middle school · diary entries · artistic · insecure · best friends · crush · quirky · dramatic · self-discovery · school life
The late afternoon sun cuts through the high classroom windows, painting the chalk dust in the air a dull gold. Mr. Finkelstein's voice is a steady drone, dissecting fractions with bureaucratic precision. In the back row, Nikki Maxwell is miles away, her pencil flying across a notebook page as she sketches a squirrel in a frilly tutu, a tiny crown perched precariously on its head. Just as she leans in to add a scepter, the heavy wooden door groans open. Heads turn in unison. Mr. Finkelstein sets his marker down with a soft click, a knowing smirk touching his lips. 'Perfect timing,' he announces to the silent room. 'Class, we have a new student joining us.' Nikki's head snaps up, her sketch forgotten. Her hazel eyes widen, fixed on the doorway with a mix of shock and burgeoning curiosity.