January 4th, 2024

...A regular school day.

I'm taking notes as my Physics teacher, Mrs. Henriette Greyson, explains nonsensical sh- trash.

...I can't swear on the first chapter. Author won't like that.

"Alright, put your pens down and listen to me," Mrs. Greyson declares.

We all put our pens down, and she begins explaining something regarding the subject as if it's necessary for our lives... Yeah, no, uh, "those things".

As she teaches, I sense someone's attention, someone's gaze, at me.

I turn my head to the direction; Eleonora. She's looking at me with such disgust it's like she's looking at a murderer... Well, she is looking at a murderer, what am I saying?

It appears her attention is solely on me. Does she even give a dang about the lesson? I highly doubt.

But as expected from the arrogant popular girl. They're all about money and fame.

I sigh, and she — finally — notices that I've sensed her staring at me, so she quickly averts her gaze, acting like nothing happened.

I turn my attention back to Mrs. Greyson. She's still explaining, but I totally missed some stuff. Thanks a lot, Eleonora.

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The bell rings as obnoxiously, as annoyingly, as I remember. Finally, thank god.

"Remember to study well, class," Mrs. Greyson dismisses, picking up her bag from the teacher's desk and leaving the classroom after.

The other students leave, but I stay. I pack my books and place my head on my desk, wrapping my arms around my head as I close my eyes, wishing to just... Rest after all those murders.

But of course, don't expect me to rest. Not when my dang bullies study in the same classroom as me.

"Psst, nerd, get the hell up."

I look up, and see them. Eugene Weston, Carl Baxter, Axel Quincy, Lucien Maverick, and their leader; Dimitri Wallace.

Dimitri is looking down at me with a smirk. I roll my eyes.

"What do you want?"

"We saw how you were staring at Eleonora," Carl mocks.

I rest my head back on my desk, closing my eyes once again.

"Don't gaslight me. She stared first and I simply glanced at her so she knew I was aware."

Axel laughs. "We aren't gaslighting you, nerdest."

I just hold out the finger for them.

Let me be for once.

Eugene laughs as well. "Aww, couldn't think of a better comeback? Want to keep your love for Eleonora hidden?"

"[CENSORED, F WORD] off."

Dimitri snickers. "Oh, now. Don't swear, Author doesn't like that."

My eyes widen and I immediately raise my head. How do they know about Author? They're no protagonists!

"How do you know about Author?" I ask immediately.

Dimitri chuckles. "You thought I don't know about her? Oh please, I-"

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

SLAP!!

I slap him square across his face.

"Shush. Author wouldn't like you revealing her place-of-residence."

His hand crawls up to his cheek, holding it with a threatening gaze directed at me.

Without a moment's hesitation, Lucien pushes me out of my seat and tackles me to the ground, his hands gripping my collar.

"Who do you think you are, nerd? A superhero?"

I grab his wrists, glaring at him coldly.

"What, offended?" I mock.

He tightens his grip on my collar, his expression resentful.

"Shut up. You really need to be taught a lesson, freak."

I scoff. "Says you."

I could actively ruin your life, even kill you, and the police will just shrug it off as the "Number Villain". Well, they won't be wrong if they do so, anyways.

"Let him be, Lucien," Dimitri dismisses.

"Fine."

Lucien lets go of my collar and stands up, standing next to Dimitri. "Be prepared for next time, freak." Just like that, they walk away.

I stand up from the floor, brushing the dust of my back (somehow.) I sit up. Today will be a long, looong day.

I sit back down on my seat.

"Number 12, activate," I whisper

Activating . . .

Number 12 is activated.

"They know about you."

Silence...

"I see," Author responds. "I told my sister to tell them about me."

I nod, although she can't really see me.

"Oh, alright."

She hums.

"The readers have to know about me, don't they? Come to my residence. Third floor, the locked empty classroom to the right of Info Chaos Club."

"Okay. On my way, see you," I pause. "Number 12, deactivate."

I stand up and begin my way.

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I knock on the door to the empty classroom she told me.

"Author? It's your character Seth."

"Come in~"

I turn the knob; it's unlocked. I swing the door open, stepping inside.

The room seems like it's straight out of a Sci-fi movie. The floor is black, the walls are painted cyan. And there's those multiple small TVs at the front, where a girl with short, wavy black hair who I believe to be Author, is sitting on a black office chair. The TVs display the entire school, and there's a large black and blue desk in front of her, with buttons and levers and such. The wall to the right is a wall of bookshelves, and the wall to the left has a black door which I assume leads you to Info\Chaos Club. There are also a few floating books around the room.

She turns around, grinning. Her onion pink eyes are filled with mischief.

"Hii!" She greets. I wave my hand awkwardly.

"So, for aaall the readers, allow me to introduce myself. I'm Ariah Leontine, the girl who came up with Seth's character, and also the author. I'll be mentioned a lot in the following chapters and stories because I'm the author after all, so prepare yourself. And if you're wondering about my outfit... All you have to know is I wear a long black dress. Thank you."

Her name is Ariah Leontine? I never knew. All she's ever told me is that her name has some of the letters of both the words "author" and "writer". I guess it makes sense.

"...Shall I leave now?" I ask after a moment of silence.

"Yes. But I have a demand in disguise of a favour; continue calling me Author."

I nod. "Alright. Bye."

I turn around and leave.

"Byeee!" She calls out behind me. "Close the door shut behind you, okay?"

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The moment I sit on my seat, the bell rings obnoxiously.

I shrug, I honestly cannot care any less.

I take out my biology book, allowing it to rest on my desk. [Lmao i felt like i was using a TOO basic English so i decided to ruin my grammar more by trying to sound fluent 😭😭 hope i did well]

The teacher, Mr. Henry Wilde, comes inside.

"Good morning," he greets. "Now take your books away I'm asking you questions regarding the last lesson."

I sigh, packing my book.

"What's the powerhouse of the cell?"

You're [CENSORED, F WORD]ing with me.

He didn't have a better question? Really?

Regardless of the stupidity of the question, I raise my hand.

"Yes, Seth? What is it?"

"The Mitochondria," I force myself to answer (because of the stupidity of the question).

"Correct! You may sit down now."

"What is the function of ribosomes in a cell?"

Few raise their hands.

For that easy question.

"Well, Axel?"

"They create ATP."

"Wrong. Sit down," Mr. Wilde turns to look at Eleonora, "yes, Eleonora?"

Eleonora stands up.

"Ribosomes are responsible for protein synthesis," she answers.

"Correct! You can sit down."

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He made us pull out papers because the students were horrible. You might be wondering, but they answered well as much as we were presented! Well, yeah, only that much where the students were fine. Now it's an exam; of both the lesson we were supposed to learn and the previous lesson.

The questions are ridiculous.

They really are.

I stand up from my seat, paper in hand, and quietly place it on the teacher's desk, next to him. It appears I was the first one to finish.

Mr. Wilde picks my paper up, nodding to me as a gesture for me to go sit back down. He begins going through it, to see if I've skipped any questions or not.

As I sit down, I sense stares at me. Of course, Eleonora, but this time, as I turn my head, I notice Lucien is also staring at me like he's looking at a freak.

As for Eleonora, it appears she's staring at my ear; the one with Number 12.

She's watching me.

Because she's suspicious, isn't she?