The first day of Mayfair High began with a bright, sunny day as old students returned to school.
The girls of Mayfair High stopped walking as a car arrived, and the first one to step out was Anthony Bridgerton. The girls quickly moved out of his way as he walked past them. Though handsome, his shrew-like personality makes him quite unapproachable.
A few girls who just finished up putting out flyers for school dance flinched as he ripped off those flyers so his driving with caution flyer could be visible again.
Not that everyone was staring at those flyers because all eyes were on Benedict Bridgerton, the new popular guy at the school, who was quite charming as he flashed a smile to a girl who started swooning.
The school's most popular girl, Cressida Cowper, smirked as Benedict Bridgerton passed away, and even though he was a junior in high school, his tall body and handsome, charming looks make him the perfect candidate for her next boyfriend.
"Girls, this year Benedict Bridgerton will be mine." She told her friends, and Margaret looked doubtful because apparently her friend had not heard the news circulating around Mayfair.
On the other side, a new girl, Sophie Beckett, just arrived at Mayfair High. She was trying to move past a crowd of chippering girls when someone roughly pushed her aside making her fall on school floor. "Ouch!"
She stood up from the floor, and a girl came to help her with her things. "You must be a new girl, Sophie Beckett?"
"That's me, and you must be Penelope Featherington, school's tour guide?" Sophie asks the cute girl.
"Yep, this is me. Principal Charlotte made me the school guide, newspaper editor, AV operator and apparently every other thing that the rest of the students are uninterested in doing, so if you need to know about anyone or anything, do ask me."
But Sophie was not listening as the crowd moved away, and she saw the most handsome guy of her entire life. "Who is that?"
"Ah! The cute one is Colin Bridgerton, my best friend. It's a shame other girls don't recognise how handsome he is."
Sophie frowned because girls were practically fawning on him. "Who are you talking about? From where I can see, all girls find him irresistible."
Penelope then really notices what Sophie is saying, and she scoffs. "Another one falls to B. Bridgerton charm."
"B Bridgerton?"
"Yep, three Bridgerton brothers of eight Bridgerton siblings attend Mayfair High, and all are named alphabetically. That one is Benedict Bridgerton School's popular guy, now Simon Bassett has left earlier for college. The cute one beside him is Colin Bridgerton; both brothers are fraternal twins with opposite personalities, although they have similar blue eyes."
Sophie frowned because she realised something. "That's B and C, but where is A?"
Penelope then pointed at a man in the hallway, trying to rip all the dance flyers. "That is A Bridgerton; I mean Anthony Bridgerton, the eldest and shrew of Mayfair High."
"Shrew? Why is he called Shrew? I mean, is good-looking handsome guy too." Sophie inquires, as she finds him equally attractive, but something about him warns her to stay away.
"He was not always shrew; in fact, two years ago, he and his friend Simon Bassett were the most popular guys in school, but sadly, it all changed after his father died in a car accident last year. Suddenly Anthony became all serious, snapping at any girl who dared to come near him, but even now he is kind of the Legend of Mayfair High, joined by his brother Benedict and the school's popular girl, Cressida."
Penelope points at a girl who walked past them towards Benedict, who smiled and walked her towards her class.
Both girls watched as they passed Anthony Bridgerton, who grabbed his brother's arms. "Remember what Mother said."
Benedict yanked his arm off as he snapped. "Do not talk to me; I do not want you to be my dad!"
Cressida laughs but quickly shuts up when Anthony glares at her. "You know you both are perfect for each other; just please take the S.T.D. test before you cross bases with each other."
Benedict and Cressida's mouths fell open in outrage as Anthony walked away, followed by Colin, who could not control his laughter.
"What was all that about?" Sophie asks, feeling curious about these interesting brothers.
"Well, Cressida is doing modelling; you know, small advertisements and stuff plus her popularity on Instagram and Tick-Tok, so she is dating lots of guys here in school and some college dudes too, and Benedict blossoming last year into his handsomeness has been breaking many hearts left and right, but apparently no girl has stuck around, not even Genevieve, his on and off girlfriend who dumped him a few days ago."
"Well, maybe he did not meet the right girl?" Sophie says while her eyes look all dreamy.
"No, no, stop." Penelope snaps her fingers as she tries to warn her. "Please Sophie, do not go down the path that leads to inevitable heartbreak beside the legends of Mayfair date inside their cult while people like us will make do with the rest of normal folk.
Sophie sighed as she nodded her head, although her heart seemed to be fixed on her handsome prince charming with beautiful blue eyes.
As Sophie was getting her class schedule, Colin joined them and hugged Penelope, whose smiles grew wider, and Sophie smiled because it seems these two cuties are not just friends. "So Pen? Tell me about this year's hot happenings that our esteemed principal has planned for us."
"Well, first thing first, I have heard from inner sources that this year's Homecoming is a girls choice dance, so be prepared once it is announced, Benedict. You and any popular guy will be swarming with girls like bees."
Suddenly, both Sophie and Penelope noticed how Colin's face fell. "Well, that's going to suck big time because, according to the new Bridgerton rule instilled by mom Benedict and I cannot date."
"What?" Penelope's face also fell because she was really hoping to ask Colin for a dance."
"Um, why was this strange rule placed in the first place?" Sophie inquires.
"Because my idiot brother was being an insensitive ass!" Colin snapped irritably before quickly sobering up. "Sorry, it was just an unfair punishment I had to face because our mother wants to correct Benedict's new attitude. Long story short, Ben and I cannot date unless Anthony does, given my elder brother's history with ladies and dating the chances are pretty non existence." Colin trailed off, and Penelope patted his back sympathetically. "So yeah, bummer, this girls choice dance is about to happeneing around that time we brothers cannot go on this dance is really suck timing."
Seeing their disgruntled faces, Sophie wanted to say something to cheer them up when a shouting noise reached their ears.
"Will you just grow up, Ben? It's not my fault you are forbidden to date because mom decided to teach you lessons."
"Oh, Oh! It appears that the secret has been revealed." Colin said as he left to rush towards his elder brothers, who were shouting in the middle of the hallway.
Sophie and Penelope joined the crowd and saw Benedict Bridgerton glaring at his brother while Cressida stood by his side. "Come, sweetheart, let this grumpy go."
Benedict, however, was not listening as he towered over his brother, who stood his ground. "It is all your fault! Anthony is so perfect! Anthony is so dutiful! Look how he is managing business, dad responsibilities, and his studies like a champ! Why can't you be more like Anthony? Well, I am sick of it! You are the last person I want to be like! I mean, who wants to live like a stressed-out Shrew who has nothing to keep him company except for his files and books? You have become such a hermit that you want the rest of us to be like you! Well, sorry, but I will not spend my young years wasting away playing dolly with my sisters or being the pathetic excuse of dad to Gregory and Hyacinth."
Cressida and her group of friends chuckled, but the rest of the students stood shocked and uncomfortable while Sophie flinched because she could not believe that behind such a handsome face there was so much unkindness.
Before anyone could say anything, Anthony stepped forward. "If you really think I am wasting away my young years taking care of our family, then it is you I feel sorry for because I may be a pathetic excuse for a dad, but you are a pathetic excuse for a son and brother."
Benedict flinched as if he were struck by his brother, but Anthony was already leaving the crowd.
Colin glared at him as he shook his head in disappointment. "That was so out of line."
"Colin." Benedict tried to go after his brother because he did realise he was once again carried away in his anger, but Cressida put her hand on his shoulder. "Let them go; they are just jealous because you are the most popular guy in this school, and any girl will be lucky to go out with you."
"As if." Pen said it loudly, but by the time Benedict and Cressida stared at the crowd, she quickly turned her face into confusion like the rest of them.
Sophie was annoyed because everyone could see Benedict was feeling sorry for his outburst, but this Cressida was goading him further. "I am telling you, Benedict, that this year you will be crowned homecoming king."
"Well, I cannot because I am forbidden to date unless Anthony does."
Now for the first time, that fake smile dropped as Cressida looked angry. "What? You cannot date until Shrew does? Whose mental idea was this?"
Benedict was offended as he glared at Cressida. "Cress, I do not care how beautiful you are, but call my mother mental again, and you will find me as your enemy."
"Your mom! Ben ! Sweetie!"
But Benedict was storming away in anger, and Sophie thought he looked hot in anger.
Another snap brought her out of her daydream as Penelope stared at her. "Even now, you want Benedict Bridgerton?"
"I do, Pen. I understand he was completely behaving like a brat, but trust me, children often act out after losing a parent. Trust me, I know the feeling, and if he stays around people like Cressida, then it will only hurt him further."
"Well, it's not like he can be with anyone to put him on straight path. You heard him and Colin; they cannot date until Anthony does, and chances of that are extremely minuscule because there is no girl in existence who can tame that shrew."
"Out of the way! Out of the way!"
"Now, what's going on?" Sophie asked because the school has not started yet and suddenly so much has already happened.
"Ms Featherington! Ms Featherington! Ah, there you are! Girl, come here and hold this bouquet.
"Yes, principle, Charlotte." Penelope dragged Sophie with her towards the school entrance, where Principal Charlotte, along with English teacher Agatha Danbury and science teacher Brimsily, were standing together waiting for someone.
Behind them, the rest of the students also gathered to see who was arriving for Principal Charlotte to be so excited.
Anthony and Colin joined the crowd as they stood behind Penelope. "Pen, what is going on?" Colin inquires as his brother stare over girls heads.
Penelope shrugged her shoulders as she and Sophie grabbed large bouquets in their hands.
"Look, here she comes!" Principal Charlotte exclaimed excitedly, and students saw a sleek purple sports car arriving at Mayfair High.
Behind Penelope and Sophie, they heard Anthony gasp in shock, which was soon followed by others as a beautiful young girl stepped out of car. The girl was extremely beautiful with long dark hair and glowing bronze skin wearing a pink and black short mini dress with black heels that made her legs look more sexy and a black designer bag.
"O.M.G! Is that!" Sophie exclaimed excitedly as she recognised the girl as she was greeted by Principal Charlotte and her staff. "
"Sophie Beckett, you are one lucky girl because today you are going to meet the legend of legends herself, the famous pop star Kathani, aka Kate Sharma, who left Mayfair One and a half years ago to play with her band, but it seems like she is back to complete her senior year."
Sophie was jumping with joy as Kate stepped closer, and Penelope and her gave Kate her bouquet. "Thank you, girls; these flowers are lovely."
She smelled their scent and smiled brightly before waving at the students as Charlotte led her inside, followed by everyone else who wanted to get near Kate Sharma.
Well, not everyone left, as Penelope and Colin stayed back to discuss how exciting it would be if Kate sang her songs at the homecoming dance.
Sophie cannot wait to tell her dad how great her new school is. She was about to call Pen and Colin to head towards their first class when she noticed Anthony Bridgerton was frozen in place, still staring blankly at something, but before she could analyse his reaction, the bell rang, and Anthony Bridgerton seemed to be snapped out of whatever hypnotic spell had consumed his mind.