CONFLICTED TEEN FICTION

Lucas Walker had always thought of himself as ordinary-brown hair that never stayed in place, a lanky frame that didn't fill out the way he hoped, and a tendency to overthink every little thing. Moving to Willow Springs, a small Australian town surrounded by rolling hills and eucalyptus trees, had been his parents' idea of a "fresh start." Lucas wasn't sure he agreed.

It was his first day at Willow High. The low, red-brick school building sat at the edge of town, its playground lined with gum trees that swayed gently in the breeze. Students milled about in small groups, their laughter and chatter filling the air with a kind of energy Lucas wasn't sure he could match. He adjusted his backpack and took a deep breath before stepping inside.

The hallways were loud and unfamiliar. Lockers slammed shut, voices bounced off the walls, and the distinct smell of school lunch lingered faintly in the air. Lucas clutched the crumpled paper schedule in his hand, scanning for Room 3B. His sneakers squeaked faintly against the tiled floor, each step feeling heavier than the last.

That was when he saw her.

She was standing by a window, sunlight spilling over her chestnut-brown hair, which fell in soft waves around her shoulders. She was laughing at something her friend had said, her smile so radiant it seemed to light up the space around her. Lucas froze mid-step, his heart skipping a beat. He didn't know her name, but there was something about her-her effortless confidence, the way she seemed to belong here-that made his chest tighten.

For a moment, the chaotic hallway noise faded into the background. All he could see was her, framed perfectly by the window, like a scene from a movie.

"Hey, new kid!"

A voice snapped him out of his daze. Lucas turned to see a tall boy with sandy-blonde hair and a rugby jersey grinning at him.

"You lost or what?"

"Uh, yeah. Room 3B?" Lucas mumbled, his ears burning.

The boy pointed down the hall. "Third door on the left. And don't worry, mate. You'll get used to it here."

Lucas nodded his thanks, but as he walked away, he couldn't help but glance back at the girl by the window. She was still laughing, completely unaware of him.

Who was she?

---

Class started uneventfully. The teacher, Mrs. Carmichael, introduced Lucas to the room, and he endured the awkward stares of his new classmates before sliding into a seat at the back. He tried to focus on the lesson-something about Australian history-but his thoughts kept drifting to the girl by the window.

When the lunch bell rang, Lucas grabbed his bag and headed to the cafeteria, hoping to avoid too much attention. But as soon as he stepped inside, his eyes instinctively scanned the room. He spotted her sitting at a table with a group of friends. She was talking animatedly, her hands moving as she spoke, her laugh ringing out above the din of the cafeteria.

Lucas stood frozen for a moment, unsure of what to do. He felt a strange pull, like a magnet drawing him closer. But before he could move, someone clapped him on the back.

"Lucas, right?"

The sandy-haired boy from earlier plopped down next to him at an empty table, setting his tray down with a loud clatter. "I'm Nate. Figured you'd be eating alone, so I thought I'd save you the trouble."

Lucas managed a sheepish smile. "Thanks."