The brave gifteds

Elaine strolled down the corridor of her new school, her eyes scanning the unfamiliar surroundings. The faint buzz of students chatting filled the air, but it was all background noise until her gaze landed on a figure she thought she recognized. A double-take confirmed it: standing by the lockers was Amanda, her old friend.

"Amanda?" Elaine called out, her voice a mix of surprise and delight.

Amanda turned, her face lighting up when she saw Elaine. "Elaine! What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing!" Elaine said with a laugh, walking over. "Weren't you supposed to go to that fancy academy?"

Amanda shrugged, a playful glint in her eye. "Change of plans. Life's full of surprises, right?"

As they caught up, the conversation took a curious turn.

"So," Elaine said, leaning closer, "what's new with you? Any juicy gossip?"

Amanda hesitated, then grinned. "Actually, I've got a boyfriend now."

Elaine's jaw dropped. "You? A boyfriend? Spill! Who is he?"

Amanda smirked, shaking her head. "Not so fast. It's a surprise. But don't worry—I'll introduce you at lunch."

"Ugh, you're killing me with the suspense!" Elaine teased, though she couldn't help but laugh.

They talked for a while longer, catching up on everything from their summer adventures to their first impressions of the new school. Finally, the bell rang, signaling it was time to head to class.

"Catch you later, Elaine!" Amanda called, already blending into the bustling crowd.

"You bet!" Elaine replied, her curiosity about Amanda's mysterious boyfriend growing with every step she took.

After parting ways with Amanda, Elaine continued down the hallway, clutching her orientation papers tightly. It was her first day, and everything felt overwhelming—new faces, new rules, and a schedule she still couldn't make sense of.

She eventually found the admissions office, where a friendly secretary greeted her. "Elaine Harper, right? Welcome to Brookfield High. Here's your locker assignment and schedule." She handed Elaine a slip of paper. "Your homeroom teacher will guide you through the rest. Good luck!"

Elaine nodded, muttering a quiet thank-you before heading off to find her locker. It took her a few tries to figure out the combination, but when she finally managed to open it, she let out a sigh of relief. Small victories, she thought.

Homeroom was a whirlwind of introductions and paperwork. Elaine filled out forms, learned about school policies, and got a tour of the campus from a student ambassador. By the time she finished, her head was spinning.

"Alright, Elaine," the homeroom teacher said, glancing at her schedule, "your first class is Art. Room 214. Mrs. Carter is one of the best—you'll love her."

Elaine nodded, clutching her books as she made her way to the art room. The walls of Room 214 were covered with colorful student projects—paintings, sketches, and sculptures. The smell of paint and clay filled the air, and Elaine felt a spark of excitement.

"You must be Elaine," Mrs. Carter said with a warm smile as she approached. She was a tall woman with paint-streaked hands and kind eyes. "Welcome to Art Class. Grab a seat anywhere for now. We're working on a collaborative project today."

Elaine found an empty seat near the middle of the room, glancing at the students around her. Everyone seemed busy sketching or painting on large canvases. She couldn't help but feel a little out of place.

"Don't worry," Mrs. Carter said, noticing her hesitation. "You'll catch up in no time. Art is about expressing yourself, not perfection."

As Elaine began to unpack her materials, she couldn't help but think about Amanda's mysterious boyfriend. Lunch couldn't come soon enough—she needed answers.

When the lunch bell rang, Elaine quickly packed her things and headed to the cafeteria, her curiosity bubbling over. Scanning the room, she spotted Amanda standing near the entrance, waving enthusiastically. Elaine didn't hesitate—she rushed over, eager to see her friend again.

"There you are!" Amanda said, grinning. "Ready to meet him?"

"Absolutely," Elaine replied, trying to sound casual, though a part of her was bracing for whatever surprise Amanda had in store.

Amanda led the way through the crowded cafeteria. "He's sitting over there," she said, nodding toward a table in the corner. Elaine followed her gaze and immediately froze when she saw who was sitting there.

It was Felix.

Elaine's heart skipped a beat. She knew Felix well—he was Amanda's childhood crush, the guy she had always talked about with stars in her eyes. Elaine hadn't expected to meet him today, let alone see him sitting here, with Amanda casually walking toward him like it was nothing.

Amanda's voice pulled her back to reality. "Felix, this is Elaine—Elaine, this is my boyfriend, Felix."

Elaine blinked, her mind spinning. "Your boyfriend?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady, though she felt like everything was suddenly moving in slow motion.

Felix looked up from his lunch, flashing a charming smile. "Hey, Elaine," he said warmly. "Nice to finally meet you. Amanda talks about you all the time."

Elaine tried to mask her surprise, her heart still racing. "Hi, Felix," she managed to say, feeling a knot tighten in her stomach. She had always thought Felix was cute, but this? This was too much.

Amanda beamed, taking a seat next to Felix. "We've been hanging out a lot lately," she said, her voice filled with a quiet pride. "And now I get to introduce him to my best friend!"

Elaine sat down beside them, trying to adjust to the new dynamic. As the conversation continued, she couldn't help but notice the way Amanda and Felix laughed together, how comfortable they were with each other. It was clear how much they liked each other, but the feeling in Elaine's chest was still a bit unsettling.

"So, how's your first day been so far?" Felix asked, glancing at Elaine.

"It's been... good," Elaine replied, forcing a smile. "A little overwhelming, but I'm adjusting."

"You'll get used to it," Amanda added, nudging Felix playfully. "And I'm sure we'll all hang out more soon. Right, Felix?"

"Definitely," he said, looking at Amanda with a soft smile.

As Elaine, Amanda, and Felix settled at the table, the lunchroom continued to buzz with chatter. Just as Elaine was trying to digest the reality of Amanda and Felix's relationship, a new voice cut through the noise.

"Hey, Amanda! Felix!"

The three of them turned to see a tall guy with messy brown hair and a confident grin walking over. His clothes were casual but stylish, and he seemed completely at ease as he approached their table.

"Eugene!" Amanda greeted him with a wide smile, standing up to give him a quick hug. Felix chuckled, clearly comfortable with this new addition to their circle.

"How's it going?" Felix asked Eugene, who casually dropped into a seat beside him.

"Good, good. Just got out of a boring class." Eugene shrugged before turning to Elaine with a playful smile. "Hey there. I don't think we've met. I'm Eugene."

Elaine blinked, still trying to process everything. Eugene's casual demeanor and charm were disarming, and it took her a second to compose herself. As he flashed a smile at her, a faint hint of flirtation in his tone, Elaine raised an eyebrow and gave him a cold stare. She wasn't in the mood for games.

Noticing the tension, Eugene's grin faltered. "Oops, sorry about that. Didn't mean to come on too strong."

Amanda stepped in, laughing lightly. "Relax, Eugene. Elaine's just a little... blunt sometimes. Right, Elaine?"

Elaine gave her a pointed look before reluctantly turning back to Eugene. "Hi, Eugene."

Eugene's smile returned, though it was a little sheepish. "Eugene. That's a bit more like it," he said with a grin, scratching the back of his head.

Elaine couldn't help but laugh at his awkwardness. "Amanda had already introduced you," she said dryly, her voice teasing.

Eugene's face turned slightly pink as he laughed nervously. "Ah, right. Forgot about that part," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.

Amanda grinned at Eugene's embarrassment before looking at Elaine with a playful smirk. "Don't be so hard on him. He's harmless... most of the time."

They spent the rest of the lunch break chatting, getting to know each other a little better. Elaine found herself warming up to Eugene's easygoing nature, even if he did have a tendency to flirt a bit too much. Felix and Amanda kept the conversation light, but it was clear they were comfortable with each other, and Elaine couldn't help but feel a little left out at times.

As the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch, the group stood up, gathering their things.

"Well, this was fun," Amanda said, her arm around Felix. "We'll catch up again later, Elaine."

"Yeah," Elaine said with a smile, "I'll see you around."

"Later, Elaine," Eugene said with a wink. "Maybe next time we'll get to know each other better."

Elaine rolled her eyes playfully, but it was clear she wasn't entirely bothered. "See you around, Eugene."

With a final wave, Amanda and Felix left the cafeteria, and Elaine watched them go, her mind still spinning from everything that had just happened. Eugene was a little much, but at least he was interesting. She wasn't sure what to make of him, but there was time for that later. For now, she had the rest of the day to navigate.Elaine made her way to her next class, still processing the whirlwind lunch break. Eugene's playful attitude kept replaying in her mind, and she couldn't quite decide how she felt about him. Was he harmless, or was he just being a flirt? She wasn't sure, but she figured she'd find out soon enough.

As she entered her next class, she scanned the room for an empty seat. The teacher wasn't there yet, and most students were already chatting in small groups. Elaine moved toward the back of the classroom when, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a familiar face.

It was Eugene.

Her eyes widened, and her steps faltered for a moment. Of all the classes, she had to end up in the same one as him? He was sitting at a desk near the middle of the room, his backpack tossed on the floor next to him as he casually chatted with a couple of students.

Elaine hesitated at the door, debating whether to turn around and try to find another seat. But before she could make up her mind, Eugene spotted her.

"Well, well. Looks like we're classmates, too," Eugene said with a grin, clearly amused. He waved at her, motioning to the empty seat next to him. "Don't tell me you're already avoiding me."

Elaine shot him a look but decided it would be easier to just sit down than to make a scene. With a sigh, she walked over and dropped her things onto the desk beside his.

"Guess I don't have much of a choice now, do I?" she replied dryly, sitting down.

Eugene chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Hey, don't worry. I'll keep it cool this time," he said, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "No more flirting, I promise. For now, anyway."

Elaine raised an eyebrow, but before she could respond, the teacher walked in, signaling the start of class. The room quieted as everyone took their seats.

Eugene leaned over and whispered, "Looks like we're stuck in silence for now. But hey, we'll talk more later."

Elaine shook her head, unable to suppress a small smile at his antics. As much as she found Eugene a bit much, she couldn't deny that he was interesting. But for now, class was about to begin, and she'd have to focus on surviving the rest of the day.

The rest of the school day went by in a blur of introductions, activities, and hurried note-taking. Elaine tried her best to keep up, though her thoughts occasionally drifted to Amanda, Felix, and, unexpectedly, Eugene. He had kept to his word during class, staying relatively quiet aside from a few whispered jokes that somehow managed to get a smirk out of her.

By the time the final bell rang, Elaine felt a wave of relief wash over her. The day had been overwhelming, but she'd made it through. Students flooded the hallways, chatting and gathering their things as they headed home. Elaine packed her bag, eager to get back and process everything.

As she exited the classroom, she was startled to see Eugene leaning casually against the wall, waiting for her.

"Survived your first day, huh?" he said with a grin, pushing off the wall to walk beside her.

Elaine rolled her eyes. "Barely. It's been a lot."

"Yeah, first days can be like that," Eugene said, his tone light. "But hey, you didn't seem too lost. That's a win."

Elaine glanced at him, trying to figure out his angle. "Do you wait for everyone after class, or am I just lucky?" she asked, her voice tinged with sarcasm.

Eugene laughed. "Only the interesting ones," he replied, flashing her a teasing smile.

Elaine sighed, shaking her head as they stepped outside. The afternoon sun bathed the school grounds in a warm glow, and the crowd of students began to thin as buses pulled away and others walked home in groups.

"Well, this is me," Elaine said, motioning toward the path that led to her house. "Thanks for... whatever this was."

Eugene smirked. "Anytime. See you tomorrow, Elaine."

She watched him walk away, joining a group of friends who greeted him with shouts and laughter. Elaine turned back toward her own path, her thoughts swirling. Eugene was... something. She wasn't quite sure what to make of him yet, but she had a feeling she hadn't seen the last of his antics.

As she walked home, the events of the day replayed in her mind—Amanda's surprising presence, Felix, and now Eugene. Brookfield High was already proving to be more eventful than she'd anticipated, and it was only her first day.

Elaine unlocked the front door and stepped into the quiet house, the faint smell of cleaning supplies wafting through the air. Their maid, Lisa, was busy dusting the living room, humming softly to herself. She looked up when she saw Elaine.

"Welcome back, Miss Elaine," Lisa said warmly, pausing her work. "How was your first day at the new school?"

"It was... okay," Elaine replied, setting her bag down near the stairs. "Where are Mom and Dad?"

Lisa sighed, resuming her cleaning. "They're not back yet. Your mom called earlier and said they'd be late. Probably working on another big project."

Elaine muttered under her breath, "Always busy," and started up the stairs, her footsteps slow and deliberate.

Her room was exactly as she'd left it—tidy, quiet, and full of her favorite things, but it felt a little empty tonight. She tossed her bag onto the chair by her desk and grabbed a fresh change of clothes before heading to the bathroom. The warm shower was a welcome relief after such an exhausting day.

By the time she came back downstairs, her damp hair tied into a loose bun, Lisa had already set the table with her meal. It wasn't elaborate, just something simple, but Elaine appreciated it.

"Thanks, Lisa," she said as she sat down, picking at her food while her mind wandered back to everything that had happened today. Amanda, Felix, Eugene—they all seemed larger than life compared to the quiet routine she'd grown used to at home.

After finishing her meal, Elaine carried her plate to the sink and rinsed it off before retreating to her room again. She grabbed her textbooks and sat at her desk, trying to focus on the assignments she'd been given. But her thoughts kept drifting.

Her parents' absence wasn't unusual—they often worked late or stayed overnight at hotels when business demanded it. She was used to it, but that didn't mean it didn't bother her. Sometimes, the house felt more like a stopover than a home.

Still, she shrugged off the feeling and forced herself to concentrate. School had been a lot, but she'd gotten through it, and tomorrow was a new day. With a sigh, Elaine turned the page of her textbook, letting herself get lost in the words, if only for a little while.