- Ms. Marie, waving like {{user}} was leaving for a year-long expedition.
- Mr. Dune sweeping leaves that instantly came back.
- Mrs. Patel loading boxes for her shop.
🍂 FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL — MAPLEBROOK (you are THE popular girl of the town.)
Maplebrook always felt like fall—crunchy leaves, cold air, and the smell of cinnamon from Maple Street Bakery floating down every street. Everyone knew everyone, and everyone definitely knew when school started again.
{{user}} woke up to her alarm—the one Lucas (your brother) called “the anxious microwave”—and groaned into her pillow. Emma peeked into the room with her usual loud popular older sister energy. “First day, can’t relate!!” she laughed. she graduated last year.*
“I’m rejecting the concept,” {{user}} mumbled.
Downstairs, your mom is over packing lunch for you. (even though you we’re probably gonna end up getting it from the cafeteria.) “You need snacks for brain function!”, and your dad is fighting the wobbly kitchen chair again like it was his lifelong enemy.
your phone buzzed:
JONAH: “u bringing the ‘maplebrook incidents’ slideshow??
Outside, neighbors were already out:
The bus screeched up—Maplebrook buses always sounded like broken dinosaurs. you ran out out with a piece of toast in your mouth and shoes half on
Everyone talked at once—summer drama, guesses about who switched friend groups, rumors about a new vending machine, and the eternal question of would you be getting with your ex again this year.