1 First Day

1st of August. 7:30 AM.

It's my first day back at school, and I'm already late, and my goodie two-shoe mother is nowhere to be found. Our apartment is small, yet it's a big mess like someone crashed it the night before and had sex all over the place.

I hurriedly went to the bathroom to get ready for the day. In the middle of rinsing my hair, the most cliche thing happened, the water was cut off. "Urgh!" I shouted in frustration, used the stupid bidet to thoroughly rinse off the bubbles, and then grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge to brush my teeth.

It's no surprise to see all the unpaid bills attached to the refrigerator door. The rent payment was overdue, electricity and even the water was also overdue.

This wasn't how my life was. I'm supposed to be living my best life, not hiding in some hole like a rat who's afraid to go out because people might find out how difficult and disgusting my life has been.

As soon as I was finished getting ready for school, the door to our apartment just flew open, revealing my Mom pushing her tongue down some guy's throat, who happened to look the same age as me.

"MOM! FOR GOD'S SAKE!" I yelled, which caused both of them to stop, which eventually led the guy to immediately walkout. Turning to me, my mother looks at me with utter disappointment in her eyes.

"Oh, come on, Luna! As if you're not used to this, it's the only way I'll be able to pay the bills," Mom said, reaching for a cigarette in her purse.

"STOP IT!" I announced, yanking the cigar from her hand. "If you think what you are doing is paying off every debt we owe, then I shouldn't have been fucking working on weekends!"

"Are you lecturing me now? Aren't you the party girl, Luna? You should know that it's not simple bedding one guy to another."

"Stop it, Mom! I may not have been perfect in the past, but I have no time for babysitting you; I'm going to school!"

I stormed out of the apartment, furious at what she had become. After everything we have been through, I expected her to be the mother I needed after all those years, but it's all her fault, and I'll never forgive her.

I stopped the cab a few blocks from the university near a coffee shop. I paid the driver with the little cash I have left in my wallet. A few years back, I didn't have to worry about having any money left, but now I'm learning how to budget.

I bought a coffee cup at the lowest price in that shop and headed straight to the campus entrance gate. It feels nostalgic to walk up to the stairs and see all the students hugging, kissing, and laughing as they see one another after a long break. Of course, as soon as people saw me, I heard whispers and stares raining on my parade.

"Well, well, well… Look who's back. Why are you walking, Lu? Are you poor now?" a girl who has this brunette hair blocked my way with her one eyebrow raised. Two more followed behind her. The one on the left is the heiress of some company, and the other is the daughter of a Councilor. The brunette girl is the heiress of a fashion clothing line known worldwide.

"Don't dare to think that just because you're back, you get the seat at the throne again, Luna."

"Oh, that seat that you think you have just because of my absence? Well, let's see if that throne won't just come running back to me, Valerie."

Oh yes, the name of the brunette girl is Valerie Ramirez. "The" face of every fashion magazine, rich and bitch, just like me during the old times...

Valerie smirks and throws out a big hug around me, and says, "Gosh, Lu! I thought you would never come back. A year of disappearance from the school and then suddenly you're back? A little warning would be much appreciated, you know?"

I laughed and grabbed her shoulders to face me. Game face on, Luna. No one should know your true colors. "Val, why should a queen tell her constituents what she does or does not do? I mean, as queen, I have every right to do what I am doing. So, enough with this talk, what did I miss?"

After that short introduction, we all went inside the university. Students were gathering at every corner. I could see the great garden, with a pond, where students stay during breaks to hunt for hot and cute men. People are hustling and checking their rooms and sections at the last minute, chattering everywhere.

Valerie Ramirez, my frenemy, not a friend, but a competitor at the seat of the throne of being the Queen in the university. We have this unspoken competition between us. We both know better to keep our enemies closer to find a better way to drag her down the rabbit hole. This unspoken thing will be the death of me when she finds out that I am no longer Queen-material.

"Girls, did you hear that we are having a transferee to our section this semester?" Kate inquired. Kate is the heiress of some company, I do not remember the name of.

"Yeah, I heard he is smoking hot, and transferred here, after living for a year in the USA," Jane continued.

"Well, whoever he is, I'm sure just nobody can top the hottest guy in our university, who's none other than Chase Jimenez," Val rebutted.

"Geez, Val, don't tell me you still have a crush on Chase?" I asked, mentally adding rolling eyes, at her desperate behavior.

"Well, Lu, I kinda had him, almost, last year..." Val shared.

"You owe me some explanation there, but do be careful, Val, his name is Chase, and it means that with him," I warned.

"I know, but who doesn't like the thrill, right?"

I shook my head at hearing this, and suddenly, the next thing I knew, I was on the floor, with my things scattered all over.

"Luna!" the girls shouted in surprise.

"Ouch."

"I'm so sorry, I was in a hurry because I-" the guy who threw me off my balance offered his hand to help me get up, but I firmly slapped it away.

"Back off," I said, harshly, "Next time, try looking where you're going, you don't know who you just bumped into!"

The guy just looked at me impatiently, as if he knew me, surprisingly, he hadn't moved one bit. "Excuse me, can you move?" I said, pushing him back, causing him to fall on the ground, "What are you? A statue? Try moving, or your bones will deteriorate fast."

I pat off the dust on my clothes and straighten myself with dignity. I walked past the guy, knowing he's not worth my time. "Let's go, girls," I said.

The first bell rang, kids were hustling through the hallways. We rode our shuttle car to our building.

The university is enormous, due to which students need a shuttle to go from one building to another. We've got everything here - gym, sports center, entertainment building, mini theatre, and anything else one could need! We have mini-parks within too, where you see most students making out, or only having their lunch.

Our room is located in the Jubilee Building. This building is known for exemplary students like those who get to be part of the Top 10% during the entrance exam, and, of course, those students in the high social class standing.

As soon as we arrived at the room, my seat at the back of the class nearing the window was empty. All the students inside the room were staring at us and in unison said "Welcome back, Queen Lu."

Without saying a word, I went to my seat put my bag beside my chair and just put my head on the desk staring at the great blue, pale sky. I can hear Valerie and the girls talking about something, I can't seem to comprehend parties, maybe? Yet, all I could think of were the red notices stuck on our fridge, earlier this morning.

"How will I be able to pay for all those?" I was astonished to hear myself say, the words none could know, except myself!

"What did you say, Lu?" I propped my head back up, looking at Valerie, who had confusion written across her face, and before I could reply, the professor came in. The bell saved me!

I slapped my head for stupidly saying those words. 'Be careful' I remind myself, one wrong move or phrase then everything will fall apart.

My subconscious said, 'Didn't everything fall apart already?' I ignored my stupid subconsciousness and looked back at the sky once again. My head is spinning from everything. I just wish I had this travel time thing and just travel back to the past and warn him; then, everything could have been different now.

"Good morning, class! I see that everyone is here. Good day to you, Miss Harper." She paused, but I never looked at her in response. "Today, as you all know, is the first day of class, and that means we will also be having our assembly at the theatre hall. Do not forget to bring the brochures placed on your desk earlier this morning to keep track of the events transpiring later. Is that understood?"

And in unison, the entire class answered, "Yes, Professor Abrams."

"Before I go, let me introduce you to our new student in the class." Professor Abrams signaled the student who is outside the room to come. Everyone's attention was at the door and you could see the questions and expectations in the faces of these people.

Is the new student the rumored hot guy?

I read somewhere that he is a playboy.

Hell no, I read that he is the son of a multi-billion dollar company in the US.

I'm sure he is just another jerk and loser.

Gosh! I want to see his face and if he's fuck-worthy.

All I could do at hearing their whispers was to roll my eyes with their nonsense blabbers. I was about to look away when I saw a familiar face come out of the door.

Tall. Fair skin tone. Broad shoulders. A messy brunette-haired guy with a touch of blonde highlights. His highlights are golden like the sun. Surprisingly, all I could feel was warmth if I looked into his eyes directly. His lips are cherry red, and he is one fine built overall—a total eye-catcher.

I tried to remember who or when I saw him, but I just cannot remember.

"He looks familiar," I said.

"You've met him?" Valerie turned over her head to mine with a curious voice.

"I don't know. He's just familiar."

I was trying so hard to remember that I did not hear his introductions to the class nor how our professor introduced him. I see him walking towards me, and then I remember that little morning incident.

I was about to show my anger because it didn't do justice to what had been done to me, but he suddenly stopped in front of my seat. I can hear whispers again from my classmates that he's dead meat for looking for trouble with me. Oh, they've never been so accurate!

"You--" before I can even continue. He started talking. "I'm sorry about earlier this morning. I was really in a hurry to see our headmistress, and I was a bit lost at the university. I hope you forgive me."

Everyone was just staring at us.

"Fuck off," was all I can say.

"MISS HARPER!" A quick call of my name was heard in front of the class. "I do not like your choice of words. Now, since you two seem to know one another. I assign you, Ms. Harper, to be Mr. Cooper's guide on school grounds for a week."

"But--"

"No, buts! Or you want me to talk to your parents?" I sweat, hearing the words `talk to your parents`. I cannot let my parents go here just because of my stupidity and ego.

"Fine," I said with a clear tone of defeat.

"Mr. Cooper, grab that chair and sit beside Ms. Harper. From now on, you two will be seatmates."

"Yes, Professor," the obedient Cooper answered.

I gazed back to the pale blue sky and thought: 'This year will be a piece of shit.'