St. Vincent De Paul Preparatory Academy was the most prestigious private boarding and day school in the Sunset Region. Their pamphlet stated that a uniform was required. So Holly woke up at 6:00 AM to iron her new uniform, which consisted of a pink plaid skirt with gold and pale seafoam green accents, a plain green blazer, a white button up blouse and a gold bow tie. And that was about it for Holly. Trying to make herself look cute was a waste of time. She had this super, ginger, untamable hair that didn’t seem to go with anything, and the bushiest eyebrows. She didn’t want to make a fool of herself on the first day by trying too hard. She nervously drove to school, anticipating another year in obscurity.

She spotted Parker and Jefferey standing at the school gates, jokingly greeting all the new students. Jefferey had barely even worn his uniform. He replaced the white button up shirt with a pale creamy yellow hoodie under the school sports jacket. He wore a plaid green variation of the school’s pants and had entirely ditched the tie. Parker wore the regular khaki pants and white button up but covered it in the school’s baggy, vintage styled letterman jacket, engraved with St. VDP above the heart. 

“Bebe’s looking fine this year,” Parker said, taking a drag and passing it to Jefferey,

He laughed, “Don’t tell me you're hitting that again.” He looked back to the gates, “There’s way too much new meat to focus on chicks you've known since the 4th grade.”

Parker smirked, “Says the guy who's been with the same girl since kindergarten. And getting no ass.”

“I said what I said. She’s cute.” He lifted his chin to one of the freshmen walking by.

Parker raised an eyebrow. “Jeff, that’s Dar.”

“Who?”

“Man…Darlene? Your girlfriend’s little sister..?”

Jefferey grinned, watching her as she walked up the school steps, "Well, she's certainly grown."

Parker shot him a look, “Chill. She’s just a kid.” 

Jeff rolled his eyes, laughing and patting Parker on the back, “Not like I’m legal like you.”

This was one of the most enchanting schools Holly had ever attended. And she’d gone to 5 different schools in 3 different cities. Each a preparatory academy and all very wealthy but in Sunset they just did regal with magnificence. It was like a chateau on 2400 acres of land, surrounded by gardens and a river. Holly pulled out her schedule as she stepped out of her car. AP calculus.

“Hey, Red!” Parker shouted as Holly entered the school gates.

Holly looked up. Parker and Jefferey stood in front of her. A little butterfly began to flutter in her tummy. “Hi.” She said softly.

“What’s your homeroom?” Jefferey asked,

“AP calculus with Mrs. Andrews.”

Parker smiled. He was always smiling, “Let’s take you there. We have the same home room. Repay the favour from last night.”

Parker and Jefferey lead Holly up the stairs to the inside of the school. Admittedly it was incredibly aesthetically pleasing. Lightly coloured walls, gold panelled windows that made it easy to see the gorgeous gardens outside and light pink and white marbled floors. Not only was the school 4 stories of pure academic, athletic and aesthetic prowess, the students were draped out to the nines in Rolex watches, Chanel bags, Miu Miu cardigans and even Jimmy Choos. Holly was literally the only person who had worn her uniform properly. She stood out like a sore thumb. Oh well… 

Parker, Holly and Jefferey walked into the math classroom. Holly immediately headed to the back, Jefferey and Parker followed behind her.

“Perfect spot.” Jefferey said, sitting to her left. Parker sat to her right.

“You a closet bad girl or something, sitting in the back of the class like this?” Parker laughed,

Holly laughed too. Truthfully she feared sitting in the front of the class and having everyone stare at her without being able to see it.

“It’s cool, we can mess around back here.” He was clearly flirting. She felt her heart jump out of her chest.

Two short blondes who looked like they could have been sisters entered the class room. They were just gorgeous, like two Bratz dolls personified. The first had goldilocks curls. She wore pink sparkly eyeshadow and glossed lips. Bold, puppy dog styled eyeliner with super long doll-like eyelashes. Her friend matched with paler tones to match her complexion and freckles. She also had perfect hair, but more of a blown out style. They both wore ruffled, almost renaissance inspired collared tops and patterned white Chanel stockings under their pinafore styled uniforms. Goldilocks wore a baby pink lace cardigan and freckles wore a matching one in white. As they walked to their seats in the front of the classroom, time seemed to slow down for them.

Holly looked at Parker and Jefferey. Jefferey looked like he couldn't care less. He almost didn't notice them walk in...But Parker... He stared adoringly at the golden haired girl. Holly could literally feel him yearning for her.. He kept staring as the girl quickly glanced at him and back to her friend, covering her mouth and giggling. Her name was Elizabeth and her friend was named Lisa. Everyone seemed to know them. And love them. Especially Parker. It was like no one else was there for him. Well...there was no competing with that...

“Might I say, the summer looks exceptional on you, Lisa.” Parker said, sitting down at the lunch table,

She scoffed. “Please, I had to drown myself in sunscreen just to survive and I like, barely even went outside.”

“Okay, so maybe you're just sexy all the time then.”  He replied,

“Down, P.” Liz laughed, 

Jeff sat down beside him, “I know he means nothing by it.”

“You could stand to be a little more territorial.”  Liz retorted, “Don’t think just because you've been together forever that someone couldn't snatch her away.”

“Yeah except I highly doubt that someone is Parker.” Jeff leaned back in his chair, scrolling through his phone,

“Where is Lynn?” Liz groaned, “We have some serious freshman and new student judgment to pass.” 

“Judgment?” VJ asked, he was sitting beside her, already flipping through the syllabus,

Liz nodded, “It's a girl thing.”

“She’s probably off in the school garden staring at flowers and being her cute little solitude self.” Lisa picked through her lunch, "Sucks we don't have any of the same classes this semester."

Holly watched from across the lunch hall as Jefferey and Parker sat with those two blondes from homeroom. It looked like Jefferey was with Lisa and Elizabeth was with some other cute guy. Maybe there was hope for her and Parker after all. Though if the girls he kept as friends looked as perfect as that, it was hard to believe he'd even bat an eye at a girl who looked like her. She walked past their table and headed towards the school garden. She'd have her lunch by herself there.

The school garden was an enclosed outdoor space close to the front of the school. It wasn't like the typical school greenhouse but rather a peaceful spot where students could relax during free period or between classes. There was a huge fountain in the middle, pink roses, and a small bridge with benches. It was all surrounded by the same white brick and ivy of the school.

Holly took her lunch from home and sat down at one of the picnic benches. Even though she was alone, at least it was pretty. She noticed someone crouching in a corner, smelling flowers. Her hair caught the wind as she stood up and began walking out the door. God she was gorgeous. She was just like a doll too. Perhaps the prettiest girl she had ever seen.

She picked at her sandwich in the garden, watching other students laugh together from behind a rosebush. Just for a moment, she let herself imagine what it would be like to belong. To be one of those girls everyone loved, sitting in the lunch hall laughing with Jeff and Parker.

Kaylynn was such a beautiful gymnast. She was top of her class, the best on the vault in the whole school. She had spent more time training last year than she had studying for her SATs. She already had endorsement after endorsement asking her to represent them but she and her family had settled on a health foods company out in Bridgeport and J&JB’s, Lisa’s mother’s athleisure selection. Not only was it local but it was in line with her personal tastes. Elizabeth and Lisa watched in the bleachers as she finished her after school practice. Lisa sighed watching Kaylynn dismount the beam, “How is it possible to be an athlete and have boobs?” She tilted her head, pursing her lips in jealousy

“I wouldn’t know.” Elizabeth shrugged, looking down at her own chest and back at Lynn's.

Kaylynn stepped off her practice mat and the girls followed her into the gym change rooms.  Liz and Lisa sat on  the pink tufted cushions as Kaylynn stepped into the showers.

"River McIrish is back this year." Lisa said, texting Jeff on her phone. 

"I would be mortified if I had to come back to school after having a baby.” Elizabeth said, “I thought girls who did that shit went off to like, those all-girls-convent schools or just like, dropped out."

"I donno. I applaud her bravery. It's a natural part of life." Kaylynn chimed in from the shower.

"Yeah, Lynn. And 'natural' totally gets girls through life unscathed." Liz looked at her nails.

"I mean, people think it does." Lisa replied,

  Liz sighed, "One day in and even though I don't have homework I'm already stressed. I already have to set up a liaison schedule with Mr. Koffi and an agenda for the entire school year."

Lisa shook her head, "You knew what you were signing up for when you ran for president last year." She said in a sing-song tone.

Liz breathed out a laugh, "Yeah." She didn't do it because she wanted to though. "I can handle it."

"Well, on the bright side, If you can't, you don't have to do it alone." Lisa dug through her bag, pulling out her hair brush,"If we have to like, sacrifice a few parties to get it done, we'll do it."

"Speak for yourself. This is the last year before all we can do is study. Unless we want Bs and Cs next year." Liz trailed off, "I wanna go out...And I can’t imagine a school year without my annual November party."

Lisa brushed her hair, "You partied like, all summer didn't you?"

Liz sighed, “When's the next time it's gonna be like this? Don't you wanna have fun while we can?"

"Oh, but what could be more fun than getting an A in AP calculus?" Lynn replied from the shower,

"Exactly!" Lynn's sarcasm totally flew over Lisa's head,

Lynn rolled her eyes, “So where’d you and VJ go off to last night?” 

“Oh yeah. He asked me out.” Elizabeth replied, fixing her lip gloss in her pink compact mirror.

“Just asked you on another date or–?” Kaylynn began,

“To be his girlfriend.”

Both girls gasped, 

“Oh my God and you didn’t tell me all day?” Lisa crossed her arms.

“I’m sorry, I wanted to wait until we were all together without the guys.” Liz pointed at her necklace, “He got me my new Tiffany’s. It’s kind of cheap but I’ve always wanted one. It's the type of necklace that’s kind of loserish to buy for yourself, you know?”

“That’s so sweet!” Lisa swooned,

Liz flipped her hair, “Yeah I guess it was cute of him.”

“Parker’s gonna be devastated.” Lynn said,

Elizabeth pursed her lips, picking at her nails.

“Yeah, you two spent an awful lot of the summer together. Is there something you’re not telling us about?” Lisa stuck her tongue out teasingly,

She just rolled her eyes. She hated lying to her best friends but they could not about that. “Parker’s literally a man whore. You don’t seriously think I’d consider hooking up with him. He’s just goofy. A good friend.”

Lisa giggled, “I didn’t say anything about hooking up with him.”

“Yeah, whatever-”

“But, have you seen his muscles?” Lisa asked as Kaylynn shut off the showers.

“Hello. Ick. Little sister here.” Kaylynn waved from the shower stall.

Lisa and Liz laughed. “In all honesty, we should keep saving it for someone special. As much as a girl wants to be all liberated, throwing it at just anybody feels like it's for girls who don't know how pretty they are." Liz began,

Lisa nodded. Lynn cringed.

"Maybe VJ. I don’t know. I really like him.” Elizabeth put her compact back into her bag.

"Well you did just get together." Lisa put her brush back in her bag, zipping it up, "It's totally understandable wanting to wait. I'll know for sure Jeff's the one once we're in college together. We'll be like, a campus power couple." She pulled her diary out, which she kept in bullet form, "I'll get my BCOM, he'll be poli-sci and he'll have proposed to me with a pear shaped pink diamond." She always had everything planned so meticulously. 

Kaylynn finished getting dressed and the girls separated. Lisa went to meet Jefferey after debate club had ended and Kaylynn and Elizabeth went to meet VJ and Parker on the football fields. 

“Ladies.” VJ said in his adorable British accent, bowing jokingly as the girls approached.

“Hi VJ.” The girls sang in unison.

VJ pulled his bag off his shoulder and opened it, pulling out an adorable stuffed bear with a pink satin bow tied around its neck, “I’m sorry we didn’t get to spend most of our first day together… together. I hope this makes up for it.” He handed over the bear.

Parker looked away.

“Thank you. You’re so sweet.” She hugged the bear before holding VJ’s hand. She turned to Lynn, making an excited face over the bear. Lynn giggled.

How cute was he! How could she not like him? VJ was perfect. Literally like dating a prince. Surely she could never think about hooking up with Parker again, right? Right?

But of course. Here she was, about to hook up with Parker again. He’d come home with Jefferey for the afternoon but Jeff decided he needed to step out–for some reason–and left Parker behind. Now the two of them were alone in her room, laying on her bed and laughing together. Because nothing says “that was the last time” like laying in bed together.

He scrolled through his phone, “Jeff always takes forever. We probably have all night if we want.”

She smiled, rolling her eyes, “I’ve got a boyfriend now, you know. One who buys me jewelry and doesn’t leave his socks in my room? For the cleaners to find and ask my mom about.”

Parker grinned, “Bet he doesn’t make you laugh like I do though.”

His smile was so magnetic. She could feel her resolve slipping as he leaned in to kiss her.

“I'm not a cheater, Parker." She couldn't look him in the eye as she said that though. It was like she wasn’t sure she believed it herself.

“You sure about that?” Their faces were less than an inch apart, “You’re looking at me like you want me to change your mind.”

She shoved his shoulder, half serious, half flirting, “You’re so full of yourself.”

“You could be full of me t–”

“Enough.” She laughed.

“Okay, okay.” He laughed too, trailing off while staring at her bed sheets, "VJ's a good guy but you have a lot more fun with me." His smile faded.

“Well, you probably already have like, dozens of girls after you."

Parker nodded slowly, staring up at the ceiling, "Yeah." 

He picked at the stitching on her comforter. The air kind of shifted. It didn’t feel fun like before. She looked at him, tilting her head,

“You are like, the most wanted guy at St. Vincent. You could hook up with anyone, so you’ll be fine if we stop–”

He shot her a look, “You make it sound like that’s all I care about.”

She jolted back slightly, “Isn’t it?”

They stared at each other for a bit. He looked like he had a lot he wanted to say. But instead he stayed silent. Liz crossed her arms uncomfortably.

After a moment, he swung his legs off the bed and stood up, grabbing his letterman jacket off the table by her bedside.

"I'm going home. Tell Jeff I said bye." His voice was flat.

"Okay..." She played with a strand of her hair.

Parker paused at the door with his hand on the knob. Looking like he might say what he was really thinking but he just stood there. He awkwardly lifted his hand in a half hearted goodbye before closing her door behind him.