Chapter 2: First Impressions

By the end of the day, I'd figured out one thing about Ridgeview High it wasn't all that different from my old school.

Sure, the faces were new, the teachers a little stricter, but the same cliques ruled the hallways. There were the jocks, the drama kids, the nerds, and everyone in between. The only difference was, I was still figuring out where I fit.

But if today was any sign, I was starting to find my way.

Jack seemed to know everyone, Maya wasn't as scary as she let on, and Ethan… well, Ethan was something else.

I still couldn't quite put my finger on what it was about him. He was easy to talk to, which was rare for me. I wasn't exactly the shy type, but making new friends wasn't my strong suit either. Yet with Ethan, it didn't feel like I had to try. Conversation flowed easily between us, like we'd been doing this for years.

After my last class, I found myself lingering near the lockers, checking my phone while waiting for Jack and Ethan.

We'd planned to hang out after school, something about checking out the drama club's set for the upcoming play.

I wasn't sure what I was getting into, but I figured it was better than heading home to unpack boxes.

Just as I was about to text Jack, I heard a familiar voice behind me. "Liam, right?"

I turned around to see Ethan walking up, adjusting the strap of his backpack.

He had that same relaxed smile on his face that I'd seen at lunch, and for some reason, it made me feel like I could breathe a little easier.

"Yeah," I said, pocketing my phone.

"You heading to the drama room?"

"Yep," he nodded, falling into step beside me. "Jack's probably already there, making a mess of things. He likes to think he's in charge, even though Maya pretty much runs the show."

I laughed. "Yeah, I got that vibe. She doesn't mess around."

"Nope, not at all," Ethan grinned. "But that's what makes her good at it. She's been stage manager for the past two years. Keeps everyone in line."

As we walked, the conversation drifted into easy topics favorite movies, what classes sucked, the usual small talk.

I learned Ethan was into photography, something he picked up during his sophomore year.

He told me about how he liked capturing candid moments, people when they didn't know they were being watched.

"It's kind of like acting," he explained as we reached the drama room.

"But instead of being in front of the camera, you're behind it. You get to tell the story through someone else."

I raised an eyebrow. "Never thought of it that way."

Ethan shrugged, pushing open the door. "Most people don't."

Inside the drama room, it was exactly the chaotic mess I imagined it would be.

Props were scattered everywhere, half-finished set pieces leaning against the walls, and a group of students buzzing around, working on different tasks.

Jack was in the middle of it all, directing people like he was born for it.

"There you are!" Jack called out when he spotted us. "Come on, we've got work to do."

I shot Ethan a look. "What exactly did I sign up for?"

He laughed. "Just go with it."

For the next hour, I found myself roped into helping with everything from painting set pieces to moving heavy boxes filled with costumes. Jack barked orders, Maya kept everyone on task, and Ethan… well, Ethan just kept me sane.

We joked around as we worked, making the whole thing feel less like a chore and more like hanging out with friends.

At some point, we took a break, sitting on the edge of the stage while Maya and Jack argued over some detail about the lighting.

"So, how's your first day going?" Ethan asked, nudging me with his elbow.

"Not too bad," I replied, leaning back on my hands. "Definitely better than I expected."

"I get that," Ethan said, his eyes drifting to the chaos around us. "When I first started here, I thought I'd never fit in. But then I joined drama, and, well, here we are."

I glanced at him. "You don't seem like the type to struggle with fitting in."

Ethan laughed, a soft sound that made me smile. "I'm good at pretending. You'll get used to it, especially if you stick around this group."

There was something in the way he said it light, but with a hint of something deeper.

I wanted to ask more, but Jack interrupted, calling us over to help with another task.

As the afternoon wore on, I felt a sense of ease settle over me.

It wasn't just the fact that I was making friends it was the way I was starting to feel like I belonged here.

Jack was loud, Maya was intense, and Ethan… Ethan was something else entirely. But somehow, this mismatched group made sense.

When we finally wrapped up for the day, we all stood outside the drama room, making plans for tomorrow's rehearsal.

"You coming back?" Jack asked, slinging his backpack over his shoulder.

I nodded. "Yeah, I'll be here."

"Good," Maya said, giving me a small smile. "We need the extra hands."

Ethan walked beside me as we headed toward the parking lot, the setting sun casting long shadows across the school grounds.

We didn't say much, but it wasn't an awkward silence. It was comfortable, like we didn't need to fill the space with words.

"See you tomorrow?" Ethan asked as we reached the lot.

"Yeah," I said, feeling an odd sense of anticipation for the next day. "See you."

As I got into my car, I couldn't help but think about Ethan again. He was different from Jack and Maya quieter, but in a way that drew you in.

There was something about him that made me want to know more, something I couldn't quite figure out yet.

And for the first time in a long time, I found myself looking forward to tomorrow.