The dark wooden doors in front of me are wide open, and the stone path leading indoors is beckoning me to take the last step over the threshold. I shouldn’t feel so cautious, but something about this being my new home for the next year feels heavy. It feels as though everything I do once I step through the oak doorway will be evaluated and follow me for the rest of my life.

Technically, it will, since Sterling Preparatory Academy will be on my transcript as my last year of high school. Taking one last glance behind me at the driver who dropped me off, I take a deep breath and step inside the castle of a school.

All around me, students my age talk in a variation of languages and accents as they gather with friends in the main hall. My bags have already been dropped off in my new dorm by one of the school doorkeepers. Everyone else is dressed in their own clothes, since technically, we don’t start any official school activities until tomorrow. I still chose a skirt similar in length to the uniform I’ll be expected to wear every day, and a black top, just because I want to make a good impression on everyone here, staff included.

“You really should have been there; it was quite the event.” A girl near me says to a boy following behind her. Her dark, slightly wavy hair bounces behind her as she strides with purpose, and the boy with messy blond hair nods in agreement as he continues to keep up and stay fully immersed in her voice. She continues to walk down the hallway, and since the people around me are starting to make their way, I try to follow in suit, and as we all file into what appears to be the theater, I find a seat next to a girl who appears to be sitting alone. The chairs are plush, and if someone were to tell me right now that we’re about to witness a play, I would believe them.

“Hi, I’m Aline.” I say politely to the girl next to me. Her brown hair is pretty wavy, and when she turns to me, under the lights, it’s gorgeous.

“Hi, I’m Amaia.” She says brightly with a smile. Her doe eyes and rounded face match her voice perfectly, and I can’t help but reciprocate her smile. “Are you new here? I don’t think I saw you last semester.”

“I am, actually,” I say, nodding my head at her question. “So, you’ve been here for a while?”

“Yes, I am,” Amaia replies eagerly. “I just have to say that your curls are literally so gorgeous. I mean, you’re gorgeous, of course, but your hair is so beautiful.”

“Oh, thank you,” I reply, smiling at the compliment. “You’re really pretty, too. Your facial features fit you so well.”

“Aw, thanks. I think-” She stops speaking as someone on stage starts speaking into the microphone and the lights around us dim.

“Welcome to Sterling Preparatory Academy. We’re more than pleased to have you here, and we’re excited to host your education for the next year.” The man on stage says into the microphone. “We hope you’ll give us your best effort, and in turn, we’ll reciprocate that effort.”

I glance over to Amaia, who is nodding along as the man speaks. My fingers and toes are buzzing with excitement, and for this being a school, I shouldn’t be so eager. For some reason, I feel like these two semesters are going to be the most enjoyable school semesters of my life.

 

***

 

“Hey, you must be my new roommate. I’m Saniya.” The girl in my room says as she strides to me with her arm outstretched. Her dark hair is separated into two braids that are draped across her shoulders, and I can’t help but admire how healthy and long it is.

“Hi, I’m Aline.” I reply, shaking her hand and giving her a smile. “It’s nice to meet you, Saniya.”

“You’re new here, right? I don’t think I saw you last year.” Saniya asks as she sits on the edge of her bed.

“This is my first year here.” I agree with a nod. “My mom’s new agency is in New York City, so she wanted me to be somewhere close.”

“What does she do?” Saniya asks curiously. She scoots under her blanket while I unload my things into my dresser.

“She’s a model. Alina Carvalho.” I say, the understanding dawning in Saniya’s eyes.

“Oh, the Brazilian model? She’s your mom?” Saniya gaps. “I just saw an advertisement with her in it recently.”

“Yeah, she is.” I nod proudly. “Her agency wants to move her to New York City for the next few years, so it made sense for my parents to enroll me somewhere close.”

“That’s so cool,” Saniya says excitedly.

“Thanks, Saniya,” I say with a smile. How did I get so lucky with a nice roommate? “What about you? What do your parents do?”

“Both of them are in STEM, so not as cool as a model.” She says with a giggle. “In all honesty, it’s pretty cool what they do.”

“Where do they work?”

“They’re both in Florida right now,” Saniya replies. “They move a lot, so before I started here, I was never in the same school for very long.”

“I bet you’re happy to have a semi-permanent place to stay then,” I comment as I drop the last few sets of socks into the drawer. “It would be weird to move a lot, I think.”

“It really was. I used to get so attached to one place, but then move so soon afterwards, and it was hard when I was younger.” Saniya agrees. “Now, it’s so nice to see all of my friends every day and not worry about moving until it’s time for college. It’s…peaceful.”

“I can’t wait to meet everyone here,” I say, nodding my head along. “You’re already so nice, and I can’t wait to make more friends to hang out with.”

“You can eat breakfast with me tomorrow.” Saniya offers brightly. “I usually eat with my friends, Clemence, and Cedella, and you’re welcome to join us. Their brothers might be there, too.”

“Are they siblings?” I ask.

“No, they’re just best friends and happen to have older brothers,” Saniya replies with a giggle. “They’re both sixteen, and their older brothers are seventeen. Clemence’s brother is Callaway, and Cedella’s is Montas.”

“What’s so funny?” I ask curiously.

“Clemence and Callaway are mixed French and Spanish—they were born in France—and Cedella and Montas are of Jamaican descent, so the thought of them being siblings when they’re all wildly different in height, size, and color is kind of silly. Cedella and Clemence are close enough that they act like sisters, though. They’re roommates.”

“Oh, I see,” I say with a giggle. “Although my older brother—he’s five years older than me—and I look very different. He takes after our father and is much taller and lighter than I am.”

“Yeah, I get what you’re saying. I don’t have any siblings to compare with, but since both of my parents are Indian, I don’t think we’d vary too much.” Saniya agrees with a nod.

“I mean, you never know,” I reply with a shrug. “Either way, I’m excited to meet your friends tomorrow. I feel like a lot of people here are already friends, even though this is a new school year.”

“Well, you’re kind of right. We don’t have too many new students every year, since the student body is intentionally kept at a smaller size.” Saniya comments. “I think this year in total, we only had a hundred new students, which is kind of crazy when you think about it.”

“Wow, I didn’t realize the number was so low,” I say, finally flopping down on my bed. “It definitely feels like everyone here knows each other.”

“Yeah, it does. You’ll get used to it, though,” Saniya says gently. “I promise.”