Melissa Garcia was excited and nervous for her first day of high school. Finally, she would be a freshman, in the ninth grade. Melissa checked her first day of school outfit, new blue jeans and a blue top she'd bought at the mall last week. She pulled her long, black hair into a ponytail and grabbed her backpack.
"Aren't you going to have breakfast?" Her mom asked, watching her daughter lace up her sneakers.
"Can't eat. I'm so nervous." Melissa said, grabbing her jacket out of the hall closet.
"Bye, Melissa! Have fun at school." Her mom said, as she ran out the door. Melissa caught the school bus at the end of the block, and picked a seat near the back.
As soon as the bus pulled up to Beacon Hills High School, Melissa got off the bus, and started looking around for her friends. She picked up her class schedule from the office, and skimmed it. History, math, science, art, gym . . .
"What classes did you get?" Natalie Walters asked her. She flicked her strawberry blonde hair over her shoulder, and grinned at Melissa. "Cool, check it out! We have almost all the same classes this semester. Thank god." She said, excitedly.
"I'm so glad to see you! It's been such a long summer without anyone to hang out with!" Melissa told her, hugging Natalie.
Melissa glanced around at the passing students. "I wonder who else will be in our classes." She said.
"More specifically, which hot guys." Natalie said. Melissa laughed.
"If we're allowed to pick partners, you're my first choice." Melissa said.
"That sounds good." Natalie said, pocketing her schedule.
The bell rang, and the two girls ran to get to their first class. They chose seats in the back, alongside two boys. Melissa recognized the taller boy from junior high. Raphael McCall had curly black hair and a charming smile. He'd been on the basketball team, and one of the more popular kids. She didn't recognize the blond teen sitting quietly beside Raph.
"Hi," Melissa said, taking out her notebook and pen. "Who's your friend?" She asked Raphael.
"Guys, this is John Stilinski." Raphael told the girls.
"Hey, John," Melissa said. "Did you go to our junior high?"
He nodded. "I don't think we had any classes together, though. You're Melissa, right?" He said.
"Yeah, and this is my best friend Natalie." Melissa said. "Wow, your eyes are so pretty," She said, leaning in to look at John's pale blue eyes.
"Uhh . . . thanks." He said, blushing.
Once class was over, Melissa picked up her books, and slipped them into her backpack. It was time for gym, which she wasn't really as enthused about. Melissa and Natalie changed into their gym shorts and t-shirt, and joined their classmates in the centre of the gymnasium.
"Alright, kids! Today we're going to play dodgeball." Coach Harvey said, blowing into his whistle. "Guys against girls! To your sides! You all know the rules – no headshots, nothing below the waist. As soon as you've been hit, take your seat on the stage. May the best team win!"
Melissa followed Natalie to the wall, and touched the wall with their hands. They watched in anticipation, as the Coach placed the thirty different sized foam balls on the centre line.
"McCall! Stilinski! No cheating. Your hands must be touching the wall!" Coach shouted at John and Raphael. He waited until they complied. He blasted on the whistle. "Go!" He shouted, watching the teenagers run to snatch up the balls.
One of the boys chucked a foam ball at Melissa, and it whizzed past her head, narrowly missing her. She spotted Raphael, ball in hand, and she quickly backed up.
"Quick, give me one of those," Melissa said to the girl standing beside her, noting how the girl was holding two dodgeballs. The girl passed one to her. Melissa ran forward, and nailed Raphael right in the stomach with the ball. He looked surprised, then angry.
"You're out!" She said, victorious. Raphael gave her a dirty look, as he walked to the stage, and hoisted himself up to sit with the losers.
Melissa looked at the opposing team, spotting Trevor Boyd, and John Stilinski skulking in the back.
She wanted to win the game, so Melissa grabbed one of the balls rolling past her.
"Look out, Johnny!" One of the boys warned, as she flung the ball. She missed.
"Haha, Oh, you suck, Garcia!" Boyd shouted, grinning at her. He got struck with a ball in the left shoulder. Natalie and Melissa turned in surprise to see shy Margaret Miller.
"Good job, Mags." Natalie said, giving her a high-five. "Nice throw."
Melissa ducked as a ball nearly hit her. Maggie got hit in the chest, and left to sit on the stage. John was the only guy left on his team, against Nat and Melissa. Natalie came to Melissa's side, carrying fresh ammo.
"Let's get the sucker," Nat said, stepping forward. They each took a shot, the first ball flying past Stilinski's elbow, the other hitting him dead in the chest.
Coach blew his shrill whistle. "That's a game! Girls win!" He announced, as the losers scrambled off the stage.
John Stilinski walked across the centre line to talk to the girls' team.
"Nice shot, Garcia." He said, grinning at her. "You've got quite the arm."
"Thanks," Melissa said.
"You too, Nat." John told her.
After John walked away, Natalie turned to Melissa. "I think he likes you," She said, her eyes lighting up. "Do you think he's cute?"
Melissa snuck another peek at John Stilinski. "Yeah," She decided. "He is."
"You should ask him out!" Nat said. Melissa rolled her eyes at her best friend. She'd only dated one guy in junior high, and she barely even knew Stilinski.
As soon as the bell rang for lunch, Melissa and Natalie joined the line in the cafeteria, and bought their food. Natalie spotted the boys in the far corner of the lunchroom, and quickly ran over.
"Hey, can we sit with you?" Nat asked, looking at John and Raphael. They nodded.
"So, guys, got any plans for this weekend?" Natalie asked. "See, I'm thinking of throwing a party at my house."
"A drinking party?" John asked, hopeful.
The girls laughed. "Of course. What other kind would we throw?" Natalie said, dipping her fry in ketchup.
"Yeah, that sounds fun." Raphael said.