Chapter Text
Needle knelt in front of the altar whispering the Our Father prayer. She closed her eyes and focused entirely on praying.
- give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, amen.
Needle made the sign of the cross and got up from the floor. That was her daily routine - going for a walk, then praying alone in the church.
She was very faithful. Faith was the only thing that kept her alive. Her life wasn't as she wanted. She didn't go to school - she studied at home with her mother, who was very restrictive. She didn't have any friends or any contact with other people. She was always alone.
The only one who listened to her was God.
Needle left the church and started walking again towards her home. The spring weather was nice, and the air smelled like flowers. Needle smiled to herself as she breathed in the floral scent.
A few minutes later, she arrived home. When she came in, something was strange.
- hi mom, hi dad! - she greeted and started walking to the living room.
As she expected she found her parents there. They were sitting nervously with leaflets in their hands.
- Needle, we need to talk - mom said, looking everywhere but at her daughter.
- about what? - Needle frowned. She wasn't used to conversations like this.
- you turned sixteen this year - dad, unlike mom, was looking at Needle - I convinced your mom to enroll you in school.
- wait, really? - Needle almost jumped from shock.
Needle had been homeschooled since middle school. Her mom always told her that kids her age are not good for her and it's better to stay away from them. Of course she wasn't happy - when she was still at school she really liked to talk with others her age. Being homeschooled was really tiring for her, but she got used to it. Now, when she heard that she will be going to normal school, it didn't feel real.
- yes - mom sighed - but.. it's not a normal school in our town.
Needle started to be confused.
- it's a Catholic school - dad explained - with boarding, its own church and qualified staff.
- and it's about four hours away - mom added - also the school is strict, so you won't meet bad kids here.
Needle blinked few times.
- why so far away?
- it's the only school which meets our requirements - mom explained.
- but you'll visit me there right? - Needle asked hopefully.
- the problem is that the visits are only on Friday afternoons when I have work - dad sighed - also your mom finally found a job after several years.
Mom nodded.
- that's... great - Needle started to be stressed about the whole situation.
- here - dad stood, holding a leaflet towards her - read something about the school.
- thank you - Needle said - and.. when will I go there?
- this Sunday - mom replied - in two days.
- and you tell me this now? - Needle groaned - I won't be prepared for that!
- sorry, my dear - dad apologized - we got a response from them yesterday..
- okay - Needle sighed.
It was around Sunday noon. Needle was standing in a pink dress and with ribbon in the same color on her head. She and her parents were at the railway station, waiting for the train.
Needle's hands were squeezed on the handle of her suitcase. She was scared and stressed. It was a new situation for her after all. Her parents also weren't really happy because of this. Maybe it would be better to stay at home..
Needle shook her head.
It would be better. She will finally have a chance to chat with someone other than her parents. And she won't spend all the time with her mother. Even if she loves her, mom wasn't as cool as other teenagers.
Needle suddenly heard the approaching train. She turned to her parents to say goodbye to them.
- I will miss you - she said with tears in her eyes.
- we will miss you too - her mom smiled a little.
She waved to them last time and got on the train. She sat next to the window. Before the train had even left, she'd already started crying.
After a few hours she arrived. The air in this place was different than in her town. The school was located in a small village with a strange vibe. Needle didn't like it.
The train station was empty. Needle looked around and saw a girl with green hair. They made eye contact.
- hi, you must be Needle, right? - the strange girl run over Needle.
- yes - she nodded.
- I'm Leafy and I'm the student council President! - she introduced herself with grin.
The girls shook hands. From her first impression Leafy looked like a nice girl for Needle.
- school is ten minutes from there - Leafy said - also, would you like me to carry your suitcase?
- no - Needle laughed awkwardly - you don't have to.
- okay!
The weather was foggy and cloudy. Needle was tired and stressed but Leafy was overly energetic. Needle was happy that they walked in silence, so she could rest her mind a little.
After a few minutes of walking they were in front of a big and old building.
- that's our school - Leafy explained, opening the gate in the meantime.
They entered the school. The whole building was suspiciously silent. Needle looked around while Leafy was closing the door.
- first, we will go to your room and you will leave your things in it - Leafy said as she headed towards the stairs - second, I will show you the rest of school.
Needle nodded and followed Leafy.
- here, on the second floor we have girls' rooms - Leafy showed her a long corridor with red carpet and some old paintings - above us are boys' rooms and below us are the cafeteria and common room.This segment is typically residential.
After a few steps they arrived at Needles room.
- here's your key - Leafy handed her the mentioned item - let's open it!
Needle took a key and opened the door. They immediately went inside and shut the door behind them.
The room was basic - with two beds, two desks and two wardrobes.
- you share a room with a very cool girl - Leafy smiled, sitting on the bed that belonged to Needle's roommate.
Needle wanted to unpack herself, but Leafy ruined her plans.
- let's go to the second part of the school tour - Leafy jumped off the high bed - soon everyone will be back from dinner and there will be a lot of people in the corridor.
Needle, still tired, only sighed and left the room with Leafy. They walked toward the second segment.
- here we have our classrooms! - Leafy showed her multiple rooms - here is your classroom! Sadly we aren't in the same class, but it's okay!
Needle only nodded. Then they went to the school basement.
- here we have our school library! When you can't study in your room you can always come here. The teachers' rooms are also down here!
Leafy looked at her watch on her wrist and thought of something.
- we don't have much time - she said.
After a few minutes they were outside in front of the old church.
- this is the school church - Leafy explained - we have holy mass twice a day. Oh wait, I forgot!
Leafy took a folded piece of paper out of her jacket pocket.
- here you have your day plan - green-haired girl explained.
- thank you - Needle took it from her - I will look at that in my room.
- great! - Leafy grinned - that's all for today. Now you know everything about this place. If you have any problems you can always come to me! I love helping people and I'm the nicest person in this school!
Needle looked at her a little bit confused.
- I'll walk you back to your room - Leafy said, not even asking her about that.
Halfway Leafy remembered something and left Needle on her own. It wasn't too bad for her - she remembered the way to her room so it was quite easy to go there. Lucky for her, she didn't see any students. It would be quite embarrassing for her to be seen without a school uniform.
She gently opened the door. She didn't expect to see her roommate in it, even if it was after dinner.
The red-haired girl was sitting next to her desk. She was writing something in a thick notebook, that she immediately closed when she saw Needle.
- are you my new roommate? - she asked.
- I think so - Needle shrugged.
- I'm Pin - Pin introduced herself - and you're..?
- Needle.
- I see.
Needle started unpacking her suitcase. She didn't bring a lot of things. She only brought some books, some clothes and her cosmetics. She also brought her old plushie from her childhood. She was quite a sentimental person, so she needed to take something meaningful for her.
After she unpacked her things, she decided to start getting ready for bed. To do this she had to go to the shared bathroom. Before she could leave the room, Pin stopped her.
- where are you going? - she asked.
- to the bathroom.
- you know where it is? - Pin frowned.
- we can say so - Needle replied - Leafy showed me.
- Leafy? Did she show you school or..
- yup - Needle agreed.
- bad for you.
Needle tilted her head in confusion. Pin, seeing her facial expression, started explaining.
- Leafy irritates me so much - Pin rolled her eyes - she and her fake niceness.. it pisses me off so much! And she always thinks that everyone is her friend.
- you don't like her? - Needle asked.
- well - Pin sighed - it's not like that.
Needle finally left the room. Luckily she didn't meet anyone in the corridor or in the bathroom. She washed her hair and body. Then she left the bathroom and unluckily she saw a group of girls. They were laughing and probably gossiping about something. Needle felt a wave of stress in her body - she wasn't ready to meet anyone except Leafy and Pin. She walked away quickly towards her room. She almost breathed a sigh of relief when she heard one of the girls.
- and who's that?
- I think it's a new student - a girl with glasses said - I think the teacher was talking about that today.
- I also heard something like this! - the shortest girl with red hair agreed.
Needle ignored them until she heard a question to her.
- what's your name pretty girl?
Needle immediately turned to them. It was the first time in her life that a girl had called her pretty. Really weird for her.
She looked at the girl who had spoken. She was tall and blonde, and quite different from others.
- Needle - she answered awkwardly and rushed into her room.
When she finally reached the room, she sighed with relief.
- you looked stressed - Pin noticed - something happened?
- I had an interaction with some group of girls - Needle explained.
- they must be the Freesmarters - Pin rolled her eyes - you need to listen to me carefully.
Needle looked at her confused.
- they are the worst people you can meet here! - Pin shouted - the worst is their leader Pencil. You must stay away from them.
Needle only nodded. After a few seconds Pin asked.
- did they say anything to you?
- yes. One of them asked me about my name. Also she called me pretty.
- must be Pencil.
After a short conversation Needle finally lay down in her new bed. Luckily for her, the bed was comfortable. She closed her eyes and thought about her home. After a few minutes she finally fell asleep.