Episode 1 : First day. POV:Sandra

EPISODE 1 – “The First Day”*

*Sandra’s POV*

If someone had told me that one semester could change everything, I would’ve rolled my eyes. But that was before the first day of senior year—before things started to fall apart quietly, and then all at once.

The school hallway smelled like floor polish and overused perfume. Lockers clanged open, sneakers squeaked, and laughter bounced off the walls. My cousin Joan spotted me from across the hallway and waved dramatically like she hadn’t just seen me last week.

“Sandraaa!” she called, rushing toward me, curls bouncing.

I barely had time to blink before she wrapped me in a hug. “You look so different. Is that eyeliner? Are we doing the mysterious transfer student vibe now?”

I laughed. “Calm down, Joan. I just—grew up a little.”

“You glowed up, you mean.” She winked. “Ugh, boys are not ready.”

She looped her arm through mine and started leading me toward her group.

“They better be,” I joked. “I didn’t come back to this school just to be invisible again.”

She grinned. “Don’t worry. I’ve got you.”

We turned the corner—and that’s when I saw him.

Alex.He was leaning against a locker, scrolling through his phone like it was nothing. Just a guy in a hoodie, jeans, and that annoying natural confidence some boys were born with. When he looked up, our eyes met for half a second.

Time did a weird thing.

“Babe!” Joan chirped, letting go of my arm to run up to him.

*Babe?*

I blinked. Wait. That’s Joan’s boyfriend?

Alex wrapped an arm around her waist without missing a beat, leaning down to kiss her cheek. “Missed you,” he said.

“Even after texting me all summer?” Joan teased.

He smirked. “Especially after that.”

I looked away quickly, pretending to adjust the strap of my bag, but something twisted in my stomach. Not jealousy, not really. Just… surprise. Weird surprise. Joan hadn’t mentioned *this* kind of boyfriend. Just a name. Just “Alex.”

And somehow, the name hadn’t prepared me for *him.*

Joan pulled me closer. “Alex, this is my cousin—Sandra. The one I told you about.”

Alex extended a hand, polite smile in place. “Hey. Nice to finally meet you.”

“Same,” I said, taking his hand. His grip was warm and steady. Too steady.

Joan’s phone buzzed, and she gasped dramatically. “Mark just texted—he’s here. I have to go say hi, I’ll be right back!”

She dashed off, leaving me and Alex standing awkwardly.I cleared my throat. “So… you and Joan, huh?”

He chuckled. “Yeah. A little over six months now.”

“That’s... cool. She really likes you.”

“She’s Joan,” he said simply, like that answered everything.

The hallway felt too quiet for a moment. My heart beat a little too fast, and I didn’t know why.

Thankfully, Joan came bouncing back with a tall, broad-shouldered guy beside her. “Sandra, meet Mark! He’s Alex’s best friend. And Adel’s on her way!”

Mark gave me a friendly nod. “Heard you’re the smart one in the family.”

“Oh, she’s more than that,” Joan said proudly, then linked her arm with mine again. “Come on, let’s go claim our table before the art freaks take it.”

As we walked, I glanced back at Alex.

He was already looking.

And in that moment, something shifted.

But I didn’t know what it meant.

Not yet.

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