Grant Elementary, Five Years Later
7:50 a.m. Isla's Point of View The morning sun was already warming the streets of Chicago as Isla and her little brother, Marcus, walked down the sidewalk toward Grant Elementary. Isla, now 10, was still in the same class as her best friend, Sade, though a lot had changed since kindergarten. For one, they weren’t the only ones walking to school anymore. Madison, now 12, had joined them, though she always seemed to be in a hurry to get to school before Isla and Sade, usually striding ahead with her pre-teen confidence. Marcus, at only six, walked alongside Isla, his tiny Iron Man backpack bouncing up and down with each step. He was just starting at Grant this year, and though he was excited, Isla could tell he was also nervous. He clung close to her side, occasionally looking up and asking, “Do you think my teacher’s nice? What if I forget where the bathroom is?” “Don’t worry, Marcus,” Isla said, her voice soft and reassuring. “Your teacher will be great, and if you need anything, just ask her or one of your classmates. You’ll be fine.” Sade walked next to them, adjusting her shirt as they neared the school. Isla knew exactly what she was fidgeting with—her new bra. Sade had confided in her last week that she’d just started wearing one, and she hated it. She felt embarrassed, like she was the only one in their grade who needed one already. “I still feel like this thing is sticking out, or something,” Sade muttered under her breath, tugging at her shirt. Madison, walking a few steps ahead, turned her head with an eye roll. “Sade, it’s fine. You’re making a big deal out of nothing.” Isla smiled and tried to reassure her. “Really, Sade, it looks fine. No one’s even gonna notice.” “I notice,” Sade mumbled. “You’ll get used to it,” Madison said matter-of-factly. “I mean, I just got mine too, and it’s not like the whole world is staring at me or something.” She turned back around, striding ahead confidently. As they reached the school gates, Marcus grabbed Isla’s hand. “You’re gonna take me to my class, right?” he asked, looking up at her with wide eyes. “Of course, buddy,” Isla said, giving his hand a little squeeze. “Let’s go.” She led him inside the school while Sade and Madison waited near the hallway entrance. Marcus held onto her hand tightly as they navigated through the bustling corridors of Grant Elementary. When they reached his classroom, Isla crouched down to his level. “Okay, this is it,” she said, giving him a warm smile. “Your teacher’s name is Ms. Taylor. See? Her name is right there on the door.” She pointed to the sign. Marcus nodded nervously. “What if I don’t know where to sit?” “Ms. Taylor will help you,” Isla said. “Just go in, say good morning, and tell her your name. You’ve got this.” Marcus hesitated for a moment before nodding again. “Okay.” “Have a great day, little man,” Isla said, giving him a quick hug before he stepped inside. She watched as Ms. Taylor greeted him with a kind smile and helped him find his seat. Feeling relieved, Isla hurried back to join Sade and Madison. When they stepped into their own classroom, Isla couldn’t help but notice Marco sitting near the back of the room. He was the new kid from New York, and he already had a reputation for being a bit of a troublemaker. Marco had three sisters, a brother, his mom, and his grandma. Isla had overheard Sade saying that his dad had passed away earlier that year during a robbery. Marco caught sight of Sade as they passed, and without missing a beat, he reached out and gave one of her braids a playful tug. “Ow! Marco!” Sade spun around, glaring at him. He just laughed, leaning back in his chair like he hadn’t done anything wrong. Isla raised an eyebrow, watching the exchange. She thought Marco was kind of cute—he had a mischievous grin and bright brown eyes—but she wasn’t sure what to make of him. He was a little short and skinny, but there was something about him that made her curious. Sade, on the other hand, was not amused. “He’s such a punk,” she muttered as they took their seats. “Why don’t you just ignore him?” Isla suggested, glancing over at Marco, who was now chatting with a group of boys nearby. “Easier said than done,” Sade replied, crossing her arms. “He’s always messing with me. Yesterday, he popped my bra strap during recess. I swear, he’s trying to get on my nerves.” Isla smirked. “He probably just likes you.” “Yeah, right.” Sade rolled her eyes. “If that’s how he shows it, I definitely don’t like him back.” Isla chuckled. “Well, at least he notices you. That’s more than I can say.” Sade shook her head, a faint grin tugging at her lips. “Whatever. He’s still a punk.” As the morning went on, Isla couldn’t help but glance at Marco every now and then. He was loud and full of energy, but there was something about him that made her think he wasn’t as bad as he seemed. Sade, however, clearly had no patience for him—and Isla couldn’t wait to see how this dynamic played outSpring Break Adventures in FloridaThe Florida sun was high, and the laughter of tourists filled the air as Sade walked down Main Street in Magic Kingdom with Isla, Madison, Eric, Marcus, and her parents. The energy was electric, but Sade’s focus wasn’t entirely on the magic of Disney—it was on her phone.Every few minutes, her screen lit up with a new notification:Marco:“Look at this meme. Doesn’t this remind you of Dre? 😂”Sade:“STOPPPP! Why is this so accurate? 😂”Then another from Tamara:Tamara:“Girl, tell me why Dre asked me if you’re mad at him. You know you’re gonna have to deal with him when you get back.”And, of course, Dre himself:Dre:“I miss you, babes. How’s Florida? When you coming back?”Sade’s fingers flew across the screen, juggling between group chats, GIF wars with Marco, and polite responses to Dre. She barely noticed where she was walking until Isla elbowed her.“Can you put that down for five seconds?” Isla snapped.Sade blinked, startled. “Huh? Oh, sorr
A Second ChanceAnonymous POV Sade adjusted her water bottle in one hand and her gym shoes in the other, closing her locker with a soft click. Turning to head to the gym, she froze. Marco was standing directly in front of her, so close she could see the flecks of brown in his dark eyes.She blinked twice, confused. “Hey…what’s up?”For a moment, he didn’t say anything. His gaze locked on hers, a mix of determination and nervousness in his expression. Then, without warning, Marco reached out, cupped her face in his hands, and kissed her.It wasn’t like the kiss before winter break—it was deeper, more deliberate, filled with emotion that caught Sade completely off guard. Her gym shoes tumbled to the ground as her free hand shot up, grabbing his wrist in shock.When he finally pulled away, her wide eyes met his. The hallway felt impossibly quiet, except for the soft murmurs of a few scattered students nearby who had witnessed the scene.“What was that?” she demanded, her voice hushed bu
A Week Before Spring Break March Sade’s POV The cafeteria hummed with noise, a mixture of laughter, clattering trays, and the chatter of spring break plans. Sade stirred her mashed potatoes absentmindedly, her mind racing with excitement for the Florida trip. Universal Studios, Disney World, and a whole week of freedom sounded like heaven. Even better, Isla and Marcus were coming along—it was shaping up to be the best trip ever. Sade’s thoughts were interrupted when Isla slid into the seat beside her, practically bouncing with excitement. “Girl, one more week!” Isla said, grinning. “I know! I’m counting down the days,” Sade replied, her mood instantly lifting. As they chatted about their packing lists, Tamara and Star made their usual dramatic entrance. Tamara dumped her tray onto the table and flopped into a seat with a sigh. “This school is trash, and so is this food. I swear this chicken looks like it came out of the damn dumpster.” “Tamara,” Sade said, laughing. “You say t
December 10:15 pm of Date NightSade POVThe front door creaked open just as Dre and Paul were stepping out onto the porch, their jackets zipped up against the cold night air. Sade’s parents walked in, their arms full of shopping bags, the faint smell of snow and city air following them inside.“Hey, Mom! Hey, Dad!” Sade called out, rushing over to help her mom with some of the bags.“Hey, sweetie,” her mom replied with a warm smile, handing her a couple of bags. “Did you guys have fun today?”“Yeah, we went ice skating and hung out at the mall,” Sade said, glancing back at Dre and Paul. “Dre and Paul are just heading out.”Dre gave a polite wave. “Nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Thompson. Thanks for letting us hang out here for a bit.”Paul nodded in agreement. “Yeah, we had a great time. Thanks for having us.”Sade’s dad gave them a nod as he stepped inside, shaking the snow off his coat. “Good meeting you boys. Get home safe, all right?”“Will do, sir,” Dre said, flashing a grin.
Date ContinuedThe laughter and chatter from the family room gradually died down as the group settled in. Sade’s older brother was still lost in his game, barely glancing up from his controller, and Isla was busy flipping through a magazine she’d found on the coffee table. Paul, leaning back in his chair, seemed content with the quiet atmosphere, but Dre looked over at Sade with a playful grin."Hey, Sade," he said, his voice low enough to keep it between the two of them, "can you show me your room?"Sade raised an eyebrow, a mischievous smile tugging at the corner of her lips. She was pretty comfortable around him, but she hadn’t expected this. She didn’t mind, though—it felt natural.“Sure, come on,” she replied, standing up and leading the way. She glanced over her shoulder as she walked, catching Dre’s gaze. Her heart fluttered a little, but she shook it off. It was just Dre. He was her boyfriend, after all.As they walked through the house, Sade showed him around, pointing out th
December Anonymous POV The weekend before Christmas was filled with excitement. The crisp winter air was a welcome change as the group of junior high students gathered at the Magnificent Mile for their “date.” But let’s be real, it wasn’t really a date—it was a group hang, a chance to get away from the regular grind of school and enjoy a bit of holiday cheer. Dre, Sade, Isla, and Paul met up at the mall, ready to dive into the festive spirit.Sade, looking casual but cute in a light sweater and jeans, was walking next to Dre, her hand in his. Dre was all smiles, his hoodie pulled up over his head, clearly enjoying the attention. Isla, in a fitted jacket and leggings, walked next to Paul, her eyes flitting around the crowds of people.As they made their way into the bustling mall, Sade pointed toward the ice skating rink. “So, we’re skating first, right?” she asked with a grin, her eyes bright from excitement.Dre chuckled, the sound light in the air. “Hell yeah, we are. I’ve been lo