Mira  did say that she wanted to go to school early because she wanted to make sure to drop home first and convince her dad there’s nothing sus going on.

But she also wanted to go to school early because she needs to lock in.

Always get A’s? She always gets B borderlining C’s!

Thought the Allevttes wouldn’t be such ambitious people on grade?

Nuh uh!

Yesterday, after the breakfast, Allevtte quickly planned out her academic plans. Which school is the best, which education track should she do for the next ten years, which clubs and research will be most beneficial.

Somehow, Mira succeeded to convince her to let her go to her usual school, with her usual schedule, and to not enroll her because she can enroll herself.

Then, Allevtte invited her whole family for dinner that night. Her mother and father, her grandma and grandpa, her great grandma, her great great grandpa, her great great great grandma – well you name it.

And no, they don’t look normal.

The aunts and grandmothers crowded around, eldritch looking, caressing  Mira ’s cheeks with their blade sharp long red nails that sometimes accidentally electrocute.

“Aww, she’s so cute!”

“Right?? So cute that I sometimes can’t help but electrocute!”

Then were the uncles and grandpa who talked and joked with her about politics and sports – no, she didn’t understand a bit of it – and when they laugh, the whole living room would turn into earthquake.

Not to mention when they slapped her back jokingly while laughing – it was a friendly gesture, but Mira would fly across the room. Dilvei and Lucian had to catch her several times before she was sent crashing onto the wall.

“Sorry darling, many of my family members are in their power bulking phase~”

“Hey, can we please tone it down? She’s a 50%!”

They looked at each other and gasped. Poor kid! Lucian’s right! What if they killed this baby?

And within a blink, they all turned to humans.

 Mira  was wrong to exhale in relief, however. Because a second later, the conversations shifted.

“Oh honey, heard you always get A’s?”

“You must be so smart – you should be! Our family have always gotten straight A’s too!”

“Your cousin there – she graduated summa cum laude at 15!”

“Hey, my daughter, your mom – Mira – she won every physics Olympics for three years straight!”

 Mira  walked into the school yard. If she failed to get A’s… Mira shivered.

Suddenly, a strong push shoved her to the side.

“Move.”

 Mira ’s jaw dropped. What an asshole!

A tall boy with pale everything – and blistering blue eyes (is it like an oasis in the desert? Or maybe the oasis is dead too?) walked past by, followed by a smiley jock and girls’ fleeting gazes.

An 11^th grader?

Uhm ok, maybe picking a fight isn’t the best way…

“Hello!”

 Mira  turned around. Thalassia stood beside her, her hair and clothes immaculate as always, her eyes sparkling.

“I didn’t get to see you for the rest of the break! How are you?”

“Ooh, hehe I joined this science camp…”

They stopped at their class assignments and frowned. They’re on different classes!

“Aww, who will I eat with during lunch?”

“Uhm isn’t lunch the same time for every class?”

“Oh yeah hehe – aww who will I sit with in class?”

“Come on, you’re popular!”

Thalassia pouted. She glanced at her watch.

“Wanna hang out for a bit?”

“Nah, I think I’d set up in class.”

“ ☹ Then meet you at lunch?”

“Yes, meet you at lunch!”

 Mira  walked in hesitantly into her class. To be honest, she is nervous. She had stutters up until last year, and now, while she no longer have them, had difficulty speaking her mind clearly. The other kids would make fun of her, and growing up, they’d say and do whatever they want, knowing that she couldn’t speak up. That’s why she was secretly grateful when Thalassia transferred in.

 Mira  gripped her backpack.

No, she’s not gonna let them this time! Even without Thalassia!

But Mira slipped on a banana peel and fell down, right in front of her classmates. They held their laughters and went back to chatting.

 Mira  blushed and hastily walked to the backmost seat, near the window. This is her favorite seat. No one would be able to stick notepads at her back, and when they whisper, she would know.

She could also eat her lunch staring at the window… in case Thalassia had gotten new friends.

Hehe, the benefits of coming to class early.

Jay walked in and sat next to her, chatting with his friends loudly.

 Mira  slumped. Right, the jocks hang around the back of the classroom a lot too.

Huh, is he that guy who was with the pale guy earlier? She had seen Jay around a lot, but never the pale guy.

The first class started, ended, and the second class began. When the second class ended, Mira left for the bathroom.

When she got back, however, her seat was filled with sauce.

She looked around the room.

Everyone was silent, looking at their textbook.

Her eyebrows furrowed.

“W-who did this?”

“W-who did this?” the boys in front of her snickered.  Mira ’s face went red.

“I SAID, WHO DID THIS, IDIOTS??”

“Ooh, hear, she’s cursing.”

Jay looked at them, smiling with his eyebrows lifted a bit, but said nothing.

Silence.

“Oh, so that’s how it’s gonna be, huh?”

 Mira  glanced at the snickering guys in front of her. They are Jay’s friends, right? Is that delinquent behind this?

Jay was relaxing, his legs on his desk, his eyes stuck to his comic, when the sauce poured over his head. Then the chair. His friends also got sauce poured.

Jay stumbled to the floor, his eyes wide.

“WHAT THE HECK? IT WASN’T ME!”

“Well, you didn’t answer either! I’m pouring it to anyone!”

“I was in the bathroom!”

“Yea right!” Mira grabbed his backpack and swiped it over her chair and desk, wiping them clean.

The students’ jaws dropped.