The five of them were in home room as Asteria and Rilynn sat at their desks staring at each other as Florian and Vita tried to grasp the situation. Vita leaned to Florian and asked if they should say something but Florian didn’t know if that was best because Asteria looked very upset with Rilynn and wasn’t sure if she was the type to go for the first person she saw.

Vita ignored Florian and stood up, “I am so glad we are all in the same home room together. Let me see your schedule Asteria to see if you share other classes with us as well,” Vita said grabbing Asteria’s attention as Rilynn put her attention to her phone.

Asteria handed her phone and showed her schedule. Vita chuckled before she showed Rilynn who looked amused as Vita was. Asteria snatched her phone away and asked why they were laughing.

“Looks to me we will be seeing each other a lot,” said Rilynn.

“No way! What classes do we share?” exclaimed Asteria horrified.

“You share gym and chemistry with her. I think it’s wonderful,” claimed a very amused Vita.

“I think I rather drown than be in the same building as her,” stated Asteria with the coldest glare to Rilynn.

“I think it will be fun. It gives us some time to catch up. It has been a couple years since the last time we saw each other,” said Rilynn to Asteria.

“So are you two old friends then?” asked Florian who was very interested.

Before either of them could tell Florian they were interrupted by a fellow student who wanted to speak with Vita. Vita looked very intrigued in what he had to say to her as she flirted with him. Florian stood up and wrapped his arm around Vita.

“Can we get back to them telling us about their little hate for each other little missy,” suggested Florian who annoyed Vita who had to tell the boy to leave.

Vita took his arm off of her, “Why do you do that? That’s my time and my time alone.” She said as she sat down on Rilynn’s desk.

“Sounds like a who...” started Rilynn before Vita slapped her beside the head.

“She definitely deserved that,” commented Asteria as she chuckled at Rilynn who was bothered by Vita’s slap.

“Anyways tell us about you two. Did you two used to be friends?” questioned Florian.

“We were never friends but we did grow up together so people would call us childhood friends. We went to the same elementary school, went to the same vacation spot every summer, and had sleepovers,” said Asteria beginning the story.

“But in reality we were always fighting, arguing, and competing with each other to be the best at everything but she could never beat me,” said Rilynn as she was being cocky.

“You were always in my way until I left but now you  are back in my life ready to mess it up again, you  short ass”

“I actually recall you disappearing out of thin air and I am taller  than you now, you fucking giraffe,” remarked Rilynn to Asteria.

“Why are you two calling each other old insults that clearly don’t work anymore?” wondered Florian as he watched the two of them go back and forth like children along with Vita.

Florian looked over at Vita and he could tell by her face she was enjoying every bit of it. He could tell she had something planned in her mind as she watched Rilynn and Asteria bicker at each other with a mischievous grin. Florian left it be because he knew if he got involved he would be pulled into Vita’s little game as well.

Home room was over so they had to get to their classes. Florian decided to show Asteria to class knowing he would be late sending Asteria to the brink of death. Vita had to wake her up with the same slap she gave Rilynn. Rilynn left with Vita as Florian and Asteria walked the other direction. As Vita walked with Rilynn she asked her if she ever had a crush on Asteria. Rilynn denied it and told her she could never see her that way. Vita didn’t believe her and told her that they would end up together in the future, and she was going to see to it that it happened.

Rilynn didn’t pay any mind to Vita as she rambled on about how she would look great with Asteria. As she talked, Rilynn thought about how long it was since she seen Asteria and that they were basically strangers. As she thought about that Asteria was thinking the same as she was in her class. Some students stole quick glances at her as she was in deep thought about Rilynn.

“I thought I would never see her again.. Why does she have to be here too?” Asteria thought to herself as she placed her head on the desk.

She sighed stressfully before she suddenly felt eyes on her. She looked and noticed most of the boys looking at her. She smiled and they all sunk in their chairs with red cheeks. In the corner, the same girl from before who was giving Asteria looks wearing the checkered outfit was glaring at her. Her friend beside her tapped her on the shoulder.

“What do you think of her, Seraphina?” asked her friend.

“She looked too damn cozy with Florian but when she was around Rilynn, that was what pissed me off the most. I don’t know who she thinks she is but I think she needs to know her place,” replied Seraphina as she stared at Asteria who was talking to one of the boys near her.

Class ended and Asteria was walking out when she received a text. It was a text made with a group chat with Florian and Vita, and a number Asteria didn’t recognize. Florian wondered  how her class went and Vita was already asking where they should go for lunch. Asteria was smiling happily as she was glad she made such good friends so quickly until she saw the unknown number send a message. Asteria’s face dropped as it was a old picture of Asteria little dressed as a cop with a mustache while Rilynn was the cool looking criminal. 

“That little...” Asteria said out loud before she was bumped into.

She looked to see who it was and it was Seraphina. Seraphina immediately apologized and Asteria regained the memory of seeing her earlier when she was walking to the doors of the school. Seraphina gave Asteria a smile as she tilted her head. Asteria didn’t fall for it but she pretended as if she didn’t see through Seraphina’s lies.

“It’s fine. It’s a bit crowded in the halls and I was technically standing in the way, “ said Asteria as they moved close the lockers as students walked in the hallway.

“This school is huge so a lot of people go here crowds the whole place. I hope you don’t get lost. We are you heading actually?” asked Serphina.

“I need to get to chem in room 340. I know it’s on the third floor but do you have any idea where it is,” asked Asteria.

“That’s easy. It should be a right first when you go up those stairs over there. Then another right, take a left, and it should be the last door on the left,” answered Seraphina.

“Thank you hmm...”

“Seraphina and you are Asteria,”

“You are correct and I won’t forget your name. Thanks again,” said Asteria as she hurried off to class.

“So where did you send her exactly?” asked Seraphina’s friend.

“No clue. Let’s go.” replied Seraphina as they headed off.

Minutes later Asteria was opening the door to the janitor closet. She shut it as she realized why she trusted Seraphina when she knew what kind of person she was from the start. Asteria knew she was already  late so she didn’t rush as she searched for her class. As she walked she wasn’t paying attention and bumped into someone. They head butted each other and fell back onto the floor. Asteria rubbed her head as the boy ran over with ease as if he wasn’t just hit to see how she was doing.

“I have a pretty big head so I hope that didn’t hurt you too bad,” said the boy as he helped her up.

“I’m all good. Thank you for the being an actual nice person after bumping into me,” said Asteria as she looked up to see a boy with glasses.

She blushed as he was a well dressed boy. He was wearing a black long sleeve shirt tucked into fancy red,blue, and black chino pants and loafers. His hair was blonde and it was long. Then Florian popped up in her mind.

“I already have someone,” said Asteria out loud.

“I see. I didn’t mean to make this seem like I was trying to make an play  at you,”

“Oh shit, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say that out loud. I’m single. No boyfriend at all. I promise,” 

The boy smiled, “That’s good to know. I’m Luca by the way.” 

“Nice to meet you, I’m Asteria. I’m new here and I am super lost and really late to class so if you could show me to class 340 that would be fantastic,”

Luca put out his arm and Asteria wrapped her arm around it as he guided her to the class. When they got there someone else was getting there late as well and it was Rilynn. Luca was saying “goodbye” to her as she looked to see Rilynn caressing another girl’s cheek. When she realized Luca was leaving she quickly waved to him and turned back to see Rilynn in front of her. Rilynn tapped her nose with her finger and Asteria slapped her hand away.

“Do you ever stop doing that?” asked Asteria.

“Not until you reach your limit. I love when you get  angry. It makes it fun to annoy you even more,”

“ I see you have changed over the years. I didn’t know you had interest in females,”

“And you didn’t change at all  because you still have boys swarming all around you. I saw you talking to Luca,”

“So what?”

“Luca isn’t someone you should hang with,”

“Worry about yourself, not me,”

Rilynn frowned, “I could careless.” She said as she entered the classroom.

Asteria mocked what she said as Rilynn closed the door on her but she caught it before she got hit. Lunch finally approached Asteria. Vita was walking excitedly as Florian explained to Asteria about how the school worked. They got a hour break giving  them time to go out to eat and food trucks were always around. Vita wanted noodles so they all followed along with her and got noodles. Asteria enjoyed it as she fawned over Florian who was telling her about one of his games where he made the best pass that led to the best shot of the game. 

Vita was slurping away as Rilynn was on her phone because she already finished her food. Vita looked over to Asteria and pointed out her necklace. 

“I was meaning to ask but that’s a nice necklace. Can I see?” said Vita with her mouth full.

“I don’t really like when  people touch it. It has the first letter of my dad’s name on it,”

“So did he...” began Vita but she was interrupted by slurping noises near her.

Vita looked to see Rilynn slurping up her noodles. Vita then started to beat her with her chop sticks as Florian tried to calm her down while Asteria looked at Rilynn. Rilynn looked at her but Asteria looked away as the thought of Rilynn coming to her aid disappeared as she couldn’t believe it. Soon Asteria’s first day ended. Florian offered to walk Asteria home again but Vita wanted to do it as well and dragged a uninterested Rilynn along. 

They didn’t get too far because a car pulled up beside them. Asteria knew the car and urged for them to run away as her mother pulled down the window. Vita was overjoyed to see Asteria’.a mother along with Florian. When she saw Rilynn she immediately knew who she was. She jumped out the car and pulled her into a hug. 

“ I just wanted to pick you up from your first day and I can’t believe you two have reunited. We have to celebrate. You all have to come over to our house,” said Asteria’s mother as she pulled a trapped Rilynn into her car.

“I don’t think so and stop kidnapping Rilynn! I’m pretty sure they have things to do,” said Asteria.

“Sounds great to me. I call shot gun,” said Vita as she got in the car.

“Your mom seems really nice so I’m in,” agreed Florian. 

“Well let’s get this over with then,” said a ignored Asteria as she joined them in the car. 

Asteria’s mother drove off unaware of the black car behind her. The car started up and started to drive. The person inside it then started to follow them to the house.