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𝙏𝙝𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙙𝙖𝙮, 𝙎𝙚𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 14𝙩𝙝 2023

As Rory was in a deep comfortable sleep after tossing and turning to get used to her new bed. But she managed to find a way, and then the nightmare began as it always did.

Flashes of fire, the acrid smell of smoke, and the distant sound of her parents' voices calling out. The screams grew louder, mixing with the deafening roar of an explosion. She saw her younger self flailing in the water, desperate to reach the surface, her lungs burning.

The pressure in her chest grew unbearable, she couldn't breathe and then—her phone buzzed, its alarm breaking through the nightmare. She shot up in bed, gasping, her forehead damp with cold sweat. She wiped her face, catching her breath, and glanced at the time: 6:30 AM.

There was a knock at the door, and Danica peeked her head in, grinning. "Good morning, Rory! It's Thursday."

Rory groaned, flopping back against the pillows. "Why are you so cheerful this early?"

Danica shrugged. "I'm just happy the week's almost over. Plus, Mom made pancakes and waffles. Come on."

"I'll be down in five minutes." Rory Muffled, against her pillow.

"Okay, don't get mad when if I steal one of your pancakes." Danica Said, as she closed the door.

Rory sat up and sat on the edge of the bed for a moment, rubbing her eyes trying to wake up after that ongoing nightmare. Eventually, she stood, throwing on her hoodie, and went downstairs.

The dining room was lively as the family gathered around the table. Cole and Jeremy sat with sleepy expressions, barely awake, while Keith rummaged through the kitchen drawers.

"Damn it where is it? Where's my wallet?!" Keith exclaimed, looking increasingly frustrated.

"Um on the counter, where you left it," Leanne called from the stove, flipping pancakes with ease.

Keith sees it right in front of him and grabbed it and smiled sheepishly. "Oh, it was there the whole time,"He chuckles, "What would I do without you Lea?"

"Starve," Leanne teased, setting a plate of pancakes and waffles on the table.

"Rory's down." Cole Said, as everyone

"Morning, Rory," Keith greeted as she sat down.

"Morning," Rory mumbled, still shaking off the remnants of her nightmare.

"Mom made her pancakes, trust us they're really good." Jeremy Said

"Mhm, you'll be begging for more." Cole said through a mouthful of syrup.

"Chew first, talk later," Leanne said, giving him a playful nudge.

Rory sat down in the same chair she sat in last night next to Danica, as Leanne sat down a plate of two pancakes with sausages.

"So, Rory," Keith began, "Just so you know we'll give you a run down of how our day to day goes around here. Leanne and I start work pretty early. I'm out the door by 7:15 as I open the shop at 8:00, and she opens the bakery at 8:30."

"And I don't get off from work until 4:30, or later it depends on how long the current baked goods order is from a customer, which could take a while." Leanne Said

"But I'm usually home by 4:00, and the boys get dropped off by the bus around 3, same time you and Danica get out of school. But on Wednesday's and Thursdays it's pretty busy for the twins." Keith Added

"Twice a week Cole and Jeremy attend hockey practice and karate practice." Leanne Mentioned

"Karate and Hockey seems pretty proactive, for you two." Rory Said

"Please a year ago they watched the movies Mighty Ducks and Karate Kid with dad, and that's when the obsession started." Cole and Jermey cleared their throats, "Sorry, passion." Danica Said

"Mock all you want Dani, but one day our skills might come in handy." Jermey Said

"Yeah who else is gonna protect you, when you've got us." Cole Said, as they both flexed their muscles making Leanne shake her head with a smile.

"Mmm..I think I'll be fine, but thanks." Danica Said

"So you got all that or you need me to write I down—wait no we leave sticky notes on the fridge don't worry, you'll see it." Leanne Said

"I think she's got it, you got it Rory?" Keith Said

Rory nodded as she ate a piece of pancake. "Got it."

"The more you stay here you'll see how hectic mornings are around here," Danica said, grinning. "The boys aren't usually morning people, Dad's always losing something and shouting and Mom's always pointing it's right in his face."

"Hey..I don't always loose stuff," Keith protested, pointing his fork at her.

"Yeah you do." His kids all said in unison

"It's true, honey," Leanne said with a laugh.

The table erupted in chuckles as the family continued eating. By 7:16, upstairs Rory was now dressed in a casual outfit: blue washed jeans, a red short-sleeve shirt layered with a dark grey overshirt, and her well-worn red Vans. She tied her hair into a ponytail, grabbed her backpack as Danica popped her head into her room just as she was slipping on her backpack.

"Ready?" Danica Asked

"Yeah, I'm ready." She noticed that Danica was looking at her, "What? Something wrong with my outfit or something?" Rory Asked

"No, I actually like the outfit." Danica Said

Rory raised a brow. "What?"

Danica shrugged. "Nothing. Don't worry Rory, you look nice. Come on, Mom's waiting in the car."

As she left the room Rory looked one last time in the mirror, she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and took a deep breath.

"Don't worry it'll be all over, you've got this Rory." She Said

A few moments later they headed outside, where Leanne was already in the driver's seat. The boys had caught the school bus earlier, and Keith had left for work. Danica slid into the passenger seat while Rory took the back.

"Rory, what kinda music you like to listen to in the morning?" Leanne Asked

"Uh it's okay, you guys can play whatever." Rory Said

"Don't worry I'll pick the music." Danica Said

Leanne shrugged then started the car and turned on the radio. A pop song filled the car, but Danica shook her head and switched the station. Retro '80s music replaced it, much to her satisfaction.

"This will do." Danica Said

"Rory, you okay with this?" Leanne asked, glancing at her through the rearview mirror. "We can change it if you want."

"No, it's fine," Rory said. "I actually like this song."

Leanne smiled, and Danica shrugged with a small smile, leaning back as they drove toward the high school. The familiar melody of Take On Me played softly in the background, the morning sunlight casting a warm glow over Moonhaven.

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Leanne pulled into the parking lot of Haven High School, the soft hum of the car's engine mixing with the faint buzz of students milling about. It was 7:40 AM, with the first bell set to ring at 8. Leanne turned down the radio, which had been playing a mix of retro '80s hits, and glanced back at Rory and Danica.

"Alright, girls. Have a good day," Leanne said warmly.

Danica, ever the sarcastic one, quipped, "Oh, don't worry, Mom. I'll make sure to keep Rory out of trouble. Probably."

"Danica," Leanne Said, with a sigh, her tone sharp but affectionate

"Kidding, Mom," Danica said with a grin.

Leanne rolled her eyes but smiled. "Alright, just behave. And Rory, good luck today. You'll do great."

"Thanks, Leanne," Rory replied, her voice soft but genuine.

"Come on, Rory," Danica said, opening her door.

As the girls got out, Leanne waved at them through the open window. "Bye, girls!"

"See ya, Leanne," Rory said with a small wave.

Leanne watched them disappear into the sea of students before driving off. Rory adjusted her backpack on her shoulder and turned to look at the building towering before her.

Haven High loomed large, its sleek design blending modern glasswork with classic brick. The front courtyard was alive with students—laughing, talking, and hanging out in their respective cliques. It was a familiar sight to Rory, but the nervous knot in her stomach still tightened.

"Here we are, this is Haven High," Danica said, gesturing dramatically.

Rory gaze darted around, taking in the scene. "Seems...busy," she murmured

Danica fell into step beside her. "Oh, this is nothing. Wait till game days this place turns into a madhouse. Alright, so here's the deal. Haven's got a lot going on
Volleyball, Soccer, Cheerleading, Basketball, Track, Wrestling, Softball...you name it, we've got it. If you're into any of that, it's a good way to meet people. Or, if that's not your thing, there are clubs. Some of them are actually pretty cool."

Rory raised an eyebrow. "Cool how?"

Danica shrugged. "Well, depends on what you're into. Drama club puts on killer plays. The art club has a mural project going on in the west wing. And if you're into weird stuff, there's even a cryptid club. You know, for all the Bigfoot hunters out there."

"Cryptid club?" Rory repeated, half-smiling. "You're not serious right?."

"Yeah I am, but welcome to the small-town life Rory," Danica said, leading the way up the steps and through the main entrance.

As they entered the school, Rory's eyes were drawn to the large bronze statue in the middle of the lobby. It depicted a man holding a hawk on his arm, his pose commanding yet oddly inviting.

"Who's that?" Rory asked, tilting her head at the statue.

"That's Mayor Marcel Middleton," Danica explained. "He was the very first mayor of Moonhaven, way back in the day in 1724." She pointed to the Hawk,
"And that is Hugh, his pet."

Rory blinked. "The guy had a hawk..."

"Yeah, the guy apparently took him everywhere you know people back in the 1700's were out there. Ooh there's even a legend that Hugh once saved him from getting attacked by a bear once."

"A bear? Okay, that sounds even too crazy to believe there's no way that's real." Rory Said

"I don't know Marcel did have large scratches on his leg, left a pretty nasty scar, could be true." She said with a grin. "Come on, let's get you to the administration office."

Rory followed as Danica wove through the crowd with ease, her confidence evident in the way she moved. The hum of voices and the occasional slamming of locker doors surrounded them, but Rory focused on keeping up. They turned a corner, and Danica gestured toward a door marked "Administration."

"Here we are," Danica said. "This is where you'll get your schedule and the lowdown and boring stuff on how things work around here. Ready?"

Rory took a deep breath and nodded. "Yeah. Let's do this."

As Rory and Danica entered the administration office, the smell of freshly printed paper and a faint hint of coffee greeted them. The receptionist, a middle-aged woman with short, curly hair and glasses perched on her nose, looked up from her computer. Her name tag read Ms. Carpenter. She gave them a polite smile.

"Good morning, ladies. How can I help you?" She Said

"Hi, Ms. Carpenter this is Rory Hudson. She's new here," Danica explained, stepping forward confidently. "She needs her schedule and all that stuff."

"Ah, of course." Ms. Carpenter turned to Rory with a kind smile. "Welcome to Haven High, Rory. Let me just pull up your file."

As the receptionist typed on her keyboard, Rory glanced around the room. A bulletin board nearby was pinned with flyers for upcoming events: a pep rally next Friday, drama club auditions next week, and a sign-up sheet for various sport teams. Also the school's mascot, a fierce-looking hawk, was painted on one wall with the slogan: "Soar Higher at Haven!"

"You're lucky," Danica whispered, leaning closer to Rory. "Ms. Carpenter's one of the nice ones. Some of the teachers here... not so much, but there's some good ones."

"Thanks for the warning," Rory replied, her tone half-joking but her nerves showing through.

"Here we go," Ms. Carpenter said, handing Rory a sheet of paper. "This is your schedule. You'll see your first class teacher's name at the top. English starts at 8:00 sharp, so you've got a few minutes to find your way there. Oh, and here's a map of the school."

Rory took the papers and glanced at her schedule. Her 11th grade English teacher was Mr. Bennett, Room 203.

"Mr. Bennett? He's cool," Danica said, peeking over Rory's shoulder. "You lucked out again."

"Thanks," Rory said, feeling a small wave of relief.

"Oh, and one more thing," Ms. Carpenter added. "If you need any help settling in, we have a student ambassador program. I can pair you with someone who'll show you around."

Danica immediately waved her hand. "No need Ms. C, she's got me her very own personal guide."

Ms. Carpenter chuckled. "Alright, then. If you're all set, good luck on your first day, Rory."

"Thanks," Rory said, clutching the papers tightly as they left the office.

Back in the hallway, Rory scanned the map, trying to orient herself. The school was buzzing with activity—students talking loudly, lockers slamming shut, and teachers calling out last-minute instructions. Rory tried to ignore the nervous flutter in her chest.

"Okay, so your first class is in the east wing," Danica said, pointing to the map. "Come on, I'll take you there."

As they walked, Danica pointed out various landmarks. "That's the cafeteria. Don't sit near the windows unless you want to freeze in the winter. Over there's the gym—pep rallies are always..there. And that's the library, where you'll find all the bookworms and others, if you're into Libraries."

"I like libraries," Rory Said

"Of course you do." Danica grinned, looking at her.

They passed groups of students clustered around lockers. Rory couldn't help but notice the cliques Danica had mentioned earlier: the athletes in their varsity jackets, the goths dressed in black, and a group of cheerleaders chatting loudly near the staircase.

As they reached Room 203, Danica stopped. "Alright, this is you. I've got to get to my own class. You gonna be okay?"

"Yeah, I think so," Rory said, though her stomach was doing flips.

"Good. I'll meet you at your locker before 5th period, okay?" Danica Said

"Okay." Rory Said, Danica nodded and went to leave but walked back to check her out one last time.

"You sure you're gonna be okay?" Danica Asked

"Danica I'm 15 not 5 remember I've done this before many times. So I'll be good, you go ahead." Rory Said

"Okay." She Said

Danica gave her a reassuring smile before disappearing down the hallway. Rory took a deep breath and stepped into the classroom, ready to face being the new girl once again.

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Rory then walked into her first class of the day, her nerves buzzing as she scanned the room. It was packed, the desks full of students chatting with friends, scrolling on their phones, and getting settled in for the class. The air felt thick with the noise of chatter, but the room seemed to quiet just slightly as she stepped inside.

She hesitated for a moment, her eyes sweeping over the sea of unfamiliar faces. There was a single empty seat in the back row, and it looked like her best option. She made her way towards it, a few eyes flicking toward her as she passed, some curious, others uninterested.

Rory tried to ignore the stares, focusing on the seat ahead of her. As she sat down, she could feel the weight of the room's attention lingering for a second longer before the noise slowly returned to normal.

She set her backpack down and looked around, trying to find a safe place to focus. A few students whispered to each other, probably trying to figure out who the new girl was. Rory didn't mind. She'd dealt with this before. The challenge of blending in, of carving out a space where she wouldn't stand out too much.

The door opened, and in walked the teacher. He was tall, with a friendly smile and a kind of calm authority that made the room quiet almost instantly. His eyes scanned the class before he greeted them.

"Good morning, class," he said, his voice warm and welcoming. "I hope you all had a good night's rest and most importantly came to learn," Some of the students chuckled and he smiled a little, "All right let's get started with attendance."

He walked over to his desk and pulled up the attendance sheet, glancing at the names one by one. Rory sat up straighter, her stomach fluttering a little. She could already feel the eyes of the class on her again, once her name gets inevitably called.

The teacher's Mr. Bennett voice broke the silence. "Let's see, we've got Evan, Maya, Jacob... Lukas and...hm. It seems we have a new student today." He looked up from the sheet, scanning the room. "Aurora Hudson. Are you here?"

A ripple of murmurs passed through the class. Students turned their heads, wondering who Aurora Hudson was. Rory's cheeks flushed a little as she raised her hand.

"Here," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "It's Rory."

There was a brief moment of silence, followed by a few more stares as the class processed the new name and face. Rory held her gaze, trying to appear confident despite the butterflies in her stomach.

He nodded, smiling warmly. "Ah, well, welcome to Haven, Ms. Hudson. We're glad to have you here." He paused for a second, his eyes softening. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."

The class returned to its usual routine, but now there was a new layer of curiosity. Some students whispered amongst themselves, and others went back to their phones or books. But for Rory, the hardest part was over. She was here. She was part of this.

Mr. Bennett than began the lesson, Rory settled into her seat, trying to focus on what was being said. She didn't know what the rest of the day would bring, but at least for now, she had made it through.

Later on and four periods later the bell rang, signaling the end of Rory's fourth period class. She quickly gathered her things, her mind racing with thoughts of her new school.

As she walked to her locker, the noise of students rushing to their next classes filled the hallways. Rory quickly punched in her locker combination and began swapping out books for her next few periods: U.S. History II, Algebra II, and finally Gym last.

Just as she was about to close her locker, she heard footsteps approaching. She turned to see Danica, her bright blue eyes flashing a smile.

"Hey," Danica greeted, leaning casually against the row of lockers. "How's your day been so far?"

Rory chuckled, adjusting her bag over her shoulder. "So far? I've gotten lost twice. Made it to Foreign Language a minute late, and my teacher made sure the entire class knew who I was." She rolled her eyes, but there was a small laugh in her voice.

Danica grinned sympathetically. "Yeah, it's rough at the start of the year. Everyone's trying to find their footing, but hey, you're with me now, and U.S. History should be pretty chill." She paused, glancing at the hallway. "You know, it's been a bit of a mess since Mr. Graham left. Apparently, he went rock climbing and fell, broke almost every bone in his body."

Rory's eyes widened. "Oh my god, is he alive?"

Danica nodded, a wry smile on her face. "Yeah, the doctors say he's going to make a full recovery, but it's going to take time. In the meantime, we've been stuck with nothing but substitutes. Who knows who we'll get today."

Before Rory could respond, the bell rang, signaling the start of the next period. Danica gave her a playful nudge. "Come on, let's go before you're late again."

Rory nodded, closing her locker and following Danica down the hallway. She tried to commit the layout of the school to memory, knowing she'd probably get lost again at some point, but it felt better having someone familiar to walk with.

They entered the classroom together, the noise of students filling the air as everyone found their seats. Some students were standing, others were on their phones, chatting with friends. Danica walked confidently to her seat and turned to Rory.

"Just sit behind me," Danica said with a grin. "No one sits there, so it'll be perfect."

Rory nodded, taking the seat behind Danica. She glanced around, noticing the usual cliques forming—the nerds, theater kids, Emo kids, the jocks, the popular girls and guys. It was the same as every high school. The students were a blur of motion and noise until the door swung open.

The class fell into a sudden silence as the new teacher entered. She was tall, with wavy blonde hair and soft, clear blue eyes. She wore professional but comfortable clothes—something that looked like she'd stepped straight out of a business meeting but still had a sense of ease about her. She scanned the room briefly, her gaze sharp and commanding. It wasn't long before every student had found their seat.

"Thank you," she said with a nod, turning to face the whiteboard. "Hello, Juniors. My name is May Henley, but I prefer to keep things professional, so you all will address me as Ms. Henley. As of today, I'll be your new U.S. History teacher for the remainder of the year."

There were a few groans from the students, a mix of resignation and disappointment at the thought of another substitute. But Ms. Henley remained unbothered.

"I know, I know," she continued, her voice steady and calm. "I hope you all had your fun with the substitutes, but now it's time to get down to business, so shall we start with the attendance so I can see who's here and remember your faces."

She moved toward the desk, picking up the attendance sheet and scanning it. Rory couldn't help but notice the intensity in her eyes as she read and said aloud the names. As Ms. Henley called the roll, Rory's stomach did a small flip when she heard her name.

"Aurora Hudson."

Rory raised her hand, clearing her throat. "Here. It's Rory," she said, her voice steady despite the small flutter of nerves.

"Okay, Rory, you are here." She Said

Ms. Henley nodded and continued reading, pausing when she reached another name.

"Celeste Middleton...?" she called out, her voice faltering slightly. "Anyone know where she is?"

"Nope." A student said

Ms. Henley quickly moved on, "Danica Parker."

Danica raised her hand as the teacher looked up from the list.

"Here," she said brightly, and Ms. Henley gave her a quick nod before moving on to the next name.

But there was something in Ms. Henley's expression as she glanced between Rory and Danica. A fleeting moment of recognition passed across her face, but it was gone before Rory could even register it. Ms. Henley quickly shook her head and resumed her task, focusing on the lesson.

The room seemed to settle into a tense, expectant silence as Ms. Henley began her lecture. But in the back of her mind, something was stirring. The names she'd just read out loud—Aurora Hudson, Celeste Middleton and Danica Parker—sounded so familiar, like a distant echo from a past she'd tried to bury. She couldn't place it, not yet, but something about these two students was tugging at her memory.

Still, Ms. Henley pushed the thought aside and dove into the lesson, her professional demeanor returning. She couldn't afford distractions, not now.

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45 minutes later it was now lunchtime, and the cafeteria was how it always was with the chatter of students as they lined up to grab their trays and food. Danica and Rory walked side by side through the lunch line, scanning the choices.

"Not much to choose from," Rory said, eyeing the tired-looking pizza and salad bar.

"Yeah, it's kind of a hit or miss, depending on the day," Danica replied, grabbing a slice of pizza. "But hey, it's food. We make it work."

They both grabbed their food, with Rory opting for a burger and fries instead with a side of fruit. As they finished picking up their trays, Danica gave Rory a knowing glance.

"Alright, let me show you where we sit. You'll like it." Danica Said

Rory followed her as they walked toward the table where she and her friends usually sat. As they approached, Rory noticed two boys sitting there—Dean and Dez Maddox. Dean was hunched over, sketching something on a piece of paper, while Dez was leaning back in his chair, talking animatedly to someone across the room.

Danica grinned and called out, "Hola, Maddox brothers."

Dez immediately looked up, his trademark smirk spreading across his face. "Well, well, if it isn't my favorite troublemaker," he said, flashing a charming grin at Danica. "What's up, Dani?"

"Not much. Planning on speeding up my death due to how bored I am." Danica Replied, letting out a sigh.

"Oh then I should probably start working on the eulogy soon." Dez Joked, as Danica laughed a little.

"Just brought someone for you guys to meet," she said, motioning to Rory.

Dez's grin grew wider. "Ooh, a new face. You know we love meeting new people around here."

Danica turned to Dean, who still hadn't looked up from his drawing. "Hey, Dean, I got someone for you to meet."

Dean slowly lifted his head, his gaze shifting to Rory. The moment their eyes met, he froze for a second, stunned. There was something about her—she wasn't dressed in flashy clothes, her hair was a little messy, but there was an undeniable beauty to her that took him off guard. His face flushed slightly as he awkwardly shifted in his seat.

"Hey," Rory said, with a small smile.

Dean blinked, caught off guard, and fumbled for a moment before reaching out to shake her hand. But in his clumsy attempt, he accidentally knocked over a bottle of water, sending it spilling across the table.

"Oh! Sorry!" Dean stammered, quickly grabbing napkins to clean it up.

"Excuse my brother and his clumsiness," Dez said, grinning at Rory. "He's like a walking disaster sometimes."

"Shut up, Dez." Dean Said, shooting his brother a look.

Rory laughed, shaking her head. "It's okay, really."

Danica motioned for Rory to sit. "Don't worry, he's harmless. You're good." Rory sat down across from Danica, while Dean shuffled over to give her space. She sat next to Dez, who was already leaning forward, eager to continue the conversation.

"So, how's Haven treating you so far?" Dez asked, eyeing Rory with interest.

Rory shrugged a little. "It's... different. I've only been here for a day, but it's definitely a change from where I came from."

Dean, still looking a bit flustered, cleared his throat. "What's your schedule like?" he asked, trying to steer the conversation into safer territory.

Rory pulled a small piece of paper from her pocket and handed it over. Dez snatched it from her hand with a playful grin. "Let's see what we're working with here." He scanned the paper, his eyes stopping at the last two periods. "Pre Calculus with Ms. Dearing? Eh, that's not so bad. But gym with Coach Collins?" Dez's grin widened. "Good luck with that."

Rory raised an eyebrow. "Is he tough?"

Danica and Dean both nodded in agreement, their expressions turning serious.

"Oh yeah," Danica said, laughing a little. "He's like a drill sergeant, but you'll get used to him. It's just the way he is. He'll make you run laps and give you push-ups until you think you can't breathe."

Dean chuckled, adding, "But hey, you'll be fine. You've got me and Kaylor to back you up."

Rory raised an eyebrow. "Who's Kaylor?"

Danica leaned back in her chair, glancing around the cafeteria. "Kaylor's our other friend. She's not here right now, she's busy working on the school newsletter."

"She's the editor for the Haven Times," Dez added.

"Aka the school newspaper," Danica finished, giving Dez a playful nudge.

Rory nodded, "This school has a newspaper?"

"Yup, and it's a pretty big deal," Dez said, leaning in. "Kaylor runs the whole thing. She's pretty awesome."

"Plus, she gets to boss Dean around," Danica teased.

Dean rolled his eyes. "I do not get bossed around. I just do what she tells me to do because it's easier."

"Well, it's true that you're also a great photographer," Danica said, nudging him again. "Deano here is the school's photographer. He takes amazing pictures."

Dez grinned. "We call him our Peter Parker. Always getting the best angles."

Dean flushed slightly, embarrassed by the attention. "Guys, come on," he muttered, looking down at his food.

"Well, I think that's really cool," Rory said, smiling at him. "Photography seems like a fun thing."

"Thanks," Dean replied quietly, his smile shy but sincere.

Laughter erupted from the other side of the cafeteria, drawing everyone's attention. Danica looked over and raised an eyebrow. "I swear, the joke can't be that funny."

"Let me guess... popular kids?" Rory asked, already knowing the answer.

Danica nodded, rolling her eyes. "You guess correctly. That's the core group right there. They think they're the center of the universe." She gestured to the table where the group of popular kids were laughing and chatting. "You've got Colton Harrington, the quarterback of the football team. Lukas Sullivan and Richie Vargas from the boys' soccer team. And those girls over there... don't worry, they're not just groupies." She joked "You've got Jaslene Flores from the cheerleading team, Dawn Lennox, the principal's niece, and Kimberly Choi, who's actually not as terrible as the rest. Then there's Brea Barnes... I can't stand her. She's a founding family member, and she never lets you forget it."

Dez chimed in, "So yeah, that's the popular clique. But don't worry about them, they barely pay us attention."

Rory raised an eyebrow. "So is Brea the queen bee of the clique?"

Dean, Dez, and Danica all shared a look then burst out laughing. "Oh, Brea wishes she could be the queen bee," Danica said with a smirk. "But she never will be."

"Why not?" Rory asked, curious.

Danica looked over at the group of popular kids and motioned for Rory to look. "She's why," She said, nodding toward a girl who looked eerily similar to her and Rory. The girl had the same ginger hair and blue eyes, but hers were longer and more styled. She was dressed in a white shirt with small pink flowers, a blue jean skirt, and white and pink Air Force Ones, holding hands with a guy who looked strikingly handsome.

"That's Celeste Middleton," Danica said, her voice tinged with a little bitterness. "She's the queen bee, not Brea."

Rory stared for a moment, struck by how much Celeste resembled her. "She kinda looks like you," She said quietly.

Danica tilted her head, "Eh I don't see it."

"Actually..Celeste kinda does looks like you and you too Rory." Dean Noticed, looking between the girls.

Rory and Danica both glanced back at Celeste and Arden, who were laughing with their friends.

"Nope, still don't see it." Danica Said, shrugging it off.

"So what makes Celeste the queen bee?" Rory asked, still trying to wrap her head around it all.

"Because her dad's the mayor," Dean said matter-of-factly. "And around here, that's pretty much all you need."

"Yeah," Danica said. "The Middletons have been running Moonhaven for generations, along with the Harrington's but that's not the point. Celeste is basically royalty around here."

Dez added with a hint of jealousy in his voice, "Celeste and Arden Montgomery, her boyfriend. They're both captains of the boys' and girls' soccer teams. They're the golden couple of the founding families."

"Hm sounds like they've got it all," Rory said, her voice tinged with skepticism.

"Oh, they do," Danica said with a wry smile. "But it's not all it's cracked up to be. Trust me."

Rory shook her head in disbelief. "This town just gets more and more interesting by the minute," She said, half to herself, as she took another bite of her fry.

Danica smiled. "Welcome to Moonhaven."

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