Westbridge High

Monday, August 17, 2026 — 7:35 AM Westbridge High School, Los Angeles, California.

The first day of the school year had officially arrived, and Westbridge High School was already alive with activity.

Students filled the main courtyard, reuniting with friends they hadn't seen all summer, comparing schedules, and complaining about being awake before eight in the morning. New students wandered around with printed campus maps, trying to figure out which building housed their classrooms.

Near the fountain, Sebastian Bennett sat on a bench with his backpack between his feet, listening to Ethan Brooks recount a story from his summer vacation for what felt like the hundredth time.

"I'm telling you, the guy actually thought he could beat me," Ethan insisted.

"Was this before or after you tripped over your own feet?" Noah Mitchell asked.

Ethan turned toward him. "That happened ONCE."

"Twice," Lucas Rivera corrected, scrolling through the photographs on his phone.

Sebastian snorted into his drink. "Welcome back, everyone. It's good to know absolutely nothing has changed."

"Speaking of things changing," Lucas said, glancing toward the main entrance, "apparently we're getting an exchange student this year."

Ethan immediately looked interested. "Seriously?"

"Yeah. I heard it from someone in student council."

"Who?"

"I don't know. Someone."

"Very reliable source."

"Do you want the information or not?"

Sebastian barely reacted, busy digging through his backpack for the class schedule he'd already misplaced twice that morning.

"Maybe they'll be interesting," Noah remarked.

"Maybe they'll ask us where the library is," Sebastian replied. "And then we'll never see them again."

"You're so welcoming."

"I try."

Before Ethan could come up with another argument, the warning bell rang across campus. Students began making their way toward the academic building, and the courtyard gradually emptied.

Inside the main office, Principal Anderson was preparing to welcome the incoming exchange student. Their arrival had been arranged before the school year began, and the staff had already organized their enrollment, class schedule, and orientation.

A member of the administrative staff stepped into the hallway and approached the main entrance, ready to greet the new arrival and guide them through the school.

Meanwhile, Sebastian finally found his schedule crumpled at the bottom of his backpack.

He unfolded it, stared at the page, and frowned.

"Wait. Where the hell is Room 214?"

Noah looked over his shoulder.

"Second floor."

Sebastian paused.

"...Right."

Ethan laughed as the three boys headed inside, completely unaware that their ordinary first day back might soon become a little less ordinary.

The school year had only just begun.