today was unfortunately my first day of school after a week of just relaxing without any homework worries or early mornings.

i just figured that the quicker i get out of bed and arrive there, the quicker the day will feel like it's going by.

"i'm leaving" i announced, coming into the kitchen as i placed my backpack by the door. "what's for breakfast?".

my dad looked up from his newspaper, completely bothered by the small question i gave. he then threw the bag of bread on the counter for me to catch.

"here, go nuts" he told.

i observed the bag with a frown, "um...thanks".

instead, i decided to settle for the last apple that sat in the fruit bowl. i dusted it off on my jeans then held it in between my teeth as i grabbed my bag and phone and headed out the house.

i finally arrived outside the building that read "gatewood high" on the top and joined the many teens going through the gates.

with my earphones in, i studied my school schedule on my phone as i came closer to the school doors so that i wouldn't look completely lost when i reached the hallways.

from ahead, i watched a girl saunter towards me and give me a small wave, making me take both earphones out.

"hey, are you sanchez?" she asked.

i looked at her up and down with confusion, "who's asking?".

i didn't know how someone could know me already until i remembered that everyone knew everyone in this neighbourhood.

"calm down" she chuckled, folding her arms across her chest. "where you from?".

"bronx".

"oh, so the big apple" the girl emphasised. "so what are you doing here in chicago?".

i narrowed my eyes, "why do you—".

"because i just need you to understand that gatewood isn't like new york".

"and why's that?".

she smirked at my response then switched into a frown, "because i'm here and i run shit here".

as those words left her clearly overly-injected lips, i couldn't help but snort out a laugh that she instantly frowned with offence at.

"honey, listen. i don't know where you think this is but trying to be the head bitch queen bee is a little mean-girls overrated" i told. "so why don't you step aside and let me continue with my day, minding my own business like every other person here?".

she stepped forward, coming into my personal space. although, i didn't flinch a bit, "you think you're funny, don't you?".

"and you think that your fooling people with your fake ass—".

"sofia!" kenzie appeared by my side alongside jack, cutting off the insults that i was about to throw at this bitch. "i didn't know you're starting here".

"what's up, chanel?" jack said to the girl with a petty smile.

he gripped onto his backpack, revealing the veins that featured on his toned arms.

i haven't seen him or kenzie since last week when we met, and it's only now that i'm able to properly take in his good looks without blood dripping down his face.

"is she bothering you?" kenzie asked me, snapping me out of staring at her brother.

chanel straightened out her posture, "we were just having a girly chat".

"yeah, walk away chanel" kenzie shooed her off. "sanchez is minding her own just like you should be".

chanel rolled her eyes and settled them on jack, "hey, you around later?".

jack scoffed, "what, is ricky peravich not?".

i didn't fully understand the reference but i could tell that it definitely hit a nerve in chanel from how her brows raised and how quickly she managed to leave.

"i had it covered, guys" i explained, pulling my backpack further up my shoulders and entering the school building.

"no one has chanel matthews covered. she's a sneaky ass bitch, which my idiot of a twin used to date" kenzie patted jack's back.

i could have never guessed that they were twins. i just assumed that jack was probably a year or two older.

"we didn't date, alright" jack explained. "we just used to bang on the low"

"it's not on the low if everyone knew, jack" his sister reminded him.

unbothered by the comment, jack found interest in his phone before two boys jokingly scared him then held back into their own conversation.

"so, let's see your schedule" kenzie said, tucking her hair behind her ear.

i showed her my classes on my phone before she winced at the screen and shook her head.

"you have most of the strictest teachers this semester" she informed.

"i can handle strict teachers" i replied with a chuckle.

kenzie continued to read the schedule as the school bell rang, "and congratulations, you share most of your classes with him".

she gestured behind us, pointing out her brother who was playfully tackling his friend in a headlock in the middle of the hallway.

"we've already missed home room, so your first class is up - history with miss ryeman" kenzie explained. "i gotta go, but jack has it too so i'll probably see you at lunch".

"uh yeah, sure" i agreed before she hurried up the nearby staircase and out of sight.

i turned back, seeing jack and his friends still carelessly engaging in conversation against the lockers while the hallways were clearing up for classes.

jack's eyes caught with mine and he let out a tiny frown, but i decided that he'd be no help so i started searching for the history class myself.

i kept my eyes on the classroom numbers to match it to the 205 on my schedule until i heard hurried footsteps nearing towards me.

"hey" jack kept up with my pace and said. "you lost?".

"no, just observing the fine finish of every one of these doors" i shot back, causing him to snicker at my sarcasm.

"so how are you liking the neighbourhood so far?".

i shrugged my shoulders, "how are you liking your whole face arrangement from the fight last week?".

i could still see a few healing cuts and bruises along his cheeks.

"baby, you know i could have beat that guy. i was just distracted".

the 'baby' that left his lips mistakenly threw a sense of tingles up and down my body, but i frowned to play it off.

"by what exactly? the blood falling over your eyes?".

"no, by this damn ass when you walked in" he corrected.

i knew that he was kidding but the compliment caught me off guard and heated up my red cheeks.

jack started to reduce his pace a little so he could closely watch me walk from behind in a my tight, blue jeans.

"cut it out" i nudged his arm and he smirked, making me realise that all he wanted was to get a reaction out of me.

as i jogged up the staircase with jack taking them two at a time, the space between us was abruptly filled by the blonde boy jack was with before and my other side by the brunette.

i glanced at the two strangers before the blonde spoke.

"who's this?" he asked whilst focusing on the cigarette he was managing to roll together.

"sofia, sanchez's new sister" jack answered before catching the look i gave him. "sorry, half".

"johnson" he gave me a head nod that i returned with a brief smile.

"and i'm sam" the brunette friend licked his pink lips. "you busy tonight?".

i sighed and pushed my hair back, "are all guys here this desperate to get their dicks wet?".

"yes" johnson chuckled, placing his freshly made cigarette behind his ear. "except for me, of course".

"bullshit" sam abruptly denied.

"yeah, he plays the innocent nice guy act on girls and it works all the time. you'll be in his bed by the end of the week" jack added.

i squinted my eyes at my schedule in focus, ignoring the horny teenage boys that surrounded me, "don't count on it, boo".

sam and jack released a laugh and mimicked my words to mock johnson even further.

the two boys eventually left once johnson couldn't take the jokes anymore, leaving jack to be even more unhelpful in finding this class we were already 5 minutes late to.

"so are you going to tell me where this history class is or?" i was still trying to figure out the numbers that now began to feature letters.

"why?" jack scoffed. "are you going?".

"yes" i nodded as if stating the obvious. "aren't you?".

"no way".

i frowned at his response, "so why are you even here?".

"my only chance to get to know you" his lips curved into a smirk that i calmly dismissed.

"how did you know i'd even go here?".

"you're a southside chick now, this is where they all go".

"mr gilinsky". behind us, a class door was opened by a female teacher. she had glasses too big for her face and her greying hair in the tightest low bun.

"shouldn't you be in this history class right now?" she folded her arms across her chest.

"no, i don't think so" jack played off a confused look that me or the teacher wasn't buying.

"i just received a message from mr jenson".

"damn, so rumours about you two are true?".

i trapped my lips in my mouth to hold in my laughter at jack's response whilst the teacher closed her eyes in exasperation.

"i received a message informing me that you were roaming the halls instead of being in class or at home with an approved absence" she directed her attention to me. "and who are you?".

i cleared my throat, disrupting my smile, "sofia, sanchez".

"and you should be in this class too" she stepped aside in her kitten heeled shoes, making room for both of us to enter.

jack rolled his eyes and placed the cigarette that he fiddling with behind his ear. we both walked into the classroom, receiving stares from the entire class as we took our seats not too far from one another.

-

i get such shameless feels whenever i mention the southside

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