First Day (01)

I wave to Zeke as he heads off then turn my attention back to Bentley. "So, tell me more about this harem you've been building for yourself." I grin at him, eager to hear and happy he's been making some actual connections with people.

Bentley talks about ships and capital cities and...Protigi is a lot more than I thought it might be. I mean, I always knew in my head that Mom was building a world but also always just pictured this small, contained space. Ship travel was never a necessary part of the picture.

I grin. "Akakios sounds like my kind of guy. Is he into girls too, or just adorable boys? And a trained masseuse? That's hitting the jackpot, totally. Sounds incredible."

I brighten when he tells me Akakios is into girls too. "Sounds fun," I tell him. But then he brings up Mom and I get a little more serious, looking away to gaze across the parking lot. "I, uh, I don't know yet. It's been kind of a busy summer, but I, um. I should probably go sometime." I purse my lips for a moment, then admit, "It kind of feels like a bunch of my worst enemies are there, to be honest."

"That does sound pretty cool," I admit, looking down at his hand on mine. I take a breath and let it out, relaxing a bit. "What...what do people think about my mom there? I mean, she made the world, so it's gotta be...special or something, right?"

I smile softly, nodding. "Yeah. I am. I am proud."

And I should be there to tell Mom so myself. I mean, if I made a world and she didn't come visit, I guess I'd be a little hurt. I just...I don't know...I guess it's just been easier to stay here.

"Well. We should get inside I guess. Ready for this?"

Your first class is Econ and Poly Sci, which Soph is also taking. Did you take it to be with her or did she take it to be with you?

When you enter the class, you see she's sitting by Booker. Preethi and Crissy are also here. Hank is as well.

Soph waves you over - she saved you a seat. It looks like Crissy did, too.

What do you do?

Soph and I sort of agreed that we'd take this class together. She may have been the one who insisted we choose our classes at the same time, and that's when we found out we were both offered this section in our class lists, but still, it was sort of a mutual agreement. So I'm not surprised that Soph is here, and I see her first when I walk into the room. But then I see Crissy, and man, it's so weird seeing her just casually around again. I wave at her and say, "Hey, Crissy. Welcome back." But I head over toward the spot Soph has saved for me and sit down. I can't snub my bff on the first day of school.

"Hey Jay, I told you that dress would look amazing and guess what?" Soph says with a broad smile. "I was right! Wasn't I right, Books?"

Crissy waves back, but seems a little hurt that you chose Soph. Mr. Jacob Howells, your teacher, stands in front of the whiteboard as people enter his class. He's a new teacher, young like he's fresh out of college. He seems excited about the first day of school and greets everyone and asks their name. He doesn't log it in a book, just greets everyone by their name like this is some kind of party or something. He sits down during the morning announcements come over the loudspeakers.

"Fee was insufferable this morning," Soph confides in a whisper. "You'd think she'd be happy to come back to school. Thank the gods Leo graduated, now I don't have to threaten to shiv him anymore."

I shimmy my shoulders a bit when Soph compliments my dress, and when I meet Booker's eyes there's that moment - the one that's been there ever since Persy's party - where we have a brief look of understanding and then quickly break away from it. It's weird, but I'm not talking about it and I guess he isn't either. It'll go back to normal eventually.

When class starts and Soph whispers about JS, I tip my head to the side, curious. "She didn't want to come to school?" I mean, I know why I wouldn't want to come, but JS always seemed so excited about it last year. What changed? Apart from Leo leaving.

Soph opens up her notebook and starts taking notes before she answers, "Freaking out about her hair, about the dress I laid out for her, about her backpack. Everything was ugly, she said." Soph sounds frustrated about it, but also worried.

I press my lips together, keeping my chuckle inside as I look down at my book and collect myself. When I'm back in control and young-new-teacher isn't looking, I lean toward Soph and whisper, "Damn, Soph. Hate to say it but it sounds like you've got...a teenager on your hands."

Despite her frustration, she snickers, "I'd say I feel old, but well, I'm just a senior in high school. Hey, do you know if her dad went to that other world or not?"