As morning sun dawned, Maggie rose from her bed, preparing to leave for school in the next 45 minutes. "Ugh, I can't believe I have to attend a new school. I don't know anything or anyone there, and it's going to be so embarrassing," she thought. Resigned, she decided, "Well, I guess I'll just have to deal with it and go." As she left her house, she hoped in her 1979 Camaro Z28 and drove to school. While she was driving, she chose to listen to her favorite song, "Susie Q," on her Walkman because her car lacked a CD player. She sang along to the tune all the way until she reached the school.

When she entered the building, she turned off her Walkman and stored it in her locker. The contemporary music of her peers—bubblegum pop, boy bands, scantily clad girl groups, and grunge—never resonated with her. Her tastes were rooted in the classics: The Mamas and the Papas, Diana Ross and the Supremes, Buddy Holly, and Elvis. Above all, Dale Hawkins held a special place in her heart, though ironically, it was just for his single hit, "Susie Q."

She could never grasp why it was only that particular song and not his other compositions that resonated so deeply. It simply was.

"Hey Mags, how was your first class?" Glancing back, she saw Deena weaving through the crowd to reach her locker. "It was okay," she responded. "Just okay? Who was your teacher?" "Ketlar." "Yikes, Ketlar's notorious. If you search for 'bitch' in the dictionary, you'd find her picture there." As they spoke, they turned to see a girl with her thick, dark hair plaited into a braid, stopping at the locker two doors down. "Hey, Evie."

"So, aside from your encounter with that She-Bitch, how was the rest of your day?" She shrugged and forcefully closed her locker. The trio moved away from the lockers, congregating in the center of the hallway as she began recounting her day, biding time before their next class.

"...and then this guy sends me the wrong way, and I end up in the boys' locker room. Can you believe it? Oh God, it was awful."

"Probably a senior," Evie agreed with a nod. "They tend to do that, especially to the new and cute ones."

She rolled her eyes. "Seriously, talk about a nightmare. It's my first day at school, and I've already embarrassed myself completely," she lamented, shaking her head. "Jeepers."

"Jeepers?" She pivoted toward the gentle male voice. Her gaze settled on a boy slightly older than her. He was attractive, with somewhat long dark hair, striking dark eyes, and lips that seemed... kissable—wait, why was she focusing on his lips? She had never met this boy before. Rather than attempting to craft a lengthy and dull response as she had done all morning, she chose the simplest approach. Flashing him a brief smile, she introduced herself, "Hi, I'm Maggie."

As she spoke, he responded with a broad smile and extended his hand.

"I'm Zach." Her gaze briefly landed on his wrist, adorned with what appeared to be a silver charm bracelet. Under different circumstances, she might have inquired about it, but he didn't seem to harbor the same unsettling intentions as other boys. Thus, she accepted his hand.

"Pleased to meet you." The bell rang, signaling the start of the next class. The crowd dispersed, and Zach, with a hint of reluctance, withdrew his hand. He nodded at her once more before making his way to class. "Hey!" She called out, standing alone in the now-empty hallway. "Do you know where Ms. Burke's chemistry class is?" He hesitated, biting his lip. "Actually, that's where I'm headed."

"You're following me, aren't you?" he joked, glancing back at her. She offered a smile and linked her arm with his, grateful for the guidance through the labyrinthine corridors of Willow Valley High. He sensed her hand sliding down his arm but remained silent, assuming she was still orienting herself and would soon venture on her own.

However, he paused when her fingers intertwined with his. Facing her, he saw her apologetic smile as she looked down at their joined hands. "Oh, sorry."

They separated and continued to the chemistry lab. Zach held the door for her, then took his usual seat, while she lingered at the back. Ms. Burke, an elderly woman with a bob of white hair, approached her.

"You must be Margaret Quinn. Welcome to Willow Valley High School." The class went by in a blur, with Margaret frequently stealing glances at Zach, reminiscing the brief connection of their hands. She couldn't pinpoint why she had reached for his arm and then his hand, but somehow, it felt natural.

As the bell signaling lunch rang out, she dashed from the classroom, eager to catch up with Zach and inquire if she could join him for lunch. When she finally reached him, he was already making his way past the gym toward the cafeteria. "Zach! Can I... join you for lunch?" she called out. "Sure. See you in there, Maggie," he replied, glancing back.

She nodded and watched him disappear into the crowd. Deciding it would be best to stow her books first, she turned towards her locker. However, she paused at the display case. Amidst the ribbons, streamers in school colors, trophies, and plaques, her attention was drawn not to these items but to a simple photograph. It depicted a cheerleader performing the splits, megaphone in hand, donned in a vintage 1950s uniform.

Leaning in for a closer examination, she was struck by the resemblance. The girl in the picture bore an uncanny likeness to her.

With a shake of her head, disconcerted, she continued to her locker, the image of the photo lingering in her mind, sending a shiver down her spine. It was an unsettling feeling, as if she had seen the girl before.

End of Chapter 1