Nothing Personal

The following day at school, Maya discovered that her reputation within the Zeta group had been tarnished due to her association with Elena. Despite her best efforts, no one showed interest in spending time with her. Her peers had already formed cliques that seemed impenetrable to Maya.

She couldn't push her friendship upon Elena either, as she hadn't shown up in school, nor did she come back from her night out.

Upon returning to her room the previous day, Maya found Elena dressed up, her bruises covered, and preparing to leave. They didn't speak, and Maya assumed she was going on a date with Keith. It would be a lie if Maya said she wasn't worried about Elena a bit. However, she reassured herself that Keith, being a responsible boyfriend, would take care of her.

After isolating herself from her peers in Vetus Orbis, they eventually stopped inviting her to socialize. Five years of 'not feeling like it' took a toll on her social life. It became difficult to discern if she was unlikable or if she had merely faded into the background.

Maya believed things would change once her father awoke. She intended to start being present, to stop avoiding people, hoping she would have the mental capacity to engage with others' lives and start making friends. But, things didn't turn out the way she hoped.

This was her chance for a fresh start. Mellgrah students all start from scratch. Although, the rest of them had a little bit more time for introductions over the summer, her late start wasn't going to stop her. This time she was determined. This time no one knows about her unlikable characteristics, so she can change herself however she likes. Right? She won't be her old gloomy self.

It was what she thought, and what fuelled her excitement.

'You will start living.'

However, she was unfortunate to end up in a room with Elena. It was short-sighted of her to attempt to befriend Elena. In the effort to please the unpleasable, she had to invest so much time that it hampered her chances of making other friends. Besides her lunch squad, she had no one to chat with during classes.

'Crap.'

What was she thinking? If being friends with Elena was such a regrettable thing, she felt sorry for her. If others shared the same sentiment, then Elena was in the same situation as her, ostracized because of an unintended reputation. Elena was merely a victim, pushing people away to justify her loneliness. After all, she didn't consider the consequences of her actions.

Today, Maya was trying to hang out with Stella—the girl she met the first day when their groups were distributed. But Stella didn't seem too keen on hanging with Maya and it ended up feeling rather awkward, so Maya resulted in chilling alone for the last break before lunch.

Standing in the hallway in front of her classroom, Maya was listening to Leo trying to entertain her so she wouldn't feel left out. But she did feel left out. She was hanging out with a ghost!

'What would be more miserable, being all alone or with ghosts?'

A group of students, including Keith, were passing by, each carrying boxes. Keith stopped to greet Maya.

"Maya, how are you? How's your head?" he asked.

"I'm good. How about you?"

"I'm fine, thanks." Keith smiled politely.

Maya's curiosity was piqued. "What's in the boxes?"

Keith glanced at the group that had continued without him. "Honestly, I'm not sure. We're moving them at Professor Milford's request. As a class rep, I sometimes get tasked to transport boxes to get out of class," he joked.

"That sounds fun. I didn't think being a class rep meant you're teacher's errand boy."

Keith laughed. "What else would it mean? Anyway, where's your usual partner in crime?"

"I meant to ask you the same thing. She didn't come to class today. Is she okay?"

"You're her roommate. You tell me."

"I thought she stayed at your place."

Keith looked at her in confusion.

"No," he stammered, his mind racing. "Are you saying she didn't sleep in her bed last night?" he sounded alarmed.

At that moment, Maya realized Keith had no idea what she was talking about. Elena hadn't stayed with him last night.

'Where did she stay? She was all dressed up…'

Maya feared she had revealed something she shouldn't have.

"Oh, sorry… She… she did… I confused it with the other night. I've been so stressed and haven't been getting enough sleep. It's like my days are all blending together."

Relief washed over Keith. "You really had me worried there. Don't do that to me."

"I'm sorry. She slept in today. I assumed she'd show up later."

"Maybe you should stop by the infirmary just to double-check your injury. You're making me worry."

"I'm fine, really. Things have just been a bit chaotic lately. I'm still adjusting to living here."

"Okay, if you say so. Anyway, I need to deliver these to the greenhouse. The class has started. I think your professor is already in the classroom."

"Wow, I lost track of time. Sorry. Bye."

Maya rushed into the classroom under the professor's disproving look. Muttering an apology, she slid into her seat. The professor continued with their lecture, but Maya couldn't stop thinking about what she'd just found out.

'Elena didn't sleep in her bed, nor was she with her boyfriend. Where was she? Why was she getting all dressed up, last night? And why did she just cover for her?'

A creeping fear began to form in Maya's mind. The world was a dangerous place at night. What if Elena hadn't reached her destination?

Her thoughts were interrupted when the classroom doors opened yet again, disrupting the lecture. This time, it was Elena.

'Speak of the devil…'

Elena quietly took her seat at the back of the room. Maya glanced her way. Elena caught her gaze, rolled her eyes, and quickly looked away. Her face still looked battered, but it no longer looked horrifying after the swelling had subsided.

The professor cleared her throat, forcing Maya to return her focus to the lecture.

When the class ended, Elena disappeared before Maya could approach her. It was lunchtime, so Maya decided to find the Beta squad.

"…You should come. The location is the attic room of the Delta dorm building… Yeah, that big room… It's her room... What does it matter?"

Maya caught a part of Andrea's conversation, trying to convince one girl to come to their party. After realising it, Maya quickly pulled Andrea aside.

"You shouldn't invite more people. I haven't even talked to Elena about having a party in our room."

"Why not? It's been like… what… three days already?"

"I haven't found the right moment."

"There she is now. Go and tell her," Andrea pushed for it.

"I can't, Andrea! We got into a fight. We should move the party elsewhere."

"But I've already told everyone we're partying there," Andrea whined.

"Sorry."

"Wait. What fight? Didn't she, like, protect you from those guys yesterday? When did you find time to get into a fight?"

"She wasn't protecting me. I was caught up in her mess. I had nothing to do with it."

"I heard you ate the floor. That sounds like you were very much involved."

"No. Ah! Can't you cut me some slack?" Maya was frustrated.

"Sorry. I can't retract invitations. But I'm sure she wouldn't mind. What was yesterday's fight about, anyway?"

"You seem to know a lot about it already."

"I know rumours, but you're the one that knows knows the real story."

The rest of the squad joined them at the table, catching parts of their conversation.

"What does it matter?" Sarah interjected. "Elena tried to stab a guy. Nothing surprising there. You're just giving her the attention she craves by talking about it."

"She did it for attention?" Isaac mistakenly took Sarah as a reliable source of information.

"No," Maya corrected.

"She protected Maya from those guys," Linda claimed.

"No. No one was attacking me," Maya was exasperated by how everyone seemed to have their own story in mind. "She got into a brawl with one of the warrior guys at her audition. I guess he didn't like losing to a girl and wanted to humiliate her. They started throwing insults and it escalated. I was just in the way when he attacked her. That's it," Maya quickly explained.

"Boring. It's clear she belongs in juvie. Why do you always talk about her?" Sarah complained.

"You have something more interesting to talk about?" Andrea asked.

"She's right," Maya jumped at Sarah's defence before they could start arguing. Maya was so used to conversations turning into conflicts with Elena she felt she had to always dampen similar situations. "Let's not talk about her. What have you guys been doing? Have you all had your Awakening?"

"Sarah did. But I feel like today's a good day for it," Andrea was positive.

"Yeah. I feel like I'm just on the verge of it," Isaac as well.

"You guys are stupid. You can't feel you're on the verge of it. You either do it or don't," Sarah discouraged them.

"And what if we don't?" Linda was worried.

"You go to the Slums," Sarah had no sympathy. She must've believed that if you're superior it is just meant to be.

"I've heard some horrible things about it. We better all succeed before the Initiation, or I'll get angry if someone gets sent away. We're squad for life now!"

"That's sweet, Andrea. But we can't control that," Isaac answered.

"I don't care. I can't part from you guys," Andrea sniffled. She was getting sentimental.

"Why am I hanging out with you? You're all so lame and mopey," Sarah complained.

"Oh, don't be like that. You love us, too," Andrea said, throwing herself around her shoulders.