𝘑𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘦
_______________
𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘳 𝘎𝘰𝘷𝘦'𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳-𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥-𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘭's time in Gove City has officially came to an end.
Their sixth period was solely dedicated to the students and faculty throwing Jalea a goodbye party. The whole cafeteria was full of decorations, sweet treats, and catering from a local barbecue joint. Clean version of music was approved to be played out the speakers the choir teacher provided.
Jalea took that moment to introduce her replacement. Natascha Abu that would allowing the students to call her Principal Nas. She was a Black Muslim born and raised in Gove City. She had style, not rocking the typical attire of a principal, matching her hijab with the outfits she wore.
Everyone was enjoying themselves. All but Joule. She was to herself at a far corner table with her plastic plate full, picking with the baked mac and cheese beside the sliced ham. Joule was busy worrying about when she'd see her case worker Shona after her call begging to go home. Shona was on vacation and it would be going on day four waiting on Shona to arrive and each day she felt like her life was on the line.
The nightmares was coming more frequently and in every one ended with her being shot right in the chest.
It'd all end with Joule sitting out on the roof with Chloe, smoking a blunt of indica strain weed. Joule was suffering more than she wanted to let on and the only answer Joule can give is, "I'm okay" even if she felt she'd die any day and traumatized by her parents murder.
Across the cafeteria, Jalea mingled with a few of the faculty when her golden ochre gaze locked on the teen sitting by herself. She excused herself respectfully before walking her ankle boots across floor and over for the table.
The clicking of her boots got Joule attention off her plate and to Jalea, who smiles at her warmly. "Not hungry?"
"Don't really have a appetite." Joule told her, looking around at everyone as Jalea took a seat. "Looks like everyone's gonna miss you."
Jalea keeps her smile taking a look around. "Yeah, I'm gonna miss them too. But... Arizona awaits." She responds, looking back to teen in front of her with concern. "How are you, Joule?"
Joule shrugged slightly. "Taking it day by day I guess."
"All that you can do." Jalea advised, keeping a trained eye on Joule. "Feeling alone is the worst feeling. But actually being alone is possibly indescribable. I hope that you find comfort and open yourself up so you won't be alone no more."
Joule chuckles without humor. "It's hard to do that when you don't trust nobody."
"Felt." Jalea agreed, chuckling inwardly.
The silence between them was comfortable, until Joule spoke, "You... close with the Young's?"
"Not even a little bit." Jalea answers quickly, shaking her head. "I just know Miss Sheryl because of Chloe."
Joule noticed the former assistant principal didn't mention her carrying Young's bloodline. She senses that Jalea might have had bad blood. Could she help, or should I just shut up?
"How are you doing with the Young's?" Jalea asked.
"Pretty good," Joule responds, "still getting used to them. Everyone that lives there are welcoming. I met Warren—you know him? He's the cop."
