It's seven in the morning. I'm walking to school, told mom I preferred. Walking, the air is damp, sky Is gray. The weatherman said. It might rain, I guess that's obvious. I brought an umbrella, not taking any chances, walking down the street since we might get to stay here, bet its time I got used to the place. All I can see it is an ugly crowd range of emotions on different faces, anger, sadness, happiness, anxiety, despair, pleasure all under a mask, some with cracks leaking through, others plain and visible minorities wearing theirs with pride.

I wonder what's under mine. it scares me to find out. Bringing these emotions out of me will put me at risk. But it breaks when she's around. Without even trying, my mask crumbles from my face, revealing the ugly emotions stored in there. She saw them, I wonder what she thinks of it, of me. I can't let her win. We're the same, after all.

Turning to my left into an old street filled with old and odd buildings, the smell of wet rotten woods comforts me, grass damp with water, air without distortion fills my lungs, I feel light. Thinking back to what mom said, I hope we stay here for real this time. I left the street, climbing a hill. The school came into sight, towering against every building there. Has it become bigger? Or it is just my…

“Hey Nora”

Interrupted by the voice of our class rep

“Hey good morning”

“Good morning”

If perfection every had a physical embodiment, it's her. Fingers well polished, shining like crystal. Her blonde hair falls from her shoulder to waist giving a sweet smell of apples lips red as roses, eyes glittering in the rays of the sun her smile revealing her snow-white teeth, just being next to her makes me feel inferior and depressed. I want to wear her skin I would like to kiss those lips wear her clothes I want to be her, I hate this.

“You came one day and missed the entire week. That's an interesting impression you gave us Nora,”

I'm already giving them impressions, huh?

“No need to panic. I called home and your mom said you were down with. A fever, I hope you're feeling much better?”.

“Yeah, I'm sorry about that, my body got a mind of his own”

“You have to tame that body because we got a test next week. I already got you covered on the reading part,”

“Oh… Thanks," I said with a flush on my face. What am I doing? I move closer to her, our shoulders practically touching.

She noticed it and turned facing me, holding my hands I was rattled by. It, I almost. Fell backwards. She pulled me closer, staring down at me. I'm a head shorter than her. Felt her warm breath on my face, those eyes burning into mine making me dizzy. I wanted to kiss Her. There's just something about her….

“You're a mysterious girl, Nora. You're the talk of school. Everybody wants a piece of the mysterious girl who brought them here,”

“I am… am the talk of the school?”

I've only been here for one day, ah I don't like… I hate this.

“Yes,” she said, ignoring the stares of the ongoing students. We're close to the gate.

“You're special, don't downgrade yourself. "

No

“You want this? "

Why are saying this?

“You saw a chance of escaping and to our surprise you took it. Don't give it up, Nora, we need you!” She said with a calm voice

“Let her take your place, don't bother saving her, she wished for this. "

My mind is going spiral

“Please stop,” I said, “stop this” I said with tears in my eyes.

She pulled me closer—.

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“Nora”

I opened my eyes, waking up to the voice of my teacher.

Huh? Was that a dream? No… It can't…

“If you're not feeling well, go to the nurse. "

I realized the whole class was staring at me, the same as Tessa.

“No, I'm okay, sorry for passing out, I guess I got little sleep last night. "

“Oh, ok good to have you back”

Huh?

I found myself staring at Tessa, acting oblivious to my stare. She was writing the whatever was on the board.

You're trying too hard,. It won't work.

“DON'T HESITATE”

like a whisper her voice found my ear without turning back I already knew who it was.

It's break time. Not having an appetite, I rest on my desk thinking about whatever dream I had about Tessa. What does she mean by that..? Why did I have such a dream ..?

What's going on with me?

“UIMM hey”

Waking up to voice, my vision still blurred, I stared at my disturber, an egged face boy with a baby voice I can feel the anxiety from him

“Umm hey … Can I help you” I said meekly?

“UIMM” he stood there looking like he's going to explode any second.

“Yeah?” feeling annoying by it

“I know you are …. new here, and have your plate full of other things-since..... Since you ar.are not in any club I thought"

Oh, why is he having trouble with that.

“What's the name of your club? I got nothing going on here, I might as well join”

Desmond explained to me everything to me, they were slackers who used the club as an excuse to goof off and sometimes miss school activities and wanted to recruit me since I wasn't that “busy” second reason or maybe the main reason was to balance out the group which had a girl. Desmond said she just came to the clubroom and joined them… and it's been awkward ever since.

Well, since I'm not that busy, I guess…. I'm a club member, hmm? Desmond left class feeling the good emotions, whatever you call them. I'm tired.

Students leaving the school while the sun hung huge dull and dimmed, I went to my new club, still don't know why I agreed to this. Desmond looks like a nerd and his friends will be… But the girl, I wonder.

You're going there because of it .....

Don't hide it and act like a fool….

Do your job Natalie Nora…

“Nora?”

Brought back to reality by again by a voice. It's Tessa's, the smile on her face this morning or my dream, whatever that was is, gone. Her eyes are narrowed, she looks angry. Did I do something wrong…

Maybe I should start apologizing. Wait, but she kissed…

“Where are you going?”

Brought back to the real world from the clusters rambling in my head.

“UIMM'”

“Hm?”

“I'm sorry, whatever I did… I'm so sorry…”

Why am I apologizing? What did I do?

Tessa looking confused as I expected her to be,

” What? I don't get it, what did you do?”

“Nothing I did nothing regarding your earlier question. I'm going to a clubroom”

“Oh, Desmond's right?”

“Y…. yeah, how did you know?”

“Oh, I saw him talking to you earlier during lunch break. He does to, everyone, so i just…. assumed.”

“Oh right ok”

“Yeah”

“Umm”

“I better… Start going”

“…. yeah”

“See you”

Even though it was hushed, I heard the words she said when her back was turned to me.

You really can't change

This is the most awkward interaction I have ever gotten, and it confirmed my earlier suspicion. She's acting weird,. What happened in the morning was definitely real.

I came to the clubroom, contemplating if I should comfort Tessa about it or play dumb. I opened the door. There is nobody. It's empty not like empty empty. There's a table surrounded, by chairs, a bookshelf filled with. old books next to, a window, a huge one and to the left of it a small dark passage. Peeping out of the shadow, a shoe , black socks contracting with a pale white skin. She's here, why is she here? Sitting on the floor with a book on her lap, eyes closed, but she's not asleep breathing inhaling exhaling perfect rhymes I want to stop that I want to…

“You found me, huh?”

“Of course you are mine after at all. ”

“When are you going to stop playing around and get this over with and—”

“Don't tell me what to do. “

“What do you want to do?”

I walked to her and sat down next to her.

“Seems like we are in the same club. “

“Seems so,”

“Why are you making them act nervous?”

“They have never interacted with a girl in their entire life, that's the only logical explanation,”

“But one of them came to me. That's why I'm here.”

Looks like they reported you to me, MMM. “Maybe you're just an anomaly, making them uncomfortable in the place they're supposed to feel safe.” I guess that's what the entire school feels about you and even me, I suppose.

“I see,” she said in a voice devoid of emotions. I turned to face her, face inexpressive as usual, staring into space. Maybe she wasn't paying attention to what I was saying, not that I care. She got to fall in line.

“But I don't feel like that towards you, are fascinating feels like I'm staring into a mirror.” That's not what I intended to say, sigh.

“So I'm your source of amusement.” We sat there in silence. I don't know how long it lasted, possibly a minute or hour, I don't know.

“Yes,” I said with an uncanny expression. She turned her face to me staring, breaking, dissolving, laying to waste whatever I had built up with a loud irritating creak. They fell to the ground, shimmering and fading.

“Ok…. I'll stay until I get noticed by them. Probably won't be long, and it may last if I do nothing. Just being here is enough to get the job done. With a smile appearing on her face, a genuine one. I love what I'm seeing right now.” She said, swaying her head, looking at me, giggling. It all went dark.

I woke up breathing my head pounding, my bed wet with sweat paying no attention to it. Too tired to move, I went back to sleep. It pressed onto my lips, the air on my face. It was soft and smooth became damp as it parts my, lips, shoving something moist and bumpy with a rough texture into my mouth, twisting my tongue. My mouth overruns with fluid. without resisting, I accepted everything and finally fell asleep.