Flip Side High

By Sarah Nicole

If you were given the power to prevent every high schooler's worst fear from happening, would you risk everything to stop it?  As Sienna (SJ) Johnson and Ashton Blackwood, estranged childhood friends, start their freshman year of high school, they are forced to do just that. Popular SJ is on track to be the top of her class and attend an elite dance school on full scholarship, while simultaneously trying to stop her parents' marriage from falling apart.  Ashton is just trying to get through life after the sudden passing of his father, which leaves his mom and him in financial ruin.  When SJ and Ashton are forced to work together as biology partners, their lives are flipped upside down, quite literally.  SJ and Ashton are thrown into an alternate high school universe, much like theirs, but with one significant difference: their roles are reversed.  Ashton is now the school's golden boy, while most people can't even remember SJ's name.  When a catastrophic event takes place at the flip school, they realize it is up to them to prevent it from happening at their school in order to save lives.

Author's Note: This book depicts school violence and may be triggering to some.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sarah Nicole
• Release date: Jun 23, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201622398

Sarah Nicole

Nicole Sekuloski Nicole is an elementary school teacher that has always dreamed of writing books. She has been an avid reader since she was a child. She enjoys movies; both watching them and making them. She is also an impressive board game player. Sarah Smith Sarah is an elementary school teacher, a mother, and a writer. She has always had a love for books. She enjoys spending time with her friends, family, and her two dogs. Despite what Nicole says, Sarah always gives her a run for her money while playing board games. Cover design and illustration by Luna Isoka.

Book preview

1 - Ashton

I’M RUNNING DOWN THE field, the ball cradled tightly in my arms.  I can feel the wind whipping against my face as I go.  I hear the hustle of more players behind me, trying to knock me down.  I pick up my speed, pushing to stay ahead of them.  I need to score this touchdown.  My team is counting on me.  I see a massive lineman in front of me and am barely able to sidestep him.  I can see the goal line ahead of me.  Just a few more yards.  I can do this.  I push my body to its maximum speed. My muscles are screaming at me, but I don’t care.  The goal line is right in front of me.  Just a few more steps and I will have scored the winning touchdown for my team.

I feel my feet slip out from under me.  I’m laying on the ground, the ball still wrapped tightly in my arms.  I use my elbows to push myself up into a sitting position.  Players from my team and the opposing team are surrounding me.  They are all just standing there staring at me.  Simultaneously, they take off their helmets.  They all look the same.  I shake my head to clear my vision, but my eyes aren’t playing tricks on me.  I’m looking at twenty versions of my dad.  They all raise their arms and chant.

Help me, Son.  Help me, Son.  Help me, Son.

I throw the ball down and stand up.  I run up to the person closest to me. 

Help me, Son.

I’m trying! I shout back, I don’t know what to do.  What do you need me to do!

I start shaking the guy in front of me.

Answer me, Dad!

Help me, Son.  Help me, Son.

I can’t take it.  I kneel to the ground and cover my ears with my hands.  I can hear footsteps in the grass.  I glance up.  They are all moving in on me.

Help me, Son.  Help me, Son.  Help me, Son.

I tried!  I should’ve!  I know!

I start to cry and curl myself into a ball on the ground.  They all continue to move closer until the weight of their legs push against my body.

They’re closing in.  I can’t take it.  I feel like I can’t breathe.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

I grab my pillow and push it against my face, trying to drown out the screeching sound of my phone alarm.  Everything falls off of my night stand as I try to locate my phone.  I kick my legs out from underneath my sheet and slam them against the mattress while leaning over the side of my bed feeling around for my phone.  It lights up as my hand bumps the button on the side.  I squint against the brightness of the screen.  6:25.  Why would my alarm be set so early? With a flick of my wrist, I toss it back on the nightstand and close my eyes.

Then it hits me.  School.  Today is the first day of my freshman year.  I snatch my phone back off the nightstand.  6:35.  Crap!  My bus is going to be here in 20 minutes.  I slide off the bed, grab the pair of jeans sitting on the floor and the nearest t-shirt, and head for the bathroom.

Shower. Check.  Deodorant.  Check.  Teeth brushed.  Check. Hair...as good as it’s going to get.  Running my fingers through my dark shaggy hair, I race downstairs, losing my balance as I miss the last step.  I grab the banister, pull myself back up, and swing myself down the hall towards the kitchen.  My mom is already standing by the stove, a fresh plate of pancakes and bacon in her hands.

Good morning.  That was a graceful entrance you made there.  I see you inherited my two left feet, she gently teases.

Yeah, thanks for that, I retort, snatching a couple pieces of bacon and wrapping a pancake around them, Gotta go!

Remember, I won’t be home for dinner tonight.  I’m working a double at the hospital. There’s leftovers in the fridge for dinner.  I’ll text you at some point to let you know when I’ll be home.  Love you!

Got it, I say through a mouth full of food. I give her a quick kiss on the cheek and head to the door.  The brakes of the bus squeal in front of my house as I pull the door closed behind me.

I dart to the bus,  climb the stairs, and snag the back seat.  I put my earbuds in and lean my head against the window as I try not to think about another long school year. 

2 - SJ

MY EYES FLY OPEN AS I reach for my phone.  4:55.  Quickly, I turn the alarm off five minutes before it was set to ring.  I can’t believe it’s the first day of school.  My mind starts racing with everything that I need to do to prepare for the day, dance being the first thing on that list.  I flip the duvet off of me and spring out of bed.  Once my bed is made, I grab my ballet slippers and head to my studio in the basement.

This is my favorite time of the day.  Just me, my slippers, and the music.  Most days, it’s the only time I have to myself to just enjoy what I love without my coach critiquing my every move. I tiptoe down the stairs, trying not to wake anyone, knowing that once my mom is up, my time is no longer my own.  I plug my phone into the speaker and scroll through my music, looking for a song. I settle on a slow-paced ballad and quickly start my warm ups, knowing I only have 30 minutes to dance for me.

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. 5:30.  That alarm reminds me Mom’s getting up now.  I quickly grab my phone, shut off the alarm, and put on the song that goes with the routine I am working on for my recital next month.  Knowing my mother, she will be down those steps any second to make sure I am getting a dance session in before school. 

Right on time, I hear the basement door creak open and my mom’s light footsteps as she glides down the stairs.  She stands a few feet away from me, carefully watching as I continue dancing.

It’s coming along, Darling, remember that correction I showed you for that last turn, my mom cooes as she joins me on the floor and demonstrates the turn for me, like this, she beams.

I mimic her turn and then glance at her, hoping that I satisfied her expectations.

Almost there, Darling, she says as she shows me the turn one more time, you’ll get it...eventually.

Thanks, Coach, I smile at my mom and then continue to work on the turn as she makes her way back up the stairs. As soon as I hear the door close, I drop to the floor and take five deep breaths. In through my nose, out through my mouth. I pull myself up, wrap a loose strand of hair back into my bun, straighten my spine, and try the turn again.

3 - Ashton

I TEAR MY SCHEDULE out of my bookbag as I run to the front doors.  I don’t mind taking the bus, but I hate having to rush to get to my classes.  I’m counting down the days until I can get my driving permit next year.  Sweeping my eyes across the crumpled piece of paper, I walk into school.  First period.  Biology with Mr. Morris.  I make a right down the hall, knowing I don’t have any time to stop at my locker, and head to class. 

Kids are packed in the halls like sardines, everyone in a mad rush trying to get to class before the second bell.  I squeeze my way past a group of girls that are frantically checking their schedules, heads whirling around as they read the numbers on the classroom doors looking for the right one.  A few guys are leaning against the wall laughing as frantic freshmen zoom around.  I roll my eyes.  Football players.  I do my best to avoid them as I swim across to the other side of the hall.  My attention still on the guys by the wall, I fail to see the locker open in front of me and walk right into it, my schedule flying to the floor.  I quickly scramble to pick it up.  Three girls walk by me laughing as they see me crawling on the floor, trying to grab my schedule before it gets dragged away with the rush of kids.  A high heeled foot slams down on top of the paper.  I look up to see it belongs to the girl with black hair.  She drags her foot back into a small kick.

Oops, she giggles as the paper goes flying back and is immediately trampled on by the other students.

All three girls laugh again.  I catch SJ’s eyes, the blonde leading the pack, as she walks into the classroom with a sign outside the door that says biology: Mr. Morris.  I let out a deep sigh, look back down, and snatch my schedule out from under the foot of a boy two feet away from me.  I stand up, push my hair out of my eyes, and head into the room.  Great, I can already tell this is going to be an awesome class. I let out another sigh as I turn towards the classroom door.

I walk in just as the bell is ringing and quickly find a seat.  There is only one seat open and it’s right next to the window in the back of the class.  Perfect.  Science is one of my favorite subjects, maybe the only subject that I am actually good at, but I like going unnoticed by not only my teachers, but my fellow classmates as well.

Good morning class, Mr. Morris enthusiastically calls.

A few kids pathetically return his good morning.

That was awful.  Let’s try that again.  Good morning, class, he calls again, with more enthusiasm than I thought possible this early in the morning.

This time, the class humors him with a slightly more energetic reply. 

Welcome to your first day of high school.  Most of you don’t realize how lucky you are to start off the day in the best class ever. In fact, you get to start everyday seeing my devilishly handsome face.  Could you really have asked for anything better? he winks, I can see you are all insanely comfortable in your seats, but I like to mix things up.  It’s time for lab partners!  That’s right. These are going to be your lab partners for the year.

Oh great, the assigning of seats.  I hate that teachers force us to mingle with people we don’t want to talk to, because if we did, we would’ve sat next to them in the first place.  He walks to the nearest table and starts reading off names, pointing to each seat as he goes, Stella.  Wyatt.  Makayla.  Josh.  Avery.  Ashton.  Sienna.

It’s SJ! the blonde instantly chimes in.

We make eye contact.  I put my head down as I gather my belongings and head to my seat at the table.  Mr. Morris finishes making his way through his list and waits for everyone to move to their new seats.  I look at the girl sitting next to me.  Avery.  This won’t be so bad.  I don’t know her well, but everyone seems to like her.

Okay my wonderful enthusiastic scientists.  Look at the person sitting directly across from you.  That is your new lab partner.

My head shoots up.  The girl sitting directly across from me is SJ. 

4 - SJ

ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING me?  This is not happening!  I can’t believe Mr. Morris is doing this to me.  Biology is already going to be hard enough this year without Ashton being my lab partner.  There is no way I will be able to do all the work to make up for his shortcomings and still make it out of this class with an A. 

I can’t even look at him.  What do I even say to him?  There was a time when I would have been over the moon about him being my lab partner, but not now.  The boy I knew in elementary school is long gone, and I don’t think he is ever coming back.  Ashton hasn’t been the same since the accident.  We haven’t been the same since the accident.

I slowly lift my head to steal a glance at him.  He is slumped in his chair already ignoring Mr. Morris.  I noisily pull my pen out of my bookbag and slam it to the side of my notebook.  I throw open my notebook and settle in to take notes hoping Ashton gets the hint to do the same.  Someone has to be the responsible one in this partnership.  God knows it will not be Ashton Blackwood.  I would bet my dancing career on that.

As Mr. Morris continues talking about his biology syllabus for the year, my eyes gravitate towards Ashton.  He still has not made any effort to even pretend he is listening.  How in the world am I going to survive this year with him?  Just because he doesn’t care about his grades and his future, doesn’t mean he should get to affect mine.  He probably doesn’t even have a plan for his future after high school.  Me on the other hand, I have my entire dancing career carefully planned out.  Well my mom does anyway.  Part of that plan requires a perfect 4.0 G.P.A. throughout my entire high school career.  I can’t blow my G.P.A. my first year, but that is exactly what is going to happen with Ashton as my lab partner.  I need a strong lab partner.  Why couldn’t Mr. Morris stick me with Wyatt?  Everyone knows he is the smartest kid in our class.  He’s a shoe in to be voted Most Likely to Become a Doctor our senior year.  Maybe I can talk some sense into Mr. Morris after class to see if he can switch my partner.

My pen continues to glide across my notebook as Mr. Morris excitedly talks about the ‘wonderful world of biology.’  I try to stop thinking about the boy sitting across from me.  Instead, I’m desperately clinging to every word coming from the teacher’s mouth.

I jump as the bell rings.  Mr. Morris stops mid sentence and reminds us to prepare ourselves for the best year ever.  Yeah right, more like worst year ever!  At least I know Ashton and I won’t be sharing any other classes together.  The rest of my schedule is filled with AP courses that I am positive Ashton Blackwood would never qualify for in the first place.

I start to pack up my bag and head for Mr. Morris’s desk, waiting to make sure everyone has exited the class before I make my move.  Stella and Makayla are standing by the door waiting for me.  I wave to them to tell them to go.  Confusion crosses their faces, but they head out the door anyway.  I walk up to Mr. Morris’s desk.

Mr. Morris?

Yes, Sienna? Sorry, I mean SJ.  How can I help you?

Is there anyway you could possibly change my lab partner? I plead. I try to imitate the face my mom makes when she asks my dad for a favor.

Well, I normally do not reassign lab partners unless there is a plausible reason, Mr. Morris replies.

I stumble.  I mean I have a plausible reason, but I don’t know if Mr. Morris will see it that way.  I look down at my shoes and try to come up with a good enough reason, but I can’t.

Listen SJ,  why don’t you give your partner a chance.  Let’s see how your first lab goes.  We can make adjustments if need be, but for now, you’ll be working with Ashton.

Okay, I mumble as I try to muster up a smile.

I briskly turn and walk out of the room, heading towards my next period.

5 - Ashton

BEFORE I KNOW IT, THE lunch bell is ringing.  I guess time goes by fast when you’re mind is preoccupied with other things.  I still can’t comprehend the fact that Sienna Johnson is my lab partner.  We were friends once.  Once.  Then I lost my dad and her life became full of drama.  I’ve done my best to avoid her as much as possible these past few years.  I guess all of that was going to change.

I make a beeline straight to my locker after class, trying to avoid as many people as possible.  I just want to get to lunch and see my friends, Owen and Carter.  I’m sure they will take my mind off of this morning.  I push my way through the crowds, ducking just in time to miss a football colliding with my head as one of the jocks shouts Go long! and throws a pass down the hall.  I zigzag through a group of upperclassmen chatting excitedly on the stairs, a few wearing letterman jackets with track and field patches on them.  When I get to the main doors of the cafeteria, I narrowly escape a collision with a freshman boy, Nelson, screaming Excuse me! Excuse me! in a squeaky voice as he tries to push up his glasses with one hand and balance a container with some kind of yellowish concoction in the other.

Lunch bag in hand, I scan the cafeteria looking for Owen and Carter.  I spot shaggy red hair just peeking out of the side of a hooded head and know instantly that it is Owen.  He is one of the only redheads in our grade and he embraces it.  I make my way to the table, and sure enough, as I am approaching, I hear Owen’s voice getting louder and louder as they discuss last night’s game.

Hey, guys! I scream over them, trying to break the tension.  I’m not much of a sports guy myself anymore, but those two, they can argue over the length of the grass on the field for an hour if you let them.  I don’t want to spend my whole lunch pretending to listen to them, so I know I need to change the subject now before they get in too deep.

Nelson’s already up to something.  That kid can’t make it a couple of hours without almost blowing up the school with his experiments can he? I comment, shaking my head with a grin on my face.

Oh trust me, this year is going to be way worse.  He has full access to the chemistry lab.  I heard he tested out of biology and was bumped up.  We might all want to start coming to school in hazmat suits and carry fire extinguishers, Owen cautions.

Biology.  There was that dreaded word.  I almost shiver just at the thought of it.

Carter simply shakes his head.

Duly noted, I laugh, sweeping my hair back. 

How are your classes so far? Owen asks.

There it is, the question I was hoping wasn’t going to come up.  I should’ve known that Owen would be the one to bring it up.  He actually enjoys school.

Meh, Carter musters up.

I just shrug, not sure if I want to bring up biology class.

I have PE first hour.  So that’ll be fun.  Claire’s in it though, Owen winks as he nudges Carter, who lets out another ‘meh.’  Owen has had a crush on Claire since the fifth grade.

How about yours? Carter practically shouts.  I can always count on his enthusiasm.  He is always full of energy.

Not too bad actually.  Biology is going to be a drag though,  it comes out before I can even think about it.

Why? I thought you liked science,  Owen replies.

I do...it’s just.....,  I put my head down, pretending to be engrossed in my pudding cup.

Spit it out, Man! Carter pushes.

I just didn’t get a great lab partner that’s all, I say, trying to make it like it isn’t that big of a deal. 

They know that SJ and I stopped being friends, but they don’t know the whole story.  I’m afraid that they are going to ask more questions if I mention that she is my lab partner, and I really don’t feel like getting into that right now.

Oh man, did you get Sabrina the paper eater? Owen asks. 

My eyes dart to where Sabrina is sitting by herself.  She flips her bright red hair and pulls out an oddly shaped fruit from her lunch bag.

Sabrina is a sweet girl, she’s just known for being odd.  Everyone dreads being paired up with her in any class because you never know what you are going to get.  Her gym partner from last year swears she used to put bags of grapes in her shoes before class, because it was the ‘perfect way to make homemade grape juice.’

I shudder.

No. It’s...uh...Sienna Johnson, I finally answer.

Owen literally spits milk out of his mouth and Carter starts laughing.

Oh dude that’s rough! Owen smirks, wiping milk off of his face with his sleeve.

How long has it been since you guys have talked? Carter inquires, It has to have been like what 6th grade?

Fifth, I correct as the lunch bell rings.

Welp, good luck with Ballerina Barbie, Owen claps my back as he lifts his tray and heads to the trash.

Carter shoots me a remorseful look.

I nod, grab my bag, and head out of the cafeteria.  I may not be able to avoid SJ in biology class, but at least I’ve gotten good at avoiding her everywhere else in my life. One hour a day, that’s all the time I’ll have to deal with her.  That’s the silver lining I can see in this whole situation.  One hour a day.  I head back up the stairs towards my locker, the rest of the kids just now streaming out of the cafeteria.  I check my phone to see if my mom texted me.  She hasn’t.  She must be having a rough day.  I slide my phone back into my pocket and look up right as I’m getting to my locker.  I jump.  Someone is standing there, waiting for me with bright shining green eyes.

6 - SJ

I BREEZE THROUGH THE rest of my morning classes starting to forget about the awful start to my day.  Lunch period is next, and I can’t wait to see Stella and Makayla and fill them in about my true feelings from biology this morning.  Hopefully their first freshman morning went a lot smoother than mine. 

I quickly stop at my locker to grab my nutritious, Mom approved lunch.  Sometimes I wish I could just be like everyone else and buy my lunch.  One school burger is not going to ruin me, but according to my mom, putting such trash in my body will be the end of my dancing physique.

Scanning the cafeteria, I quickly find my two besties already sitting at a table flanked with some cuties I have never seen before.  Leave it to Stella and Makayla to be making such quick friends with the opposite sex.  I wish my only concern in high school would be finding someone to take me to a movie or out for a bite to eat.  Unfortunately, I have more important things to do with my time, but I still feel a pang of jealousy towards them.  I push the jealousy aside as I make my way through the crowded cafeteria masses.

Stella quickly scoots over to make room for me as I straddle over the bench and join them.  I take out my well-balanced meal and settle in to get the morning scoop.

SJ!  I can’t believe we only have one class together.  My days are going to be so long if I only get to see your face once before lunchtime, Stella complains.

Come on Stella, it’s not that bad.  At least we all have lunch together too.  You know eating lunch in the cafeteria by myself is my worst fear.  How were your morning classes?  I ask.

Well, to start with, these two cuties are in my second period English class, so I can’t complain too much, she giggles and glances to the boys next to her.  How were yours?

I hesitate deciding whether to tell them about my lab partner fiasco or not.  They couldn’t tell how I was feeling about Ashton because they were behind me in class.  They just don’t understand my whole past with him.  I know they don’t like him because they perceive him as a loser, but that is not the reason I don’t want him as a partner. 

I don’t want to share this information with just anyone.  Maybe I will ask the two boys to leave.  Well, I have a problem, but I kind of want to talk to you and Makayla alone.  Is that okay?  I really think I’m going to have a breakdown, and I haven’t even gone to all my classes yet,  I spit out.

"Of course, Sweetie.  Boys, thank you for joining