Ethan entered the classroom cautiously, scanning the rows of desks for an empty seat. Spotting one near the back, he made his way there quickly, keeping his head down to avoid any unnecessary attention. Sliding into the chair, he hung his coat on the back and set his bag down, trying to make himself as inconspicuous as possible.

"Hi, I'm Tiffany," the girl beside him said with a friendly smile. "Are you new?"

"Yeah... something like that," Ethan muttered, managing a weak smile in return.

Tiffany tilted her head slightly, her expression bright with curiosity. "I thought so. I know almost everyone here, and I didn't recognize you."

Ethan's mind scrambled for a response, caught off guard by how effortlessly casual she was. Before he could think of something, Mrs. Whitmer walked in, commanding the attention of the class.

"Welcome back, everyone. I hope you all had a nice Christmas break!" she said, her tone cheerful but not overly enthusiastic. "Are we all excited for a new semester?"

The room responded with a collective groan of half-hearted indifference, typical of a room full of teenagers.

Mrs. Whitmer chuckled. "Well, I'll take that as a yes. Congratulations on making it halfway through tenth grade. Let's kick things off by introducing our new student."

Ethan's stomach sank as Mrs. Whitmer's gaze landed on him. "Everyone, this is Olivia," she said, gesturing toward him.

Every pair of eyes in the room turned to him. Ethan felt his face flush as he forced a smile, offering a small wave before quickly looking down at his desk.

"Welcome, Olivia," the teacher added warmly before diving into the lesson.

Ethan barely registered the words that followed. His thoughts were a chaotic swirl as he tried to make sense of his situation. It was his body, down to the faint scar on his knee, yet the reflection he'd seen in the mirror this morning was entirely foreign. He glanced down at his chest, the undeniable evidence of the changes making his situation feel even more surreal.

The class ended in what felt like a blur. As students began to pack up, Tiffany leaned toward him. "Hey, if you need someone to sit with at lunch, you can totally join me. No pressure."

"Thanks," Ethan said, his voice subdued. He appreciated the gesture but wasn't sure he was ready for more small talk. He'd rather be invisible.

English passed uneventfully. Ethan kept his head down, avoiding interaction as much as possible. When lunchtime arrived, he debated Tiffany's offer but ultimately decided he'd prefer solitude. He found a quiet hallway, away from the crowds, and sat down to eat.

The lunch Olivia's mom had packed—a garden salad, apple slices, and a granola bar—was a far cry from the greasy burgers Ethan usually preferred. Picking at the salad, he was surprised to find he didn't mind the taste, even the tomatoes he usually hated. It was another unsettling reminder of how different everything felt.

Physics was more of the same. Ethan kept to himself, his mind too preoccupied to focus on the lesson. By the time art class rolled around, he was drained. He arrived early, the classroom still empty except for the teacher.

"You must be Olivia," the teacher said with a warm smile.

Ethan nodded. "Yes."

"Welcome to the class. Sit anywhere you'd like."

The desks were arranged into a single large table surrounded by stools. Ethan chose a seat in the middle, figuring it would draw less attention than the front or back. Students trickled in, confirming his theory as the ends filled up first. Then Tiffany entered with another girl, her face lighting up as soon as she spotted him.

"Olivia! Oh my god!" she exclaimed, hurrying over with her friend in tow.

Ethan managed a shy smile as Tiffany and the other girl sat beside him.

"This is Morgan," Tiffany said, gesturing to her friend.

"Hi," Ethan said, his voice strained but polite.

As they waited for the rest of the class to arrive, Tiffany peppered him with questions about his first day. Ethan did his best to answer, though his unfamiliar voice felt alien and uncomfortable. It was the most he'd spoken all day.

The teacher introduced their next project: landscape paintings based on their own photography. Today's session was meant for experimentation, giving the students a chance to play with colors and techniques. The class quickly settled into a rhythm, conversations bubbling around the room.

Tiffany turned to Ethan, her curiosity insatiable. "So! Olivia! I want to learn more about you girly! What's your favorite band?"

Ethan hesitated but quickly tried to think of the girliest artist he likes. "Um, I really like Halsey.".

"Oh my god, a bit of vintage pick! I like it Livy... can I call you Livy?" Tiffany gushed.

"Uh-yeah, I don't care," Ethan quickly replied. Both Olivia and Livy felt equally as foreign. She could call him Dorothy and it wouldn't be any different.

"So like what about your favorite song?"

Ethan's mind blanked. "Uh... probably... 'Without Me'?" he said, relieved when Tiffany nodded enthusiastically.

"Ok wait I actually love that one," she said. "What about TV? Do you watch Netflix?"

"Yeah," Ethan said, trying to sound casual. "I... uh... just finished rewatching 'Gilmore Girls.'" It was the first "girl" show that came to mind that he had actually watched. In actuality, he hated the show.

"Oh my god girl, me too! That has literally been my favourite show for soooo long!" Tiffany said. "Rory and Jess forever, right?"

"Totally," Ethan said, though he barely remembered who they were.

"So are you from Washington?"

Ethan hesitated, his mind racing. He had no idea what Olivia's backstory was supposed to be. "Uh, New York actually," he said finally, deciding to stick with his own hometown. "I just moved here from Albany."

Tiffany's eyes lit up. "Oh that's dope! I've always wanted to go to New York City. I'm guessing you've been?"

Ethan nodded. "Yeah... a few times" he said simply, not wanting to elaborate.

"Is it amazing? I've always wanted to experience Christmas in New York or like... walk around to all the cute shops in the fall like the Instagram girlies," Tiffany said with a smile.

"It's... yeah, it's great," Ethan replied, his tone noncommittal. He felt a wave of relief as Morgan suddenly shifted the conversation about her Chemistry class..

"Ok. Tiff. I need to vent about Chem! I'm still not over the fact my fucking lab partner is my ex," she groaned. "It was literally so awkward this morning."

"Girl, I can't imagine." Tiffany said, her tone full of sympathy.

Morgan launched into a tirade about her ex, complaining about how he was only interested in one thing. Ethan felt like he was deep in enemy territory, unsure how to navigate the candid discussion.

"What about you, Olivia? Have you ever had a boyfriend?" Tiffany asked suddenly, turning the spotlight back on him.

"Uh-no," Ethan said quickly, feeling his cheeks burn.

Both girls looked surprised. "Really? But you're so pretty," Morgan said. "You must've been asked out before though right?"

Ethan shrugged, trying to deflect. "Uh-yeah... I guess I just haven't found the right person yet, you know."

Morgan rolled her eyes. "You're not missing much. Most guys are pigs anyway."

The rest of the class passed in a blur of chatter and painting. By the time the bell rang, Ethan was exhausted. As they packed up, Tiffany turned to him.

"Hey, do you want to hang out with us after school?" she asked. "Me and Tiff are going back to my place."

Ethan shook his head. "Thanks, but it's been a long day. I just want to go home."

Tiffany smiled understandingly. "So for real, I get that! See you tomorrow!" She gave him a quick hug, catching him off guard.

Ethan froze for a moment before awkwardly patting her back. As she and Morgan walked away, he let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.