Diane turned the key in the ignition, and the truck’s engine roared to life. Mark settled in the passenger seat, watching as the farm slowly disappeared behind them. She shifted gears and glanced at him.
“Before we hit Tony's Pizzeria, let’s make a short trip to Summerville College. The school is just across from my house, and I need to deliver these boxes first.” She smiled, pointing to the crates in the back containing milk and vegetables.
As they drove along, Mark’s thoughts drifted. Summerville College? The name felt oddly familiar, like a distant echo from his past, but he couldn’t quite place it. He pushed the thought aside, chalking it up to déjà vu.
They pulled up in front of a big black steel gate connected to a tall white wall that surrounded the entire property. Despite the height of the wall, Mark could see the school building towering beyond it. The gray-blue roof and the design—an arrow-like structure pointing toward the sky—gave the school a blend of modern ambition and old-fashioned architecture, as if the '90s had left a permanent mark on its design.
Mark stared at the building, a growing sense of nostalgia creeping over him. Why does this feel so familiar? he wondered, a hint of unease tugging at his mind.
Diane noticed his gaze and chuckled. “Don’t even think of trespassing, okay? Not every wall around here has a hole in it like my backyard.”
Mark coughed, embarrassed. He wasn’t planning on sneaking in, but he couldn’t tell her that he had used her backyard wall to escape from the cemetery. “I promise I’ll behave,” he muttered, his mind still swimming with the strangeness of the setting.
A female guard stepped out from the nearby post and approached the truck. Diane rolled down the window.
“Hi, Diane,” the guard greeted, her smile warm but curious. “You’re early today! You usually make your deliveries in the afternoon.”
Diane nodded. “Yeah, I’ve got plans later, so I thought I’d get this out of the way. I might head over to Debbie’s place to help her out... you know, with everything.”
The guard’s expression shifted, realizing what she had brought up. “Oh, right. Your cousin Frank... that was such a tragedy. I’m so sorry for your loss.”
Mark could feel Diane tense beside him, her usual smile faltering as a shadow of sadness passed over her face. “Thanks,” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. “It’s been... hard. I still can’t believe it happened.”
The guard reached out with genuine sympathy. “If there’s anything I can do, just let me know.”
Diane nodded, blinking back the emotions that threatened to surface. “I will, thanks.”
Sensing the awkward shift in atmosphere, the guard tried to lighten the mood and noticed Mark sitting quietly in the passenger seat. “Who's this?” she teased, her eyes glinting with curiosity. “Your new boyfriend?”
Diane’s face flushed instantly. “No! He’s—”
“Then who is he?” the guard pressed playfully. “If he’s not your boyfriend, why’s he riding shotgun?”
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Diane hesitated, struggling to come up with a convincing explanation. “Uh... this is Mark Castle. He’s a close friend of Frank’s from out of state.”
Mark’s brows furrowed at the sudden narrative twist, but he quickly adjusted. The guard, now fully believing the story, nodded sympathetically. “Makes sense. It’s rough losing someone like that.”
Mark nodded, feeling a small victory over Diane’s earlier panic. She glanced at him, realizing he was taking advantage of the situation, but she couldn’t backtrack now. “Y-yeah, that’s right,” she added. “He’s new in town, so I’m showing him around.”
“Well, nice to meet you, Mark,” the guard said before waving them through the gate.
As they passed through, Mark turned to Diane, curiosity getting the better of him. “So, who was Frank, anyway? I heard you mention him earlier.”
Diane's expression softened, a hint of sadness flickering in her eyes. “Frank was my cousin,” she said, her voice tinged with nostalgia. “He was really close to my family. We didn’t grow up together, but we spent a lot of time at family gatherings and holidays. He always had a way of making everything more fun.” She paused for a moment, gathering her thoughts. “He was the type of guy who could bring everyone together, even in tough times. Losing him has been incredibly hard for all of us.”
Mark nodded, absorbing her words. He could see how much Frank meant to her and how deeply his absence was felt. “I’m sorry to hear that. It sounds like he was a great guy.”
“Yeah, he really was,” Diane replied, a small smile breaking through her sorrow. “But enough about sad stuff! We’ve got a mission to accomplish before we head to Tony's. Trust me, you’ll love the pizza there. It’s the best in town! And I promise, the only tears you’ll shed will be from how good it tastes.”
As they continued driving, the atmosphere in the truck felt heavier, but Mark appreciated Diane’s effort to lighten the mood. It gave him a glimpse into her life and the strong bonds that held her family together.
They continued along the pathway inside the school grounds, and Mark marveled at how large the campus was. To his right was a vast running track surrounding a soccer field, while to the left stood several more sports courts, separated by the wide path they were driving on.
“You’re probably wondering why there weren’t any students at the front gate,” Diane said, breaking the silence. “That’s the back gate we just passed through. It’s mostly used for deliveries and staff. Even the school buses come in this way to avoid crowding the main gate.”
Mark nodded absentmindedly, his eyes still scanning the school grounds. As they neared the center of the campus, the arrow-shaped building loomed larger, its design both bold and strange, like it had leapt out of the past into the modern world.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a high fence surrounding a basketball court. A game was in progress, with students crowded around, cheering. His attention was drawn to one particularly loud voice from the crowd.
“Go, Dexter! Destroy those losers!” a blonde girl shouted, her voice clear and commanding. She stood with two other cheerleaders, all of them wearing bright uniforms and holding pompoms, in stark contrast to the PE-clad students around them.
Mark blinked, feeling a jolt of recognition. Dexter? That name struck a chord deep within him. And the cheerleader, her enthusiasm and confidence—it was like something out of a memory he couldn’t quite place. For a moment, it felt as though the lines between his world and this one were blurring, pieces of a forgotten puzzle falling into place. But why did it feel so familiar?
Diane’s voice broke through his thoughts. “Almost there,” she said as they approached the storage area. “Let’s get these boxes unloaded.”
Mark shook off the feeling, but as he glanced back at the cheerleaders, that strange sense of recognition still lingered, gnawing at the edges of his mind. Why do I feel like I’ve seen all of this before?
Disclaimer:
The characters, settings, and elements in this fanfiction are the intellectual property of their respective owners. New Life, New Saga is inspired by Summertime Saga, which is owned by Kompas Productions. This fanfiction is created purely for fun and non-commercial purposes, and I do not claim any ownership of the original works. All rights to the original material belong to their creators. If you appreciate my work and would like to support my writing, consider making a donation on my Patreon. Thank you for your support and for reading!