16-year-old Emma Alonso attends a new modern boarding school in Miami. She plans to renew her reputation from unpopular nerdy nobody to a popular girl, with the help of her newfound friend, Andi Cruz, and former bestie Mia Black.

There she meets athlete Daniel Miller, bad boy Jax Novoa, jock Phillip Tyson, nerd Tony Myers, and average kid Diego Rueda, who are all connected to her popularity in some way.

Along the way, she is about to find out who her true friends are, who her true foes are, and who she is truly wants to be with.

Friendships will be tested, romances are on the rocks, and betrayal is just around the corner.

Who is crushing? Who is the crush? Who and what will be crushed? Let fate decide.

[AU story.]

[May contain Demma, Dia, Maniel, Dandi, Jemma, Jia, Jandi, Jaddie, Phemma, Phia, Phandi, Phaddie, Temma, Tandi, Emmiego, Miego, Miago, and Andiego friendship and/or romance.]

[Rated T for cursing and for the dark themes that may come along the way.]

Chapter 1

Sunday, 5:00PM

"...and here we are." My dad pulled up the car, waving his hand towards my new boarding school: Iridium High Boarding School.

I took one good look at the school and shifted my gaze back to my dad, giving him an odd glare. "Are you joking?"

He furrowed his eyebrows. "Emma, what's wrong?" Everything is wrong. As for a shy, responsible, straight A student who likes glitter and homework, from the looks of it, I don't think I even belong here in the first place.

This school looked modern – which was a good thing – but I couldn't help but notice all the athletes, nerds, jeeks, hipsters, cheerleaders scattered everywhere. Not to mention, the jocks.

If I could describe this whole school in one sentence, I would say: This school is a hybrid of the White House, the palace in The Princess Diaries movie, and a five star hotel. Well, that's my own description for it. Good enough.

At the other side of the school, there was another hotel. Just kidding. It's not a hotel, it's a dorm building that looks a lot like a hotel.

I don't think I even deserve to be in this luxurious heaven. I only got here from a Big Brains offer for a scholarship, in which my dad immediately accepted. I'm not even one of those rich kids here.

After a while, I heard my father sigh. "Honey, everything's going to be alright." He gave me an awkward pat on my back, which I think was supposed to be motivating, but it wasn't... at all. "I know you're shy and all but come on, just be yourself. And you might have to restart your whole reputation..." please don't remind me, "...and maybe make new friends..." none of this is motivating, dad. "...but it's all going to be worth it."

I raised my hands up in surrender, wanting him to stop his supposedly motivating speech. "Fine, Iridium it is."

"That's my girl."

I slowly exited the RV, taking my first step into a new life. The fresh air, the new surroundings, the-

"Are you gonna move now or what?" My father asked. Way to live the newfound vibe, Daddy.

I opened the trunk, pulling out my luggage, my laptop, and my backpack. But as I was pulling it out, the Hexoren fell.

The Hexoren was a book of spells for witches and wizards like me. Yes, I can cast spells, as long as I'm not being a lazy b*tch 24/7.

I picked it up immediately, only this time, I picked it up at the same time as another guy did. He smiled at me and gave me back my book. He's pretty cute.

"H-hi." I stuttered.

His lips formed into a grin. "Hi, I'm Daniel. Daniel Miller."

"I'm Emma. Emma Alonso."

"... and I'm waiting. Waiting too long." My dad spat back from behind me. I turned around to find him crossing his arms, glaring at Daniel and I.

Oh god.

Ignoring my dad, the boy shook his head and continued, "You need some help?"

No. I am carrying a luggage, a backpack, and my laptop which weigh like a ton of rocks and I do not need help. Thank you very much.

Instead of being the sarcastic person I want to be right now, I wouldn't want to ruin my chance to have a friend to talk to, now that I probably found one. I have learned my past mistakes and never will I ever turn down a friend request from a boy ever again.

"I could use some help." I shyly replied.

He nodded. "Let's go."

I handed him my backpack and my luggage bag while I grab my shoulder bag and my laptop (never will I ever let a anyone grab my laptop, let alone strangers.) and we head out to look for my dorm building.

I heard dad clear his throat from behind me. I turned around to find him crossing his arms, looking at me. "Sweetie, you-uh forgetting something?"

"Right." I gave him a tight hug, like he always wanted. He never wanted to let me go in the first place.

I had a tight father-daughter relationship with my dad, considering the fact that my mother passed away when I was younger.

After I pulled away, he raised a brow and said, "Yeah, that and your phone." He picked up a glittery pink phone from his pocket and handed it to me.

"Okay. Your Auntie Cathy is around the campus so call her whenever you need anything. I'll be back to check up on you this weekend."

I gave him a thumbs up.

He gave me one serious look. "Oh, and no funny buisness." He emphazised the last three words loudly that I think people from the other town heard it.

I cringed in embarassment and gave him an awkward smile in response. "Got it."

Once he drove away, I was left with Daniel, who was staring frighteningly at my dad's car. I think you see why exactly I do not have that much guy friends. Therefore, I consider the fact that he stayed this whole time as a miracle. Regularly, the boys would run away in a blink. Seriously.

"He's harmless until you piss him off so..." I trailed off, waiting for him to move.

"Y'know what? Let's go."

When we started walking together, I felt my phone buzz, indicating that I got a new text message... from Dad. What does he want now?

It read:

"Oh, and no overuse of magic."

No promises.

As soon as the sliding glass doors of the automatically slid open, I felt like it was a door to a luxurious heaven.

I mean, since when did dorms have candle-lit chandeliers and stylish furniture for an affordable price?

Now I don't understand why exactly my best friend left this place.

I'm sorry if I sound a little too impressed – this coming from a girl who was raised by a single parent (my dad, Francisco) and studied in a public school when she was younger.

Yes, this is my first time in a uniform school... with a boarding school, if I may add.

Daniel headed out to help me check in as I wandered around the lobby.

The shiny floor was covered with red carpets (Walk on a red carpet is checked on my bucket list, considered.), there were some furnished sofas scattered around thoroughly, and at the center of the two stairways that led to our rooms laid a glass door that led to the pool. Woah.

"I got your room key card and your stuff are with the bellhop." He handed me my keycard and pointed his hand towards the bellhop near the elevator, ready to push his bellman cart. I nodded and followed them.

5:26PM

"So – uh, you're new here?" he asked me.

I gulped. "Yeah, I – uhm, I came from a school called Argon High."

His face expression fell. "Oh." What did I say wrong? Maybe I spoke gibberish. Dang it.

"Did I say something wro–"

He shook his head. "No, you didn't. I just remembered a former rival of mine from that school. You guys are the Diving Dragons, right?"

I nodded.

"Welcome to Iridium High. We're the Sharks."

Oh shoot. No wonder he was quite disappointed. The Sharks and Dragons are swimming rivals; how could I forget?

He sighed. "It's okay. Don't worry about it. You have nothing to do with the rivalries." he stopped for a moment and looked at me from head to toe, "right?" I nodded awkwardly.

A few awkward moments later, we finally got to my dorm. It wasn't as small as I thought it would be. In fact, it's quite large for a regular dorm.

Remember when I said it looked like a hotel from outside? Well, even on the inside.

They even have golden doorknobs which makes me question what life is.

Wait... why is my mouth dry?

I heard him chuckle. "You're forgetting where you are, Emma. Welcome to Iridium High."

He and I helped the bellhop place my stuff on my bed. He pulled a small clipboard from his own bag and handed it to me, along with a pen.

I read the paper thoroughly and found out that he was just helping me for extra credit. I needed to write my name and my signature in his paper for proof that he helped me. Along with it were names of other girls he helped.

I tapped the pen on the clipboard, raising a brow at him. "So you just helped me… for this?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "At least I helped you and I even got a new beautiful friend." He winked at me, flashing a smile.

STOP MAKING ME BLUSH.

"Fine. I'll sign the paper." I laughed. I quickly wrote my name, signed the paper, and handed it back to him.

"Thanks." he smiled. "Want me to make you come over to my table during lunch time tommorow? I could introduce you to my friends so you could have friends as well."

I nodded. Of course, I wouldn't turn down an invite to meet more friends. I wouldn't want to be the same loner kid from my other school. Nu-uh. This is a new life.

"Great, see you then, m'lady." He shot a small salute and slammed the door shut and drifted out to the entrance gate, looking for more people to help... or that's, at least, what I assume.

Now to unpack.

Author's Note:

That's the end of the first chapter. I hoped you enjoyed reading it as much I enjoyed writing it.

And just a little heads up: this is an AU story containing lots of changes which you will notice throughout the story. For example, if you noticed in the Introduction, Phillip's name is Phillip Tyson instead of Phillip van Pelt. Why? Well, in this story, Phillip has a sort‐of tough guy type of personality so in my opinion, van Pelt doesn't fit his name because it sounds more like a feminine name than masculine, so I changed his name. Another example is that [Spoiler Alert!] Andi is going to be a witch in this story to make things interesting... huehuehue...

Tell me what you think about it by writing a review. All reviews are appreciated! 3

Preview for Chapter 2:

I heard the doorknob twist quickly, which surprised me a little.

I heard a female voice from outside. "Mr. Novoa, you have a new roommate."