𝑪𝑹𝑶𝑺𝑺 𝑭𝑰𝑹𝑬 ↯ 𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘰𝘭𝘧

「 00 」

TJ twisted and turned in her sleep fitfully, her eyebrows pulled together and her bright hair fanned around her like a halo made of fire. Her summer sheets were a mess at the end of her bed and there was a thick layer of sweat coating her pale skin, despite the breeze blowing through the slightly opened window across her unpacked bedroom and the ceiling fan spinning above her. TJ's breathing was erratic and she shook her head in her sleep, incoherent mumbles falling from her lips and her hands curling into fists, tightly clutching the fitted sheet as they did so. TJ gave another jerk before she woke, her eyes flying open and her body going rigid.

Her breathing stopped as she momentarily failed to recognize her surroundings, but then gave a sigh as she realized where she was. Untangling her cramping fingers from the bed sheets, she pushed herself into a sitting position and slung her feet over the edge of the bed, searching blindly for the switch to turn on her lamp. She still wasn't familiar with the layout of her new room; hadn't memorized it like her old one.

She flinched when she successfully turned the lamp on and bright light flooded the space, her tired and hooded eyes closing even more so as they adjusted to the sudden change. The lamp cast long shadows on the walls and TJ forced herself not to let the intrusive thoughts spill in.

Rolling her shoulders - which were sore from all of the heavy lifting that comes with moving house - TJ brought a hand to her face and wiped the sweat away, then dropped it to swipe at the sweat on the back of her neck. Her hair was damp with the substance and felt gross in the girl's fingers. Fumbling for her iPhone, TJ pressed the home button and watched as her screen flicked to life. The time read 2:32 am, and the redhead sighed deeply. She couldn't remember the last time she had successfully slept through an entire night without being awoken by the same, reoccurring dream. It was more a combination of a dream and a series of memories; TJ could remember everything until a certain point, and from then on it morphed into something else.

Something impossible.

Standing up, TJ rounded her bed and crossed the room to the door leading to her bathroom, careful not to trip over any boxes. Her aunt and uncle wouldn't take kindly to being woken up so early. Placing her hand against the wall, TJ felt her way around for the light switch. She found it and once again squinted as her eyes were assailed with a bright light. Bringing a hand up to shield her eyes, TJ shuffled forwards until her bare feet hit the fluffy bath mat and she was leaning on the bathroom sink. Lowering her hands and placing either one on an opposite side of the sink, she allowed them to support her full weight as she leant forwards, inspecting herself closely in the mirror.

Her eyes had sunken in from the countless sleepless nights and underneath them, bags a deep purple color had formed. They were hideous. Perhaps it was just the lack of sleep, but TJ caught her reflection in the mirror and stared into her own eyes. They seemed brighter than her usual pale green... more alive.

Twisting on the tap, the water shot out in short, uneven bursts and TJ cupped her clammy hands underneath, watching as they filled with cold water. She was still sweating even as she cupped her hands to her face and splashed the water against her skin. She was always hot; a natural heater, her uncle would say. She twisted the tap off and ran her fingers through her damp and knotted hair, grimacing as she reached for a hair tie so she could tie her hair up.

TJ chewed her bottom lip rather anxiously as she stood in front of the mirror and allowed herself to slip away. Her eyes glazed over as she struggled to recall the second half of her dream - like every other night. It always started the same way: she was hiding in a toilet stall in the girls bathroom of her old school, hands clasped tightly over her ears and her eyes screwed shut as malicious comments were hurled at her from outside the stall by a cluster of girls, all of them snickering loudly. They started banging their fists on the outside of the stall, one girl kicking the door, causing it to shudder violently and making TJ to flinch. She screwed her eyes shut tighter.

Then, it got to a point where TJ had finally had enough of listening to the relentless comments and lies, and she withdrew her hands and opened her eyes. She could just see the shoes of her tormentors poking through the bottom of her stall and she curled her fists in anger, standing up from her previous position on the toilet. TJ remembered the way her breathing had been deep and full of fury - she was sick and tired of being bullied.

Up until that exact moment, TJ was absolutely certain of everything. From then on, however, she didn't know what to think. Her uncle had explained adrenaline can sometimes alter what someone sees or remembers, and she hoped that was the case.

TJ blinked twice and pulled herself from her thoughts. Glancing down, she released the vice-like grip she had on the sink and stepped backwards. A sigh fell from her lips as she turned her bathroom light off and retreated to her bed, although she knew she wouldn't sleep any more. Lying down, TJ reached over and turned her lamp off. She was engulfed in darkness once more and as she laid there, her fingers twitching and sweat forming on her hairline, she couldn't help but think about the fact that she would soon have to get ready for her first day at Beacon Hills High School.

Hopefully she wouldn't burn this one down.