A Thousand Stairs - Chapter 1

I included the map of the school. My description could be a little confusing to some people. But I tried my best.

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"Beep, beep, beep," Caroline's alarm went off. She didn't hear it at first. After several beeps, she finally stirs a little. She groans and pulled the fresh-washed smell blanket over her head. It is a fine, cool autumn morning and even though she's girded with the fresh smelled blanket, Caroline could still smell the mixed flower scents from her backyard. Strange, right? There are still flowers blossoming in autumn. Caroline pushed the blanket off her and sat up. Her eyes are still closed. She couldn't sleep well last night. She was very anxious. A cool breeze escaped in through the window gap and gave Caroline a shiver. She walked over to her wardrobe and got her robe. She puts it on and got ready for her first day of school.

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"Dad, I am scared!" Caroline said as her father puts his shoes on.

"Don't worry, Honey. You'll be fine. You'll make new friends there enjoy your new life."

"But I don't want to make new friends! Why do we have to move?" Caroline whined.

"Caroline, I already told you that for a thousand times." Caroline was unconvinced, but knows that she'll be late to school, so she kept her mouth shut.

She suddenly heard her dad yell, "Kyle, are you ready? It's time to go. If you don't get your butt down here now, you're gonna have to walk to school!" When he hears that he's gonna have to walk to school, Kyle immediately come down the stairs.

Kyle asked, "Where's breakfast, dad?" Caroline chuckled at her brother's question.

"There's no time for breakfast, son," the doctor continues, "We're gonna be late in 10 minutes!" Kyle quickly puts his shoes on and was ready to go in less than a minute.

When they reached school, Dr. Beacken gave both his daughter and son a big hug and wished them a good day. "Good day at work, dad!" They both said simultaneously.

Caroline and Kyle are standing in front of a gigantic iron gate. Above the gate, there's a banner that read, "Welcome Stars!" On each side of the gate, there are colorful balloons dancing with the gentle breeze. Shining Star High School is not like any other schools in town. It's the only private school. They see a wide staircase that leads to the school's main entrance. The building has five floors and at the fourth floor, there's a mid-air glass bridge on the left and right side of the main building that connect students to two other buildings. The science laboratory and football field are behind the buildings. Both Kyle and Caroline were mesmerized by the sight in front of them.

"Impressive." They said in unison.

"What do you have for first period?" Caroline asks Kyle as they walk toward the main entrance. Kyle thought he had to open the front doors manually, but they're actually automatic. Kyle pushed through the door and he didn't know they were automatic, so he almost fell to the ground when the door opened on its own. Caroline giggled a little when she saw Kyle made a fool of himself.

"English, what about you?" Kyle asks as he straightens himself. Caroline looks down her schedule that she received on orientation day.

"Science." Caroline answered sadly.

"Well, I guess we don't have the same class. I'll see ya later, sis!" Kyle said as he kisses Caroline's forehead. "See you later, big brother!" Caroline responds.

Caroline is having trouble finding her science classroom. As she walks down the hallway, she saw people running and rushing to their classes, while she's a lost puppy. She then wonders why the school can't have someone to assist her to her classes since she's new. Caroline saw a couple kissing down the hallway. She shook her head with disgust. Caroline had always opposed to dating while she's still in school. She believes that dating would distract her studies. She really much wants to focus on school and do her best. She grew pensive but was soon brought back to reality when she heard a yelling.

"Where are you going, Carter?" A boy yelled from behind. "Room F. What about you, Robert?" The boy whose name seemed to Carter yelled back.

"Same here. But I gotta release some water first. Do you mind waiting for me a little bit?" Robert asks.

"Not at all, go ahead." Carter said as Robert runs toward the restroom. Carter leans against the glass window with his hands crossed. The glass reflected Carter's tall body. He wore a light gray hoodie with the words "I am cute" on it. Caroline chuckled at the words when she read it. Carter had Levi's straight jeans on. The jeans showed his long legs. The gray hoodie looked perfect on Carter.

"Hey, I am going to room F also, maybe I can ask him to guide me." Caroline thought from a distance. But she was too timid to ask, so she has decided to just follow Carter.

After what seemed like to be an hour later, Robert finally came out of the restroom. But Caroline was still standing there, waiting for them to walk. Robert and Carter walked down the hallway and Caroline followed. Suddenly, Carter stopped. He turns around and Caroline realizes that she's looking at the most beautiful sapphire blue eyes she has ever seen. She comes back to reality when Carter asked,

"Are you following me?"

"Us," Robert corrected.

"Are you following us?" Carter asks again.

Caroline turned to look behind her and pointed to herself.

"Um... Are you talking to me?"

"Uh... Yah! You are the only one who's behind me, I mean us." Carter said.

"No... I mean yes... I mean... (sigh)... I'm new here and I am lost." Caroline admits without looking up.

"Why didn't you just ask?" Carter asks as he walks toward Caroline. Caroline looked deep into Carter's sapphire blue eyes.

"I was too afraid to ask." Caroline finally admits.

"Well, next time when you see a good-looking guy like me, which you probably won't because I am the handsomest, don't be afraid to ask, okay?" Carter said, confidently. Caroline nodded, she doesn't know what to say.

"Oh, we're gonna be late! You don't want to be late on the first day of school, right?" Carter asked, looking at his watch. Caroline shook her head.

"Let's run, then." Carter suggested.

The science class is on the third floor of building 1. They are currently on the first floor of the main building. Therefore, they have to take the escalator to the 4th floor to cross the glass bridge. (Did I mention that the school has escalators and the inside of the school looks more like a mall then a school?) When they finally arrived at the beginning of the glass bridge, Caroline stopped walking and moved forward a little bit to look down the glass. She swallowed hard and stepped back. Carter came up to Caroline and saw her sweating a little bit. He tapped her shoulder and asked, "Are you okay? Why aren't you moving?"

Caroline Looks at Carter and said, "Do I have to cross that? It seems really high."

"Are you feared of the height?"

"No, but this seems really high. I don't usually walk at this height."

"Don't worry, just close your eyes and walk across it."

"But my legs won't move." Caroline claimed. Carter gestured Robert to come. He told Robert to put his hands on Caroline's feet.

"What are you doing?" Caroline is frightened.

"Well, since you legs couldn't move, We'll have to carry you." Carter said as he put his arms under Caroline's arms. He counted to three and they both lifted Caroline up. Caroline is nothing compared to Carter, so carrying her is a piece of cake.

Caroline screamed and wanted to be put down. "Put me down! I can walk now!" She exclaimed.

"Oh, so you can walk now, then I'll put you down." Carter said.

"No!" Caroline begged.

"What now?"

"Not in the middle of the bridge!" She pleaded. Carter sighed and continued to carry her until they reached the other end of the bridge. Caroline let out a sigh when they put her down.

"Thank goodness I am still alive." Caroline relieved. Carter and Robert laughed.

"It's not that severe, you know. It should be completely safe since, it's been checked so many times." Carter said.

"How did you know?" Caroline is curious.

"Well, a private school like this should have the capital to do all these stuff." Carter said quickly.

Why is he all of a sudden talking so fast? Caroline thought. She raised her eyebrows and looked at Carter. He faked a smile.

Caroline shook her head and walked away.

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As they near the classroom, Robert suddenly stopped and turned to warn Caroline.

"Get ready to cover your ears." Caroline was confused. Why does she need to cover her ears? She opens the classroom door and walks in. When the teacher saw Caroline, she asked as friendly as she could,

"Oh, we have another student. If you don't mind, may I ask why you're late?"

"I was...."

"She was lost and since I have this class also, so I just brought her along." Carter explained for Caroline. Immediately after Carter's last word, a girl yelled,

"OMG!"

"It's Carter Sterling!" Another girl screamed.

Caroline immediately covers her ears as the girls yell and scream. Now she finally knows why Robert had told her to cover her ears, because Carter Sterling is the most Popular guy in this school.

Then, she heard Carter whispers to Robert. "I told you this would happen."

"SILENCE!" The teacher shouts.The room immediately hushed.

"Well, that's very nice of you, Carter. Come in, have a seat and we shall begin class." the science teacher said, glaring at Caroline's direction. Caroline felt strange. How did the teacher knew his name since this is the first day of school? She decided to let it drop.

Once they sat down, the teacher introduced herself as Mrs. Arppin. She seemed invisible to the girls in the room, because everyone was looking at Carter's direction, except for Caroline. She paid no attention to him.

"Now let's take roll and when I call your name, please introduce yourself to the class." Mrs. Arppin said. Caroline just hated the introducing part, so she decided to leave. Caroline raised her hand and asks when Mrs. Arppin pointed at her.

"May I use the restroom?"

"You certainly may," Mrs. Arppin permitted.

"Do you know where the restroom is?" Carter asked Caroline softly.

"Nope, but I am gonna find it." Caroline answered.

"Umm... Mrs. Arppin, may I show this young lady where the restroom is?" Carter asked.

Before the teacher could answer, Caroline said, "It's gratuitous, Mrs. Arppin." Then, she walks out of the room.

"I am gonna show her anyway." Carter immediately jumps out of his seat and was out of the room in no time.

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I apologize if there are any misspellings.

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Thanks for reading! Hope to hear from you soon!