Tallulah woke up to her alarm clock blaring, dragging her from a peaceful sleep. She groggily reached out to turn it off, rubbing her eyes as she sat up. She glanced at it with a frown. It was too early. But she had to get up and get ready for school. She stretched out her arms and yawned before reluctantly swinging her legs over the side of the bed. Her room was dimly lit by the soft morning light filtering through the curtains, casting a warm glow over her. 

She padded across the room across the room to open her curtains more, running a hand through her messy hair. She was half awake, her mind still groggy from sleep. She rubbed her eyes, her eyes widening when she suddenly noticed Theo falling out of his bed next door. She couldn't help the small chuckle that escaped her. He had always been clumsy, but seeing him tumble out of bed was a familiar and endearing sight. Tallulah leaned against the window frame, a smile playing on her lips as she watched Theo scramble to get up, his face flushed with embarrassment.

After a moment, Theo glanced up and saw her, his cheeks turning an even deeper shade of red. He waved sheepishly, and Tallulah waved back, still chuckling. It was moments like these that made her heart flutter with a mix of affection and amusement. She turned and went to her closet to figure out what to wear, a smile still playing on her lips.

As she got dressed and brushed her hair, her thoughts drifted back to Theo. She thought about the way his face had flushed when he caught her watching him, and how he had waved so sheepishly. Her heart fluttered again, and she quickly shook her head, trying to push the feelings aside. She needed to focus. She had to get ready for school. She finished getting ready, feeling the weight of her unspoken feelings as she grabbed her backpack and headed downstairs. Her parents were already in the kitchen, chatting over coffee and breakfast. Tallulah joined them, her mind wandering back to the previous evening. 

The warmth of Theo's embrace, the way he made her laugh—it was all a stark contrast to the bullying she had faced earlier. But, even as her mind lingered on those memories, a part of her hoped that she would have a better day today and maybe she might be able to avoid Lila and her lackeys.

"Good morning, honey." Her mother greets, giving her a warm smile. "Ready for another exciting day at school?"

Tallulah rolls her eyes playfully, helping herself to a cup of coffee. "School ain't exciting, mom. You know that."

"True, true." She laughs, shaking her head. "Still, it's important to have an optimistic outlook. That's what makes life worth living."

"You and your optimism," Tallulah shakes her head, pouring milk into her coffee. "But, hey, maybe you're right. Maybe today will be a good day."

Her father chuckles, setting down his newspaper. "That's the spirit, honey. You want me to take to you to school before I head to work? Or are you gonna ride your bike or walk with Theo and meet up with Flora like usual?"

The trio had a routine where they either rode their bikes or walked to school after meeting at a specific place they always met at. Their parents knew the drill. "Can you take me today? Theo texted he had a rough morning and rough night, his mom is gonna drop him off at school." Tallulah explained after checking her phone at seeing a new text from Theo.

"Sure thing, sweetheart. Let me finish my coffee and get my briefcase together, and we'll head out." Her dad smiled, patting her shoulder as he got up from the table and went upstairs. 

Tallulah smiled at him and went and finished eating some of the bacon she had grabbed off the plate that was on the counter, grabbing one of the toast left too. Her dad, Nolan, worked as a forensic detective for the local police department. He was well respected in the community, and Tallulah couldn't be more proud of him. But, it also meant that he was often busy with work, and Tallulah always appreciated the extra time she got to spend with him.

After a few minutes, her dad came back downstairs, briefcase in hand. He was dressed in a sharp suit and tie, his hair neatly combed. He looked every bit the professional detective that he was. Tallulah finishes her food, setting her dishes in the sink before heading towards the front door. "Okay, dad, I'm ready."

"Alright, let's hit the road then, Tally." Nolan heads over to his wife, kissing her cheek. "I'll see you guys tonight. I love you."

"I love you too, sweetie." Her mom smiles, standing on her toes to give him a kiss on the cheek. "Have a good day."

"You too, babe." He smiles, pulling away and opening the door for Tallulah. "You ready, sweetheart?"

"Ready." Tallulah nods, picking up her backpack and following her dad outside. "Have a good day at the flower shop, mom!" She called out, smiling at her mom before closing the door behind her. 

Her mom owned a flower shop downtown, a place Tallulah had always found charming with its colorful arrangements and sweet fragrances. She loved how her mom's shop brought joy to so many people and often felt proud of the positive impact it had on the community. Tallulah hopped into the passenger seat of her dad's car, her backpack in front of her. Once they were buckled, Nolan started the engine and pulled away from the drive way.

On the way to school, music played quietly on the radio. Tallulah looked out the window, lost in her thoughts. The sunlight was bright, warming her skin as it filtered through the trees. It was a chilly morning, but the sun helped keep her warm. As her dad drove down the streets, the scenery slowly changed from quiet suburbs to busy city streets. Tallulah took in the sights, the hustle and bustle of the city. She loved how vibrant and alive everything seemed, and the feeling was contagious. Soon, her mood was brighter, and she found herself humming along to the song on the radio.

When they pulled up in front of the school, she was greeted with the sight of kids heading into school, pulling up to the school or being dropped off like herself. "Have a great day, honey. I'll see you later tonight." Nolan promised, giving her a warm smile.

"Thanks, dad." She grins, unbuckling and opening the door. "Love you." After her dad replied, she closed the door and headed to school to her locker. She got to her locker to get out books she would need for her classes before she noticed Flora and Theo walking over to her. "Hey, guys!" She chirps, smiling brightly at her best friends. "What's up?"

"Theo didn't realize what tonight was." Flora scoffs with a pout while Theo rolls his eyes. "Can you believe it?"

Tallulah pauses, confusion etched on her features. "What do you mean? What's tonight?"

"See? Even Tulip didn't know." Theo huffed, crossing his arms.

Flora groans, exasperated. "Apparently my two best friends have been living under a rock." She complains. "They started fracking yesterday down at Ruddy Creek in, like, a big way."

"What the frack is that?" Theo joked, earning chuckles from his friends while he grinned when Tallulah chuckled at his comment. He knew Flora's was more mocking but Tallulah's was genuine. She found it funny. Flora wasn't amused though. For some reason it always made him feel good that Tallulah found his jokes and puns funny. Tallulah joined her best friends as they walked down the hallway after closing her locker.

"Very funny." Flora sarcastically replies. "There's massive holes in the ground with who knows what kind of bad stuff seeping out. Imagine what it's like for the Cerulean Warblers."

Theo chuckles. "Not again with the birds, come on. I'm assuming you're gonna shovel the dirt back in the whole." He teased. Tallulah chuckled and nudged him, trying to silently telling him to be nice. He just shot her a grin, not really caring if Flora was annoyed or not. He didn't understand her obsession with the Warblers and didn't know why it was such a big deal. But, he wasn't going to question her. He learned not to years ago.

"We're not just protesting to protect wildlife. It's for people too." Flora firmly replied while Theo just nodded, not quite believing her.

"Hmm, right." He hummed.

"The Earth is our mother, we've got to protect her!" Flora stubbornly replies. "Lulah, maybe you can talk some sense into him, I'm gonna get to class." She mumbled, doing her handshake with them the trio had before she turned and walked down the hallway.

Tallulah chuckled while watching Flora walk away, her expression a mix of amusement and resignation. She knew Flora's passion for environmental issues could be intense, but it was part of what made her such a good friend. Tallulah turned to Theo, who was still grinning from their earlier banter.

"Flora can be pretty passionate about her causes," Tallulah said, nudging Theo playfully. "But she's right about wanting to protect the environment. It's important, even if she gets a little carried away sometimes."

Theo shrugs, a mischievous glint in his eye. "I get it, I just don't always see the big deal. But hey, if it makes her happy, who am I to argue? Besides, I'm more interested in surviving the day without any more mishaps. Did you see me fall out of bed? I'm starting to think I'm a walking disaster zone."

Tallulah laughs, shaking her head and smiles at him, nudging his side while they walked to class. "I wouldn't say that. It's just part of your charm. Besides, you always manage to bounce back with a smile. Though I kinda wish I got that on video." She teased, giggling as Theo shot her a playful glare.

"Funny." He deadpans, though a grin spreads across his lips. "But seriously, I did not sleep well last night." He admits, running a hand through his brunette hair. "It kept sounding like someone was walking on the roof." He grumbled.

Tallulah's smile softens as she looked at Theo. "That sounds rough. Maybe you were just hearing things, or maybe it was just the wind. Sometimes those sounds can play tricks on you."

Theo nods, though he still looked a bit troubled. "Yeah, maybe. Flora said it was the wind too...But I don't know. It's probably nothing though."

Tallulah gave his arm a reassuring squeeze. "If it bothers you that much, we can stay up and keep watch tonight. So you don't go paranoid or something." She joked, though she was sincere. She'd stay up with him if he needed her too. She'd do anything to make sure her friends were okay.

Theo grins. "Sounds like a plan. Now, I'll race ya to class!" He laughed, sprinting down the hallway.

"You know I don't like running unless something is chasing me! I hate running!" She complained though she still chased after Theo with a laugh, her backpack bouncing against her back as she sprinted down the hallway after him. Even though she hated running, moments like this made her forget about her worries. Theo's contagious energy lifted her spirits, and she found herself smiling despite the chaos of the morning.

As they neared their classroom, Theo slowed down, letting Tallulah catch up. She dramatically leans against him when she got to him, breathing heavily while caching her breath. "Did I mention I hate running?" She panted, causing Theo to chuckle.

"You might've mentioned it once or twice." He grins, putting his arm around her as they walked into their first class together. "Though I clearly won the race."

"Yeah, yeah, you won." Tallulah sighs dramatically, sitting down at her desk and setting her bag next to her. "I don't care about winning, I care about not dying." She joked, causing Theo to roll his eyes and chuckle.

"Oh, come on, I wasn't that fast. Okay, how about this, to make up for making you run despite you not liking running, I'll buy you your coffee when we go to Junior's after school." Theo offered, sitting beside her and placing his backpack by him on the floor.

Tallulah grins. "Now, I love that idea. It's kinda funny though, we're both buying each other's drinks today. We were thinking the same thing."

"Great minds think alike, right?" He smiled, nudging her with his elbow.

"Definitely." She nodded, returning the nudge with a soft smile. 

They shared a look, a familiar warmth settling between them. It was moments like this that made Tallulah's heart race and her cheeks flush. Theo's eyes sparkled with affection, and she found herself lost in them, the rest of the world seeming to fade away. She wasn't sure how long they stared at each other, but a sudden noise brought her back to reality, and she quickly looked away, her cheeks flushing. The bell had rang, signaling class to start. She leaned back in her seat as she faced the front of the room, trying to push the thoughts of Theo aside. Now wasn't the time.