nightfall ⋆｡ ☾ ﾟ｡ ⋆ a twilight story

High School

That first day went how every other did. 

Forks High School was barely a building, but rather what looked like a small collection of rectangular houses, each one a slightly different shade of maroon. The classrooms were small and at first felt like I'd be cramped up, forced to sit leg-to-leg with students, but as each class filtered in and the bell rang, the more I realised just how tiny this place was. 

Each class had around 20 people, and by the third period, I could name almost all of them. There was plenty of space surrounding us, so my nose was occupied by the faint dampness and dried paint of low-budget schools, rather than the fresh scent of blood. There were lots of wide windows, making up most of the lighting- I suppose it saved money in the electrical department, but in a town this rainy, windows seemed like a charade. 

Stares followed me wherever I went, low whispers and slight gasps trailing behind me like my own personal wake. Although my appearance would naturally send a chill down any human's spine, I smiled as warmly as I could to anyone who would meet my eye. Which was only about three people. 

One girl with clear, light chestnut skin and pink-rimmed glasses held my eye contact politely, and returned my smile with a genuine glow. Perhaps I could make a friend here, I thought to myself. 

The teachers, who were all in their late 30s (at least), welcomed us with apprehensive eyes and cautious smiles—understandably skeptical of a family of six fostered teenagers showing up out of nowhere. I couldn't blame them for that. But as the hours went on, and my knowledge and politeness became apparent, the tension gradually eased. I found myself slipping into the comforting familiarity of befriending each teacher, their smiles becoming less forced with every interaction.

By lunchtime, the anxiety from last night had begun to settle down, and my chest felt lighter, allowing my smiles to flow a bit more naturally. The cafeteria was the biggest room in the entire school, with high plastic-tiled ceilings, stark white walls, and—again—large windows that let the very non-existent sunlight in. It was open, airy, and perfect for ensuring we wouldn't have to pretend to eat. I grinned as Alice waved at me from the opposite side. My family was already seated at one of the cheap veneered tables in the furthest corner, naturally drawing curious stares from all around.

As I moved through the lunch line, the feeling of eyes trailing after me was thick and impossible to ignore. The whispers, the stares—it wasn't new. Humans were always curious about us, our looks, our presence, something just outside their understanding but enough to make them stare. I could hear a few of them trying to guess where we were from or why we moved here.

Then, as I reached for a tray I didn't need, a nervous blonde boy with round cheeks and a baby face stepped toward me. His friends stood a little further back, watching him with a mix of amusement and amazement, clearly daring him to approach.

"Hi... I'm Mike. Mike Newton," he stuttered, his face flushing a deep red. His eyes flicked briefly to his friends before settling back on me. "I was just wondering how your first day is going and, uh, how you're liking the rain?" His chuckle was awkward, his hands fluttering slightly as he spoke, almost like he was trying to keep them from shaking.

I could feel the amused stares from his friends, waiting to see how this would play out, clearly entertained by the fact that Mike had worked up the courage to approach me. I smiled softly, wanting to make it a bit easier on him.

"Hello, Mike. I'm Emery," I said, keeping my tone light and warm. "It's nice to meet you. I'm enjoying the rain so far—it's a refreshing change from Alaska." I glanced out the large windows, letting the gentle drizzle paint the scene. "Do you get used to it, or does it always feel like living in a cloud?"