide them, a bit embarrassed.
"We all know it's impossible to hide 'em, girl—you’re blessed," Mandy says with a smirk.
"Whatever. Can you all eat and stop talking about whether my boobs fit hands or not?" I say, faking anger.
They all laugh and finally start eating. When we’re done, they decide to show me around the school.
Here’s a rewritten version of part of your scene, with more *description*, *inner thoughts*, and *actions*, while keeping the original dialogue:
I clapped my hands. “Yay, we’re going touring,” I said, twirling on my heel like a kid. The girls laughed, and we began walking down the paved paths of the school compound, warm sunlight casting shadows from the tall trees around us.
“This way,” Mirabel said, leading us past a fountain and a long white building. “That’s the boys’ dorm.”
I looked up at the tall structure, its walls painted a shade darker than ours. Large letters read THE BOYS DORMITORY. As my eyes trailed up, I spotted someone leaning out of a third-floor window. He was shirtless—tanned skin, sculpted abs, damp hair like he’d just stepped out of the shower. My mouth may have hung open for a second.
Coral giggled. “Ohh, that nitwit? That’s Stanley, my bestie.”
I blinked and quickly looked away, feeling heat rush to my cheeks. “Oh,” I mumbled, pretending I hadn’t just mentally zoomed in on his six-pack.
Mirabel glanced at me as we lounged on the dorm beds, the overhead light casting soft shadows across the room. “So, Riley… got any love story?”
Now that I think about it, James and his best friend—my arch-enemy—never liked seeing me around boys. No guy had actually asked me out, so it was never a big deal. But now that I think about it... it’s kind of sad.😞
I shook my head, fiddling with the hem of my shirt. “Not really. No guy has ever asked me out.”
All three of them stared at me like I’d grown another head.
“You're joking, right?” Coral blinked. “With that face and body? Girl, you're gorgeous.”
“If no one’s asked you out, the guys from your last school must’ve been blind,” Mandy added, smirking.
I shrugged, pretending like it didn’t sting a little. “Guess I was invisible or something.”
There was a pause, then Mirabel leaned in, lowering her voice like she was asking for a national secret. “Wait... does that mean you’re a virgin?”
I nodded slowly. “Yeah.”
Coral grinned. “That’s a whole extra package, girl.”
My eyes widened. “Wait… you guys aren’t?”
Coral chuckled, flopping back on her pillow. “Not really.”
What the fuck I thought sex was for adults! My mom would literally kill me if she ever found out I wasn't a virgin. But hey, that would be the good girl response...
Hate to break it to ya—I’m not exactly that 😏.
I didn’t respond right away. I wasn’t sure what shocked me more — the casual way she said it or how different their world seemed from mine. But I smiled anyway, letting their laughter fill the silence I didn’t know how to break.
So, cool. I mean, I haven’t dated yet, so sex should be a no-no for now, I say, chuckling. They all nod and laugh. We talk for a while.
“Girls, we have to take our bath and prepare for dinner so we’re not late for dinner,” Mirabel says.
Coral and Mandy enter one bathroom, while Mirabel and I enter the other. After noticing Mirabel staring at me for what felt like forever, I turn to her , “Speak, girl,”i say as I turn on the shower.
“You truly have a very nice body,” she says. “Your boobs are even bigger than I imagined. I mean—God help me. I know I’m straight, but damn.” She laughs.
I laugh too.
After we finish bathing, I dress in my red bunny-eared pajamas and flip-flops—apparently, we can wear personal clothes after school, but during school hours, uniforms are a must.
They tell me to carry books for reading and explain that there are two prep classes: one for the seniors and another for the juniors. We have to prep together with the boys. Juniors prep till 9 PM, while seniors go till 10 PM.
We head to the dining hall for dinner, and that’s when I notice a guy staring at me. I ignore him and collect my extra-large food, then we move to a table and start eating.
***
It’s prep time. I arrange my books on my desk and sit down, only to see my arch-enemy—Norman—smirking and walking toward me.
Norman used to pick on me all the time. I thought I finally got rid of him when I transferred. Did James tell him to transfer too?
Oh god, no.
“Hey there, little bunny. Fancy meeting you again,” he says with a grin. “Though I have to tell you, you look like a fish in those pajamas. An ugly one.” He plops down in the seat next to mine.
“I didn’t ask for your opinion on my outfit,” I say, shooting him a dry look.
“Oh, I see,” he shrugs. “Anyway, have fun. I hope you finally get a boyfriend,” he adds with a smirk, as if he's being genuinely helpful.
He always loved picking on me for not having a boyfriend. It’s not like I can’t date—or even really want to right now—but damn, he knows exactly how to get under someone’s skin.
It's only when I start writing that I notice the sweat building on my palms. I’ve been tugging at the hem of my skirt without even realizing it.
Norman really makes me nervous. You never know what he’s going to do next—whether it’s another insult or a random attempt to embarrass me in front of everyone.
I still can’t understand how James made him his best friend. Seriously, of all people.
I stared at him from the corner of my eye, watching him read intently. For all his jerk behavior, Norman is actually the top student in class—when he doesn't really read. He always comes first, no matter what.
Me? I study for hours, lose sleep, and still end up second. He barely tries, and yet somehow, he’s always ahead. It’s one of the many reasons I can’t stand him.
James, on the other hand, is just average. He’s never really cared about academics—and honestly, I don't think he ever will.
I'm lost staring at him until he clears his throat and walks over, that annoying smirk playing on his face, his lips tugging at the corner like he knows he’s won something.
"You done staring at this masterpiece, bunny?" he says.
I scoff and look away. I hate to admit it, but he really is top-tier—very, very handsome. Honestly, I think he’s even hotter than James. His deep blue eyes, perfectly structured jawline, that body… it’s like he was carved out of a Greek statue.
And then, just as I’m zoning out again, he snaps me back to reality—literally—by ruffling my hair.
"How dare you hit my head? Do you know how long I spent laying this hair flat?" I snap.
He laughs in front of me. "You're amazing. But seriously, why can’t you just enjoy my charm without getting so defensive?"
"Why can’t you keep your hands to yourself and stop tugging my hair?" I grumble, trying to fix the mess he made.
Honestly, no matter how much of a jerk he is, sometimes I just can’t stop thinking about him. Especially now that James is barely around—either with his new girl, hanging with his friends, or just being... James.
No one else really distracts me like Norman does. And I hate it.
I miss him. Ugh, I actually miss him. I’ve got this stupid crush on him that won’t go away. A real, annoying, butterflies-in-my-stomach type of crush. But I’d rather die than admit that out loud. Nope. Not happening.
He's not mine. Never was. Probably never will be. And I’m 99.9% sure he has a girlfriend.
It’s just so dumb.
So I do what any sane girl would do—try to distract myself with that shirtless guy I saw earlier at the boys' dorm. Yep. That helps. A bit.
I kept checking my watch like every five seconds, praying prep would just end already. Him looking that hot right next to me? Not helping.
And thinking back… ugh, I had to put up with him and James bringing girls over during sleepovers, doing the nastiest stuff right there in the same room. It was super annoying. Back then, I hadn’t even realized I had a silly little crush on him.
The worst part? After all that DISGUSTING BUSINESS, he’d come try to steal my food—with his DISGUSTING HAND.Like, really?
I thought it was disgusting. But the truth? It actually hurt. Maybe if I had a boyfriend, it wouldn’t have stung so bad. But I didn’t. And I couldn't even get one.
I was unconsciously tugging at the button on my pyjamas, not even realizing how loose it had gotten—until it popped off and hit the floor.
Norman burst out laughing.
I stood up to scold him, but then I saw the way his eyes darkened—like something shifted. I followed his gaze... down to my chest.
My boobs. EXPOSED.
“You pervert!” I screeched, trying to cover up.
“How am I a pervert when you were literally opening your shirt for me, Bunny?” he said with that annoying smirk. “Besides, I’ve seen better.”
Ouch.
I don’t know what hurt more—him seeing other boobs... or him saying they were better than mine. Something in me just snapped.
“Oh, like hell you have! I’m not gonna let you insult my body. Just so you know, I’m a lot better than those sluts!” I blurted.
My words hung in the air.
“Really, Bunny?” he said, lips curving into a wicked smirk.
My heart raced like crazy. Embarrassed and flustered, I rushed back to my desk still standing face burning.
Oh my God… what had I just done?
" But really Bunny you might wanna fix your shirt, bunny," Norman says, voice quieter this time, his usual smirk fading slightly.
He raises his hands in mock surrender, but there’s a flicker of something else in his expression — not the usual smugness. Was that... guilt?
I glare at him "Mind your business" I deadpan.
"Relax, I wasn’t looking... that much," he mutters, avoiding my eyes now. "Just... be careful, alright?"
For once, he doesn’t add a sarcastic jab. He just turns away and fidgets with his pen.
I sit down, heart pounding — not from anger, but something I can’t place. And for the first time, I wonder if there’s more to Norman than just insults.
At that exact moment, the bell rang, signaling the end of prep.
I exhaled heavily—I had never been more grateful for a bell in my life.
I scrambled to pack my books, my hands slightly shaky. And him? He was just there, staring at me with that annoying grin on his face.
“I’ll see you around, Bunny,” he said casually. “Oh, and don’t forget to fix your button—your boobs are still on display.”
Ugh. My face flamed up again. Angry, embarrassed, and wanting to disappear, I shot him a glare sharp enough to kill.
I rushed out and met up with Mandy and the rest. They asked how prep went.
“It was fine,” I muttered, not ready to relive the embarrassment.
Mirabel, started rambling excitedly about some guy who had been flirting with her the whole time during prep.
When we got back to our room, I decided to take another shower—everything with Norman had my head spinning. I needed something cold to cool me down.
After the shower, I changed into a loose gown and collapsed onto my bed, staring at the ceiling and thinking. Who would've thought that behind all that dark exterior, Norman actually had a heart?
Still, my thoughts slowly drifted to the guy I saw shirtless at the boys' dorm. He and Norman were honestly on the same level when it came to looks. My mind kept bouncing between both of them as I started dozing off.
Suddenly, I was jolted back to reality by the sound of Mirabel slamming her laptop shut, drawers in hand.
“Hey, Mirabel, what was that for?” I asked, sitting up.
“No, no, no—ugh, this stupid program won't run! It just keeps throwing errors,” she groaned.
Wait—Mirabel’s a programmer?
“Meh, I only do it for bad stuff,” she said casually, waving her hand. “I love programming, but I mostly use it for myself. You know, like hacking into people's phones or websites.”
I raised a brow, surprised she doesn't look like one.
“I’m actually a programmer too,” I say, stretching out on the bed. “But I mostly use it to hack into James' phone, and all I ever find are nudes from all the girls he's slept with. He’s such an idiot—but still, my best friend.”
Mirabel looked up at me and burst into laughter. “Ugh, that’s typical. Most hot guys are like that—just skipping around from girl to girl. Nothing serious to expect from them.”
She sighed and tilted her head. “Since you're this undercover programmer, you have to help me. This code keeps throwing errors, and I’m about to lose it.”
I nodded, and she handed me her laptop. It didn’t take long—just a few tweaks. The problem wasn’t even that serious. It was her frustration clouding the obvious.
“All done,” I said, handing the laptop back.
“Wait, what?” Mirabel blinked in disbelief. “Riley! That was so fast! It’s running perfectly now. How’d you even do that? I’ve been stuck for hours!”
“You had a zero division error in the logic,” I explained casually. “Just a simple math slip.”
She stared at me wide-eyed, then grinned. “Girl, you’ve gotta teach me more. I’m so far behind for a genius like you.”
I laughed. “No worries. Anytime you’re ready.”
“Better be soon—before you go all piano genius mode too,” she teased, changing her sitting position.
We laughed together as she moved her laptop off the bed. The room filled with light chatter and a calm vibe, a welcome break from all the chaos.
I don’t know what exactly moves me to say it, but I turn to her and tap her arm.
“Mirabel… can I trust you with something? Like, for real?”
She shrugs, playful but sincere. “Yeah, sure. Whatever it is, you can tell me.”
I sigh, playing with the hem of my gown. “I know it sounds crazy—and maybe it’s too soon, especially since I've only met you guys since today , —but…”
She leans in, sensing the weight of my words.
“I think… I think I have a crush on someone.”
Her brows shoot up. “Ooooh, spill! Who is he?”
I hesitate for a beat before blurting, “ Norman.”
“Norman?” she echoes. “I don’t think I’ve heard you mention him.”
“He’s… my best friend’s best friend. You know James? Norman’s like… his closest guy.”
“Ohhh, I get it now,” she says, connecting the dots. “So what’s the problem?”
“I don’t know,” I groan, flopping back onto the bed. “It’s just—he’s annoying, a complete jerk most times, but then… he’s not. And that’s the problem.”
Mirabel gives me that knowing smirk. “Girl. You’ve got it bad.”
“No, you don’t get it,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper. “Norman… he’s not just some guy. He used to bully me. Back in our old school, he made my life hell.”
Mirabel’s face drops. “Wait, his that bad?”
I nod slowly. “Yeah. So when I transferred here, I thought I’d finally escaped him. But guess what? James had the brilliant idea to invite him here too. And now… I think I have a crush on him. A big one. And that’s the real problem.”
Mirabel frowns. “Riley…”
“I know it’s messed up,” I cut in quickly. “He’s still kind of a jerk. Still acts like he’s untouchable. And he’s like James too—probably sleeping with every girl who flirts with him. He has to have a girlfriend, right? I mean, look at him.”
She doesn’t say anything for a second, just stares at me.
Then she sighs. “Ouch. You’ve really got it bad, girl. I’m sorry.”
I manage a weak smile. “Yeah. Me too.”
I wave it off, forcing a smile. “But it's not a big deal, really". I lie hoping she doesn't hear the crack in my voice "I’ve been holding it in since middle school, so it’s not like I’m new to this confusion.”
Mirabel gives me a look—half concern, half curiosity—but I cut her off with a soft laugh.
“You know what? We’ll continue this conversation later,” I say, turning to my side and pulling the blanket up. “Good night.”
She stays quiet for a moment, then murmurs, “Good night, Riley.”
I close my eyes, thinking maybe—just maybe—I’ll stop lying to myself someday. But not now. I finally doze off, anticipation buzzing for whatever tomorrow holds.
***
Today is Monday.
After having our bath, we began getting ready for school. The uniform was simple but cute — a sky blue striped shirt tucked into a navy blue short denim skirt, and a navy blue blazer with the school’s crest stitched neatly over the left breast pocket. I slipped into my navy blue long stockings and laced up my black Converse. I applied a little makeup — just some mascara to brighten my eyes and a touch of lip gloss. Then I straightened my hair till it fell smoothly to my shoulders.
The others were already done and lounging around.
“How’d you guys dress so quickly?” I asked, genuinely surprised.
“You’ll get used to it soon enough,” Coral said casually, stretching out on her bed like she had all the time in the world.
I picked up my books, slid them into my bag, and started pulling on my bracelets — five in total. A mix of beaded, leather, and metallic bangles that clinked softly as I moved.
“Why so many bracelets?” Mandy asked, raising a brow.
I shrugged. “Nothing. They're comfy,” I said simply.
Mirabel had already swept the room and was checking herself in the mirror for the third time.
“Come on, let’s go before the cafeteria crowd forms,” she urged.
We stepped out, heading toward the hallway, only to almost bump into a group of girls from the next room.
Wait… next room?
This was actually the first time I noticed there were other rooms next to ours. The hallway extended longer than I thought, with doorways on both sides. Each room probably held four girls, just like ours. The door next to ours creaked open and four girls emerged. They walked in sync like some kind of formation.
They looked older — seniors maybe?
that means they should be in the same class as Mandy,Coral and Mirabel Or just confident enough to feel like they owned the place. One of them, who had on a little too much makeup — overly contoured cheeks, heavy lashes, and glossy red lips — stepped out in front and stared me down.
“Don’t drool over my boyfriend again,” she said sharply, arms crossed.
I blinked. “Excuse me?”
She flipped her hair and smirked. “The one at the window. Stanley. Coral’s best friend.”
Oh. So THAT guy huh.
I remembered seeing him shirtless, by the window yesterday the memory still fresh . He didn’t even look in my direction, but apparently, this girl had a vivid imagination.
I chuckled. “That’s what this is about?”
Her eyes narrowed, clearly not used to being laughed at. “Stay away from him,” she hissed.
And unfortunately for her, I happened to be the impolite type.
I took a step closer, letting my bracelets jingle on purpose. “Sweetheart, your problem isn’t me. It’s your insecurity. Handle that before you start throwing empty threats.”
Her jaw dropped slightly, but I didn’t give her the satisfaction of a reaction. I adjusted my bag on my shoulder and walked past her.
Mandy let out a quiet whistle behind me. “Damn, Riley.”
“I like this version of you,” Mirabel added, amused.
As we walked to the cafeteria, Coral leaned toward me. “That was Sasha. She’s always been like that — loud mouth, jealous type. Don't mind her.”
“Was Stanley really your best friend?” I asked.
She nodded. “Yeah, childhood friends. But nothing romantic, ever.”
“Then that girl’s got some real issues.”
We reached the cafeteria and grabbed trays of food. The buzz of students chatting, laughing, and moving around filled the air. The smell of toast, eggs, and pancakes wafted through the room. I wasn’t even that hungry, but the moment I took a bite, I realized I hadn’t eaten properly in a while.
We found a table at the far end. I sat between Mirabel and Coral. Mandy sat across, grinning as she scrolled through something on her phone.
“I think Sasha’s gonna make your life hell,” she said without looking up.
"Relax sister I know how to handle bitches like her". I mumble halfway through my food and we all laugh.
"Besides Mandy you're gonna be in hot soup if a teacher catches you with your phone". Coral says
"Babe chill okay no one's gonna catch me".Mandy replied still scrolling through her phone.
As the bell rang, we cleared our trays and made our way to class.
First period was Literature, and to my surprise, it was actually engaging. The teacher, Mr. Graham, had a voice like a storyteller — smooth and captivating. He gave us an excerpt from Jane Eyre and asked for our opinions. I raised my hand cautiously and gave a comment on Jane’s independence.
“Interesting take, Miss Riley,” he said. “I like that you noticed that subtle strength.”
It was a small thing, but it gave me a little confidence boost.
Next up was Math. Not so fun.
As the teacher scribbled formulas on the board, my eyes wandered out the window — and of course, who did I see walking across the field?
Norman.
He had his sleeves rolled up, bag slung over one shoulder, and that same careless confidence.
A girl walked beside him, laughing at something he said.
His just been here for a day and is already flirting I roll my eyes at him ignoring the pang in my heart.
Stop it stupid fragile heart his a Manwhore I say to myself.😤
After classes, we headed to the library to study. Well, at least, we tried. Coral got distracted by a text from Stanley, Mandy was on TikTok, and Mirabel was sketching something in her notebook.
Man I guess am not the only one who sneaked her phone.
Me? I just stared at my open textbook and thought about how weird this school already felt. The drama, the tension, the confusing feelings I wasn’t sure I wanted to deal with.
Still, something told me this was just the beginning.
God am so bored am surely gonna bring my phone tomorrow I make a mental note.
***
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