“Alexander, it'll be fine.” Persephone told me “You’ll be fine.” She repeated, clinging onto my arm while dragging me through the mall. 

In the distance stood a group of 3 people. A shorter, stout girl noticed us, quickly turning around as she waved her arms around in the air, gesturing to us to come over.

Persephone quickly led me to them, the short girl running up to us “Persephone!!” she greeted excitedly, throwing her arms around her and virtually lifting Persephone up off the ground. 

The two hugged for a moment as the girl swung her around. “Charlotte!” Seth greeted her back, pulling away, before placing her hand on my back, “I brought Alex along too!” 

The three turned to look at me.

Persephone then gestured to Charlotte, the shorter girl, “Oh yeah, this is Charlotte.” She said. 

“Hi!” Charlotte waved “It's nice to meet you!” 

I gave her a smile as Seth gestured to the tallest girl “This is Allison.” 

Allison gently waved. “It's nice to meet you…! Seth talks about you a lot.” She smiled, chuckling. 

I nodded “Hello, it's nice meeting you.” I said, giving a slight wave.

Finally Persephone pointed to a small girl, “And this is Katherine.” 

Katherine hid behind Allison “Hi…” She mumbled.

I chucked, “It’s nice finally meeting you all.” I said, awkwardly as my voice trembled, fumbling with my hands. 

Persephone slapped me on the back “So…” She paused, “Where do you want to go?”

They all glanced around for a while before Charlotte suggested, “Why don't we go to The Baked Bean…?” 

Nodding they turned to look at me “What about you? Do you want to go?” She asked me. 

“Oh… Yeah, sure.” I said, and thus we did, seating ourselves by one of the tables a bit out of sight. 

The others continued to talk, while I sat on the side. Staring off into the distance. 

“Hey, Alexander?” Charlotte called my name. 

“Hm?” I turned to face Charlotte. 

“You and Sethy both have vials, right?” she asked “That's so cool!” 

“I guess so…” I said. “I don't really know what to do with it.” 

“Since it's not like Seth who wants to become a nurse.” I added. “I don't really have anything to use it for…”

“Yeah I guess so… But that's still pretty cool! Isn’t it? Charlotte smiled, twirling her hair. “Oh and the outfits!!” She gushed, her eyes lighting up. 

“It's like you're a real life magical girl!” She said “The frilly dresses and all!” 

I smiled back, looking down at my lap, gracing the vial that was tucked away into my pocket. Just before Persephone jabbed me in the stomach. 

“Hm-” I said as I cocked my head around to face Seth.  

“What are you up to?” She asked only to be cut off.

“Sethy! That's mean!” Charlotte said “Don't jab him!” 

“I didn't do it that hard.” She said. “Right Alex?” 

“Yeah.” I said. “I'm fine…” I could certainly feel it.

After a moment of silence, I parted my lips. “We were talking about you, Seth.” I told her.

“Huh? What, really?” She asked, perplexed “Bout what?”

“Not much!” Charlotte said “Just vials and you wanting to become a nurse, and all!” 

“Oh. Okay.” She said, reclining into the seat. 

Charlotte quickly turned to look at me, “What do you want to become, Alexander?” She asked. “Well… If… If you know anyway…”

“I don't know. Mortician.” I told her, looking down as I fiddled. 

“Oh wow! A mortician?” Allison chimed in from beside Charlotte. 

“That's so gorey!” Charlotte said. 

I shrugged. “It's interesting.” 

“Totally! That's so cool!” Allison beamed. “You must not be squeamish then?” 

“Not really.” I told her, as I continued fiddling with my hands in my lap. I was used to gore. 

“Couldn't be me, I'd vomit!” Charlotte said. 

“But being a nurse is pretty gorey too, to be fair.” Allison added, looking to Seth.

“Oh yeah.” Seth agreed. “I'm not that squeamish either.” 

“Eugh-” Charlotte chirped “But I guess most people probably start out squeamish at first, don't they?” She said  

“But it's not for me!” She said, shivering in disgust as she thought about it before Persephone took a sip of her drink 

“What about you, what do you want to do?” She asked.

Charlotte thought for a moment. “Well… I don't really know but…” She thought “I want to be a fashion designer…!” 

I just continued to eat my pudding while the others continued talking.

I wasn't very social. Not like how Persephone was…

I didn't really know how. All my friends came to me, never the other way around.

I could never relate to my peers either, most of them just seemed to dislike me for no particular reason, and most of the time we had nothing to talk about. Even as a child.

I did have a school friend, Chester. People liked him a lot, he was athletic too, unlike me. Despite that we spent a decent amount of time together, he was a kind guy. 

While I never really had people pick on me he did stand up for me. 

He was a rather normal guy, yet he liked me, of all people.