𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐔𝐏𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌

04

thalia grace jones

A soft whimper slipped past my lips as I grimaced, my hand instinctively reaching for my throbbing hip. Pushing myself up, my legs quivered with the ache. Glancing at the girl who caused the pain, I caught a worried look on her face. Part of me wanted to lash out, demanding answers. But there was something in the way she glanced at me—a hint of genuine concern that tugged at me.

Before I could dwell on it further, the teacher's whistle interrupted, pulling our attention. "Thalia, you okay?" he asked, worry evident. I met his gaze, nodding slowly. "I'll manage," I mumbled, my voice hoarse as I coughed lightly, trying to calm the discomfort.

The teacher's concerned eyes lingered on me for a moment longer before he resumed the class. My gaze drifted back to the girl who had accidentally caused me harm. Despite the lingering ache, her worried expression didn't escape my notice.

Feeling a mix of emotions—discomfort, curiosity, and a strange sense of connection—I took a deep breath and tentatively met her gaze. "Sorry about that," she whispered, her voice carrying a tinge of genuine regret.

Her unexpected apology caught me off guard. I hesitated for a moment, the urge to snap at her warring with an impulse to let it go. "It's okay," I replied softly, surprised by my calmness. A flicker of relief crossed her face before the teacher's voice drew our attention back to the lesson.

The girl hustled away, leaving me perched on the bench, nursing my sore hip. P.E. class had done a number on me, and now, as the final bell approached, I was feeling it. I heaved a sigh and tugged off my hoodie, the fabric clinging to my skin from all the sweat.

I rose from my seat, hoisting my bag onto my shoulders, and ambled out of the school gym. Slurping a gulp of water, I stole a swift glance back at the girl who inadvertently caused my discomfort. She was engrossed in laughter with her friends, her hair haphazardly tied up in a messy bun. Quickly averting my eyes, I made my way toward Peter, a familiar face in the bustling hallway.

"Hey," I murmured, busying myself with tying up my hair.

"Hello," Peter greeted with a smile. "How was your last class?"

I chuckled, my hand instinctively touching my hip. Confusion creased my brow—how did the discomfort vanish so suddenly? "What happened?" Peter inquired, noticing my expression.

I darted a glance at him, contemplating how much to reveal. "Uh, I got elbowed in the ribs... but the pain seems to have disappeared," I replied honestly, though the situation puzzled me.

Peter cocked his head, his brow furrowing in thought. "Oh," he mumbled, pondering the peculiar turn of events. I caught myself nervously biting my lower lip, not wanting to divulge too much.

"I mean, it's still there, but it's not as bad," I stumbled, chuckling awkwardly in an attempt to downplay the truth. Peter nodded a playful glint in his eye. "Of course, because pain just magically vanishes, right?" he teased.

"Exactly," I muttered, forcing a nod. Taking a deep breath, I tried to shake off the strangeness of the situation. How did the pain simply fade away?

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"One week till homecoming, and still no date for me," I remarked to MJ with a nonchalant shrug. "But hey, I'm not wasting my time on silly boys." I turned to MJ, a mischievous glint in my eyes. "So, he asked you?" I inquired, a bout of laughter threatening to burst out.