Kiara woke up with a loud, tiring yawn, rubbing her eyes gently, then adjusting to the sun's rays that slipped through the curtains. She gently brushed back her long, messy hair, frantically scattered all over her face, and removed the strands that ended up in her mouth. She stretched out her hand to access the glasses placed on the fancy cupboard close to her. She wanted to check if her alarm was broken, wondering why it had failed to wake her up. Kiara had dozed off while reviewing her class presentation and had forgotten to set the alarm before going to bed last night.
"Oh my goodness!" she shouted the moment her eyes landed on the clock. "I'm late, and I'm so dead. How could I have overslept on a morning like this?"
She hurriedly made her way to the bathroom to quickly get ready. Kiara was a senior in high school, and she was determined to make her nanny proud by giving it her all.
Kiara rushed through her morning routine. She quickly brushed her teeth, took a quick shower, and began dressing for school.
She put on her blazer, and it sat neatly over her freshly ironed white shirt. Her pleated skirt fell in smooth folds just above her knees, creating a refined appearance. She wore long white socks with a delicate design, which peeked out above her shiny black loafers.
She added her school tie, securing it with a neat knot, pushed her glasses up, added a quick dab of perfume, and a little touch-up of lip gloss. She grabbed her bag and hurried downstairs.
"Kiara, breakfast is ready!" her aunt shouted from the kitchen.
"No, Aunt, I'm really late. I'll eat something at the school cafeteria— I promise," Kiara replied
"Kiara, come have breakfast. Even if it's just a little, eat something. With the way you're rushing, I doubt you'll have time for the cafeteria," her nanny's voice echoed from upstairs.
Kiara would never dare to argue, so she quickly downed a glass of orange juice and devoured a slice of bread.
Then, she quickly hugged her nanny goodbye and rushed out the door.
As she arrived at school, she saw her group members waiting outside for her.
"We were so worried, Kiara!" Rachel exclaimed. "You're up next. We've done our parts, so you're the only one left. Mr. Charles shifted you to last," she explained.
Kiara apologized for being late since she was the group leader and had to do most of the presentation. "I'm really grateful Mr. Charles is still willing to give me a chance. Come on, guys, let's hurry."
Kiara's POV
"Good morning, Mr. Charles. I'm really sorry I'm late," I said, feeling embarrassed.
"Miss Anderson, do you know what time it is? You were supposed to be third, but I shifted you to last because you were nowhere to be found," he said.
"Sorry, sir. I'll begin now," I said.
With a deep breath, I began our presentation, composing myself. I was determined to impress, especially since Kelvin was in the audience—my crush—whom I was trying to impress. I gave a perfect presentation, my confidence growing with each passing minute. The whole class's eyes were on me, except for Kelvin, who seemed uninterested. His eyes wandered off, like his mind was already somewhere else.
My heart sank, my eyes drifting back to him, hoping to catch his eye.
But he didn't seem to notice.
I forced myself to focus on the rest of the class. The next time I glanced at Kelvin, however, he was watching me.
My heart skipped a beat, and my pulse raced, but I kept my cool, completing the presentation with ease and confidence. I noticed his eyes stayed fixed on me, making my heart race even faster.
As I finished my presentation, the whole class responded with thunderous applause.
"Great job, Kiara!" Mr. Charles said, giving me a thumbs-up.
After he left the classroom, Rachel and Eric rushed toward me, their faces radiating excitement.
"Kiara, you were amazing!"
Rachel's face lit up with a stunning smile as she walked toward me. Rachel's eyes were a rich, chocolate brown that shone brightly beneath her thick lashes. Her bangs swept elegantly across her forehead, framing her face. Her petite build and hourglass shape gave her a beautifully feminine figure. Her dark hair, which reached her shoulders, framed her face beautifully, and her smooth skin had a warm, sun-kissed glow.
"You're so smart and talented! I'm not surprised you nailed it," she said as she squeezed me in a bear hug, her long, dark hair brushing against my face.
Eric joined in, his gray eyes shining with admiration. He had golden, wavy locks, an athletic physique, and an impressive height of 6'0". With a bright, cheerful smile that showcased his beautifully aligned teeth and adorable dimples, girls in our class couldn't help but swoon over his handsome features and charming personality.
"Yeah, Kiara, you totally rocked it!" He flashed me his signature smile, and we shared a warm hug.
As we hugged, I felt grateful for our friendship. Rachel and I had been inseparable since third grade, sharing every secret, dream, and adventure together. Rachel was more than a best friend—she was my sister in every way that mattered. And Eric, who had become a close friend since eighth grade, had always been there for me, supporting me, encouraging me, and having my back no matter what.
Their friendship meant the world to me. We had formed an unshakable trio. With their love and support, everything felt possible, and my heart felt full and content.