Ophidian's Genesis (UNDER REVISION)

CHAPTER 9

It had been days since Jessica and Melody found evidence of Seline's existence. Both of them were starting to run out of clues to look over. Other than the first aid kit and the lovely bouquet, the two didn't have much to go forward on.

Very tired of hypothesizing, Jessica was lying down on a cafeteria table outside with a comic on her face whilst the others talked about their plans after school.

"After school, me and Flo will be going to the creepy forest since they're convinced there is a ghost. You guys wanna come with us?" Chloe asks while she retouches her makeup. Maya and Elias have agreed to go with them. "What about you Jessica?" Florian asks

'Oh, what the heck, I'm burnt out from trying anyway.' The redhead thought to herself. She sits up, letting the comic fall on her lap, "Yeah, sure." She lazily responds while taking out her phone. Sighing while she texts Melody that she won't be able to hang out, she shoves her phone back into her pocket.

Jessica snapped her comic shut, tucking it into her bag. "Jessica, are you sure you're alright?" Chloe asked, her brow furrowed with concern. The group had been subtly monitoring Jessica for weeks, and her recent detachment was becoming increasingly noticeable.

Jessica glanced up, offering a quick, almost automatic smile. "Yeah, I'm fine."

Chloe's frown deepened. "You're...somewhere else again."

Jessica blinked, a flicker of confusion crossing her face. "What do you mean?"

"You've been out of it for days," Maya observed, her tone gentle.

"Not really present," Florian added. "Like you're...drifting."

Jessica shook her head slightly. "I've just been preoccupied. Sorry."

"It's okay," Elias reassured her. "Everyone has their stuff."

A genuine smile touched Jessica's lips. She hadn't realized her inattentiveness was so apparent, or that they cared enough to notice. It was a surprisingly comforting realization. "I...I zone out sometimes," she admitted, her voice hesitant. "Like, completely. And then when I come back, it's like I'm disconnected from everything for a while before I can catch up."

A ripple of confusion went through the group.

"I have ADHD," Jessica explained, stating it plainly.

Understanding dawned on their faces. "Seline knows?" Maya asked.

Jessica nodded. "It was one of the first things I told her."

"You could've told us," Elias said, a slight smile playing on his lips. "It explains a lot."

Jessica tilted her head, a genuine question in her eyes. "Explains what, exactly? The zoning out?"

"That, and the...enthusiastic summary of your comic earlier," Elias replied, a twinkle in his eye. "Right before your battery died and you face-planted."

Jessica's eyes widened. "I...did that?" A wave of embarrassment washed over her.

Florian chuckled, a warm smile spreading across his face. "You were really into it. It was actually pretty interesting."

A wave of relief washed over Jessica. They weren't judging her; they were...accepting. She wore her ADHD like a badge, a part of what made her her.

Maya smiled warmly. "I've never actually met anyone who's been diagnosed before. This is...new."

Jessica chuckled. "Maybe you have. They just might not know it yet."

Maya considered this, nodding slowly. "True."

Chloe changes the topic all of a sudden, "We should set an itinerary for the "ghost-hunting" later this evening." Maya looked at the athlete with a surprised face, "Evening? I can't go then."