Dying to Breathe

2.2: single straining string (unedited)

A/N: *Trigger warning: implication of suicide*

Chapter 2, Part 2: Single Straining String

"So," Nina skipped to Penelope's side just as she shut her locker a little-too hard. Looping her arm around Penelope's tense one, she wiggled her brows suggestively, "What's the verdict?" Singing off key, she led them through the confusing halls with ease, following the departing crowds.

Penelope groaned while scratching her neck (making the red stress-splotches exponentially worse), "The verdict is I am completely out of my league with absolutely everything. I didn't even know math could have that many letters and numbers in one equation—and a student's double tailed t-distribution table? What the heck even is that? I don't even know if I'm saying it right! I wasn't aware I had been accepted at freaking university already... I thought I had at least another year to get ready for it." She let out an animalistic grunt, turning to Nina with despair in her green eyes.

Nina bit her lip to keep from laughing, squeezing her arm, "Take a breath, you statistic's genius, you—you might blow a gasket."

Penelope pouted, looking at Nina, "I haven't even complained about the other two classes yet—it's only lunch and I have about five years worth of work to catch up for, in every subject. I'm dreading the last two classes... and one is Art. No one should dread Art!"

Grinning, Nina pulled Penelope towards the outside canteen area, "Well it's a good thing you met me, Pen. I know a lot of smart people who can help get you caught up in no time." As she spoke, Nina beelined straight towards the table Haley and Chloe were seated, talking in heated whispers.

Penelope shook her head, feeling a sense of dread. If she couldn't keep her grades up, she'd lose her spot at the Academy; if she lost her spot, she'd have to leave the city; leaving the city meant leaving Millie. She felt like she was hanging off the edge of a cliff with thin threads tied to her, keeping her from falling into the rocky waves below. Each new pressure was like weights being placed onto her, pulling the strings tighter and tighter and snapping them one by one until only a single straining string was left.

"The funny thing about it all, is that I was considered to be the smartest in my grade back at home." Shaking her head, she felt like a fool thinking she could have just floated her way through the academically renowned school while focusing primarily on Millie's mystery.

Not only did she not fit into this new world, but she felt completely shell-shocked by the reality check that she wasn't even good enough for it.

"Cheer up, buttercup." Nina nudged her just before reaching the table.

"Don't you know this already, Chlo?" Haley laughed frustratedly just as the two stepped into hearing distance, "Why do you take him so seriously if you know he wont ever be serious with you?"

Chloe's eyes practically glowed red, her jaw clenching as she narrowed her almond eyes, "I'm not an idiot, Haley—don't insult me." She spat, pulling a hand agitatedly through her pink hair, "You just don't see what I see. He isn't as simple as you think."

Haley rolled her eyes as Penelope glanced at Nina, catching her face turning a deep burgundy red. It really couldn't have been healthy for one's heart with that much blood being directed to their cranium.

"He is the literal fucking definition of simple," Haley grumbled, making both Chloe's and Nina's jaw clench in clear disagreement.

"Hey," Penelope spoke up, pretending to be oblivious to the intense atmosphere surrounding the group. "You're Haley and Chloe, right?" Without asking, she sat down next to Haley, pulling a silent Nina beside her.