The sun was barely up when Lexi Harper sat cross-legged on her twin bed, her phone illuminating the dim room. She scrolled through Instagram, her perfectly manicured nails tapping against the screen. The familiar faces of her old friends stared back at her, frozen in pictures of rooftop brunches, designer shopping sprees, and beach weekends in the Hamptons.
There was Serena again, smiling wide in a group shot at a swanky New York lounge. The caption read, “Squad goals ? Missed you, Lex!” But the tagged friends told a different story—Lexi wasn’t included.
Her chest tightened as she kept scrolling, her thumb hesitating over a photo of her ex-boyfriend, Drew. He was lounging poolside with a new girl, her hand possessively draped over his shoulder. The pang of jealousy and regret was immediate. She tossed her phone onto the bed with a frustrated groan and buried her face in her hands.
Across the hall, Jordan was already dressed, sitting on the windowsill and watching the neighborhood come to life. Outside, a group of teens played basketball on a cracked court, their laughter echoing down the street. Their easy camaraderie felt foreign to him.
For a moment, Jordan thought about Sophie—her soft smile, her laugh that used to light up his world. He hadn’t heard from her since he’d left New York, and part of him wondered if she’d moved on as quickly as Drew had.
A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. “You two ready?” Vanessa called out from the hallway.
Jordan stood, grabbing his backpack with a heavy sigh. “Ready as I’ll ever be,” he muttered.
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The drive to Southside High was awkwardly quiet. Lexi sat in the passenger seat, arms crossed, while Jordan slouched in the back, staring out the window. Vanessa did her best to fill the silence, chatting about how the school had “a lot of character” and how this was a “fresh start” for all of them.
The second they pulled up to the school, Lexi’s stomach dropped. Southside High was nothing like the elite private academies they’d grown up attending. The building was old, its bricks weathered and graffiti etched into the metal lockers outside.
“Here we go,” Jordan mumbled as they stepped out of the car.
Jordan stepped out of the car first, his blue eyes scanning the school’s exterior. It was both intimidating and fascinating—a far cry from the sleek, modern architecture of their old private school in Manhattan. “Looks like something out of an old movie,” he muttered, adjusting the strap of his backpack.
Lexi stepped out after him, her heels clicking on the uneven pavement. She wrinkled her nose at the sight of the chipped paint on the double doors and the peeling metal railings. “You mean a horror movie,” she quipped, brushing a stray strand of blonde hair out of her face. Her designer blazer felt out of place here, like a diamond in a pawnshop.
Lexi leaned against the car door, her arms folded tightly across her chest as she stared up at the imposing structure of Southside High. The building, a relic from another era, stood like a defiant monument to time and resilience. Its faded red brick facade bore decades of wear, with ivy creeping up one side as if nature itself was trying to reclaim it. The large arched windows were streaked with grime, and several panes had cracks that reflected the morning sunlight in jagged patterns. Above the grand stone staircase leading to the main entrance, the words Southside High School were carved into the limestone, their edges softened by decades of erosion.
The parking lot buzzed with activity. Students loitered near the entrance, laughing and shouting to one another. A group of boys tossed a basketball back and forth, their shoes squeaking on the cracked asphalt. Others leaned against the railings, their backpacks slung low and their voices carrying over the chaos. It was loud, messy, and utterly unlike the controlled, polished environment they had left behind in New York.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.
Jordan’s eyes lingered on the kids playing basketball, a pang of envy and longing rising in his chest. They seemed so at ease, so at home. He felt like an outsider looking in—a feeling he hated but couldn’t shake.
“Are they staring at us?” Lexi whispered, glancing at the groups clustered near the entrance.
“They’re definitely staring,” Jordan replied, his voice low.
And they were. Heads turned as the twins stepped away from the car, their polished appearances an instant magnet for attention. Lexi’s blonde hair shone like sunlight against the dull backdrop of the school, and her outfit—a tailored blazer, pleated skirt, and pristine white sneakers—was a glaring contrast to the casual, streetwise style of the other students. Jordan’s quiet confidence, combined with his striking blue eyes and athletic build, made him just as noticeable.
“Deep breaths,” Vanessa said, forcing a smile as she leaned out of the driver’s side window. “You’ll be fine. Just... be yourselves.”
Lexi shot her a pointed look. “You mean ‘blend in,’ right?”
Vanessa sighed. “Just go. You’ll be late.”
All it took was a few seconds for heads to turn. Lexi’s blonde hair shimmered in the sunlight, her tailored blazer and pleated skirt giving her an aura of privilege. Jordan, tall and broad-shouldered with piercing blue eyes, carried himself with quiet confidence despite the butterflies in his stomach.
The murmurs started immediately. “Who are they?” someone whispered. “They look like they just walked out of a fashion magazine,” another added.
Lexi tried to ignore the stares, her heels clicking against the pavement as she followed Jordan toward the front doors.
Before they even reached the steps, an exuberant voice called out, “Hold up, hold up! Who are you two?”
Lexi and Jordan turned to see a girl striding toward them with undeniable energy. Keisha Williams was radiant in a neon cropped hoodie and ripped jeans, her box braids styled into a high ponytail. She radiated confidence, her smile infectious and her eyes sharp with curiosity.
“I’m Keisha,” she said, sticking out a perfectly manicured hand toward Lexi. “And y’all must be the new kids everyone’s been talking about.”
Lexi hesitated, caught off guard by Keisha’s boldness. “Uh, yeah. I’m Lexi, and this is my brother, Jordan.”
Keisha’s gaze flicked to Jordan, and her smile widened. “Nice to meet you, Jordan.” She practically purred his name, her interest obvious.
Jordan managed a polite smile. “Nice to meet you too.”
Keisha turned back to Lexi, giving her a quick once-over. “Girl, that outfit is serious. You’re giving me Upper East Side vibes.”
Lexi’s lips twitched into a hesitant smile. “Good eye.”
“Mm-hmm,” Keisha said, folding her arms. “We don’t get many people like you around here. This is gonna be interesting.”
Lexi couldn’t tell if it was a compliment or a challenge.
Before Lexi could respond, another voice chimed in. “Keisha, don’t scare them off before they’ve even made it inside.”
Lexi turned to see Carmen Rivera walking toward them, her caramel skin glowing in the morning sun. Carmen exuded effortless style, her dark waves cascading over her shoulders as she adjusted her leather jacket.
“Hi,” Carmen said, her voice smooth and self-assured. “I’m Carmen. You’re Lexi, right?”
Lexi nodded, taken aback by the girl’s confidence.
“I like your blazer,” Carmen said, her tone neutral but her eyes assessing. “Very... preppy.”
Lexi forced a smile. “Thanks. I like your jacket.”
Carmen smirked, sensing the underlying tension. “Thanks. Stick with me, and I’ll show you the ropes.”
Keisha raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by the exchange. “Oh, Lexi doesn’t need you, Carmen. She’s got me.”
Lexi’s stomach churned. It was her first day, and she was already caught between two strong personalities.
Meanwhile, Carmen’s attention shifted to Jordan. “And you must be the brother,” she said, her smile softening. “Welcome to Southside High.”
Jordan nodded, grateful for her friendliness. “Thanks.”
“Don’t let Keisha get you in trouble,” Carmen teased, winking at him.
Keisha rolled her eyes. “Whatever. Come on, I’ll show you where the office is,” she said, grabbing Lexi’s arm. “Jordan, you can tag along if you want.”
As the twins followed Keisha and Carmen into the school, Lexi couldn’t shake the feeling that she was walking into a battlefield.