Episode 1

Nova. Honey how late did you stay up this time?" this wasn't part of the dream. Nova Allan was reaching the end of a dream, but Taunti just had take her up before the epic conclusion. Wait. Taunti had to wake her up? Nova's eyes shot open. She must have slept through her alarm on accident again. "If you hurry, I can take you to school so you won't have to bike in the rain."

"But then you'll be late!" Nova argued.

"Your education is more important than any job I have ever had."

"It's not like I love school enough to actually try." Nova said as she rubbed her eyes and walked to the bathroom.

"You'll have a better time time next year since it's a new school, and you'll know everyone a lot better!" Her aunt called after her.

"I don't think the people are going to change much in a year. They'll get worse if anything." Nova thought.

She brushed her teeth, spit, and looked in the mirror. Her hair seemed to be even more poofy than usual, and wasn't cooperating at all. Dark circles from drawing last night didn't help her appearance much either.

"Fuck it." Nova muttered, and threw her hair into an extremely messy low bun.

"Are you almost ready?" Her aunt called from the doorway. "As much as I hate my job, but I also need to work unfortunately." She sighed, and gave a tired smile.

"You should go back to school. Get a culinary degree. I wish we could switch roles. You would take school so much more seriously than I would."

Nova said as she grabbed her worn out backpack, and shoved on a sweatshirt that frayed at the sleeve cuffs.

"Well, maybe in the future I'll have the freedom." Tauntie said softly, and closed the door gently after Nova ran out.

"Can you just call me in sick today? I'll sit in at your work, and death stare the creepy guys that stare at your boobs when you take their order." Nova rambled, while pressing her head against the window.

"To be honest, I almost considered that." Tauntie laughed. "Keep your head high today, and we can get takeout tonight."

"Deal." Nova replied.

"Shit I didn't feed you breakfast. Hold on." Her aunt mumbled, and rummaged in her purse.

"Here. Grab something from the cafeteria before you go to first period."

"Will do."

"I'm not being the best role model today, and I'm sorry." Tauntie said when Nova left the car.

"Well I think you're doing amazing." Nova whispered, and kissed her aunt on the cheek.

Nova felt her last bit of contentment leave her as she stepped out of Taunti's car and into the school building. Where life would be hell for the next six hours. Then she remembered the money in her pocket from yesterday.

"Well, at least I won't be going through hell with an empty stomach." Nova thought as she navigated her way towards the cafeteria, tugging her hoodie on as she walked. Suddenly, she stopped. Nova felt a wet sensation crawl down her back and down her pantleg,

Someone had balanced a juice carton on the hood of her sweatshir. The juice spilled all over when she pulled her hood off. The nerve of some people. She felt the stares of kids in the hall looking at the wet spots on her back. The teasing begins. She took out her headphones, and played the first song on the playlist. At least she couldn't hear their words anymore.

"Something different today dear?" The lunch lady said while already grabbing the small coffee and chips Nova always chose when she had cash to spare. She smiled and shook her head, and took the full cup of hot coffee in her hands.

"I have five minutes to get to my first class. fast walking it is then."

"Watch this" an upper classman whispered, and stuck a leg stuck out. Nova stumbled, and the coffee went flying. She took a deep breath, and kept walking.

"See? she never does anything!" Someone mumbled. "Damn what a pushover." Another said.

Nova took a deep breath. Showing signs of retaliation only led to more trouble.

"Really? This early in the morning? I thought they'd be at home sleeping their diplomas away." Nova grumbled under her breath.

Riiiing!

"Attendance!" the teacher yelled as everyone shuffled into their seats.

Nova sat down, and put her head in her hands. School was draining, but to think that in a couple years she would have that time to do whatever she wanted. The thought baffled her. But then a pencil was shoved into her hair, and snapped her back to reality.

"Turn to page 291 on your syllabus.. then…" The teacher droned on, and on. With each class period passing slower and slower, Nova felt the growing urge to punch whoever was messing with her hair, shatter her iPad on the ground, and cuss the teacher out on her way home.

"Miss Allen? Are you paying attention right now? What's the answer to the question on the board?"

The teacher pointed rather aggressively to a complicated math problem. Great. Math wasn't her strong subject. Nova squinted to see the equation, but then the intercom rang:

"Could Nova Allen come to the office please?"

Saved by the intercom. Nova packed up her stuff, and walked towards the office. Maybe Taunti quit her job and they could move somewhere else. Maybe a city? Somewhere tropical might be cool too.

"Are you Nova?" The principal herself asked as soon as she stepped foot into the office.

"Yes. Am I in trouble? Because if I am, some upperclassman put the blame on me."

"You are definitely not in trouble. Quite the opposite in fact. I'm so deeply sorry for your loss."

Nova blinked, absorbing the information. Suddenly the world seemed too small, and her breathing became shallow. "What?"