At eleven thirty a message beeps on my I.S.D waking me up.

After rubbing the droo-, uhh random liquid that came out of nowhere off my lips, I read it. It’s kinda long, but to summarize, it was time for lunch.

After sleeping through my first day of class, I can say for certain that it’s my favorite period...when I finally get it from Papa.

The other students take out their daily nutritional pills from a small slot on their I.S.D, swallow them, then resume browsing on their devices.

Well, that’s boring. I read that lunchtime was the social hour of the day.

Why are they just reading and ugh pills? Why someone would subject themself to suffering like that is beyond me.

I tried those pills once and, yep, like the surrounding buildings, they were super gross and flavorless, but it made me feel not hungry for the next couple of hours. Papa told me that most people prefer pills to regular food because it took less time to consume. It also had special nutritional chemicals that help develop the mind and prevent distractions.

So not food but medicine that makes you full.

I would always rather have food because eating with my Papa was way more fun. Fortunately, we always had enough ingredients to spare that he gets from our basement, and we never have to eat those things.

Oh! Friends!

Turning to my neighbor to introduce myself again and she was gone. It hasn’t even been ten seconds since the message came out and she’s gone.

Great. There goes plan A.

I search under the desk, thinking that maybe she is sleeping on the floor, then scan the room but nothing.

Was she a teleporter, too? Just how many teleporters are there? Oh, she left her coat...I’ll leave it alone for now. Don’t want to get too nosy.

Grmm grmmm My rumbly tummy calls to me. Luckily, I just have to wait for Papa to bring me lunch, making me more anxious since it was northern style meatball pasta. I’m not sure about what actually was to the north, but their food sure is tasty.

Knock Knock The sound came from the window, catching my attention.

“Ophi. Hellooo?” I turn to the window to see him hanging outside, waving at me with his lunch in one hand. Immediatly I fall out of my seat in shock and when I regain my composure, I got up slamming open the window, and he swung inside. The class behind surprise by his entrance, well everyone except the girl who disappeared.

“Papa! What are you doing?!”

“What do you mean?” He had this dumbfound look saying, ‘what do you mean the window isn’t an entrance?’ “It was faster, and you were hungry? You are hungry, right, sweetie?”

“Yes, but you can’t just travel by window and why aren’t you eating in your class?”

“Bzzzzt. Wrong, I can enter from anywhere I want to and I just need to be in the building. Besides how else was I supposed to give you lunch? It’s not like you know where my class is, right?”

Papa wasn’t wrong, but I definitely don’t wanna tell him he’s right, either.

“Not to mention these guys suuuuck. All day mememe ‘how can we improve professor’ and blablabla ‘can you actually guide us professor’ Bububu ‘why will you not help us professor,’ can you believe that?”

Yes, I can. I mean, isn’t that what a professor does?

I sigh. “Papa, go back to class before they find you again.”

“Aw, who cares about that? I thought since we’re here we could have even more precious Papa daughter time at a new locale since I was oh so lonely.”

“It’s not like that!”

I feel my friendship points draining with every second that he was here.

I snatch my half of the lunch and shove him back out the window.

“Papa, please please pleeease leave.”

I know it was a little selfish, but I desperately want to make at least one friend today and I had more than enough things to worry about.

“Noooo. I’ll be so sooo sad. Why do I have to go?” He groans.

“Well…” With no other choice, I whisper to him. I know he already knew and came down here to check up on me, but I had to say it, or he’ll never leave. “I’m close to making a friend.”

“Aren’t I enough for you? Sniffle sniffle sad face.” Papa's face drenched in eye drops pretending to be hurt.

“Shh!”

“Just kidding, do your best, okay? Hehe.” He leaps back out of the window and climbs out of the window back to his class upstairs, smiling ear to ear. When he left, the class returns to their I.S.D like nothing happened.

How am I going to make friends now?

Grrrrrrruuum

A quick lunch first, then friends.

I sat back down, taking off the lid of my boxed lunch, which explodes with the salty aroma of gravy. Heat deeply embedded into the meat, inviting me closer to dig in as a wave of saliva embraces my tongue, desperately calling out to me to devour this meal. But I couldn’t. Because of my integrity as a chef, I must examine my work first.

First came the noodles.

The noodles themselves were firm, but they lack a distinct teamwork in the dish. Looks like using rice noodles wasn’t the best choice for this time. Like they didn’t make it bad but wasn’t good either. Cohesion, or rather the lack thereof, being a good word for it. Boiled and seasoned well but needed something to make you go ‘wow delish.’ Next time I should make them with floury noodles in the sauce instead of boiling them separately.

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Now for the star of the dish, the meatballs. One bite immediately struck with an array of flavors.

Not too over seasoned like the last time. This time the meat naturally embraces the sauce, coating itself down to its very core.

Last time I didn’t coat the meat in the sauce, but now it differs completely from before. It was a creamy salty perfect blend, and the special bred mushrooms I got from Papa added a unique taste that was missing previously.

Yes!

I could say for sure that this was the star of the dish. I am a little disappointed with the noodles but in the end; I call it a success.

“Ophi!” I heard my Papa yell from above me outside the window, “It’s amazing!”

“I know!” Opening the window and yelling back.

I took another bite, then another, and by the time I realized it, I had completely cleaned out my lunch box.

“Thank you for this meal.” I clap my hands.

I don’t know who those Northerners were, but they were great people in my book.

I close my box and wrap it back in its cloth; the cloth designed vibrantly with white flowers striped across the sides. Papa said he got it from a ‘traumatic experience’ in the west as a gift along with other goodies when he crossed. I don’t know where he keeps them, but he said if I found out, he would give me full access to it. My last guess was an underground treasury, but I was wrong. The vibrant dance of the boundary caught my attention again as I stared out the window and scooted over to the girl’s seat to get a better look.

I wonder how far he’s traveled. The people he’s met. The foods he’s eaten. All of it out there on the other side. Someplace within my grasp and yet so far away.

Northerners.

Southerners.

Westerners.

Animals.

What was out there and how do I get there?

Oh right, we’re going on vacation after this month, that’s when. I really want a pet to take with us, but Papa says they can be dangerous.

Anything furry would be a pain to clean after it. A reptile seems cool, but gathering cute little bugs or even a spider would be just the best. A fish...nah too wet. Rocks...nope too rocky. Maybe a turtle. Perhaps bribing him with a steak for a pet turtle.

I often wonder about things outside of my understanding. Maybe because I was his daughter, or I was simply curious. I secretly hope one day I can see the places Papa has been with him. We can laugh, play and do all the usual things in unfamiliar places and that thought makes me happy.

I wanna make a friend to take with us.

Sullen and excited about our upcoming journey, I look over my I.S.D. to see that it’s eleven fifty. Instantly, a shock ran through my spine, filling my stomach with anxiety.

Friend. Friend! Friend!!

I felt so engrossed in my food and vacation that I forgot to approach someone to be my friend.

You know the reason I went to school.

Frantically scanning the room and I saw everyone had already formed their cliques. I read that people who group together ultimately end up being friends for a while and if you were outside the circle, getting in would be impossible. Sophia and the two boys in front of her were the only ones by themselves, while the others formed two separate groups. Both groups had a mix of girls and boys, but the difference lies with their physique. One group looked physically strong, and the other group was scrawny, smart looking. Sophia had an air about her that blended both qualities of them. The other two outcasts, like me, were plain looking, but they seemed nice. The muscular outcast especially catches my eye because his workout routine must be top-notch despite the pills — focus me!

There was still time. I will approach Sophia first, then the boys and finally, if time allows white hair.

Of course, I had to approach Sophia first since, well; I am a girl too and I don’t know anyone else, but if it fails, the boys will be my backup. If the white-haired girl comes back, then I’ll go for her first. I took another glance at my I.S.D. Eleven fifty-five, perfectly terrible.

I had to strike up a conversation with Sophia and somehow convince her to be my friend in; I look to my I.S.D. no way.

What do I talk about?

Food? No, she isn’t interested.

Her power? I read people love talking about themselves, but wouldn’t she just say to look it up?

Ah, what do I do? What do I say?! I just need to go for it. No plan let’s go!

Filling with new determination, I march over to Sophia.

“Good. I needed to speak with you as well.”

Standing in front of her with a puzzled expression, I now realize how poorly prepared I was for this because I froze up just from her voice. But I push through because I want this more than anything.

A friend like in those stories I’ve always read. A person I could be there for and be there for me besides my Papa. With all my Ophelia willpower, I open my mouth.

“Um, Sophia!”

Why am I unable to control my volume?! Gah, screw it, keep going, Ophelia.

“Yes?”

“Well, it’s just, you know. I-I want to…”

Why is she focusing all her attention on me, making me feel like I was under her microscope?

“I-I was wondering. I-i-if you don’t mind. I know this is out of nowhere but can.”

But before I could finish, another beep sounded on my I.S.D.

“Lunch period is over. Please resume work.” Sophia says.

“Ophelia, please return to your desk.” Our bald teacher, Mr. Smith said.

“But I!”

“Class is starting…now.” He interrupts and continues his lesson without skipping a beat.

“Ophelia, I’ll talk to you later.” Sophia put her hand on my stomach and in the next second, I was sitting at my desk.

I should’ve invited her the moment the lunch period started. I should’ve introduced her to Papa. I should’ve given her a bit of my food. I should’ve…

These thoughts were looping loudly in my mind until they stopped because of the small tapping making me lift my head at the sound.

What is this? Did I have this before?

It’s a small metallic needle lay on my desk. Then another one pops out of thin air and again I pick one up to examine it.

It was about the size of a long four-inch nail, but smooth throughout the entire base with a cone tip. The tip itself wasn’t very sharp and the whole thing wasn’t all that heavy, yet I couldn’t help but be in awe of its shape. Then another one pops up again, reminding me of when Sophia teleported this morning. When the professor wasn’t paying attention, I sneaked a peek at Sophia and, to my surprise, she was pointing at her right hand.

I lift my right hand, holding the needle silently asking her if it was hers.

She nods.

I point to myself.

She nods again.

Then she points to her right hand again, this time closer to her I.S.D.

Oh my I.S.D. Is that what she wanted?

I look at my I.S.D. and see an unread message.

[We need to talk. Stay in your seat after class.]

[Okay! ♡ʕᵔ//ᴥ//ᵔʔ] I reply.

Looks like I didn’t fail after all. Yes!

I feel my smile stretching my face as I finally befriended someone, and with Sophia, no less. I thought she was a scary loner but to message me even though I made a terrible impression means she can’t be all bad. Also, these needles really were beautiful. Sleek and strong, just like Sophia.

A couple minutes later, the white-haired girl returns. She saw me with the needles and seemed shocked by them.

She sat down next to me, then leaned in close to me until her face was inches from my ear.

“Be careful.”

Before I could respond, she went back to sleep at her side, leaving me to think about her words.

Sophia just wanted to talk to me about being friends, right? What else could there be?