Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
✶
When Nova pulls up to Beacon Hills High School in Derek's car, she almost runs over a freshman. It isn't his fault, Nova knows this, but she still shoots him a glare as she parks. The past week she has been all over the place—emotionally as well as physically, since she literally just came back from Mexico—and she doesn't mean to take it out on him, but it's fine.
Now that Derek is back and safe, Nova has hardly let him out of her sight. It took her half an hour to get out of the loft and on her way to school this morning because she was so paranoid something would happen to Derek—ignoring Kate Argent, the Hale family has countless other enemies, so can you blame her?—and it is for this reason that Nova finds herself being late to her first class of the day. She chucks the keys to Derek's car in her bag and starts to make her way from the parking lot and over to the school.
There are few people lingering around, most having gone to class by now, but Nova does see two people she recognises: Emilia Dawson and Ruby Thatcher. Nova has been friends with them for a few years now. They are sitting next to one another on a bench seat right outside of the school, and when Nova walks into their view, Emilia spots her and sends her a wave. Nova waves back, but doesn't make any movement to go over and talk to them, for she is already late to class.
It is lunch time when Nova gets the chance to see Emilia and Ruby again. Part of her is grateful—now, at least, she gets the time to think of an excuse as to why she wasn't at school last week. And, as suspected, it is the first thing they ask of her when she sits down at their table in the cafeteria.
Nova tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, and she lies, "I had gastro."
Emilia appears grossed out, and Ruby noticeably shuffles herself over in her seat and away from Nova. Ruby exclaims, "Ew!"
