Chapter 1: New Beginnings, Old Fears
Chapter 1: New Beginnings, Old Fears
The sun barely peeked through the gray clouds as Mint tugged her hoodie tighter around her, trying to block out the chill in the air and the unease gnawing at her. Her breath clouded in the cool morning as she stood in front of Crestwood Academy’s towering iron gates. The school looked nothing like her old public high school—the grand stone building felt more like a mansion than a school, intimidating with its sprawling grounds, marble pillars, and perfectly manicured lawns.
She shuffled her feet, nervous energy buzzing under her skin. *What am I doing here?* she thought for the hundredth time. She hadn’t chosen Crestwood; it had chosen her. A scholarship was the only way someone like her—poor, anonymous, invisible—could step foot inside such a prestigious place.
But that didn't make it easier. As she walked past clusters of well-dressed students, their eyes immediately turned to her oversized hoodie and scuffed sneakers, whispers trailing behind her like a shadow. Mint kept her head down, focusing on the pavement in front of her, willing herself to disappear.
Inside the grand entrance hall, she paused, feeling the weight of stares pressing in on her. The students at Crestwood weren’t like anyone she’d ever met before. The boys wore designer blazers, their shoes polished to perfection, while the girls floated by in expensive dresses and handbags that probably cost more than her family’s rent. It felt like stepping into another world, a world she didn’t belong in.
“Hey, who let the stray in?” A mocking voice echoed from behind.
Mint tensed but didn’t turn around. She knew what was coming. She’d felt it the moment she walked in—she was a target, and it wouldn’t take long for someone to strike.
“Look at her, hiding in that hoodie. She probably hasn’t washed it in weeks.” Another voice joined in, laughter bubbling from the small group behind her.
Kristie Davenport, the queen bee of Crestwood, stepped in front of Mint, her arms crossed, a cruel smirk playing on her lips. Kristie was everything Mint wasn’t—rich, powerful, beautiful, and terrifyingly popular. Mint had heard about her even before she’d set foot on campus.
“Well? Aren’t you going to say something?” Kristie’s voice was sharp, cutting through the awkward silence that hung in the air.
Mint looked up briefly, her hazel eyes meeting Kristie’s cold, calculating gaze, but she said nothing. Instead, she pulled her hoodie tighter around her and moved to step past the group. But Kristie sidestepped, blocking her path.
“I’m talking to you, scholarship girl.” Kristie’s smile widened as the other girls giggled, waiting for a reaction.
Mint’s heart hammered in her chest, but she refused to give them the satisfaction. Without a word, she brushed past Kristie, forcing herself to keep walking, though her cheeks burned with embarrassment and frustration. The snickers followed her down the hallway.
As the day dragged on, Mint tried her best to blend in, slipping into classrooms, keeping to the back of the cafeteria, and avoiding any attention. But it was impossible to escape the glances. No one sat with her, no one spoke to her, and even the teachers seemed to look through her as if she weren’t there.
By the time the final bell rang, Mint was exhausted, both mentally and physically. She wanted nothing more than to go home, but as she stepped into the quiet school library to grab her books, she realized she wasn’t alone.
A boy sat at the far end of the room, leaning against one of the tall windows that overlooked the school’s gardens. He was striking in an effortless way—dark hair, sharp features, and an air of quiet confidence that seemed to draw attention without him even trying. Mint recognized him instantly.
Smith Blackwood.
He was the most popular guy at Crestwood, though he seemed to avoid the spotlight as much as he attracted it. Unlike the other boys, who thrived on attention and admiration, Smith kept to himself, only ever seen with his small circle of friends. But what Mint had noticed most of all was that he never smiled. Not once.
Smith’s eyes flicked up from his book, catching hers for a split second before he looked away again. Mint quickly grabbed her things, trying to leave as quietly as she could. But as she walked past his table, her notebook slipped from her bag and landed with a soft thud on the floor.
Before she could reach for it, Smith had already bent down to pick it up, holding it out to her. His hand lingered just a second too long, and Mint noticed the slight chill of his skin as her fingers brushed against his.
“Thanks,” she mumbled, her face flushing as she grabbed the notebook.
Smith’s gaze was intense, and for a moment, she thought she saw something—something beyond the aloof exterior he always wore. But just as quickly, his expression hardened, and he went back to his book without another word.
Mint hurried out of the library, her mind racing. What was that? Why had her heart skipped a beat just from his touch?
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That night, as she lay in bed, staring at the cracked ceiling of her small bedroom, Mint couldn’t stop thinking about the day. The cruelty, the whispers, and then… Smith. Something about him made her uneasy, but at the same time, she couldn’t shake the strange connection she’d felt, brief as it was.
Her mother, the one constant in her life, knocked gently on the door. “Mint, how was your first day?”
Mint forced a smile. “It was… okay.”
Her mother’s worried eyes softened. “You’ll be fine. I know it’s hard, but you’ve always been strong. Just remember why you’re there. You worked hard for this.”
“I know, Mom,” Mint whispered, turning to the side to hide the tears that stung her eyes.
Her mother had no idea what it was really like—what it felt like to be an outsider, to constantly feel like you were on the verge of drowning in a sea of judgment and cruelty. But Mint had learned long ago to keep those feelings to herself.
Her mother never talked about Mint’s father, never explained why he wasn’t in their lives, and Mint had learned not to ask. There were some questions that would never have answers, and this was one of them.
As Mint drifted off to sleep, one thought lingered in her mind.
Smith.
There was something about him, something she couldn’t quite put her finger on. And she had a feeling her life was about to change in ways she could never have imagined.
