🗝️⋆𐙚₊˚♡138Please respect copyright.PENANAOsKrRtuDOi
.⋆♱ PANDORA'S ECHO⠀,138Please respect copyright.PENANA1GUamIHAP0
003. the deepest inhale138Please respect copyright.PENANAPjsbg1Jq9n
"Fuck," a tired groan rings throughout her bedroom. Naomi sits up and rakes her nails over her satin, champagne bonnet. The pad of her finger taps the screen, and her suspicions are confirmed. She's definitely late, on her second day no less.
Her eyes drift down at the stack of notifications from the group chat with Clover, Jay, Reis, Dominic, and Ashanti. She taps on the notifications to catch up on the messages.
platonic back shots
fetty wap's left eye:138Please respect copyright.PENANATcZlehF8Qk
Where the fuck are Reis and Naomi??
mary fucking poppins:138Please respect copyright.PENANAXNtm1URq0E
Idk, she hasn't been answering her phone all morning
nonchalant ceo:138Please respect copyright.PENANANCqzVaT8wQ
Yo138Please respect copyright.PENANAj7rNgQr7UM
I woke up and didn't fuck with the vibes138Please respect copyright.PENANAhSPIddKKqp
I'm not coming
fetty wap's left eye:138Please respect copyright.PENANAB4cBEttj86
This nigga.138Please respect copyright.PENANAaTHli2AfE8
Bro, it's the second day, even Jay is here
big mouth:138Please respect copyright.PENANA7OhtvA0A6W
That don't sound like a compliment...
fetty wap's left eye:138Please respect copyright.PENANAaUreZEH2cW
Cus it's not.
resident delulu:138Please respect copyright.PENANAIi5ZmJ0Zmt
Lmao, good morning y'all138Please respect copyright.PENANAvLcnJb6W6D
I just woke up
She laughs quietly, unplugging her phone and carrying it with her to her bathroom. Her cozy, cotton socks touch the cold tile as she pinches the light switch, pushing it upward. The cool-toned light reveals her sleepy reflection.
Naomi releases a long sigh from her dry lips as she lets the faucet run until the temperature rises. The warm water pools into her cupped hands, and she pours it over her face. She reaches for her morning skincare routine while glancing at the latest notifications from the group chat.
fetty wap's left eye:138Please respect copyright.PENANA3pNccyHkjm
Bitch.
mary fucking poppins:138Please respect copyright.PENANAJbgsUv5My3
On the second day of school is kinda crazy, ngl
resident delulu:138Please respect copyright.PENANAjpz040Tf4Y
Chill on me >﹏<138Please respect copyright.PENANAD63tVotfek
I was tired, and that hangover was not helping
fetty wap's left eye:138Please respect copyright.PENANAXlZWBDEP6J
Ykw... just get down here pls138Please respect copyright.PENANA8pICT3ks3n
First period is almost over, get here when second period starts
resident delulu:138Please respect copyright.PENANAafWMvJzKJO
Well... seeing as I missed the bus and my mom's gone idk how I'm gonna get there
fetty wap's left eye:138Please respect copyright.PENANAiWLjCjCLES
Just say you hate me and want me to die
Naomi rolls her eyes at the overdramatic message Ashanti sent. She grabs a nearby towel and gently pats her face dry before heading back to her bedroom. Naomi's socks meet her carpet as she plops down on her messy bed.
resident delulu:138Please respect copyright.PENANAp3WS6JAM1h
Dude. You're being dramatic
fetty wap's left eye:138Please respect copyright.PENANAf4iYZSbOt3
Or I'm right, as always138Please respect copyright.PENANAK36qwbgM1u
Just ask Reis's ass for a ride
resident delulu:138Please respect copyright.PENANA5yDdwNztXO
You might be on to something...138Please respect copyright.PENANAsC1YnCulJQ
Reis, I know you're looking at the chat138Please respect copyright.PENANAHGDF9rkaKZ
Can you come pick me up?
nonchalant ceo:138Please respect copyright.PENANAEongZ8uSG1
Didn't I just tell y'all I'm not coming?
resident delulu:138Please respect copyright.PENANAx3OW2MsuPZ
Well... yes, you did138Please respect copyright.PENANAweMaSdg8dx
But, I was wondering if you wouldn't mind picking me up (ㅅ' ˘ ')
nonchalant ceo:138Please respect copyright.PENANAzTBqEEba8R
You're getting charged.138Please respect copyright.PENANAlM6wqBzQS3
Be ready in twenty
resident delulu:138Please respect copyright.PENANAYUyxp3SDDU
Thank you, see you soon, Ree138Please respect copyright.PENANAtZQnBgMHeN
And you, too, with your dramatic ass, Ashanti
fetty wap's left eye:138Please respect copyright.PENANAbbdW5egLtz
Okay, yay ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈138Please respect copyright.PENANANzgzi7RzzA
Be safe
Naomi unhurriedly walks over to her closet, yanking the doors open to begin getting dressed. She reaches for a plain, short-sleeved, cropped tee and a light jacket. Rummaging through her drawers, she decides on a pair of baggy, light-wash denim jeans and white socks.
Naomi takes a slight peek at the time and quickly grimaces, knowing Reis will be arriving soon. She reaches for two light, silver rings and a pair of shining stud earrings. She runs over to the bathroom to figure out how she'll style her hair for the school day. She groans, deciding on a low bun, and hustles back over to her room to gather her things.
A buzz.
She grabs her things, stuffing perfume and Chapstick into her purse before slinging her bookbag over her shoulder. Naomi rushes down the stairs, shoving her feet into a pair of sneakers and lacing them on the way out. "Good morning," Naomi wheezily greets Reis. She reaches over to give him a quick, half-hug, but freezes, noticing his demeanor.
He doesn't react to her greeting, his large hood covering his head while he taps the steering wheel in rhythmic boredom. "Never mind then," she mutters under her breath as she puts her seatbelt on.
"Morning." He grunts before pulling off, exiting her neighborhood. He idly toys with his diamond stud, eyes fixed on the calm road.
"Something is really wrong, huh?" She narrows her eyes as she reaches into her purse to finish getting ready.
"Woke up to some bullshit, nothing new," he softly responds, slowing to a stop as a red light appears.
"It's only the second day," Naomi mutters, her face pinched in confusion.
"And?" He quickly glances at her.
She studies his absent expression, her thoughts immediately landing on home issues. "You wanna talk?"
He clenches his jaw at the thought of opening up, but a blaring horn disrupts the two. "Nah, it's okay," he answers firmly.
Her eyes linger on his hunched frame before turning to the mirror as she lines her lips.
"You know you ain't have to go, just cus Shanti said something," he grunts.
Naomi huffs a laugh, "I know, but I can't fuck around with my attendance too much this year. So, I might as well pretend to have my shit together."
"Even though you're late?" Reis quips lowly.
"Alright, not too much," she clicks her tongue as she applies a coat of clear gloss. Naomi peers up to see the dreadful school building coming into view. She gathers her things and checks her reflection once more before closing the mirror.
Reis smoothly pulls into the school parking lot, but the two don't move. Neither wanting to leave, Naomi's eyes flicker over to him, "So, can I get a hug now?"
"After you pay me, yeah," he smoothly responds, turning his body toward her.
Her expression droops, "You were serious about that?"
"Gas ain't cheap," Reis insists on the payment. "I'm not gonna rob you, just gimme five."
"You're literally evil," Naomi swears as she unlocks her phone to pay him for the morning ride. She clicks on his contact, sending the money via Apple Pay. "There, you should get it soon, you bitch."
"Still want that hug?"
Naomi swears she can see the corner of his mouth twitching, attempting not to laugh in her face, "No. Fuck your hug. Next time I'm not coming."
"Smart." He hums in amusement.
She runs her tongue over her teeth before her irritated demeanor cracks with a huff. "Thanks for the ride, Ree."
"It's nothing, Brie," he nods, watching her exit his car. "Don't be late tomorrow, I'm not gonna pick you up again."
Naomi pauses before briefly looking over her shoulder. "...No promises," she closes the car door and waves goodbye as he pulls off.
Naomi approaches the front of the building, attempting to delay her arrival to class. She heads to the front office to grab a late pass, knowing her teacher won't let her in without one. She grabs the pass with a quick thank you and heads to the classroom.
Her lone footsteps reverberate throughout the hall as she finally arrives at the door. Naomi releases an annoyed sigh before opening the door, interrupting the teacher. She can feel her fellow seniors eyeing her down, now that they have something else to focus on than the lesson.
Naomi clears her throat and walks over, handing the teacher her late pass. "Good morning... sorry, I woke up late."
The teacher sternly gazes at her, the disappointment sharp and unshifting. "Nice of you to join us, Ms. Harper. Just take a seat, you haven't missed much."
Naomi nods gratefully and shifts toward the seat she claimed yesterday. However, the seat is taken.
Naomi groans in disbelief and scans the classroom for an empty seat. "Oh," she sighs inwardly. The only free desk is near a window and the new kid. She has forgotten he also has this class.
The teacher clears her throat, signaling for the young girl to hurry along. Naomi purses her lips as she approaches the back of the classroom and stops next to his desk. She taps his shoulder lightly, "Nobody's sitting there, right?"
His eyes, the color of a fruit stem, blankly lift, "No." The guy's voice isn't what she had imagined. It's low and monotone with a silvery tone running through it.
"Alright," she nods and takes a seat next to him. Naomi leans her bag against the desk's leg and sets her purse on the wooden surface.
The teacher resumes her slideshow, but Naomi's focus repeatedly flickers to him. She can make out more of his features, rather than squinting and guessing. His facial features are very angular, his jaw sharp. His jet black hair reaches past the collar of his polo shirt. His lips are wide and pink, but her eyes are drawn to the poorly healed scar running down his cheek.
"To ease us into the material for the next couple of weeks, you will be working in pairs."
Naomi groans in frustration, cussing the educator in her thoughts, "Here she go with this bullshit."
"With the person closest to you."
Naomi quickly takes notice of his unshifting demeanor; meanwhile, she's beginning to panic.
"I want you to go over the prompt on the board and come up with a response together." The teacher sets a timer and settles at her desk.
Naomi stares at the board momentarily before turning towards him. "So, we're partners..."
"I guess," he flatly replies, picking a writing utensil from his pouch.
Naomi's lips settle in a flat line. She knows this isn't going to be easy. She rereads the board before searching her backpack for her notebook and pen. "It looks like it's just a couple of discussion questions, nothing serious."
He only gives a nod and begins to fidget with his pencil.
"I'm Naomi, you're new, right?" She chooses a straightforward approach, since he isn't giving her much to go off of.
"Yeah... I'm August," his eyes flicker to her face before retreating to his paper.
"I'm guessing you don't like to talk much?" Naomi attempts a lighthearted joke.
"I talk..." He barely defends himself.
"Well, would you like me to read or do you want to?" She decides to cut the small talk.
"You can," he responds.
"Great. Love that."
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