teen angst
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Chapter 3.1: Wednesday After Homecoming
“They can change the locks, don’t let them change your mind” – We The Kings, Check Yes Juliet, 2007. It was now mid-October, days after the homecoming madness that overtook Aspen Brook High. Halloween was on the horizon, and with it, the start of the holiday season, and teachers introducing the concept of midterms and Continue reading
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Chapter 3: Twilight Zone
“Sometimes I just can’t believe you happened.” – Ariana Grande Izzie let out a shaky breath. She hadn’t realized that she had been holding her breath for so long. The feel of Stelly’s soft paw, pawing at her ankle brought her out of yet another flashback. “Yeah, you’re right, Stell,” she smiled and scooped up Continue reading
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Chapter 2.3: Monday after homecoming
“Ignorance is your new best friend.” Paramore, Ignorance, 2008. The hallways are bustling with students chatting, there’s the occasional slam of lockers, sneakers squeaking against the tile, laughter, and a random girl crying to her best friend about her homecoming date dumping her. It was high school and things were back to normal after homecoming Continue reading
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Chapter 2.2: Freshman Homecoming (2008)
“Isabella, come on, take the picture seriously,” Odalys sighed in exasperation at her daughter goofing off as she posed for her solo picture. “The look” was all Izzie needed from her mother to cut the shit and straighten her act for a picture-perfect smile. “Thank you, kid,” Odalys shook her head. “Any time, ma,” Izzie… Continue reading
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Chapter 2.1: Homecoming Dress Shopping
“Oh, I absolutely refuse to even be caught dead wearing the same dress as Sammi of all people, are you kidding me?!” Izzie shrieked when Hattie revealed a beautiful, vibrant, emerald dress from the rack. “Iz, you are being one hell of a picky bitch right now, it’s annoying,” Hattie sighed, almost defeatedly. It was… Continue reading
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Chapter 2: Favorite Crime
“Izzie, I promise, with everything Martín has planned, the only time you and Simon will even interact is on the actual day, if that,” Hala’s voice was soothing and reassuring as always on the other end of the receiver. Meanwhile, Izzie was relentlessly hammering the boxing bag like she was in the ring, going toe-to-toe… Continue reading
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Chapter 1.1: Late September, Freshman Year (2008)
“All of the people start to rush. (Start to rush by)” – Lady Gaga, Just Dance, 2008. Math wasn’t Izzie’s strongest suit, and being in a brand new school where about 80% of the school’s freshman population had some knowledge of each other—had her even more perplexed and frankly, even more on edge when it Continue reading
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Chapter 1: La Tortura
Izzie flipped through the pages of her planner, scanning the notes she’d scribbled between lesson plans and faculty meetings. The day had been manageable. Surprisingly, this year’s 8th-grade class reminded her of her own from sixteen years ago–smart, but incredibly rowdy. She had braced for at least three disciplinary incidents, yet the silence lingering in… Continue reading
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Prologue
There it goes—the blaring alarm. Isabella groaned, fumbling to silence it. Another morning, another battle with the snooze button. Some days, adulthood felt surreal, like she’d blinked and woken up 15 years older, burdened with a thousand responsibilities. She exhaled, shaking off the sleep as a soft mew cut through the quiet. Estelle–Stelly, as she… Continue reading
Me, You, & The Party Rock Crew 