Two lives.

08. Breaking a promise

May 15, 10:16

A few days in, I had grown accustomed to the solitude I'd chosen to keep. Part of me appreciated it—when you're alone, you start to notice the smallest details: the washed-out color of the walls, the quiet hum of the vents, the squeak of doors as they opened and shut. I had settled into my own little routine, a rhythm that was mine alone. But sometimes, when I passed by the other kids in the hall, I'd catch myself staring, wondering what it'd be like to join in on their jokes and nicknames. Still, I had promised myself I wouldn't get attached here. I'd never been one to break promises.

One morning, after the breakfast bell had rung and a teacher had already come by to check on me, I was lying in bed when I heard a knock at the door.

"Hello?" a girl's voice called out from the other side.

I tensed, hoping she'd give up if I stayed silent.

"Hellooo," she called again, knocking a little louder this time.

Curiosity got the best of me. I sighed, got up, and shuffled to the door, pulling it open just a crack to see who was there.

It was the girl I'd seen a few times around the dorm—pretty sure she lived in the room next to mine. She had a warm, golden-brown complexion and big, loose curls that bounced when she moved. Her eyes held a spark of something familiar, an easygoing energy that felt strangely inviting.

"Hi?" I opened the door wider, wondering what she wanted.

"Oh, hi!" she said, seeming genuinely surprised and pleased that I'd actually answered. "I'm Ophelia. You're Sienna, right?" She flashed a big, friendly smile that felt disarming. She didn't seem like a threat at all.

"Yeah, I am," I replied, a bit uncertain.

"Well, I was just wondering if you wanted to come hang out with me and my friends later tonight." Her eyes lit up as she made the offer, and I could tell she was a sweet girl. She looked honest, like she genuinely wanted me to join. Still, I wasn't sure about the people she hung out with.

"Uh..." I started, but she quickly cut me off, reading my hesitation.

"Don't say no just yet! What if you actually like having friends?" She shrugged with a grin. "No offense, but I haven't seen you hang out with anyone since you got here."

I was taken aback, a little annoyed even. So what if I preferred being alone? There's nothing wrong with solitude. But the curiosity kept tugging at me. I shrugged and muttered, "I dont know."

"Well just think about it and if you decide you want to go be ready before 10 p.m.," she said, giggling, and skipped away down the hall before I could even ask why we were meeting so late.

"Did I just mess things up for myself?" I wondered as I closed my door and headed back into my room. This felt like a bad idea, a breach of the boundaries I'd set for myself—but at the same time, I couldn't help feeling a little excited. I hadn't really talked to anyone since my run-in with the guy in the forest, and, despite everything, part of me missed having people around.

When the lunch bell rang, I made my way to the dining hall. As I grabbed a tray and scanned the room, I spotted Ophelia sitting with the guy with dreads, the quiet boy, and a few others at a table. My gaze drifted to the dread-headed boy, and for a few seconds, I found myself staring at him, lost in thought. Then I realized he was looking back at me.

Heat rushed to my face as I quickly looked away, embarrassed to be caught staring. But curiosity got the best of me, and I glanced back. He was still looking at me, his expression amused. Ophelia noticed too—she nudged him, laughed, and he smiled, finally breaking eye contact as he looked away.

I left the dining hall and made my way back to my room, sneaking past a teacher on duty in the hallway. Once safely inside, I went to my usual spot by the desk, where I had a perfect view out the window. From here, I could watch the basketball courts and the football field below. It had become a kind of routine. I didn't go on my phone much—partly because my charger was missing and partly because the battery had been stuck at 36 percent for over a week now. So, watching the kids play basketball outside had become my entertainment, and surprisingly, it was pretty captivating.

As 9 p.m. approached, I faced a choice. I could either go to bed and stick with the plan I'd made, hearing everyone else laughing together from afar. Or, I could go meet up with Ophelia and her friends, even if it was past curfew. I weighed my options, and the thought of spending yet another night alone seemed so stale. So, I made up my mind.

I'd kept my promise to myself for days now, but what was one night of breaking the routine? Four months stretched ahead, and each day was blending into the next. Adding a little "spice," just once, didn't seem like the worst idea. Besides, if I didn't like it, I could always retreat to my quiet space and never join them again.

Finally, at 10:30, I stepped out of my room, half-expecting no one to show. But a second later, Ophelia's door squeaked open, and she crept out, eyes bright with excitement.

"Oh my gosh, I didn't think you'd actually come," she whispered, grinning. "C'mon, we gotta get the brothers."

Ophelia started speed-walking down the hall, glancing around corners as if we were on some covert mission. I followed close behind, barely keeping up. We reached another door, and she opened it just enough to stick her head inside. "C'mon, Caylus! You're gonna get us caught!" she hissed.

After a moment, a boy emerged, his baggy clothes and easygoing smile instantly familiar. I'd seen him on the football field before, always surrounded by friends. He looked just a bit taller than me, maybe my height otherwise.

"Come on, I'll introduce you all later," Ophelia whispered, leading us onward without missing a beat.

We hurried to another door, and she cracked it open, whispering, "Lucy, hurry up!"

I expected a girl, but out came another boy. Noticing my surprised expression, Caylus leaned over and mouthed, nickname. I nodded, trying to take it all in as the four of us continued our covert journey.

Sneaking through the hallways, we had to duck into random rooms or hide in alcoves to avoid being seen by the hall monitors. It felt like something out of a spy movie, and the thrill made my heart race. Eventually, we slipped out a side door and ran across the open field toward the forest, laughter and whispers breaking the night air.

"Holy fuck, we made it!" Caylus panted, doubling over from all the running we'd just done to escape the school grounds.

Ophelia grinned, catching her breath as well. "Sienna, meet Caylus Jackson," she said, pointing to him. "And this is Lucifer, but we all call him Lucy for... well, for everyone's sake."

I nodded, sizing them up. Lucy was tall, with bleach-blond hair that revealed his natural brown at the roots. Like Caylus, he had this effortless, laid-back energy as if he knew exactly what he was doing.

Ophelia took the lead in the introductions, gesturing between us. "Guys, this is Sienna. She's new here, but... brave enough to sneak out with us, apparently."

"Nice to meet you, Sienna," Lucy said with a lopsided grin, giving me a quick nod. His eyes were bright with mischief.

I shifted my weight and fidgeted with my fingers, glancing down at the dirt floor beneath us. "Soo... what now?" I asked, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves.

Ophelia stepped forward, her eyes gleaming as she looked into the dark forest. "Every year, there's this big end-of-summer party in the woods," she explained, walking ahead into the shadows. "It's kind of a tradition."

"Just a chill party, but we all go," Caylus added, following Ophelia's lead. His tone was casual, but there was an energy to it that made it sound more exciting.

The thought of a party sent a shiver through me, but something about being with them—their easy smiles, the way they acted like I was already part of their group—made me feel oddly safe, almost like I belonged.