Chapter Text
Ryy's alarm clock went off the next morning, pulling her from a peaceful sleep. She tiredly reached out to turn it off. The bed felt warm and comfortable, and for a small second, she allowed herself to sink back into the blankets. But reality soon pulled her out of the cozy pad as she forced herself to sit up, rubbing her eyes.
Another day. Another chance to forget the strange unease she’d felt the past few days.
The shadows from her dreams were distant now, nothing more than vague impressions that faded with the morning light. Maybe it was just her imagination, she thought. Maybe she was just overthinking things.
She stretched her arms above her head, yawning loudly before standing up and walking to the bathroom. The cool tile floor against her bare feet made her shiver, but the simple act of washing her face felt like a reset, like she was scrubbing away the feeling of whatever weirdness had come in her mind.
After brushing her teeth and combing through her messy hair, Ryy headed downstairs. The smell of pancakes and freshly brewed hot lemon tea filled the air, and she smiled at the scent.
Her mom was already in the kitchen, cooking something delicious
"Morning, sweetie," her mom greeted with a cheerful smile. "How did you sleep?"
Ryy smiled, sitting down at the table. "Better. She said, trying to sound nonchalant.
Her mom raised an eyebrow. "Did you get the weird dreams again? You’ve been working so hard, no wonder your mind is active at night."
"Yeah, I guess," Ryy said, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear. She wasn’t in the mood to dive into the details of her strange experiences the past few days. It didn’t seem like the kind of thing that could be explained over breakfast.
"Well, no need to worry about it," her mom said, turning to plate the pancakes. "You’re looking good today. A nice, normal day ahead."
Ryy nodded, hoping that was the case. It felt like a fresh start. And for the first time in days, she allowed herself to believe that maybe things would return to normal.
After breakfast, Ryy grabbed her bag, kissed her mom goodbye, and stepped outside into the nice morning air. The walk to school was just like any other. The same streets, the same houses. The world around her was calm, and the tension that had been so clear earlier in the week seemed to have blow away. She breathed in the fresh air, letting it fill her lungs as she walked.
The school loomed ahead, its familiar black brick exterior comforting in its thickness. Students walked by, chatting with friends, getting stuff from the locker, or texting on their phones.
“Ryy!”
She turned at the sound of her name and spotted Alyssa, Clarence, and Elaine walking toward her.
“Good morning!” Alyssa greeted with a wave.
Clarence, always the dramatic one, grinned wide. “The dungeon of boredom awaits!” she said, raising her arms as if to brace herself for the worst.
Ryy couldn’t help but laugh, the tension from the past few days melting a little. "You’re always so dramatic," she said, shaking her head.
As they walked toward the entrance, Ryy felt the comfort of the familiar routine. The sounds of lockers opening and closing, the chatter of students echoing through the hallways, it was all so normal. Nothing out of place. No eerie whispers. No shadowy figures lurking in the corners.
But then, as they approached their lockers, Ryy felt a familiar sound coming behind them. Amelia, Bianca, Carmilla, Daisy. The four girls who had never quite warmed up to Ryy since she transferred here. They were standing just a few feet away, their eyes focused on Ryy and her friends.
Carmilla, the leader of the group, flashed a wicked smile as she leaned against the lockers. "Well, well, look at this," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "The new girl found herself a little group of friends. How... sweet."
Ryy tried to ignore them, focusing on Alyssa and Clarence, but Carmilla's voice continued to cut through the air.
"You know, it's kind of pathetic," Amelia chimed in, flipping her long blonde hair and blue highlights over her shoulder. "How quickly you lock onto them. I mean, they’ve got to be desperate for attention if they’re hanging out with you."
Daisy, standing a little behind Amelia, smirked and crossed her arms. "Yeah, you really don't belong here. I don't know what they're thinking, letting you hang around."
Bianca, the quietest of the group, only raised an eyebrow at Ryy, as if she were trying to decide whether or not it was worth her time to make a comment. She might look innocent but she's not.
Ryy felt the heat rise to her face, but she forced herself to keep her composure. She glanced over at Alyssa and Clarence, who were both glaring at the girls.
"Why don’t you all just leave us alone?" Alyssa said, her voice sharp.
Carmilla laughed. "Oh, sweetie, we’re just getting started. You know how it is. Some people just don’t fit in. And, newsflash," she added with a mocking tone, "neither does she."
"Just ignore them," Clarence muttered to Ryy, giving her a comforting pat on the shoulder. "They're not worth your time."
Ryy took a deep breath and tried to shake off their words. She knew they were just trying to get a rise out of her, but it didn’t make it any easier. She focused on the conversation at hand instead.
"So, what’s everyone doing this weekend?" Alyssa asked, trying to change the topic away from the fight.
“Well,” Alyssa said, shrugging as they walked together, “I was thinking of catching up on some shows. You know, the usual—watching We Can be Heroes and maybe starting a new drama.”
Clarence perked up. “Speaking of shows, have you seen Attack on Titan? I know it’s an older series, but I’ve been watching it on the side. It’s insane, especially the last season!”
Ryy’s eyes lit up at the mention of her favorite anime. “Attack on Titan is my all-time favorite!” she said quickly. “I’ve been watching it since the first season came out. The plot twists, the characters... I swear, every episode is like an emotional rollercoaster.”
Alyssa raised an eyebrow. “Wait, you watch anime? I didn’t know that about you, Ryy.”
Ryy chuckled. “Yeah, I’ve been into it for years. Attack on Titan was what really got me obsessed, but I’ve seen a lot of others too. But nothing can compare AOT.”
Clarence grinned. “I knew we had similar taste! We should totally do a Titan marathon sometime.”
“Definitely,” Ryy agreed, her excitement growing.
Alyssa then turned the conversation toward music. “What about you, Ryy? You into any bands or music?”
“Oh, totally,” Ryy said, her face lighting up. “I’m a huge fan of BTS. I’ve been listening to them for years. I also like Cigarretes After Sex"
“BTS? I didn’t expect that,” Alyssa teased. “But hey, I know they’re super popular.”
Clarence laughed. “I can’t say I’m a huge fan, but I respect their talent. Maybe I’ll give them a listen.”
As the bell rang, signaling the start of classes, Ryy felt a small sense of relief. The tension from the encounter with the bullies still lingered, but at least she had her friends by her side. And despite the occasional interruptions, today felt like a normal day—a normal day she desperately needed.