Progress stood at the window of his new bedroom, staring out at the unfamiliar streets of Beacon Hills. He had just turned 16, and his parents had decided to move here for his father's job. Progress wasn't thrilled about the idea of starting fresh in a new town. He was used to being the quiet, bookish kid in school, always keeping to himself due to his frail health.
As he gazed out the window, his eyes squinted slightly, a habit he'd developed due to his poor eyesight. He wore thick, black-framed glasses perched on the end of his nose, and even with corrective lenses, he struggled to see distant objects clearly.
Progress's health had always been a concern. He suffered from chronic asthma, which made physical activities challenging for him. His parents were always on his case about taking his medication and avoiding triggers. Despite his best efforts, he often found himself short of breath, especially during exertion.
As he turned away from the window, his eyes landed on the boxes still unpacked in his room. He sighed, feeling a bit overwhelmed. His parents had been busy unpacking the essentials, but there was still a lot to do. Progress's mind wandered to the upcoming school year. He would be starting at Beacon Hills High, and the thought made his stomach twist with anxiety.
How would the other kids treat him? Would they tease him for his glasses or his weakness? His's thoughts were interrupted as the doorbell rang. His mother called out, "Progress, we're getting some visitors! Our neighbors are here to welcome us."
Progress's heart skipped a beat as he heard the sound of laughter and chatter coming from downstairs. He smoothed out his hair and made his way to the living room, where his parents were chatting with a friendly-looking couple and a girl about his age.
The girl caught his eye immediately. She had long, dark hair and bright, piercing green eyes that sparkled as she smiled. Progress felt his heart flutter, and he couldn't help but stare.
"Progress, this is the Rodriguez family," his mother said, smiling. "They live next door. And this is their daughter, Talia."
Progress's face grew warm as he extended his hand, trying to play it cool. "Hi, Talia. Nice to meet you."
Talia's handshake was firm, and her smile was warm. "Welcome to Beacon Hills, Progress. We're glad to have you here."
As the adults chatted, Progress found himself drawn to Talia's infectious energy. They talked about everything from school to music to their shared love of books. Progress felt a connection he hadn't experienced in a long time.
As the Rodriguezes prepared to leave, Talia turned to Progress and said, "Hey, want to drive to school together tomorrow? I can show you around."
Progress's heart skipped a beat. "That would be awesome, thanks."
Progress and Talia stood in the foyer, lingering in conversation.
"So, what's Beacon Hills like?" Progress asked, trying to sound casual despite his nervousness.
Talia smiled, her eyes sparkling. "It's a great town. Everyone's really friendly. You'll fit right in."
Progress nodded, feeling a bit shy. "I hope so. I'm not exactly... athletic." He gestured to his glasses and inhaled slowly, his asthma making him self-conscious about physical activities.
Talia's smile softened. "Don't worry. There's more to life than being athletic. I like a good read everynow and then myself too."
Progress's face lit up. "Really? What kind of books do you like?"
As they talked, Progress found himself getting more and more comfortable around Talia. He was surprised by how easy it was to talk to her, how much they had in common. Talia, in turn, found Progress's shyness endearing. She liked the way he blushed when she teased him, the way his eyes lit up when he talked about books.
"I love sci-fi and fantasy," Talia said, her voice animated. "There's something about escaping into another world that I just love."
Progress nodded enthusiastically. "Me too! I've read all the Harry Potter books."
Talia grinned. "Me too! I'm a huge fan of J.K. Rowling."
As they continued to chat, Progress felt his shyness slowly melting away. He was having a great time talking to Talia, and he couldn't wait to see her again tomorrow.
"Hey, I should probably get going," Talia said, glancing at her watch. "But I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"
Progress nodded, feeling a little disappointed that she was leaving but excited for their walk to school the next day. "Yeah, sounds great. Thanks again for showing me around."
Talia smiled and waved goodbye as she followed her parents out the door. Progress watched her go, feeling a warmth in his chest that he hadn't felt in a long time. He couldn't help but wonder if maybe, just maybe, he'd found a kindred spirit in Talia.
The following day.
The next morning, Talia pulled up to Progress's house in her sleek, black Chevrolet. She honked the horn lightly, and Progress grabbed his backpack, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. He hadn't been looking forward to the first day of school in a while, but with Talia by his side, he felt more at ease.
As he walked out the door, Talia smiled and waved from the driver's seat. Progress smiled back, feeling a flutter in his chest. He got into the passenger seat, and Talia greeted him with a cheerful "Good morning!"
"Morning," Progress replied, buckling his seatbelt. "Thanks for picking me up."
Talia shrugged. "No problem. I'm happy to have some company on the way to school."
As they drove off, Progress couldn't help but notice how effortlessly Talia handled the car. She was confident and carefree, and he found himself feeling more and more comfortable around her.
"So, what's the school like?" Progress asked, gazing out the window as they drove through the streets of Beacon Hills.
Talia grinned. "It's pretty great. The teachers are nice, and there's always something going on. You'll like it."
Progress nodded, feeling a bit more optimistic about his new school. With Talia by his side, he was starting to think that maybe this new town wouldn't be so bad after all.
As they approached the school, Progress could see the building looming ahead. He took a deep breath, feeling a mix of emotions. He was excited to start fresh, but he was also nervous about making friends and fitting in.
Talia seemed to sense his unease and reached out to pat his arm. "Hey, don't worry. You'll do great. I'm here to help you out."
Progress smiled, feeling a surge of gratitude towards Talia. Maybe, just maybe, this new school year wouldn't be so daunting after all.As they pulled into the school parking lot, Talia expertly maneuvered her Chevrolet into a parking spot next to a vintage Robin's Egg Blue Jeep CJ5. The Jeep looked like it had seen better days, with faded paint and a few scratches here and there. Progress couldn't help but notice the Jeep's worn-out appearance.
Talia turned off the engine and smiled at Progress. "Hey, don't judge the car by its looks," she said with a chuckle. "The owner of this Jeep is actually really cool. His name is Eli, and he's one of the most laid-back guys you'll ever meet."
Progress raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Really? He doesn't seem like the type to own a car that looks like it's been through a war."
Talia laughed. "Trust me, Eli is nothing like his car. He's actually really smart and funny. I'll introduce you to him sometime, and you'll see what I mean."
Progress's curiosity was piqued, and he found himself looking forward to meeting this Eli character. As they got out of the car, Talia gestured towards the school building. "Shall we head in? We don't want to be late on the first day."
Progress nodded, shouldering his backpack. "Yeah, let's go."
As they walked into the school, Progress was immediately struck by the bustling atmosphere. Students were chatting with friends, lockers were slamming shut, and the sound of laughter filled the air. Talia led the way, navigating through the crowds with ease.
"Hey, let's grab our schedules and head to our lockers," Talia said, nodding towards the bulletin board.
Progress followed Talia, and they pulled out their schedules, studying them intently. As they compared their classes, Progress realized that they had a few classes together, including English and History.
"Looks like we're in luck," Talia said, smiling. "We've got a few classes together. I'll show you where our lockers are."
As they made their way to their lockers, Progress couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. Having Talia by his side made the transition to a new school so much easier. He was starting to feel more confident, more like he belonged.
As they reached their lockers, Progress noticed a group of students staring at him. He felt a surge of nervousness, wondering if he stood out somehow. Talia noticed his gaze and followed it to the group of students.
"Don't mind them," she whispered. "They're just curious about the new kid."
Progress smiled weakly, feeling a bit self-conscious. But Talia's presence seemed to ward off any potential bullies or mean-spirited students. For now, at least, he felt safe.
Just as they were about to head to their first class, Progress heard a voice behind him.
"Well, well, well. Looks like we've got some new blood in town."
Progress turned to see a tall, athletic-looking guy with a charming smile. Talia rolled her eyes good-naturedly.
"Hey, Liam," she said. "Leave him alone. He's still getting settled in."
The guy, Liam, chuckled. "I'm just being friendly, Talia. Don't be so protective."
Liam's eyes seemed to bore into Progress, making him feel like an insect under a microscope. Progress tried to shake off the feeling, telling himself that he was just being paranoid.
"Hey, I'm Liam," the guy said, extending his hand.
Progress took it, feeling a firm handshake. "I'm Progress," he replied, trying to sound confident.
Liam's smile grew wider. "Welcome to Beacon Hills High, Progress. I'm sure you'll fit right in."
Talia intervened, saving Progress from Liam's intense gaze. "We should get going to class, Liam. We don't want to be late."
Liam nodded, but not before giving Progress a once-over. "Yeah, I'll catch you around, Progress. Maybe we can hang out sometime."
Progress forced a smile, feeling a sense of unease. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but there was something about Liam that didn't sit well with him.
As Liam walked away, Talia turned to Progress and whispered, "Don't mind him. He's just trying to make an impression."
Progress raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
Talia leaned in closer. "Liam's a bit of a... complicated guy. He's popular, athletic, and charming, but sometimes he can be a bit too intense."
In gym class, the students were divided into teams for a game of dodgeball. Progress's team was pitted against Liam's, with Talia unfortunately being on Liam's side. As the game began, Progress tried his best to dodge the incoming balls, but it quickly became apparent that he was outmatched.
Liam, on the other hand, was in his element. He was a natural athlete, and his throws were swift and accurate. As the game progressed, Liam started to take out more and more players on the opposing team, trying to impress Talia with his skills.
But in his zeal, Liam didn't seem to notice Progress's vulnerability. One particularly hard-thrown ball hit Progress squarely in the chest, sending him stumbling backward.
Talia rushed over to help Progress, her face furious. "Liam, what the heck? Can't you see he's frail and weak?" she exclaimed, helping Progress to his feet.
Liam looked taken aback, but he quickly regained his composure. "Hey, it's just a game, Talia. Don't be so dramatic."
Talia glared at him. "Just a game? You could've seriously hurt him! Progress, are you okay?"
Progress nodded, still catching his breath. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a bit... winded."
Talia's expression softened, and she helped Progress to the sidelines. "Let's get you out of here. You don't need to be playing this game."
As they walked off the court, Progress couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed. He knew he wasn't exactly the most athletic person, and games like dodgeball only highlighted his weaknesses.
But he was grateful for Talia's support and concern. She was willing to stand up to Liam, even if it meant going against her own teammate. Progress felt a surge of affection for Talia, and he knew that he could count on her to have his back.
After the gym class, Progress headed to the locker room to shower and change. As he was rinsing off, he noticed a group of guys, including Liam, lingering around the showers. At first, he thought they were just waiting for their turn, but as he caught Liam's eye, he sensed something was off.
Liam's gaze seemed to linger on him, and Progress felt a shiver run down his spine. Suddenly, the group of guys moved towards him, their intentions clear. Progress tried to defend himself, but he was no match for the group.
Just as things were about to escalate, a figure appeared out of nowhere, sending the group scattering. A boy with dark brown hair spoke up. "Leave him alone." is voice low and menacing.
Liam furiously turned to see who it was and there he stood, Eli Hale. The captain of the La crosse team, known for his Streangh on and off the pitch.
The group quickly dispersed, with Liam shooting Eli a dirty look before backing down. Eli turned to Progress, who was still shaken.
"You okay?" Eli asked, his expression softening.
Progress nodded, still trying to process what had just happened. "Yeah, thanks to you. I owe you one."
Eli smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "No need to thank me, just be careful around those guys. They're not exactly the friendly type." The two stared at each other with Eli offering to help Progress up.
As they walked out of the locker room, Eli turned to Progress with a friendly smile. "So, I'm Eli Hale."
Progress returned the smile, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. "I'm Progress Flynn. Nice to meet you, Eli. Thanks again for stepping in back there."
Eli chuckled. "No problem, happy to help. Talia's a good friend of mine, and I'd do anything to help out someone she's vouching for."
Progress's eyes lit up with interest. "You and Talia are friends?"
Eli nodded. "Yeah, we've known each other for a while. We're not super close or anything, but we get along well. She's a great person."
Progress smiled, feeling a sense of camaraderie with Eli. "Yeah, I think so too. She's been really helpful since I moved here."
As they continued to chat, Progress found himself feeling more and more at ease around Eli. He was laid-back and easygoing, with a quick wit and a sharp sense of humor.
"So, what do you say I walk you to your next class?" Eli asked, glancing at his watch. "I've got a free period, and I could use some company."
Progress grinned, feeling grateful for the offer. "That sounds great, thanks. I'd love the company."
Together, they walked down the hallway, discussing everything from school to music to their favorite TV shows. Progress felt like he'd known Eli for years, not just minutes. He was excited to see where this new friendship would take him.