S O P H I A

It was kind of nerve wracking when your mind was fully occupied with thoughts about starting fresh at your new school. It wasn't that I was afraid of the new experience. I just didn't want to bump into anyone again.

The high building was currently occupied by a large mass of swarming students, all eagerly awaiting their first day back. As I clutched my necessities across my chest, I allowed my feet to move me towards the entrance.

I looked around at the bustling crowd contrasted against the massive hallways. They were each occupied with different students and teachers, all eagerly running to their new classes to prevent being late.

It was kind of difficult for me since I was a newcomer, whereas everyone else had been here for years and had become comfortable with making friends and finding their ways across the courtyard.

I finally find my way to the front office from the multiple signs and hallways leading my way.

"Excuse me?"

The lady behind the counter surprisingly jolts from my outburst.

"Oh, sorry. I just wanted to ask about receiving my timetable, since I-um-"

"Oh sure thing! Can you please provide me with your name?"

"Sophia Grace."

As she typed my name through the system, I realised it was going to take longer than I had anticipated.

I found some chairs situated across the wall as I walk towards them, placing my bag beside me.

I hoped the receptionist didn't take her sweet time and handed me my timetable soon. I really didn't want to be late.

In between the constant shaking of my legs, a commotion taking place across the receptionist was heard.

"-eb already told us she's here. I don't need your constant reminders of her presence." A deep voice starts off the conversation, his tone full of anger.

"Of course you do! Do I need to remind you of what we're facing? It's just going to make this situation that much more worse." A feminine voice answers back, but her tone seemed more approachable.

"Fuck." The deep voice belonging to the guy whispers as I peek my head through the door.

Both of them looked about my age. The boy had striking blond hair, with a chiselled jawline and high cheekbones. The girl looked exactly like him, but in a slightly smaller version with her blond hair tied in a ponytail. I could tell their similarities that they shared, so they must have been twins.

But what I realised was that they looked oddly familiar. Or more, they reminded me of a certain someone.

The boys eyes suddenly connected with my own, his frown deepening as he presents a scowl.

"What the fuck are you looking at?"

I quickly look away and face the opposite direction, not wanting to cause any problems between them.

Damn, what was up his ass?

The girl raises her voice at him from his sudden rudeness as both their footsteps became progressively louder.

The boy walked through the door with a glare so sharp before waiting near the front desk. The girl then walks my way.

"Hey, I'm really sorry about Xavier. He's just being an idiot."

Xavier scoffs in response as he impatiently taps his foot on the ground.

"No, I completely understand. I shouldn't have pried into something that wasn't any of my business."

The girl smiles a little and sticks out her hand.

"I'm Jay."

I grab her hand in exchange, shaking it back.

"Sophia."

It was like the whole world had stopped right before my eyes. Her response was not what I was expecting. She freezes in her spot and her eyes widen in surprise as she slowly retreats her hand.

Xavier had fully turned towards us, his hands clenched against his sides. His eyebrows furrow deeply as he looked as ready to kill someone.

They both quickly give each other weird stares, almost like they were mind reading each other's thoughts.

"What?"

I was in no time prepared for what was coming next, but I knew it wasn't going to be good.

"Is there someth–"

"Sophia Grace!" The receptionist finally calls out. The papers were held between her hands as she awaited my arrival.

I breathed a sigh of relief as I retrieved my bag and walked towards the receptionist, thanking her in the process.

It was almost too weird to not acknowledge the way they had handled the situation upon hearing my name. Did they somehow know me from somewhere?

Upon exiting the room, they continued to stare abruptly at me, but it wasn't in a friendly state.

I only needed to hear one more word from him.

"Fuck."

~*~

I was quite alright with sitting alone. It taught me to catch up on things I couldn't do with others, like reviving myself again once I was alone.

I had managed to find a spot behind the school as I leant against the cold brick wall.

Pulling out my plastic container that held my lunch, I retrieved my sandwich as I happily bit into it.

I still couldn't get over what happened in the morning. They seemed alright at first, but after my introduction, I wasn't so sure anymore.

I throw the crusts that I had purposely not touched on the grass, watching the multiple birds peck at them.

"Littering is against the rules, isn't it?"

I jump a little as I turn towards his voice, his view occupied by the blue birds across the field.

"Well, you're not one for rules. If you know what I mean. I mean, you're not exactly the kind to um..."

Stupid. Stupid. Stup–

But instead of an angry remark, he slides down the wall beside me.

"Do you mean to tell me you sit alone, everyday?"

"Yeah, what's wrong with that?" I feign hurt, but what I was really interested in was that he was actually starting up a civil conversation with me.

"Nothin." He simply answers back, without holding eye contact.

"Do you like cheese?" I was so stupid, I didn't even know how or why anyone, including him, even wanted to sit with me, let alone have any reason to be within the same radius as me.

He quickly eyes out the cheese and shrugs. It wasn't an everyday occurrence when you're placed with your mere enemy and asking him if he liked cheese.

Well...I liked cheese.

So, like the mentally idiot that I was, I continued to talk, despite his attempts of not giving a shit about what I was talking about.

"Yeah, so I specifically ordered chicken mushroom without any mushrooms and I even expanded on the fact that I didn't want any mushrooms. But then, the stupid waiter comes back with my food with extra mushrooms. I even had to use the joke about a fun-gi and say 'I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I'm not a fun guy. Now please escort yourself to the nearest hearing aid consultant and come back when you know the difference between mushrooms and no mushrooms!"

I wasn't even sure who I was talking anymore, but I continued to complain about my mushroom problems to whoever was listening out there.

Even after he sighed deeply, I took that as my answer to continue.

However, the stupid bell sounded across the courtyard, stopping me from ending my tragic story.

"Well, I'd better go now, since you know, I have class now. I don't know if you'll even understand since you don't, you know..."

"Okay." He grunts as he places an earbud in his ear. He closes his eyes and leans his head against the wall, blocking out the world.

"Okay." I hesitantly get up and look at him one more time before leaving. I hear his last words followed by a scoff after rounding the wall and chuckle.

"Stupid mushrooms."

~*~