Chapter 1

Chapter 1 Day one of the new semester, and Ava's already been locked in the bathroom by the resident mean girls, led by the spiteful Lauren. This kind of ridiculousness has been Ava's life since sophomore year, so when she finds the bathroom door jammed, she doesn't even try to break free. Silver lining: Brookdale Academy, being the ritzy school that it is, has bathrooms cleaner than a five-star hotel. So Ava, ever the pragmatist, shrugs, unzips her backpack, and gets down to studying under the surprisingly decent lighting. Three chapters in, she hears the familiar rattle of the janitor's cart outside. She raps on the door, and the janitor, used to this routine, lets her out without a word. Ava thanks him and heads to class under a barrage of pitying looks, only to find her brand-new textbooks scattered and trashed. Bending down for a clean-up is a workout for Ava, who's more at home in a library than a gym. After rescuing her books, she notes with a sigh that a couple of covers are ripped. Ava has a soft spot for books, and seeing them damaged is like a punch to the gut. Looks like she can't trust her textbooks to the classroom anymore. She dusts off the debris, hoists her bag - now heavier than a sack of bricks - and exits, swaying slightly. As she leaves, she bumps into a couple of classmates. One looks like she wants to say something, but the other stops her. Ava gives them a small smile and walks on, catching a snippet of their conversation. "Why the hell is Lauren's gang always on Ava's case?" "Who knows, man? Probably something to do with Justin." ******** As the Christmas's glitter still hung in the air, Ava braced herself against the biting winter wind that greeted her as she ventured out of her cozy sanctuary. She clutched her coat tighter, letting out a sigh that fogged up in the frigid air. She was totally bamboozled as to why Lauren was convinced she was vibing with Justin, the school's heartthrob. It's not like they'd had deep convos or anything. They'd only bumped into each other a few times at school events last year. But school gossip spreads like wildfire, and everyone bought into it. When Justin acknowledged her at school, Lauren went ballistic. At first, Ava felt wronged - she had crushed on a guy in junior high, but he had moved away in their first year of high school, and he was definitely not Justin. Even then, she kept her crush in check, not letting it cloud her judgment. She had a laser focus on her grades - anything that could potentially jeopardize them was a no-go until she was financially independent. But no matter how much she tried to clear the air, Lauren wasn't having it. And Ava, a nerd with a frail physique and zero social skills, stood no chance against a clique of privileged girls. Ava stared into the twilight, her thoughts wandering - Brookdale had some killer scholarships, after all. After covering her tuition, she even had some leftover to help out her family. That's why she had signed up for this drama in the first place. She just had to tough it out until college. Self-control and patience were her forte. For now, she needed to freshen up at her secret hideout so she wouldn't freak out her parents when she got home. She tried to crack a smile, but the roar of a motorcycle zipping past interrupted her. She watched as it vanished into the distance, the echo of its exhaust still ringing in her ears. People at the bus stop were buzzing about how much the bike must've cost. Ava was clueless, but from their reactions, it seemed like a pretty big deal. --- Tucked away in a city park, one of the city's swankiest mansions bordered the south, while the humble rooftops of Ava's urban village marked the west. Ava had found a hidden gem - a pavilion by the lake, so secluded that even the distant hum of vehicles couldn't reach. It was the perfect spot to space out, hit the books, or even plot a crime. She'd never seen anyone else there. But today, less than thirty minutes into her solitude, she sensed a strange, powerful presence. Ava's back stiffened. She tore her eyes away from her textbook, and turned around- A towering figure emerged from around the bend, crunching on the gravel path. Under his open black down jacket, he sported the drab uniform of Washington High. But even the unflattering getup couldn't dull his magnetic charm. As the streetlight bathed his handsome face in a soft glow, he was on the phone, his brows knitted together, his voice deep and resonant. "Dandy," he remarked, his voice dripping with more sarcasm than a teen's snarky tweet. "I'd be overjoyed if they simply vanished. Or better yet, they could all kick the bucket." Apparently, he hadn't banked on having company. When his eyes locked onto Ava, his voice hitched for a beat. He quickly gave her school uniform a once-over, the kind of look you'd give a randomer who just slid into your DMs. "Just bumped into a Brookdale scholar," he swiftly explained to the person on the other end of the line. "No biggie." --- "Brookdale? LMAO, wasn't that the dumpster fire you attended freshman year?" Jason's best bro was still yapping through the phone, trying to lighten the mood about his dad and big bro ghosting him for the Christmas's bash. Jason was putting up with it, not hanging up. Honestly, he was used to the ghosting. Given his year-round empty crib, solo partying on Christmas's didn't seem like such a bummer. Besides, he'd already trashed his living room and gone on a few joyrides to blow off some steam, which had done wonders for his mood. The figure in the corner of the pavilion was already silently packing up, ready to bounce. Jason found a chill spot to park himself, his gaze unintentionally landing on the figure. Slim, with basic long brown hair, specs on the face, only half of the pale face visible, it was impossible to get a clear look. Holding an English textbook? Hitting the park for a read, definitely a book nerd. The wrist pulling the backpack zip was pale and delicate, too fragile to withstand a snap. Jason absent-mindedly flexed his fist, thinking he could probably crush a pair of those arms without breaking a sweat. But recalling his pathetic mix of Ds and Fs from last semester, Jason figured there was no point flexing his muscles. He wasn't usually into these harmless creatures from a parallel universe, but right now, he found himself sneaking a second look. There was a strange sense of d j vu, and he found himself drawn to the seemingly weak yet resilient character. The other person slowly stood up, sporting a ridiculously oversized backpack, and didn't bother to glance at Jason the entire time. Jason felt a strange connection with this aloof behavior, but before he could delve deeper, he heard an unusual splash. Instinctively, he swiveled his head, and under the golden glow of the setting sun, a small figure was thrashing about in the lake in front of the pavilion. A kid had tumbled into the water! His bro on the phone was still cracking up, going on about grabbing some drinks to chill, but Jason was all ears to the splash. Almost reflexively, he vaulted over the fence and took a plunge into the water. As he did, he heard another splash behind him. In the blink of an eye, the drenched kid was hoisted from the water amidst a flurry of frantic activity. Jason sprawled on the shore, half his body still marinated in the icy lake. He was gasping like he'd just run a marathon, feeling like his limbs were staging a revolt. Was the water spiked with lead or something? He could barely twitch a muscle. What happened to his gym-bragging rights of bench pressing a 220lbs? Scrubbing the water off his face, Jason tried to squash his growing irritation. The next second, he unfurled his hand, his eyes wide with disbelief as they landed on the dainty, breakable wrist. He shot a look sideways, and less than 3 feet away was a face mirroring his own shock. No screams, no hysteria. The two youngsters were fished out by the park's security before they could even process what happened. Staff of all genders scrambled to help these two frozen good samaritans change into dry clothes, then ushered them into the office for a cup of hot chocolate. The kid's mom was still sobbing and thanking gratefully on the shore as an ambulance whisked them away. The park staff shared their shock, then turned their attention to the oddly charged atmosphere in the office and the two silent heroes - What's up with them? They're just staring at each other, it's kinda creepy. Maybe they're in shock? The guy seemed stiff when he changed. The chick is from Brookdale Academy, I recognize the uniform. It's the swankiest in town. The dude's from Washington High. Kids these days, man, they've got guts! Jason and Ava tuned into the chatter, their eyes locked onto each other, staring at the face they should be wearing. This Freaky Friday situation was something they never imagined, and any reaction seemed inadequate. They were simply dumbstruck, unsure of how to proceed. After a beat, it was the usually chill Ava who broke the silence, her voice unusually deep and shaky: "Something's off about that lake." "Should we call the cops?" Jason blurted out, instantly feeling like a tool. He gripped his warm cup, fighting the urge to chuck it, running his hand through his hair in frustration - only to pull at long tresses, making him even more irate, "So, smarty pants, what's your plan!" Ava stared at her own face, twisted in an unfamiliar scowl, and had to stifle a laugh. Then, under Jason's surprised gaze, she took a moment and replied softly, "We need to figure out if this is a temporary glitch or our new normal. This place is swarming with people, we need to find a safe spot first." ***** As fatigue claimed them, Ava and Jason ditched the park, leaving behind their digits in case of inquiries. Ava's phone had given up the ghost thanks to an unexpected drenching. Lucky for them, Jason's phone was built like a submarine. He shot off a message to his mate, Monkey, to bring keys to a vacant city pad. When Monkey arrives, Jason lurked in the shadows and signaled Ava to grab the keys. Before Ava went out, she hesitated, "Will he spot something's off when we chat?" Jason, hearing this, felt a pang of worry. He took a deep breath, put on his poker face, and said, "No sweat. If things get dicey, just curse him out. I'll teach you some choice words: ****, *****." Ava: " … "