The last remnants of summer hung in the air, and with them came memories of laughter and sun-drenched afternoons. Katelyn had spent nearly every day with her best friend, Samantha, and her cousin, Ryder. On occasion, Zack, her childhood friend, would join in their adventures, the four of them inseparable. Their final summer adventure had been a whirlwind at the amusement park, the perfect send-off before the looming start of the school year.

Now, reality set in. The first day of senior year had arrived. Katelyn and Samantha were about to embark on their final year of high school—something they'd both been excited about and dreaded at the same time.

The morning sun filtered through Katelyn’s blinds, but she was still blissfully asleep, wrapped in her blankets, unaware of the time.

“Katelyn, it’s time to get up for school!” Emily’s voice echoed from downstairs.

Katelyn groaned in response, her voice muffled by the pillow. “Five more minutes, Mom,” she muttered, half-asleep.

But Emily wasn’t having it. Within moments, she was in the room, yanking the covers off Katelyn with a practiced move.

“Mom!” Katelyn protested, trying to pull the sheets back over her head. “I said five more minutes.”

Emily stood firm, hands on her hips. “And I said get up now. It’s the first day of your last year, Katelyn. You don’t want to start it by being late.”

Katelyn rolled to the edge of the bed, yawning. “Alright, alright... I’m up,” she said, rubbing her eyes. “Happy now?”

“Ecstatic,” Emily said with a smirk. “Now go take a shower and come down for breakfast. I made you eggs, bacon, and toast.”

Katelyn dragged herself into the bathroom, where the hot water from the shower gradually roused her awake. She zoned out for a few moments, the warmth washing over her, until the water suddenly turned cold. With a jolt, she turned it off and hurried to get dressed.

Her fingers tapped on her chin as she stood before her closet. "What should I wear?" she mused to herself before her eyes landed on a navy blue dress. “This one,” she declared, pulling it off the hanger.

After slipping on the dress and adding a light touch of makeup, Katelyn rushed downstairs, the clock ticking closer to when she was supposed to meet Samantha.

"Mom, what did you make this morning?" she asked as she entered the kitchen.

“Eggs, bacon, and toast,” Emily replied, setting a plate on the table. “Orange juice or milk?”

“Orange juice, please.”

Emily poured the drink and placed it next to Katelyn’s plate before sitting across from her.

“Are you excited to be a senior this year?” Emily asked, watching her daughter eat.

Katelyn nodded between bites. “Yeah, I mean, it’s almost over. Just one more year.”

“Don’t rush growing up too quickly,” Emily said with a gentle smile. “Your dad said to wish you luck today. He had to leave early for work.”

Katelyn finished her breakfast and stood up. “That’s okay. I know he’s busy. I better go though—Sam’s waiting for me.”

“Okay, but hurry home after school,” Emily added. “We’re expecting a special visitor.”

Katelyn raised an eyebrow, curious. “Who is it?”

Emily smiled playfully. “It’s a surprise.”

“Ugh, fine!” Katelyn grumbled but smiled as she kissed her mom on the cheek. “Love you. See you later!”

“Love you too. Have a great day!” Emily called after her.

Katelyn raced down the driveway and spotted Samantha waiting at the gate.

“Hey, girlie!” Samantha grinned. “You ready for senior year?”

Katelyn smiled back. “Ready as I’ll ever be. Come on, let’s go. We can catch Ryder on the way.”

Samantha's face flushed pink at the mention of Ryder, and Katelyn didn’t miss it. Over the summer, Samantha had finally confessed her crush on Ryder, and Katelyn had made it her mission to help bring them together.

Katelyn chuckled. “Oh, come on, you know you want to see him.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Samantha said, her voice shy, but Katelyn could see the blush deepening.

Grabbing her friend’s hand, Katelyn dragged her toward Ryder’s house. As they approached, she spotted him waiting in the distance, leaning casually against the gate.

“Hey, Ryder!” Katelyn called, waving her hand. “You ready?”

Ryder glanced at them, his eyes briefly lingering on Samantha before answering, “Yeah, I thought you guys weren’t coming. You’re late.”

Katelyn nudged Samantha, who was uncharacteristically quiet. “Hi, Ryder,” Samantha mumbled shyly.

Katelyn couldn’t help but smile as she watched them. “Come on, you two,” she teased. “Let’s get going.”

As they walked toward school, the air was filled with the quiet buzz of excitement, uncertainty, and something else—a spark that Katelyn was sure would make this year unforgettable.