It's hard to believe how much can change in just a few years. I had started at Silvercrest Academy as an awkward, quiet seventh grader, barely able to speak up in class without stuttering. But now, as a senior, I had found my place among the sea of well-dressed students, my confidence no longer as fragile as it once was.
The halls were familiar, the noise of lockers slamming and chatter no longer intimidating. I walked through the crowded corridors with ease, my head held high as I passed students I'd known for years. I had a solid group of friends, none closer than Jade, who had become my constant through all the ups and downs of high school.
"Alexa!" Jade called out as I neared our lockers. Her blonde hair shone in the sunlight streaming through the windows, and her freckles, which had once been a source of self-consciousness for her, now looked like a constellation. She grinned as I approached, her bright smile matching her bubbly personality. "Ready for another day of high school chaos?"
I laughed, slinging my backpack over my shoulder. "Isn't it always chaos?"
Just then, a cold, familiar presence made my skin prickle. I didn't have to turn around to know who it was. His footsteps echoed too loudly in the hallway, and that smug, infuriating smirk was already etched in my mind.
He leaned against the lockers, his arms crossed, as if he owned the place. He was still as handsome as I remembered—messy brown hair, those sharp silvery-blue eyes that seemed to pierce straight through me, and an attitude that made everything he said sound like an insult.
"Still pretending you're good enough to compete with me, Alexa?" he called out, his voice dripping with the same arrogance that had made my life hell back in middle school.
Jade glanced at me, her expression darkening. "Don't let him get to you."
But I couldn't help it. His presence still had the power to rattle me, even after all these years. We were both seniors now, both in the final stretch before graduation, but the rivalry between us was far from over. If anything, it had only grown stronger.
"Don't worry, Ethan," I said, my voice calm but firm. "I'm not in the habit of competing with people who think the world revolves around them. Why are you here?"
He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "We'll see about that, won't we?" He said handing out a bunch of flyers to me.
"What's this for?"
"Mr. Hanson has asked all the members of the student council to hand it out before class."
"What! Class is in like five minutes Ethan!"
I shot him a glare, snatching the flyers from his hand. "Of course, you waited until the last possible second to dump this on me. Classic Ethan."
He shrugged, a smug grin spreading across his face. "What can I say? I'm just good at keeping you on your toes. Better hurry, though—don't want to make Mr. Hanson mad."
I opened my mouth to retort, but he was already walking away, his self-satisfied smirk practically radiating arrogance. It was infuriating.
Jade stepped closer, crossing her arms. "I swear, that guy has some kind of twisted hobby of messing with you."
"No kidding," I grumbled, stuffing half the flyers into my bag and holding onto the rest. "Come on, let's get this done before I end up strangling him."
We split up, racing through the hallways to hand out the flyers. They were for the upcoming charity event—a cause I would've cared about more if it wasn't Ethan's smug face that had forced it into my hands at the last minute.
By the time I handed out the last flyer and made it back to my class , I was out of breath and seething. Jade slid into the seat beside me, her expression amused.
"You're lucky you didn't trip over your own feet rushing here," she teased.
"Not in the mood, Jade," I muttered, slumping into my chair.
The teacher began the lesson, but my thoughts were elsewhere, simmering. Ethan had this uncanny ability to ruin my day without even trying. It wasn't enough that he acted like he was better than everyone—he had to constantly prove it by being a thorn in my side.
What irritated me most wasn't just the way he acted—it was the fact that he seemed to know exactly how to get under my skin. And judging by the grin he wore every time I reacted, he enjoyed every second of it, but I hoped, maybe, just maybe, I would find a way to finally beat Ethan at his own game.
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All the classes I had been assigned didn't include Ethan—except for English and the student council. I still couldn't understand why the teachers chose students like Ethan for something so important. His sister, Stacy—my former peer mentor—had been an exceptional student council president, but Ethan couldn't even come close to measuring up to her. Despite his near-perfect academics and impressive sports skills, his overinflated ego overshadowed it all. What really set him apart, though—much to everyone's annoyance—were the photographs and articles he relentlessly published in the school newspaper.
The rest of English class felt like a battleground. English was the one subject where I could confidently say I excelled, but of course, Ethan had to make sure everyone knew he was just as good—if not better.
When Mrs. Carter asked us to analyze a passage from Pride and Prejudice, Ethan's hand shot up almost simultaneously with mine.
"Alexa?" she said, nodding in my direction first.
I straightened in my seat, pushing down the smugness that threatened to surface. "The passage highlights Elizabeth's wit and independence, particularly in the way she challenges societal expectations. Austen uses sharp dialogue to showcase her defiance against the traditional roles imposed on women."
Mrs. Carter smiled. "Excellent observation. Ethan?"
I could already feel his smirk before I turned to look at him. "Alexa's not wrong," he began, his tone making it clear he thought he was about to one-up me. "But I'd argue that Austen also uses subtle irony here, pointing out that while Elizabeth defies societal norms, she's still constrained by them. Her independence is admirable, but it's ultimately shaped by the very structures she's rebelling against."
Mrs. Carter beamed at him as if he'd uncovered some hidden truth. "Very insightful, Ethan. Both points are well-made."
I gritted my teeth as Jade leaned over and whispered, "He's so full of it."
"He's so full of himself," I whispered back.
As the class continued, it became a game of verbal chess. Every time I made a point, Ethan would counter with one of his own. Every time Mrs. Carter praised his insights, I felt the need to outdo him. It wasn't just about winning—it was about proving I was just as capable, if not more.
By the time the bell rang, I was mentally drained. Ethan, of course, looked as smug as ever as he packed up his things.
"See you at council, Winters," he said with a grin, slinging his bag over his shoulder.
I resisted the urge to throw my notebook at him. Barely.
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During lunch, the cafeteria buzzed with excitement. Everyone seemed eager to share their Thanksgiving plans. Jade leaned across the table, her blonde curls bouncing as she spoke. "I can't wait to see my grandma. Her pumpkin pie is the best!"
I nodded along, smiling faintly. The truth was, Thanksgiving never felt like a holiday to me. Mom and Dad were always busy, their schedules packed with hospital shifts and conferences. I couldn't remember the last time we spent a holiday together as a family.
Jade's voice snapped me back. "You should come with me this year," she said suddenly.
The offer caught me off guard. "Thanks, Jade, but I don't want to intrude. Besides, you should enjoy the time with your family."
She gave me a look. "You wouldn't be intruding. You know that, right?"
"I know, but really, I'll be fine." I forced a smile. "Just bring me back some pumpkin pie, okay?"
Jade sighed, clearly unconvinced, but she let it go. "Alright, but you'd better text me if you're feeling lonely."
"Promise," I lied.
The rest of the day dragged on. By the time Jade and I headed to the student council meeting, the halls were nearly empty.
"You've been weirdly quiet," Jade said as we walked. "What's going on?"
"I'm fine," I replied quickly. "Just tired."
She didn't look convinced but didn't push.
When we entered the meeting room, my day went from bad to worse. Ethan was already there, leaning against the table like he owned the place.
"Well, if it isn't my favorite rival," he said, smirking.
I ignored him and slid into my seat. "Let's just get this over with," I muttered.
The meeting centered on the upcoming charity event—a party for kids at the local orphanage. It was a tradition, and one I genuinely cared about. The event would include games, food, and a donation drive to provide clothes and toys for the kids.
Ethan, of course, couldn't resist inserting himself into every discussion. "We should start with the sports activities," he suggested, earning a round of nods. "The kids love a good soccer match."
"Maybe," I said, "but we should also focus on creative stations like painting or crafts. Not every kid wants to play sports."
He raised an eyebrow, his smirk growing. "You're full of ideas, aren't you, Winters?"
"Someone has to be," I shot back.
Jade kicked me lightly under the table, whispering, "Don't give him the satisfaction."
By the end of the meeting, we had a solid plan in place. The event would happen the weekend after Thanksgiving, giving us just enough time to organize everything.
As we left the room, Ethan lingered by the door. "Looking forward to seeing how your 'creative stations' turn out," he said, his tone laced with sarcasm.
I rolled my eyes and kept walking.
The reason I hate Ethan isn't because of one big incident, but because of countless smaller ones. Like the time on a field trip when he led half the group off-trail, getting us lost for hours, or the science fair where he "accidentally" swapped my project display with his, stealing all the attention. Every encounter with him comes with chaos, and it's impossible to shake the feeling that something bad will always happen when he's around.
As we left, Jade asked, "You okay? You looked like you were ready to punch someone back there."
I groaned, running a hand through my hair. "It's Ethan. He just knows how to get under my skin. Every time I say something, he twists it like he's already five steps ahead."
Jade chuckled, nudging me playfully. "Well, you did hold your ground. Honestly, it's kind of entertaining watching you two go at it. Like a live soap opera."
"Glad my misery is your entertainment," I muttered, rolling my eyes.
"Misery, huh? Don't give him that much power. Besides, if you weren't so competitive, maybe it wouldn't be this bad," she teased.
"Not competitive," I corrected. "Just... annoyed."
"Sure," Jade said with a grin, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
We walked out of the building into the crisp evening air. The parking lot was nearly empty, a few stray cars glowing under the streetlights. Jade glanced at me as we reached the sidewalk. "So, what's the plan for Thanksgiving? Still not going to my grandma's?"
I shook my head. "I'll just stay home. You know how it is."
She sighed. "Alright, but if you change your mind, you know where to find me. My grandma makes enough food to feed a small army."
I smiled at her. "Thanks, Jade. I'll be fine, really."
We hugged quickly before parting ways, Jade heading to her Mom's old Prius while I drove the familiar path home. The streets were quiet, the faint sound of rustling leaves accompanying my thoughts.
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I entered the house, hoping to be greeted by my mom's warm smile or to see my dad lounging on the couch, asking how school went. Instead, silence welcomed me. The house felt as empty as ever. I set my bag down, washed up, and prepared a simple salad. Sitting on the sofa, I ate in front of the TV, the emptiness of the room pressing down on me. The shows blurred into the background noise, a distraction from the stillness.
After cleaning up, I moved to my desk to tackle my assignments. I tried to focus, scribbling notes and working through problems, but my thoughts kept wandering. Eventually, I forced myself to concentrate, organizing a list of ideas for the creative stations
I tried to concentrate on my assignments, but it was like my brain was moving in slow motion. I kept glancing over at the clock, watching the minutes drag by. It was always like this when I was home alone—time felt suspended, and the house only felt more suffocating the longer I stayed in it.
The sound of my pen scratching against the paper was the only thing keeping me grounded. But even that became muffled by the silence, the quiet pressing in around me. I couldn't stop thinking about the conversation with Jade earlier and the lingering tension from the meeting. Ethan's words, as irritating as they were, still buzzed in my mind. But it was more than that—I kept coming back to the feeling of being forgotten, of existing on the periphery.
I stood up, stretching to shake off the unease. It was pointless to try and study now; my mind wasn't in it.
I glanced at my phone to find a message from my Mom,
Mom: We'll be late today, hon! Go to bed. Love you, sweetie!
That was definitely not new, although I did ask her something else.
Me: Okay, Mom. Love you!
Me: Are we spending Thanksgiving together?
It took a few moments before the dots appeared on the screen, signaling her reply.
Mom: I'm so sorry, but we have a few patients scheduled that week. If you want, I could ask your aunt to pick you up?
I stared at her message, the knot in my stomach tightening. Another Thanksgiving alone. Another holiday spent without the warmth of family. I wanted to tell her how much I hated it, how lonely it made me feel, but what was the point? Mom and Dad were always busy saving lives, and I couldn't fault them for that.
Me: No, it's okay. I'll be fine.
Her response came quickly.
Mom: I'm so sorry, sweetie. We'll make it up to you, I promise!
I forced a smile, even though no one was there to see it, and put my phone down. The room felt quieter than usual, the ticking of the clock louder than ever. It wasn't just Thanksgiving—I'd spent so many holidays like this, convincing myself I didn't mind. But deep down, I did.
Jade had invited me to her grandmother's, but I couldn't. I groaned, leaning my head back against the chair. "Great. Just great."
The rest of the evening passed in a blur of homework and half-hearted attempts to distract myself. By the time I crawled into bed, I couldn't shake the feeling that this Thanksgiving was going to be worse than the last.
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