Mark stands at the gates of his old high school, his heart racing as the sounds of the bell ringing echo in the distance. Students rush past him, all eager to get to class, their conversations a blur of excitement and complaints.
Mark (thinking): It's just like I remember. The smell of the cafeteria food. The worn-out pavement. The clatter of locker doors slamming. And yet… it all feels so foreign. I'm not that teenager anymore.
He takes a deep breath and steps inside, still in shock that he's back here—at 16, facing the life he always wished he could change.
Mark (muttering to himself): Alright. Focus. You can do this. This is your second chance. Don't mess it up.
Mark walks through the hallway, trying to blend in. He notices how everything is exactly the same as it was back then. The posters on the walls advertising the school dance. The familiar chatter of students gossiping about the latest
trends. The clattering of lockers being opened and closed.
Mark (thinking): I've got to keep it cool. Can't let anyone know I'm not really 16. That would be… weird. Just pretend like everything's normal. Get through today without blowing it.
As he walks, he spots Jake leaning against a locker, looking like he's already done with the day. His arms are crossed, and he's wearing his usual bored expression.
Jake (smirking): What's up, man? You look like you're about to lose your lunch. First day jitters?
Mark stumbles a bit, caught off guard by Jake's sudden appearance. He forces a
smile.
Mark: Nah, just… remembering how chaotic this place was. Feels like a lifetime ago.
Jake (grinning): Yeah, tell me about it. This place is a circus. But hey, it's the last year. Let's make it count. You with me?
Mark nods, though he's not entirely sure what "making it count" really means. For him, "making it count" means studying, getting into college, and finally achieving the things he didn't back then.
Mark: Yeah. This time, I'm making it count. No more messing around.
Jake (raising an eyebrow): You? Messing around? Never. You were always Mr.
Responsible, even back then. But hey, if you need any tips on how to survive high school, I'm your guy.
Mark (with a nervous chuckle): I think I'm good. This time, I'm going to do things differently. Focus on the right stuff.
Jake (eyeing him suspiciously): Focus? Who are you, and what have you done with my
best friend?
Mark laughs, though his mind is racing. He wants to tell Jake about his second chance, to explain that he's been given the opportunity to start over, but he knows that would only sound insane.
The bell rings, signaling the start of first period. Mark walks into his first class—History. He takes a seat at the back of the room, just like he did all those years ago. The teacher, Mr. Thompson, begins his lecture, but Mark barely
listens. His mind is consumed with the overwhelming reality that he is back, with the chance to change his life.
Mr. Thompson (from the front of the room): Alright, class. Today, we're going to discuss the causes of the Great Depression. Pay attention; this will be on your next test.
Mark tries to focus, but his thoughts keep drifting.
Mark (thinking): If I work hard, if I study every night, I can get into a good college. I'll make my parents proud. I won't let the same mistakes happen again. I'm doing this right. I'm doing it for me.
He glances over at his classmates. The familiar faces. Some of them he barely remembers. Others, like Ellen, sit across the room, laughing with her friends. She catches Mark's gaze for a split second, but then looks away, leaving him
with the same old feeling of longing.
--
Lunchtime arrives, and Mark sits at a corner table, picking at his food. Jake slides into
the seat across from him, grinning like he's already having the time of his life.
Jake (with a mischievous grin): So, what's the plan? We hit the gym after school? Maybe sneak out for a quick trip to the arcade?
Mark forces a smile, but inside, he's not feeling the carefree vibe that Jake exudes. He's thinking about his future, about the grades he needs to get, about how much work it will take to get into college.
Mark: I think I'm going to hit the library after school. Got to catch up on some studying.
Jake (mocking): Studying? Dude, what happened to the Mark I knew? You're going to
hit the books?
Mark shrugs, trying to act casual.
Mark: Yeah, man. I've got goals now. I want to get into a good college. I'm not messing around this time.
Jake stares at him, his expression softening slightly.
Jake: Whoa, alright. You've really got your mind set on this, huh?
Mark (nodding): Yeah. I'm going to do it right this time. No distractions. No more wasting time.
Jake (raising an eyebrow): Alright, dude. I'll respect that. But you better not become one of those "too cool for us" guys.
Markfeels a twinge of guilt. He doesn't want to lose his old friends, but he knows he has to change if he wants a better future. This second chance isn't just about getting perfect grades—it's about doing things the right way. But it's hard, especially when everyone else seems to be having fun, carefree about their future.
Mark: I won't. I'm just… trying to figure things out.
Jake (grinning again): Well, you've got this, man. Just don't let all that "future" talk make you forget how to live in the now. You know, have some fun once in a while.
Mark smiles, though he knows that finding balance is going to be harder than he
thought. He's going to need to study, but he can't ignore the importance of friendship and fun.
The school bell rings, signaling the end of the day. Mark heads straight for the library, determined to start his new routine. As he enters, he's greeted by the scent of old books and the quiet hum of students buried in their studies. He finds a corner table and sits down, pulling out his textbooks.
But as he opens the first page, something catches his eye. It's a picture of his senior class. Ellen is smiling, surrounded by her friends. Mark stares at her for a moment before shaking his head and refocusing on his work.
Mark (thinking): I've got to stay focused. One step at a time. The future's not going to wait for me to figure it out.
---
End of Chapter 2