𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙳𝚊𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚏 𝙵𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚞𝚗𝚎'𝚜 𝙵𝚊𝚝𝚎

Deanna's a Drag, and A Storm is Brewing|| 3.

"Are you ready, Sage?" Sage heard a feminine voice a bit to her right. She recognized the nasally yet sweet tone as Deanna Leon's, the girl she was partnered with for the project. She turned to the other girl, who was already shivering a little bit.

Deanna was always the smallest one around. Around the same height as Coach Hedge, with skin a rich brow shade, with undertones of bronze. Her naturally curly hair had a crimped texture, and was currently pulled back into a bun and secured with a pink ribbon. Sage hadn't spent too much time with her, but as far as the kids here went, Deanna was pretty good.

Sage nodded, though her lips were pursed as she ran her thumb along her sharp jawline in thought. "Are you okay?" Deanna questioned, stepping closer with curiosity woven into her furrowed eyebrows. The dark skinned girl had an almost owl like stare, round hazel eyes that seemed to follow your every step.

Sage was still flanked with horrible thoughts about what could have happened to Jason. The worst case scenario always disturbed her head, infiltrating her thoughts with caution and worry. But, she didn't exactly feel like explaining to this Deanna. So, she blinked as if to draw herself back to earth and gave a lazy smile. "Yeah, sorry," she shook her head, while giving a half-laugh, half-scoff type of noise. "I don't know where my head's at today," she excused, before straightening her shoulders. "Let's head inside."

And so they did. Deanna led the way, moving playfully as if she wanted to skip but was deciding not to. Sage trailed behind, her boots clicking the linoleum floor hollowly. Sage was instantly met with exhibits of the Grand Canyon, and the Hualapai tribe, who owned the museum.

She tried to read the text matching each display, but found the letters jumping around frantically. Her dyslexia had a tendency to cause this, and it seemed the fogginess in her mind was making it worse. Her worksheet was folded in the inner pocket of her jacket, when she retrieved it, it was all crumpled up.

"Guess I shouldn't have put it in my coat pocket," Sage mumbled to Deanna, as she attempted to smooth it out. It was as wrinkled as an old person's skin, with creases along every edge.

Deanna shrugged hopelessly, and heaved a great sigh. "At least you have yours," she fiddled with the bracelet around her wrist. "I forgot mine back at the school, and I've already missed three assignments. I'm gonna flunk the semester," Deanna's plump lips fell into a frown when saying this.

Sage stopped for a moment, her mouth forming a straight line. Her cold fingers clasped the paper tightly, as she held it out for Deanna. "You can take mine," she said in a mild tone. Sage wasn't too keen on completing it right now anyway, she could hardly even read the questions. "I've not missed any assignments this semester," she added, when Deanna tried to push the paper away.

Deanna looked surprised when Sage said this, and titled her head while taking the worksheet. "Really, not a single one?" She asked, to which Sage simply nodded. "But aren't you dyslexic?"

Sage rubbed her lips together, refraining from rolling her eyes at Deanna's question. "I didn't say I got good grades, just that I haven't missed any assignments." Sage was used to these types of questions. People always made snap judgements whenever she said she was dyslexic. She understood to some extent, reading a damn paragraph in class sometimes took over a minute, after all. She thought she was dumb as well. But, that didn't mean it wasn't annoying sometimes.

"Right, sorry," Deanna said while scratching the back of her neck sheepishly. They continued walking in silence; Deanna occasionally scribbling something down, and Sage casting looks at Jason.

Sage placed her hands in her coat pockets, as a war waged on inside her. Her mind was battling the raging sense of doom in her gut. Rationality was attempting to ravage the instincts, which were rushing in with swords and pitchforks. Her face remained blank of concern, but insides that is all she felt.