block me out | station 19

VIII

TW — Slight mention of SH indicated at one part

Clammy hands, distorted voices, dizziness, and a thumping heartbeat. Those were some of the things Vada was feeling as she made her way through the school hallway. The small teenager kept bumping into people while trying to find her homeroom class. She couldn't see clearly— everything was a blur. It felt as if everyone was far away from her when in reality they were inches away, towering over her short body. It was moments like that when she wished she could be taller, maybe, only maybe, that way her confidence would be bigger.

The fourteen-year-old tried to calm herself down. I'm fine. Of course, she was fine. She had done it a hundred times, what was one more? In a way, she wished it could be the last time she had to change schools. However, she knew it wouldn't be— it never was, even if a small part of her hoped so.

Room 204. That was it. New start. A chance to fit in this time. A chance to be normal. The teenager took a deep breath, trying her best to shake off her nerves, and turned on her signature mask, which she had perfected over the years— just enough so that nobody would ask questions.

"Good morning," she heard a voice when she entered the classroom. "You must be Vada Huxley?" the brunette looked up at her teacher, giving him a subtle nod. "I've been expecting you. I'm Mr. Allen. It's nice to meet you."

"Hi," Vada said in a quiet mumble.

"Were you able to find the classroom alright?" Mr. Allen asked, receiving a silent nod from the girl. "Excellent!" the middle-aged man chirped, way too happy for Vada's liking. "Well, take a seat anywhere, we'll be starting soon."

The brunette walked away without even glancing at her teacher, taking a seat at the end of the class where no other students were seated.

"Hi," someone said, moments later, as she was drawing on her notebook. "Hey, you," the boy said again, tapping her arm with a pencil. The girl looked up at him, confused as to why he was talking to her. "You're new here, aren't you? I mean, either that or I pay very little attention to who I share Homeroom with," he smiled nicely at her. "I'm Charlie, by the way," he introduced himself, extending his hand for her to shake.

"Vada," the teen nodded at him, rejecting his hand.

"I take it you're not much of a hugger then?" Charlie joked as he put his hand down, earning a small smile from the shorter teenager. "So, what brought you to Lincoln High?"

"Shouldn't you be paying attention?" the brunette pointed out, signaling to the TV where the morning announcements were playing.

The boy turned to where Vada was pointing before looking back at her, shaking his head. "Nah, it's the same thing every day; science club this, soccer tryouts that. Even chess club has news, and there are only three members," Charlie commented, eliciting a small laugh from Vada, who then went back to drawing in her notebook.

—

"Carina!" the Italian heard as she made her way to her office. "I've been looking for you," Amelia said, out of breath, as she caught up to her friend.

"Well, I'm here now, Amelia. So, what's up?" the taller brunette smiled.

"What do you mean, what's up? Where the hell have you been!" the blue-eyed doctor demanded to know.

Carina chuckled, opening the door to her office and letting both of them in. "It has been a complicated couple of days. I'm sorry I didn't let you in on that," she sighed, taking a seat on the couch.

"It's okay, but I'm here now, so spill."

"Maya and I..." the Italian stopped, trying to find the right words to explain the past few days. "Well, we finally got a placement," she explained.