Riley hadn't unpacked.
The boxes sat by the wall like silent observers, taped shut and worn out indicating that it was old. Her new room smelled like fresh paint and cleaning supplies hinting at a place pretending to be new but still occupied by the lives of those that stayed there.She sat on the edge of the bed, lacing up her boots slowly. The morning light pushed through the blinds in strips, and for a second, it felt peaceful. Peaceful as it looks it means something.
Not inside.
Her fingers paused. She could feel it again. That tug in her chest. The quiet alertness, like an instinct, a whisper brushing the back of her neck warning her of something she's sure of. Not in a movie kind of way, more like her senses were saying things she doesn't know. Riley shook it off. She was good at that, she is not letting that bother her again. Downstairs, her mom had left a note. Have a good first day. Try not to punch anyone. As usual she shoved it in her pocket nit reading the rest.
She stepped outside, hoodie pulled over her head even though the morning wasn't cold. The streets looked like every other town they'd lived in: neat lawns, old cars, that same tired feeling in the trees.
Nothing special. Nothing strange. Just a normal day as she had always wished it to be.But that was the thing, sometimes when everything looked normal, it felt even worse. Like there is something hiding underneath all these calmness and quietness.The school wasn't far. Standing tall ahead if her as if it has been waiting for her. Kids were pouring in, laughing, arguing, moving in packs. She stayed close to the wall as she walked, letting their noise wash past her, trying to blend with the background.No one noticed her. That was good, it was going to the direction she had always wanted.She slipped into the building, found the main office, got her schedule and ready for the school. The secretary smiled too brightly and said, "You'll fit right in."
Riley didn't answer. She didn't fit anywhere.
First period was history. She picked a seat at the back. The teacher started talking about the history of the country, but Riley wasn't listening. Her eyes drifted toward the windows. Outside, everything was calm and still as quiet as possible but the inside of her chest felt still.Frozen, almost. As if something in her is wanting to burst out.be calm Riley, be calm she thought to herself as she took in a deep breath.bringing herself back to reality.she looked at the teacher teaching and also at the students in the class.taking in the faces of those she will be mates with in the class
Not that she meant to it has just become a part of her.She just needed to get through the day.
But she had that feeling again and this place is not the kind of place for it she is here to study and no more trouble.