Timeless Decisions

First Day

The next day dawned, and Morgian sat in his room, packing his bag for the first day of high school at Auradon Prep. His movements were mechanical, his mind elsewhere as he tried to suppress the flood of emotions that threatened to overwhelm him. He knew he needed to let go of his personal feelings and focus on the plan. But the abruptness of the change—of losing the Red he had known—stung more than he anticipated.

Morgian paused, staring at the packed bag on his bed. This was supposed to be the beginning of a new chapter, but it felt more like the end of something precious. He had always known that this day would come, that their time together would eventually run out. But he hadn't expected it to happen so suddenly, so brutally. The bond they had shared, the mischievous adventures, the sense of comfort and belonging—they all seemed like distant memories now.

With a heavy sigh, Morgian slung the bag over his shoulder. He glanced at himself in the mirror, his reflection showing a mix of determination and sorrow. He had to focus. There was no time for sentimentality. The plan had to move forward, and he had a role to play in it, no matter how much it hurt.

Steeling himself, Morgian left his room and made his way to the classroom. The hallways of Auradon Prep felt unfamiliar, as if the school itself had shifted overnight. The bustling noise of students filled the air, but Morgian felt strangely detached, as if he were walking through a dream.

Meanwhile, Red stood in her new room, taking in her surroundings with wide-eyed awe. The room was spacious and bright, a stark contrast to the rougher conditions she was used to. Everything felt so new and different, as if she had stepped into another world entirely. The soft glow of the morning sun streamed through the window, casting a warm light across the room as Red walked over to look outside.

Students were milling about on the campus grounds, chatting and laughing as they made their way to classes. Red smiled, feeling a surge of excitement for her first day at Auradon Prep. The possibilities seemed endless, and the future felt like a blank canvas waiting to be painted with new experiences.

But beneath her excitement, there was a nagging sensation, a small voice in the back of her mind that she couldn't quite ignore. It whispered that something important was being overlooked, something crucial that she couldn't afford to forget. She tried to shake the feeling, but it clung to her, a constant reminder that not everything was as it seemed.

Red's thoughts turned to Chloe, the only person who truly understood what they had been through. They had both just returned from the past, and while the present seemed perfect on the surface, they knew better than to trust appearances. They had to meet up after school, go to the library, and dig through history books to piece together what had changed. They needed to understand the full extent of their actions and what consequences might have arisen from leaving Blanc behind.

With a sigh, Red walked over to her bedside table and picked up the time-travel watch. She turned it over in her hands, the familiar weight of it grounding her in reality. The watch had been their key to the past, but now it felt like a burden, a reminder of the choices they had made and the people they had left behind.

Would it be wrong to use it again? To go back and try to bring Blanc with them? The question weighed heavily on her mind, but the answer was elusive. Red knew that time was a delicate thing, and meddling with it again could have unforeseen consequences. But the guilt of leaving Blanc behind gnawed at her, making her question whether they had made the right choice.

Only time would tell.

Morgian looked up from his seat as the classroom door creaked open, his heart skipping a beat when he saw Red step inside, Chloe trailing close behind her. The two girls made their way to the middle of the room, their heads close together as they whispered to each other. Red's face was animated, her eyes sparkling with excitement, while Chloe nodded along, her expression more serious.

From his spot at the very back of the classroom, Morgian leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing as he watched them. There was something unsettling about seeing Red so close to someone else, especially Chloe. The two of them seemed to have formed a bond that excluded him entirely, and it stung more than he wanted to admit.

As he observed them, a mix of emotions churned inside him—jealousy, sadness, and a lingering sense of betrayal. He had known Red for so long, shared so many secrets and mischievous adventures with her.

Morgian's gaze hardened as he reminded himself of the plan. He couldn't let his personal feelings get in the way. The time for childish antics was over. He had a role to play, a plan to execute, and Red's new relationship with Chloe was just another obstacle to navigate. Whatever bond they had formed in the past, it had been severed by time and circumstance, and Morgian knew he needed to focus on the future—even if it meant letting go of the Red he once knew.

Red walked into the classroom, Chloe trailing behind her, her eyes wide with excitement. "It's amazing to finally visit the school," Red exclaimed as she took a seat in the middle of the room. Chloe sat beside her, her expression more serious. "Yeah, but we really need to visit the library, Red," Chloe said, trying to keep their priorities straight.

Red waved her off with a smile. "Sure, but let's focus on the class first," she replied, clearly more interested in the new surroundings.

As they settled in, a girl approached them, her face a mix of confusion and concern. "Hey, Red, is everything okay?" the girl, Dizzy, asked, standing in front of them.

Red looked up, her eyes widening slightly as she tried to place the face in front of her. She didn't recognize Dizzy at all but forced a friendly smile anyway. "Uh, yeah, everything's fine. Why wouldn't it be?" Red responded, trying to sound casual.

Dizzy glanced at Chloe, then back at Red, her confusion deepening. "Since when are you talking to Chloe? Miss Goody Two-Shoes hates you—did you forget?"

Red's heart skipped a beat. She had no idea what Dizzy was talking about. Hating Chloe? That made no sense. She turned to Chloe, who looked just as bewildered, her face flushing slightly under Dizzy's scrutinizing gaze.

Red scrambled for a response. "Oh, well... we talked things through and... we're friends now?" she said, her voice uncertain. Chloe nodded, trying to back her up, but the hesitation was clear.

Dizzy frowned, not buying it. "Really? Because last time I checked, Chloe was all about reporting you and Morgian for your pranks. Speaking of which, why aren't you sitting with Morgian like always?"

The mention of Morgian threw Red off completely. She turned to look where Dizzy was pointing and saw a boy sitting at the back of the room, casually leaning back in his chair. His eyes locked onto hers, and he gave her a slow, mocking wave. Red had no idea who he was, but something about his smirk made her uneasy.

Morgian's voice cut through the silence. "Don't worry, Dizzy. Red traded me for someone else—nothing I couldn't cope with," he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

Red stared at him, trying to make sense of the situation. She had no memories of Morgian, no idea what kind of relationship they might have had. The realization hit her like a ton of bricks—she didn't know him, and yet he seemed to know her very well.

Chloe shifted uncomfortably beside her, sensing the tension. Red could feel Morgian's gaze burning into her, but she didn't know how to respond. The classroom, once a place of excitement, now felt suffocating.

Dizzy gave them one last puzzled look before saying, "Well, gotta go. See you later," and rushed away, leaving Red and Chloe to their own confusion.

Red glanced back at Morgian, who had already turned his attention to another boy, talking and laughing as if nothing had happened. The unease in Red's chest grew stronger. There was something about him—his demeanor, his familiarity—that tugged at the edges of her memory, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't place him.

Chloe noticed Red's lingering gaze and followed it, her own eyes narrowing as she observed Morgian. Unlike Red, Chloe had no memories of him either, but there was something about the way he carried himself that put her on edge. His confidence felt almost menacing, as if he knew more about them than he was letting on.

"What do you think of him?" Red whispered, her voice barely audible.

Chloe hesitated, her eyes still fixed on Morgian. "I don't know," she admitted, her voice laced with suspicion. "But I don't trust him. There's something off about him."