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Upon our arrival at the school, the driver opened the door with a warm smile, saying, "Have a great day, miss." I stepped out, feeling my heart race as I returned his smile with gratitude. My senses were overwhelmed by the new environment, and my eyes quickly landed on my friend Giselle, who practically glowed in her school uniform. Her excitement was infectious, yet it only heightened my own anxiety. My stomach fluttered with nerves, and I fidgeted with my hands, feeling the sweat pooling in my palms. As I approached Giselle, an array of unsettling questions flooded my mind: What would today hold for us? Would we be okay?

As Giselle and I walked toward the main gate, a lively buzz surrounded us. But soon, the chatter faded as students turned to gaze at me—the intriguing new girl. Whispers rolled through the crowd like rippling waves, snippets of conversation piercing my thoughts.

"Hey, look over there! They’re stunning!" one girl exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Are they new? I haven't seen them before! Especially that girl," another chimed in, subtly directing her attention at me. "She’s so beautiful; I think the school's 'Bella' might finally have some competition," a girl said, flashing a broad grin.

Instead of feeling flattered, my heart sank at the whispers. An alarming sense of dread washed over me, convincing me that they were mocking rather than admiring. With an awareness of my own insecurities shaped by years of being surrounded by my family, I shoved that feeling down. Feeling my discomfort, Giselle turned to me, her voice steady even though she knew how I felt.

"Don’t you think we might not be welcome here? They’re not even attempting to hide their comments," I voiced my fears, looking to her.

Giselle, the optimist, responded with a light shrug and dismissive smile. "It’s not what you think. They’re admiring us; let’s not overthink it. Come on, let’s go." She hoped to pull me from my spiral of self-doubt.

As a knot of anxiety tightened in my gut, we continued towards the teacher's office. “Excuse me, sir, we are new transfer students and would like to know where our classroom is,” my voice slightly wavering. The teacher welcomed us with warmth. “Ah! So you’re the new students! I’m thrilled you’re here. Let me show you to your class.”

Entering the classroom, a wave of curious glances met us, making my palms clammy and my heart race faster. Bang! The teacher tapped a duster against the whiteboard. "Everyone, please take your seats! We have new students,” he announced, gesturing to Giselle and me. “Introducing yourselves, girls.”

Panic surged inside me in that moment. My mind blanked under the pressure of so many eyes. What was I supposed to say? The weight of the moment pressed down heavily, making each breath feel laborious.

With an infectious energy, Giselle stepped forward, her bright smile lighting up the room. "Hello, everyone! I’m Giselle Monroe, and I just transferred from E.L.V. All-Girls High School. I’m really excited to meet all of you! If you’d like to know more about me, I’d love to make some friends!" The classroom erupted into applause, cheering especially loudly from the boys, their excitement palpable.

As I observed this scene unfold, a whirlwind of relief and embarrassment washed over me. The warm reception from my classmates was overwhelming, making me feel both exposed and strangely accepted. Amidst the cheers, my gaze caught a boy sitting in the middle-right corner of the room. Unlike everyone else, he appeared disinterested, yet there was a quiet charm about him. Wearing glasses, he didn’t join the uproar, but his eyes were locked on me, and in that moment, I felt a peculiar connection, as if he could perceive the tumult of nerves swirling within me.

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