☙ Chapter 2. ☙

Nico wakes up thinking this morning was a good day, for once, to rise and shine. Until they finally realize what today's date is. "Oh, you got to be~"

"Wake UP!!!", their mom calls urgently. They bolt upright and sit up on their bed immediately. The second their mom walks in wearing the Sunday's best dress she hasn't worn since the last time they've gone to church, Nico starts dreading every second of their mere existence.

Oh god, why did I have to wake up? Why did I have to wake up? Why did I have to wake up?! Can it just be four AM again?!

"Get dressed", their mom walks into their closet, throwing out random clothes that began piling up on their bed. Nico's hands catch whatever she throws out, but they feel so tired that they let the pile of clothes start landing on them without any care in the world.

"Put something on, you need to make a good impression", their mom keeps saying, but Nico refuses to listen. Finally, she looks back at them and gasps when she notices the pile of clothes hanging over Nico's head. She frowns and before she stomps out of the room, says, "Hurry up! We don't have much time!"

She slams the door behind her and Nico sits silently on their bed, not moving a single inch. Instead, they look around and try to find the easiest way to waste more time. But at some point, they give up and lower their head to the pile in defeat.

A few minutes later, Nico stalks out of their room dressed in really uncomfortable clothing. Their mom fixes their hair into whatever updo she likes putting their hair into, and of course, Nico hates it. But like everything and anything, Nico will never have a say in anything.

After an hour of getting ready, they walk downstairs in wobbling heels while begging for mercy in the inside. Once their foot reaches the last step, they let out a relieved sigh and shift their gaze towards their dad and siblings.

"Looks like someone's having a big day", their dad notices. Their mom gives Nico's outfit a closer look and her red painted lips curve into a wide smile. "We're definitely ready to come back to church so you can see your friends again!", she exclaims enthusiastically. "They're not my friends", Nico tries to tell them.

But they realize there wasn't a point in trying to tell them otherwise. So they sigh, and say, "Yeah", gritting their teeth. "I can't wait." Their parents' faces beam in a way that confuses them and annoys them at the same time. But they decide to deal with it anyway.

"Well, off you go, see you later", their dad says. Nico nods slowly. "You too." Their mom smiles while nodding and starts leading them out the door. The two walk down the short narrow path connecting the driveway, and walk towards a white Honda parked nearby.

The house and car keys jiggle in her hand with every step their mom makes on her way to the vehicle. At last, as they stand in front of the side of the car, their mom opens the driver's door and pushes a button on a control panel for the side door to open. Once the door opens, Nico ducks their head in and sits on the cushioned seat as the door automatically slides shut with another push of a button.

They sit down with droopy eyes and slumped shoulders. Their lips curve into an upside down smile as they began to dread the day even more than they thought they would. God...why did this have to happen today? Why? Why? The park is just awful and now this? Am I being punished?

Nico sighs heavily. For the rest of the car ride, they look out the window and stare into the clear blue skies. Bundles of clouds conjoined in others form beautiful abstract shapes, and even, creatures. Nico spends the rest of the ride just putting a name to whatever they imagine the clouds as. But after a while, they felt stupid doing so and decide to check on their phone once in a while.

They go on several of their favorite apps and finally start reading a fan fiction they left on. But there was a change of plans when Nico heard the sound of tires screeching on a gravel parking lot. The entire vehicle vibrates and Nico feels a quick rush of familiarity go through them. They lower their phone, lift their gaze outside the window, and regret it the second they saw exactly where they were at.

Their mom pushes on the brake with her heel and the entire vehicle shut down as soon as she removed the keys from a key inserter. Nico looks outside in disbelief, being brought back to the many Sundays they had spent in that white teepee shaped building they hated even the thought of.

"We're here!", their mom says in a too delighted tone. Nico returns to the terrible reality they were soon about to face, looking back at their mom with a dreadful expression telling her how miserable they were. Their mom rolls her eyes at them, shouldering a bag she always brings on church days from the driver's seat.

"Well, if you don't come, you're going to get grounded. Simple." She says. Nico stares at her reluctantly for a few more seconds before putting their act together, and making their way out the opening door.

As soon as they're both outside, the sun starts beaming hard on the two. Nico looks at their mom and notices she's wearing sun shades that shield her eyes from the excessive heat. They complain to themselves, internally asking, Why didn't she bring any for me? Then they realize that their mom could care less about any of them. And by that, she could really care less.

She starts leading them to the entrance and hearing her high heels click from the gravel to the pavement, reminds Nico how much closer they were to reaching the last place they ever thought of being in. With one last defeated sigh, Nico looks behind them at the motionless white car, reminding them of their home sweet home. They shake their head lifelessly and proceed to enter through the glass doors.

As they slowly turn their gaze forward, they slip past the second pair of doors and, just like their mom thought they would, trip in their own feet only to be caught in a mysterious person's arms. Nico fails to fight the urge to look up and find themselves in a very awkward position. And rather, uncomfortable, too.

"Are you alright?", a man spoke, offering them a friendly smile. Nico blinked at him without saying anything at first. Then, slowly, they said, "Yeah", smiling awkwardly, "I'm fine, th-thanks." They snatch their hands away from the man's arms and take a few steps back, almost sliding back into the door.

"Careful", he says, but before he could get a hold of them, Nico quickly gets out of his way and sprints down the short hallway to their left. Panting, they save themselves from confronting the man again, even though, they regret it too. Because he was such a nice man.

Oh god, why did I have to do that? I'm such an awkward mess. Stupid, stupid, stupid NICO!!!! Nico shakes their head, cringing from the memory. But they quickly forget everything that happened when they look up from the floor, and realize just where they're standing at. They look around and find themselves in a familiar place.

Then they think of something. They think of a plan. Hm, I remember this spot, the bathroom must be a few feet down...towards the right, they think, pointer finger and thumb rubbing their chin in speculation. Their eyes start registering their surroundings and when they finally know what to do, their feet start moving on their own, acting out the plan.

They move from place to place in search of a place to hide and skip. But the search feels a lot longer than they expected it would. Down to the last few seconds, Nico looks up at a flight of stairs leading up to a short hallway with two classrooms on the right, another flight of stairs near the corner descending down to the first floor. They stare at it in confusion until a voice sounding from behind them stirs them out of endless thought.

"Are you lost, sweetie?", a woman asks. Nico turns and squints their eyes at the woman behind them, looking for a sign of any acquaintance. "Ye-yeah." The woman smiles kindly at them, then looks around the two. "I think I saw your mom over there...do you know where you're supposed to be at, dear?"

Don't tell her anything, don't tell her anything, don't you dare~ Nico gives a hesitant nod. Dammit. "Oh, I see," the woman chuckles. "Would you like me to be take you there, then?", she asks. Nico stays frozen, not knowing how to answer. But again, they give her another nod. Nico!

"Alright, come with me, sweetie." Nico hesitantly starts following behind her. What the hell are you doing? Why are you following her? God dammit, you idiot! Nico lets out a sigh and walks alongside the woman leading them straight to their downfall.