Beyond The Crash

CHAPTER 16 | [WELCOME BACK <PT I>]

"Thank you so much for the invitation," Lily bowed her head. They had all finished their meal and talking and she felt like they all had gotten closer, even if it's just a bit. She was full and was getting sleepy. She had completely forgotten her purpose of just coming out but felt like she gained more. She glances at Axel, seeing him holding a toothpick and on his phone. She thanked him mentally.
"I should be heading home now."

"Do you know your way home?" Nicky asked as she came down from the stool beside him.

She paused and looked around. Surprisingly, people were still out and about. She stared 'round and noticed the bright street had started to dim. She turned to him, and just by her look, he got his answer.

"Let's walk with you," Dina came forward. "To be on the safer side."

Lilley smiled and was happy she didn't have to bring it up herself. If she were back home, she couldn't even dream of a situation like this. She smiled cheekily.
"Thanks,"

The walk home was also fun. They talked and also joked around, mostly Nicky and Axel. Lilley was still in shock on hearing Axel laugh, something she had once thought she would never hear. Because of that, the walk to the apartment complex was short. She thanked them again and made her way inside, smiling.

By the time she got to her room, she checked the time as she sluggishly climbed up her bed, shocked that it was already past one. She chuckled as she pushed her phone away and laid comfortably on the bed.

*●|●*

"Listen, if we're going to be going together until you get used to it, be waking up on time," Stella complained. She eyed Lilley as she stood up from the lobby couch and walked to the front door. Lilley eyes followed her as she rolled it and sighed.
I guess ten minutes late is something, she thought. Beautiful.

"Are you not coming?" She heard Stella's voice, and without looking at her, she could hear the annoyance in her tone.

Perhaps it was because she was beautiful that she acted this way, Lilley wondered. If I were her, I'd be proud too.

Throughout their ride to school, Lilley noticed Stella kept looking at her phone. At one point, she would smile and even giggle, which made Lilley creep out at first but then curious to what she was looking at.

As soon as the car stopped in front of the school's golden gate, Stella immediately paid and left the car, as if she had something on fire she needed to check. But with the smile she had on, it looked like she was meeting someone. Another mood Lilley saw as she got out of the car, too. She thought she was going to pay, but then again, she thanked Stella mentally.

As she turned, all too suddenly, she bumped into Atticus with his 'usual' frown, she noted as she stepped back. "I'm sorry. I didn't see you," she forced a smile. But he just nodded, not looking at her one bit and made his way inside.
Maybe it's just a font, Lilley thought.

She breathed out as she followed the flood of students in. Maybe it was because of how many students flooded in the lobby, but Lilley heard the same camera sound she had heard the night before. She looked around, but no one paid attention to her. They were with their friends, talking and laughing as they entered. Some nudged her as they passed. Nothing looked suspicious.
Am I hearing things again? She questioned as she cautiously continued to walk. What the fruit cake.

"What are you thinking about?" Nicky asked. She immediately stopped on her tracks and turned to him.

"You're literally everywhere!" She exclaimed.

"Are you okay? You were spacing out,"

"Oh, no, I'm okay," she forced a chuckle.

Nicky stared at her for a while before smiling. "All right, let's go to class,"

"I'm really okay," Lilley said again as she felt that he didn't believe her.

"If you say so," he shrugged. "Let's go."

*●|●*

When Lilley went to her desk, she noticed Atticus wasn't there, which she found weird as she saw him not too long ago. She shrugged as she sat, her mind in what happened earlier. She knew her hearing was good, but how good is it for her to hear a camera sound with a lot of students or people passing by. Or did her hearing improve as she was brought in this world?

The bell rang, and the teacher entered the class a few minutes later. He started talking about what they'll be doing throughout the semester, yet Atticus hasn't come in, Lilley noticed. She didn't take him as one to skip class but then again just shrugged it off as she rested on her palms.

The door to the class opened, and Atticus walked in, looking worse than ever. Like he would punch anyone who just stared at him. Lilley and everyone else in the room eyes landed on him, even the teacher. The mourning she saw him, he was frowning but didn't look like what he did now. Like someone had foul his mood down to the last nerve. He glanced at the teacher before turning and heading to his desk.

"It's just the second day of school, and you're coming in late as last time," the teacher said. "Last I heard, there are no present competitions. Or have they opened a new one that he told you about?"

Atticus didn't answer as he took his seat. No reaction whatsoever. Lilley sat upright as she didn't want to make a mistake on doing something that'll upset him more before he glared the soul out of her.

The teacher sighed and continued what he was saying earlier. While Atticus rested his head on the table.
As soon as the bell rang, he jerked up and hung his backpack on his shoulder after the teacher left. His sudden movement made Lilley flinch as she eyed him for his sudden action. She thought he was asleep. He waited a while, watching other students walk out. As he wanted to leave the desk, Nicky appeared.

"Hey," Lilley greeted, and Atticus rolled his eyes.

Nicky smiled. "Hey," he greeted her back.

"Did you forget what I said, or did you just choose to ignore it," Atticus sighed out loud, looking tired.

Nicky only smiled at him, and Atticus got his answer.
"Is he really back?" Nicky asked. "I thought he'd take longer,"

Atticus just stared at him. Lilley eyes bounced from one person to the other, widened in curiosity. She wondered who the guy their talking about was.
"I don't know, and I don't care," he ran his hand through his grey hair. "Look, I'm really tired right now. Just go ahead and help your friend or whatever." He said only that and walked away

Their eyes followed him as he walked out of the classroom and then looked at each other. The smile that was disappearing came back.
"It looked like he lacked sleep," Lilley thought out loud.

"It does, doesn't it," when he replied, she covered her mouth and stood up, realising they were probably friends.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way. It's supposed to have just been a thought," she smiled sheepishly.

"No hard feelings," he chuckled. "Let's go to our next class."