It was suppose to be an ordinary day at school until I met you! (BookHoardingDragonxThatGuy)

[ThatGuyOverThere]

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It was a start to a not unusual day in the life of Nia Durand. The daughter of a low middle class factory worker that walked the line between the struggles of the working class and the glimpse into the luxuries that are afforded by the upper class white collar families. If it wasn't for her mom spending so many hours at that Synergy Automotive Solutions factory, maybe she would have been a public high shcool dropout by now. But she felt that she had some responsibility to help see her mother's misguided view of her future to some sort of conclusion. Even if Nia knew she would just end up at that prison of a factory just to work her ass off for twenty years for a lowsy pension check. To make matters even more pleasant, she was the school's token "ethnic" person but thankfully the shock only lasted freshman year when more minorities enrolled into the school starting Sophomore year.

Memories of her last two years at Hansen Private School came to her mind as she walked up to that all familiar gate to hell. Freshman year she was walking up to the gate with two of her best friends from middle school and now with backpack slouched over her shoulder, she was trying to avoid bumping into the other students that were excited to see friends they weren't able to see over break. Out of the corner of her eye she spotted Jason Heath who once was a nerd in middle school like her but now was the school's star quarterback. It was actually pretty miraculous how the chubby guy was able to turn his body around so fast to be fit for the sport. As she managed to get through the wave of students towards her home room to be accounted for before the principals Welcome back to Hades speech, her eyes also spied Helena Blackwell with her new clique, another former middle school nerd with a miraculous transformation. Instead of sports though Helena found her calling with the Drama club and quickly rose as the star actress of the school. Though both Jason and Helena had something in common, they left Nia behind to pursue dreams of grandeur. They had already forgotten Nia in favor of their new groups.

Nia let out an audible sigh as students kept bumping into her when she thought she was safe from the crowds. The football team was throwing a football in the hall while the cheerleaders were doing their job well, cheering on the stupid antics until a brave teacher stepped in to stop them. Nia had tried to fit into a new group of geeks and nerds but since she didn't show the same obsession they had, she was slowly fadded out. And when said group came into her view, Nia couldn't help but give them a killer's cold gaze as she walked by them.

Nia looked down at her schedule to make sure she was going the right direction towards home room. Lucky for Nia once more, she arrived at her destination with not another student in sight. The room belonged to the AP Physics teacher, Mr. Yates who resembled a middle aged turtle wearing his sweater shirts even in the summer. Mr. Yates looked up from the papers on his desk to offer a smile before focusing on what Nia guessed was the list of his students. Nia wasted no time to find a desk in the back corner and took out her Nintendo Switch. Video games were the only place she could find solace in this hell of a world and every chance she got to play she took it.

Smiling to herself, she turned the system on and clicked on the Super Mario Odyssey icon on the home screen.

 

[Chaotic Moth]

Here she was again, in another school, having to start all over again. She had been in more schools than she could count and really had no idea what it meant to "belong." Sure, Lia had fans that would glom onto her and follow her every move. That wasn't belonging though. Lia floated in this strange no-mans land of Where - that's what Lia called it at least.
The Where was where she lived.
The Where was where she daydreamed of things and places that couldn't be and would never be.
The Where was where she wanted out of.
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Stretching her arms above her head, Lia debated if all of this was really even worth her time. She looked up at the ominous private school and groaned as she willed her feet closer and closer to the front door. Hansen Private School, so this is what school her parents had shoved her into this time. Lia had read reviews about the school and it was supposed to be top-notch, and even a little cautious with who they let through their doors.

Another month, another year? Lia had no idea how long she would be at this particular school. Her shortest stint ever at a school was in fifth grade where she was at Lillian Academy for three weeks. She was now sixteen years old, with the mind of a forty-year old it seemed. She was always assumed for being older than she really was with the way she acted, and perhaps some of her looks. She was mature for her age and sometimes had a hard time connecting with the teens her age. The Where was creeping in on her mind again.

Stepping through the doors of Hansen Private School, she found her way to the front office as soon as she could. The sooner this day was over, the sooner she could go to voice lessons. Those classes were some of the only solace she had in her short life thus far. Her parents weren't necessarily always around. She was given a schedule, told to find her first class, and off she went. Again, being in as many schools as she had it wasn't hard to figure out where the first class was. Most schools were laid out the same.

In the wooden door she went, and Lia looked around at the full classroom. She ignored the stares of everyone, most likely they were wondering who this new girl was. All of these students had been with one another for the last couple years, so it was only natural to be curious. Lia did not introduce herself to the suspecting teacher, she simply took the first available desk which happened to be in the very back corner. Next to her was a young girl her own age playing a video game system of some sort. Video games had always been something that interested Lia, but Lia never had the time to engage in any of the systems or games.

She plopped down in the seat and silently opened up her leather bag to get out a notebook and a pen. She was in AP Physics, much to her chagrin, and she wasn't sure what other materials she would need. Suddenly realizing that a calculator may be of use, she bent down to dig in her bag that was on the floor. Simultaneously she managed to knock all of the contents of her bag all over the floor in front of the girl next to her.
"Damn!" Lia swore as her musical score papers went flying, pens scattered, and her house key went underneath the other girls desk.

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[ThatGuyOverThere]

Nia always marveled how simple life can be in a video game. Where it was clear what path to take and the obstacles to get over. She felt like she was somebody when playing games and often times get lost in the world daydreaming that she was hero to resuce the princess. And of course everyone cheers and congratulates her for valiant efforts. Instead of the real world where her only feat was being socially invisible. She was so invisible that no one said anything to her playing her Switch but Nia knew they were just hiding judgemental thoughts.

Nia looked up briefly to see who was being introduced due to all the chatter about a new girl. She only caught her first name when the teacher mentioned it since everyone knew each other here and inwardly sighed. 'Great Nia and Lia, wonder how many times people will get our names mixed up'. The thought was something she wasn't looking forward to mainly for the fact it will open up opportunities for stupid comments. Nia returned to her game to finish getting the last moon in the world she was in before she heard someone beside her curse. Nia let out a small yelp having been caught off guard.

She quickly composed herself and surveyed the scene. The part of her that tried to be a decent human being came out first before the one that liked her bubble. She pressed the power button to her Switch and placed it back in her bag. The girl was so close to her bubble that without thinking she blurtted out "Do you need help?" 'Of course she needs help idiot!' she mentally scolded herself as she awkwardly tried to be of assistance. However Nia felt like she was being more a trouble than a help as she clumsily reached for the other girls stuff and handing them back to her. She noticed there was a key under her desk and went to retrive it, banging her head against the underside. 'Idiot! Now you look like a bigger idiot in front of everyone. Can't wait to hear what they'll be calling you now!' Nia rubbed the back of her head as she handed the key to the new girl. "I--um--is this your key?" Nia asked as she felt her fingers brush slightly against the other girls. 'Great now she's going to think you're an idiot and a pervert. But hey what does it matter, not like you're going to be seeing each other right? Not like you share a class'.

 

[Chaotic Moth]

Lia looked down at their caressing fingers and blinked. She quickly ripped her hand away from the other girls and then cast a downward look at the floor. Though she managed to quickly get over whatever was conflicting her and cast a lopsided grin at the girl across from her.
"Yeah, it is." Lia took the key from her hand and examined the music note-shaped key. She tossed it from hand to hand and then haphazardly tossed it back into her bag. She gathered up the rest of her scattered papers and pens and then leaned back up into position in her chair. "Hi, I'm Lia. Nice to meet you." Lia couldn't stand to be cruel to anyone. She had an innate desire to be kind to everyone - it was instilled in her to be kind to anyone and everyone, even if they don't deserve it. Kill them with kindness, her mother always had chanted.

Her mother would know. In the industry that her family is in: music, is a highly competitive field. Her mother was one of the best, at the top of her game. Naturally, people were cruel to her mother due to their own inabilities to deal with how they weren't as great. Her father dealt with it a fair share as well, though not as much. Her mother was in the spotlight singing aria's, her father was in the orchestra pits.

 

[ThatGuyOverThere]

Nia wanted to be anywhere but here. She could already feel the gazes of the rest of the students silently judging her for her actions. Every mistake she made was another joke they'll make later to laugh behind her back. God why did she had to go help the new girl out, she'll be wrapped around their finger soon enough anyways. No one pays attention to Nia and that was how she liked it. Just coasting from one day to the next was her primary goal in life.

Nia was snapped out of her thoughts by the voice of the new kid talking to her. "My name is Nia." she said abruptly feeling herself getting anxious. This Lia seemed nice but Nia had learned everyone was always hiding behind a mask. She looked ahead at the chalkboard willing some sort of portal to open up and take her away. Instead the room filled with the noise of the loud speaker instructing everyone to head to the auditorium for the Welcome back to school rally. Without noticing, Nia let out an audible sigh as the teacher called her name for attendance.

 

[Chaotic Moth]

Slightly dejected by this Nia's apparent want of anonymity, Lia nodded her head once curtly. So, this girl seemed she wanted nothing of Lia; this was a strange thing indeed. It just was simply that Lia wasn't used to. She found that she had a pleasant feeling about this though. Someone, finally, wasn't immediately enamored with her as a being. Lia was all too used to having "fan clubs" that would spring up seemingly overnight at all of her past schools. Word would quickly travel of who she was, who her parents were, and how well Lia could sing. All of the girls would want to do duets with her, the boys would be professing their undying love, and teachers thought that she shat rainbows. It was tiring having everyone and anyone always wanting to be her "friend."

An irritatingly cheery chime played over the loudspeaker as an announcement came overhead speaking of a welcome back assembly. A groan escaped Lia's lips before she could catch herself. Hopefully the auditorium room would be dark so Lia could write out some lyrics and notes on her loose sheet music papers. That was a way that she spent her free time, she would write songs to help pass time and try to hone her craft. Singing was, in fact, more than just belting out song lyrics.

Lia cautiously looked around at the other students and saw that she shared their irritation in the fact that they would all have to sit thorough the assembly as well. She saw the Nia girl next to her sigh as the Physics teacher called her name for role-call. Nia's last name was before Lia's. Once everyone heard Lia's full name: Lia Yunderson, she full on expected the real stares to start.