Was the new kid seriously asking her to switch seats? Now?

"I have anxiety. I would prefer to sit in the back.", the new kid whispered with a smile.

Curiously, she seemed surprised at first but then quickly, and happily took all her stuff and went to sit somewhere else. Did she seriously not like me that much?

As the new kid sat down I looked back at the window. I wasn't really interested in talking to anyone. But even when I tried focusing on the stupid rain the feeling of someone staring at the back of my head ripped me out of it. Turning around I made direct eye contact with the new kid.

"Hey.", they smiled.

"…Hi."

Just as I was about to look back at the window I stopped. Normally, I would ignore them, but they just had this… thing around them. The air felt fresher and calmer. It was also somewhat delicate, a strong enough breeze could make it fly away. aka. they were interesting to me.

I leaned back in my chair. Not really sure how to start. So I just whispered: "Anxiety, huh?"

Really, Fifi? That was the best you had? Sure, why not remind them of their dead dog while we're at it.

The new kid just smiled to themselves as they responded: "Nah, I just needed an excuse to sit with you."

"Huh?"

"You strike me as a secret lunatic.", they shrugged.

Who did they think they were to call me a lunatic? Yeah, maybe I was one a little bit but that didn't mean they could just call me out like that, during our first interaction ever.

"What a way to start a conversation.", I chuckled in surprise.

From their stupid grin I should have expected what was coming, but I didn't: "Says miss anxiety."

I turned away from them. Looking outside I tried forgetting they even spoke to me before I broke something… or someone. Lunatic, me? That's pretty strong word to use. They were probably one themselves and were just projecting or something… Why did they pick me though?! Damn, the first sentence they said to me and I was already over analysing it…

I turned back to them. Weirdly enough they were still looking at me.

I sighed: "…It's a good hook I'll give you that.", and added: "What makes me a lunatic?"

They gestured with their hand around me as they said: "It's your aura."

I squinted my eyes at them, not really understanding what they were on about. They quickly showcased what they meant, or felt: "Reckless, fearless, anger issues."

"Good guesses.", I mumbled.

They smiled at me. Clearly taking my responds as a challenge, which it was. If someone tries to actually convince me they can sense my aura they better give me something good.

After a moment of looking at me they added: "…You close yourself off from other people and have unresolved mommy issues."

Okay… that was a bit more specific. It was still something you could theoretically guess or just learn from watching how I behaved, not the mommy issues though I had no clue how they guessed that.

I felt a bit weirded out for a moment before they glanced at the pen in my hand and asked: "Could I borrow your pen?"

I almost gave it to them but then pulled away. You learn something about me, now it's time I learn something about you.

"What do you do?", I asked back.

They looked at me for a moment, almost like it didn't register that I asked a question. They quickly realized I was holding the pen hostage until they answered. So they did, kind of.

"I'm a mythical forest creature.", they joked.

I scoffed: "Funny."

We looked at each other for another moment. It was almost like they thought I would magically change my mind and hand it to them. I obviously didn't and weirdly enough they seemed surprised by that.

Enough that they actually answered, kind of: "I'm a psychic."

I scoffed. Another moment of silence, but this time more serious. They bit their tongue and waited for me to give them the pen. Oh, they were being serious. I carefully handed it to them.

They clearly noticed me finding them weird, but instead of getting annoyed or angry they just seemed… amused.

"I'm Jules.", they smiled.

We stayed silent once again. They were clearly waiting for me to introduce myself too. Once I thought the moment was long enough I smiled back: "What? Don't you know my name already?"

They put their head down and just lightly chuckled to themselves before looking up at me and responding: "It doesn't work like that."

Suddenly, a lower voice spoke: "I hope you two are discussing the affect humans have on the local fish population over there."

They're discussing the fish population? Man, I'm glad I wasn't listening.

We both sat upright and acted like we were actually listening to what she was talking about. She just continued… pointing to some pictures of dead fish on the whiteboard.

Jules and I glanced over to each other. Yeah, they were thinking the same thing I was. What the hell is this class?

When class finally ended I basically ran out of there. I did not want to hear another word about dead fish ever again.

I was walking down the hall when I felt a gently tug on the sleeve of my jacket. I immediately ripped my arm away in a rather dramatic motion. Jules just stared at me for a second.

"Don't touch me.", I mumbled while awkwardly trying to put my arm back in a natural position.

"…Got it.", they nodded, "Do you know where the principal's office is?"

They glanced around, almost like they expected to find it somewhere near by.

"Upstairs main hall. Can't miss it.", I shrugged.

Even from the hall I could hear all the rain outside. I definitely couldn't go outside for break, great. The day kept getting worse and worse for me.

Jules and I made eye contact. Somehow I felt like they were trying to read me again or something. I tried my best to look as chill as possible but that didn't seem to work.

"I know you don't believe in this whole aura thing but…", they scratched the back of their neck, "…maybe spend some time with someone during break? I heard the cafeteria has some awesome food today."

It took me a moment to reply. Jules seemed genuine, but for some reason everyone did that day. Maybe I was being too obvious with my bad mood.

I tried to salvage my façade as best as I could, while also taking a step away: "Is this your weird way of asking me to eat at the cafeteria with you? I'm fine, thanks."

Somehow my answer seemed to make them even more nervous about me. Their face went all pale and before I could leave they mumbled: "What happened today?"

"Nothing. Like I said, I'm fine", I scoffed.

"No, what happened today?"

For some reason chills ran down my spine. Are they on something? Probably. I tried my best to ignore their weird response and not look totally weirded out by them. But I probably did since I just walked away without saying anything else to them.

It didn't take me long to bump into Philip and Rudoslav again, after all we were all walking in the same direction.

"Miss Environment studies is in the building.", Philip teased.

I let him have it that time. I wasn't really in the mood to punch back.

We walked passed the crowed hallway and finally arrived at the door that still looked like it belonged to a small closet instead of a classroom. No better way to end the day then to have a somewhat boring club meeting.

I only needed to take one step into the room to immediately notice a particular someone sitting at her desk. Perfect hair, perfect posture, perfect everything.

"Hello again Bats!", I tried to sound as normal as possible.

"Don't call me that.", Nathalie quickly chirped without looking at me.

We all sat down as she browsed through her papers. Almost like a teacher waiting for the lesson to begin. That's the one thing I hated about being early, the waiting.

She was about to say something when the door suddenly opened and Lola burst into the room.

"Am I late?", she nervously smiled as she quickly took a seat at the table.

Nathalie glanced at the clock and mumbled: "No, you're all early."

She glanced over at me and I couldn't help but give her a smug smile. She was clearly impressed even I managed to be early.

"Since we're all early can we like… leave early too?", Rudoslav mumbled.

Nathalie just stared at him until the clock struck 3 o'clock. She stood up and announced without missing a beat: "Apparently we will have a new club member."

We all looked at each other. Who in their right mind chooses the News Club hosted by Nathalie North?

"…And they are officially late for their first meeting.", she grumbled.

I wonder what sick punishment she had in her mind for them. Probably copying the newspaper for a whole week or writing her an essay, although she only made me do that one when I was at least 15 minutes late.

Philip and Rudoslav looked at each other like two little school girls that were ready to start some gossip, and of course, they did.

"Who wants to bet their hot?", Rudoslav smiled.

Lola quickly chimed: "Oh! What if they're foreign?"

All three of us made a quick "oooh" sound as we thought about more bet ideas.

"Guys, please-" I quickly cut off Nathalie: "Five bucks they don't know any English."

We all immediately started talking over each other placing bets while Nathalie just stared at us like a disappointed mother. Just like a mother she quickly snapped us back, by slamming her book on the table.

"Guys, just because one of us is late doesn't mean we can't start our meeting."

Before we could say anything else about the new student the door opened once again.

Somehow I didn't expect who would be walking through the door, although looking back it seems oblivious. With their bag now in one hand and the other a schedule, Jules stumbled through the door. We both immediately made eye contact and before anyone could say anything I smiled: "Jules! You're in the News Club?"

All of a sudden their confident tone from before disappeared as they mumbled: "You too?"

Nathalie's head snapped to me as she blinked in surprise.

"You know each other?", she mumbled while glancing down at the piece of paper in her hand and back at me. In the corner of my eye I saw an annoyed Rudoslav hand Philip five bucks.

"Kinda.", I swiftly turned to Jules again and patted the chair next me, signalling to them to sit next to me. They quickly did.

Nathalie cleared her throat, clearly got off guard by the moment before snapping back to her gracefully facade and welcoming Jules: "Well, welcome Jules. I'm Nathalie North, the club leader. This Philip, Rudoslav, Lola and of course, Fifi."

Jules swiftly turned towards me: "Fifi?"

"It's a nickname.", I reassured.

For a split moment they looked stunned, almost like they recognized my name. But then they quickly snapped back and leaned back in their chair, like they were lost in their thoughts. Maybe someone was spreading rumours about me at school again and Jules caught wind of it.

Nathalie sat down. "This is our first club meeting in a while and I thought it would be fun to start off with something exciting."

What the hell was exciting in her mind? Doing paperwork?

"Partner assignments!", she smiled.

Assignments. I should have guessed. We all looked at her blankly, clearly no one was as excited as her.

The only one who had a reaction was Jules, who scoffed. "How exciting."

"It is.", I smiled, although my tone was a bit sarcastic.

Just as Jules snickered I looked back at Nathalie who didn't seem too fond of our comments.

"Since you two are clearly already getting along I don't think would be an issue for you two to work together, right?", she smiled.

We looked at each other. I mean… I barely knew them but…

"Yeah! Sounds great!", I smiled back.

With a blank face she began announcing who would work with who. "Lola and Rudoslav you will be a group and since there are now 6 of us Philip will have to work with me."

Had to. He had to work with her. Right. Not like she could just decide that Lola would be the one working with her.

We had to pull assignments out of a small bag to make it "fair". Although it didn't feel like it because Jules and I got the worst one.

"Record every blooming flower in town and make a catalogue with ideas for spring decorations…?", Jules read out.

Jules and I looked at each other. Yeah, they also seemed just as excited as I was about that.