Ophidian's Genesis (UNDER REVISION)

CHAPTER 5

Jessica didn't have the strength to go to school but because of her parents being the pushy people they are, she was forced to. The entire school wasn't sympathetic, she walked through the corridors with whispers and gossip filling her ears. She thanked the universe Mike was in jail because if he wasn't that would've been her last straw.

She was fixing her locker when a couple approached her. Jessica looked at them, the girl was short and tan with beautiful butterfly braids, blonde-dyed eyebrows, and freckles. While the guy was a bit taller than her, with dreaded black hair, piercings on the ears and eyebrow, and visibly had vitiligo.

Before she could say a thing, one of them spoke, "Jessica, we're sorry for what happened to your friend." The girl spoke, "Can't imagine what it must be like to lose your best friend."

The red-head was surprised but remained cautious. "That's a first. Everyone in this god-forsaken place seems to just hold the issue as a daily gossip." She rebuts bitterly. "Can't argue with that." The guy spoke.

Jessica nodded, "Well, thank you for caring."

"Someone had to tell you a proper condolence. We're sorry that she died, Seline must've been a good person." The girl said. "I know she's nice, I got to work on a history project with her a while back. She gave me a box of cookies when we finished the pair-work, she was really nice." The boy gave a kind smile, his girlfriend looked at him in realization, "Oh that was so nice of her." Her tone soft and glad. That gave Jessica some relief that somehow, however shy her friend might be, Seline left a positive note on someone else other than her.

Jessica gave them a sad smile, "Thank you... um..." Trying to figure out their names. "Oh I'm Maya and this is my boyfriend Elias." The girl introduced.

"If you need support or just some people to hang out with, we're available." Elias added.

"You can sit with us at lunch if you want!" Maya suggested cheerfully, trying to lift up Jessica's spirits. "But of course, no pressure, we're here if you changed your mind."

Jessica smiled at Maya's efforts, "I'll see."

***

Jessica looked for the couple in the cafeteria. She spots them with their friends sitting at a table near the entrance to the outdoor portion of the cafeteria. Maya spots her and waves, "Jessica! Over here!" Jessica smiles and proceeds to their table, where she met two of the couple's other friends. "Jessica, this is Chloe and Florian," The two friends offered their hands and Jessica shook them before sitting next to Chloe.

Chloe was the standard "perfect girl"-blonde hair and blue eyes, and Florian was dressed very androgynously with his layered haircut and sage-green patterned clothes. "You're cool with queer people right?" Chloe asks right off the bat. "Oh my gosh, Chloe!" Elias comments, slightly baffled-though not entirely as he knows his friend's nature, "What? I'm just asking." Chloe innocently replies, "Sorry about her, she's really blunt at times." Florian says–their gentle disposition gave Jessica a sense of cool.

Jessica chuckles at the group's energy, "No, it's all good. And to answer her question, yeah I'm cool with the community, an ally if you will." She grinned, awkwardly finger-gunning Chloe. The table relaxed, and a light conversation followed. For the first time in weeks, Jessica felt a faint sense of normalcy creeping back in. 

All until Chloe faced her again, the group seemed solemn all of a sudden, "Oh... and our deepest condolences, Jessica. She was an angel when I worked with her on our arts finals last year." Chloe says. Being reminded of her friend's death, her mood turned sad again, "Uh, yeah, thanks." Jessica nods.

There was an awkward silence between everyone at the table as they ate their food. It wasn't until Chloe started talking, "Jessica, umm... do you like sports?" That was her attempt to avoid awkwardness. Jessica nodded, "Yeah!"