serendipity
(n.) finding something good without looking for it.

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"Cassidy, Cass, wake up already, it's time for school!" a high voice yells.

I do not need more information to announce that this is clearly Hazel; the usual woman that really wakes me up in the morning aside from the rare occasions of my mother.

But who cares if it's the first day? I fell asleep at one a.m because my body isn't adjusted to the early sleep routine. So I karate chop all her arms and get comfy under the blanket.

"Cass, I am really not in the time for jokes, Alaine is here already!" she scolds, as I cover my ears. I am such a child.

And what is Hazel saying about croaks, shades is beer already? Talk about grammar and meaningful sentences.

But if you like causin' trouble up in hotel rooms,
and if you like havin' secret little rendezvous

I growl and throw my hands up from underneath the covers, making the One Direction music lessen and grow softer. But sadly, that makes me wake up anyways and my eyes search for the guilty culprit who dared using an effective method to not make me feel sleepy anymore.

And there I see, a teenage girl with a big smile splattered on her face.

"Hey girl! It's the first day of school, and do you have any idea of what time it is?" she taunts.

I don't reply, and instead click open my phone. Seven thirty-five a.m.

I dash off to the shower hurriedly, Alaine laughing at me continuously. I do everything faster than the wind, and thank fate that I had prepared my outfit already.

I get into my gray Forever 21 dress, put the matching denim jacket around my waist and pale pink combat boots. I finish it off with a silver dreamcatcher necklace and apply a minimal amount of make up and comb my hair while on the way downstairs. Alaine frowns at my look, which instantly makes me panic.

"Oh my god, is it bad?" I ask, readying to dash up again. She rolls her eyes.

"No. It's just so unfair that you can look so nice in about ten minutes," she remarks. Now I roll my eyes.

"Whatever. C'mon let's go!" I say shakily, suddenly quite nervous as I grab my new pink Jansport bag waiting on the couch.

The first day is finally here, and I can't believe that I'll have to wait for another decade before summer comes. The dreaded mark of my sufferings and the return to a prizon cell has come, and I can do nothing but follow. If you didn't require school to get a bright future and become smart, I'd definitely not go. I may have high grades, but heck, it's boring!

Mom and dad go down from their stairs, and mom is the first one to hug me feircely. Dad pats me on the head and they wave to Alaine, heading outside.

"Have fun, Cassy, we love you," mom says, cupping my left cheek. I don't think I'll have any fun at school.

"Bye, crazy parents," I say, running out the door as Alaine waits for me by the gate.

I know what you're thinking; my family is super rich, but seriously, I live life normally like anyone else. Meadows High is much closer to our house compared to River Valley High, and it only takes about six minutes from my house, so we don't use the car.

"Okay, I am officially starting to get nervous," Alaine mumbles.

"That's the whole point of why you studied here; to stay with me! I'm the one who's supposed to be nervous, not you. . ." I say, trying to distract myself from the hundred of possibilities that could awfully happen.

What if Fall makes fun of me? This is her territory and I am so new. What if there's a scary teacher that hates me? What if Alaine leaves my side? What if everyone's mean? What if I fail to answer some question because I get distracted by Logan? I. Am. So. Dead.

"Your class schedule's on your phone?" Alaine asks, as we near the school by the corner. I open up my phone and double check it.

"Mm-hmm," I mutter softly.

Let me just make things clear of why the first day of school is nerve wrecking. I have been cooped up in my house -- swimming, reading, watching, or goofing off doing senseless things. Nothing to worry about, no deadlines, teachers, or exams. And then out of the blue, comes this day where you have to face the problems you thought you defeated, all over again. They will take away your happiness, and will remind you of how cruel the world is.

I take a gulp when I see the gigantic building. The sun is as bright as can be like the time Logan toured me. Numerous backpacks of every color are in front, cars stop by the entrance with teenagers being dropped off, and me and Alaine enter without a word. The school is buzzing with students, all knowing each other and running around giving high fives or waves.

"I cannot believe you came to Meadows High with me, best friend," I say, lacing our arms together in complete fear. Talk about being out of place.

"I'd prefer being in River Valley High right now, to be honest," she replies, as anxious as me.

And only then do I notice the beloved Fall Hilton leaning against her locker, texting someone on her phone. I want to ignore her, but she notices me and Alaine once we pass by.

"Oh hi, Cass! Who's this?" she gestures to the girl right next to me.

"I'm Alaine Louise," my best friend answers for me. I've told her all about Fall, and she isn't very pleased with her. I'm quite annoyed, but I've kind of gotten over the day at the buffet already.

And suddenly, we hear a high pitched scream as me and Alaine look to our left at the corridor. We gasp in confusion, and then smile as we familiarize three girls rush over to us.

"Camille? Guys, you're studying here?!" Alaine says, as the group runs over to us and give us hugs and smiles.

Camille, Lauren, and Skylar are close friends of mine and Alaine. We'd hang out a lot, and we always group with them if there's a school project or something, but me and Alaine are closest together. We've been friends since third grade, and the friendship still hasn't faded away, so there are teeny tiny instances when me and Alaine can be excluded from our squad of five. Nevertheless, I am absolutely thrilled to see them here.

"Alaine, Cass; didn't I tell you? My parents owns River Valley High, right?" she asks, as I notice a still staring Fall eavesdropping.

"Yeah, so why in the world would you move here?" I ask.

"My parents also own Meadows High School!" Camille says, her eyes bursting with excitement and glee.

"Guys, I cannot seriously believe that we all transferred here, this isn't going to be as bad as I thought!" says Sky.

Camille's smile fades and darkens as she sees the girl in braids behind me. She puts one hand on her hip and shifts her weight to one leg, as Fall does a perfect hair flip and crosses her arms.

"Oh well, if it isn't Fall Hilton. I never thought we'd meet again after your grandma applied as a teacher here," she says bitterly. I step side farther, not wanting to get in whatever fight they look like they're about to have.

"Didn't think that either. And don't be the typical mean, popular girl here," she says gravely. Coming to think of it, there's a ninety five percent chance Camille would become famous here like how she was in Meadows High. Her parents own the school, and dang, all her friends are pretty. Except for me, sadly.

"Just because my parents own the school doesn't mean I an, Fall. We both know how you acted back in the past, and I think I should tell you not to be the typical popular," she says.

Fall swears quietly and before I know it, she's linked her arm with mine like we're besties, pulling me away from them. Kids walking by block my vision, and when I turn back, I no longer see any of my friends. So now, this girl's replaced Logan for the kidnappings?

"Where are we going?" I ask, monotone.

"To the auditorium. There's a first day orientation, and seniors are in the first batch. Logan and the others are there, and it's about to start in any minute," she says. And the others? Oh no, what does this mean now?

"And you are bringing me there as a nice person because?"

"Because we're friends, silly. I'm just trying to be nice on your first day," she says.

Well I hope she is -- aside from intentionally pushing me and the children at the buffet, and trying to humilliate me. . . I guess I'll have to give her a chance. But I am not keeping my guard down.

"Why did you have to leave my friends back there?" I ask.

"Ugh they'll know soon enough -- Tyrell owns this school," she responds, clearly showing distaste and loathing by using Camille's surname.

I don't bother asking what's happened between them, so instead I focus on the gigantic auditorium. My body temperature suddenly becomes enormously frozen when I feel the air conditioner cool my whole body.

The auditorium is simply humongous -- it's height could fit a dozen giraffes and still stay strong. We enter from the top, as a flight of stairs go lower and lower to the very bottom part where the stage is. The room is only half filled, and a lot of seats are available.

My eyes automatically find the emphasized shade of clear blue in the drab scenery without effort. I try breaking eye contact with it, but it all gets worse when Fall leads me to the exact same place where the blue eyes are, and she steps to the side where a group of people are talking.

Three boys I know, and two girls. No one notices us though except the cute boy with blue eyes.

"Hey Logan, I found Cassidy!" Fall chirps, happy as can be.

She leaves me alone with him, finally untangling our arms, and going over to some chatting girls. Why is she suddenly so nice, and why would she leave me alone with Logan? Fall used to be a jelly bean.

My eyes trail to her braided auburn hair and someone pokes me on the waist. I don't laugh today though, because I am still quite nervous and I am not in the mood for Logan's jokes.

Sighing, I take the seat on the very side, with him on the right and the walk way by my left. He stares at me in confusion when I put down my bag.

"Who told you to sit there?" he asks, pouting in dismay.

"Well. . . I'll just leave if this is taken," I say, standing up. He tugs my wrist once I do, and the butterflies have multiplied again.

"Someone's already seated next to Gavin," he informs. For his information, I wasn't even looking at the chair next to Gavin.

"I'm going to look for Alaine, Fall took me away from my friends when she saw me --"

"I was kidding, this seat's available," he says, cracking up.

Why does he have to be in such a good mood when I am in the brink of dying in nervousness? My palms are sweating and I swear, every time someone moves it's like I'm going to collapse.

I narrow my eyes, and go back to the chair.

"So. . . what did you say about Alaine and your friends? What did crazy Fall do this time?" Logan asks, while I put down my bag again.

"Well, she heard that Camille was the daughter of the school's owners, and they got all heated up between each other. Camille apparently had some issue with her when Principal Bertha applied to work here," I say as Logan's eyes widen at my sentence.

"Camille is your friend? Then her surname is Tyrell?"

"Yep. Camille Tyrell -- her parents also own Meadows High, but she transferred here,"

"Well, this is going to be new. She'll be popular by the next few days if her parents are Mr. and Mrs. Tyrell. Not the cliché queen bee, I hope?"

"Of course not! Then I wouldn't be friends with her," Logan chuckles lightly, and I find that I'm not feeling so uncomfortable talking to him anymore. The butterflies can't be killed, but it feels natural to have a conversation with him compared to the day when mom said I'd be studying here. I can be myself, and because we won't ever be something more, I will tell myself a billion times that he IS and only IS friend.

"Huh. Well, that's a shame. . . me and my friends are losers here at Meadows High," he says with a sad sigh.

I snort at his comment a little bit too loud, as I receive a few strange looks here and there.

"Yeah right, I'm guessing that loosers mean a bunch of girls drooling over you guys from afar? Oh, and what was that I heard; the principal is Fall's grandma? Powerless losers indeed," I conclude.

I'm sorry if this is super stupid and pathetic, but yes, I have caught the girls just at the other side and a few from the back, either sitting or standing, to take a look at the boy beside me and the others included in Logan's group. And I'm annoyed, actually, because these foolish women are giving me death glares every time I say something to Logan. I will not steal the boy, people, get over yourselves!

"Aw fine princess, I get that I'm good-looking; no need to elaborate," he says, smirking.

Oh his face is so cute; but I cannot show signs of liking!

"Logan Alexander E. Chase, I did not say a thing," I reply, and hide the shock inside me. I did something wrong.

"Stalker? You know my full name," he laughs. Oh no, oh no.

Yes, Logan's theory is in fact very much correct. I do know this because of my stalking from five whole years. . . and I will be so dead since this is hidden deep beneath his old photos; his Facebook name is only Logan Chase.

Quick Cassidy, think!

"I read it from there, genius," I mumble, grateful than I can ever be that his full name is printed neatly on the violet notebook on his lap. The world is blessing me!

Ignoring the other half of my sentence, he concentrates on my sarcastic compliment.

"I'm a genius?! You got that right," he says, enjoying the sight of me being constantly bugged out.

"Ever heard of the word sarcasm?" I ask, as he plays with my hair, making me scowl. Yeah, I get that I have nice hair, now get a move on with life and don't touch it!

"Of course, you just said I'm a genius,"

"No; it means that you are stupid," I say, peeling off his fingers from my soft black strands of hair.

"Stupidly perfect," he replies.

And right he is.

I hear a seat creak in front of me, and Gavin and Dylan look behind them. And up close I finally get a clear view of Dylan Grant; dirty blonde hair that is messily ruffled like his friends', and a dumb face always plastered on his head that can make anyone laugh. Just like Logan and Gavin, he is another handsome creature that any girl would like. But he's not my type.

"Oh, so you're the famous Cassidy French that my two brothers have been talking about?" he queries, sitting on the chair in front of me so that I am in the center of three boys.

Seriously, I feel like a little substance that is going to be inspected under a microscope with all the eyeing that these people are giving me.

"Brothers? The two dumb morons Logan and Gavin?" I ask bluntly. Dylan snickers and I make the other two frown at his reaction.

"Busted! The girl said you two are dumb morons!" Dylan laughs sardonically.

"Ha ha ha, Dylan, who had to attend summer school because of low grades?" Gavin fires back, making Dylan fake-faint and bump into a teacher seated in front with the process. Well, my judgement was right; he is silly.

Dylan rises back up to the chair with a funny face that makes me crack up a bit.

"You'll get used to it Cassidy, I survived my life with them," he says, patting me on the shoulder.

But then moments later when I catch a glimpse of the front, I see the teacher Dylan bumped into -- he is around four foot ten, and it looks like a live pig was forced to fit in his stomach. He's wearing a white and black sweatshirt with the label "Be You". And not to be mean. . . but his hair looks fake.

Dylan is still laughing when the man stands up and taps him on the shoulder. He clearly stiffens when he sees the man.

"Mr. Grant. . . and friends, and new girl. . . how pleasant it is to see you," he says, left arm rested on Dylan's shoulder.

"Hello Mr. Newman. I'm sorry if you didn't finish your diet, I prayed for at least one pound to be burned and  --"

"I'll have you know I lost ten pounds! Ten pounds!" he says, as I stiffle in a laugh. I tilt my head to Gavin and Logan, smiling at the dude.

"And for your sake, I was transferred to twelfth grade, so celebrate at the one year we still have together! And Mr. Grant, let us pay another visit to Ms. Hilton's grandmother, shall we? And on the very first day, good sir!" he announces melodramatically, making Dylan grunt as the teacher forces him to walk.

Now that I'm alone with two morons, Gavin transfers to Dylan's seat, and only then do I see a lady in a blue dress on the stage, smiling sweetly at the audience. Unlike Principal Bertha, she looks like in her late twenties and has a friendlier, pretty face.

She introduces herself as Ms. Gwyneth Longton, vice principal of Meadows High School. She is like the perfect model of the teachers I expected here, and I kind of like her. She just said that she loved reading books, and Harry Potter is her favorite, and she's read a lot of the classics. I hope the english teachers here are like that!

The student government shows up on the stage next with all their speeches and overviews of the school year. Then the rules are explained; which are just the basics about cheating, don't do this, follow that, go here during lunch, blah, blah, blah. I had a strong desire to go to sleep at the boringness.

But eventually, the time that everyone's been waiting for finally comes and Ms. Longton's back on the stage bidding us a goodbye and a happy school year through the microphone.

I stretch once I am able to stand from my seat. Everyone's rushing out for lunch time, and I still have to locate Alaine and the others. Logan's arm is around my wrist pulling me to the front, and because I am lazily to argue, I don't hesitate.

We pass through a well hidden door on the left side of the building, near the backstage. It's more fun, because it feels like I am able to skip something I wouldn't want to do, and also because it feels like I'm in a secret agent mission. Yes, I am awfully bizarre, no need to shove that fact in front of my face.

"Do you remember the way to the cafeteria?" asks Logan and I fake- smile confidently.

"Uh, that way?" I ask, pointing to the left with a bunch of stairs.

"No, that's the fire exit, we didn't even reach that part when I toured you,"

"But let's go there anyways, it's a short cut," he says, pulling my arms. I wonder how he can still go so fast through the steps, I am on the verge of falling into anything soft at how badly my eyes want to shut.

"Aren't you going with Gavin and your other friends?" I ask lazily.

"Nah, I'll spot them at the cafeteria; I'll just come with you now because you're as lost as a stray cat," he says, ruffling my hair playfully as the steps become enormously higher and I loose oxygen. He isn't even close to tired!

"Is it bugging you out that I am perfectly fine and you're about to faint?" he asks, chuckling at my slow legs.

"Duh!" I utter, the few beams of energy I still have left.

"Well then I won't stop," he says, pulling my hand faster. Slowing down is mercilessly not an option, because if I do I'm going to fall and I can't afford that type of embarrassment on the first day of class -- even if no one can see us.

"Go to the gym, princess, and actually exercise," he laughs.

"Fudge, I'm too lazy for all that. Are we here yet?" I ask, desperate. He looks into the hallway for signs of any teachers because we obviously weren't allowed at the fire exit, and then drags me in to the door of an empty cafeteria.

"Mm, yes. And just so you know, that wasn't a short cut, I just wanted to test if you got tired easily," he crows with success.

And now, I suddenly have all the strength I need and I step on his Nike shoes and punch him on the chest. Can he even physically feel anything?!

"Does it also piss you that you can't hurt me?" he asks.

How can he read my mind?!

"Yes, because you're numb," I reply, monotone.

"Then I'll continue it!" he says, happy at my reactions. Ugh.

From the corner of my eye, I see long blonde hair with brown highlights on the end. The girl is facing Camille and I take no time waiting and dash off to her like wild with a bear hug.

"ALAINE!!! Did you survive? Are you okay? I can't believe I lived! I'm so sorry for disappearing, Fall just came over to me and I didn't see you when I looked back," I explain quickly. I look at the three girls in front of Alaine; Camille, Lauren, and Skylar. I've shared loads of happy memories with these girls, and they all attack me with a group hug as I smile.

"Sorry Camille, I didn't mean what happened a while ago," I apologize.

"Oh that was nothing, Cass! It's only a situation between me and Fall, I'm not that evil to the girl," she says, and the faces of my friends are suddenly in complete shock, eyes darting behind me. I look behind me to find what all the fuss is about.

Would you look at that. Clear blue. Eyes.

"C-Cass, you didn't tell me about your new friend," Lauren says, taking a step nearer and mindlessly shoving me softly. I roll my eyes and give them slaps on the face -- yes, we do slap each other on the faces and it is completely normal for me and my friends.

Told you I'm weird. I'm also crazy.

They snap out of it and Logan stares at me in bewilderment.

"Guys, this is Logan, the idiot who toured me around school -- Sky, stop drooling; Camille, wake up; Lauren, you're blushing, Alaine, stop looking at me like I'm expected to do something," I say, eyeing them.

"Jealous, princess?" Logan says behind my ear that sends down shivers through my spine.

"Ugh, scram," I say, shooing my own vacuous smile. He ruffles my hair before going away.

"AHHHHHH!!!" they all scream finally, earning a lot of attention from other people. Yes, we are new kids but we are now looking totally normal. And no, we are not blending in if that's what you're thinking.

"Cassy, that boy likes you, I feel it in my veins!"
"Cass, I wanted to own him, but I guess you have him now,"
"Girl, have you ever heard of love?"
"I know you have a frozen heart, and if you don't like him, I am so taking him,"

I cringe at how average eighteen year old girls can overreact with boys. I mean, I find Logan as cute as my friends, but I will never yell or cause attention because of a male. To be frank with you, if I was still twelve and stopped by Logan's Facebook wall by accident, trust me when I say I wouldn't have liked him. But because of the dream, it changes everything.

This, is another factor of the countless reasons why I dislike human beings in general. They can be brought to the knees and go crazy over one person; and we can't control it because, it is natural for a person to be attracted to another person. I don't know why, but it makes me cringe.