Invincible

THHHOS

Chapter 10: The Hallways of High School

The morning sunlight filtered through the trees lining the school grounds, casting a warm glow on the familiar path Tori walked every day. Despite the light outside, a heaviness lingered in her heart, a reminder of the events that still haunted her thoughts. Today marked her return to school, and every step felt like a trial, but she forced herself to maintain a brave face.

As she entered the bustling hallways of Crestview High, Tori was greeted by the usual cacophony of voices—laughter, shouts, and the rustling of backpacks. She tried to blend into the crowd, moving through the throngs of students eager to catch up on weekend gossip and share their latest news. The familiarity of it all was comforting, yet Tori felt a growing sense of disconnection, as if she were watching from the outside rather than participating in the chaos.

"Hey, Tori!" A voice called out, pulling her from her thoughts. She turned to see Maya rushing toward her, her dark hair bouncing with each step. Maya was a bright light in Tori's life—always upbeat, always ready with a smile.

"Hey!" Tori replied, forcing a smile of her own.

Maya's face lit up. "How was your weekend? You didn't text me at all! I was starting to think you got abducted by aliens or something."

Tori chuckled, appreciating Maya's effort to lighten her mood. "Just... taking it easy, you know? Lots of time to think."

"Yeah, well, don't think too much. It's not good for you!" Maya teased, nudging Tori playfully. "You ready for chemistry? I heard Mr. Turner has a surprise quiz today."

"Just what I needed," Tori groaned, rolling her eyes. "Let's get it over with."

As they made their way to class, Tori spotted Meur leaning against the wall with a couple of his friends, deep in conversation. His brown locks fell just above his eyes, giving him a brooding yet captivating look. But instead of the warm connection they had shared recently, a subtle distance hung between them, a barrier that Tori couldn't quite understand. He glanced in her direction, and for a brief moment, their eyes met. But then he looked away, focusing back on his friends, and Tori's heart sank.

"Earth to Tori! You with me?" Maya's voice cut through her thoughts again.

"Sorry, just... distracted," Tori admitted, shaking her head to clear her mind.

Chemistry class was a blur. Mr. Turner's voice droned on as he explained chemical reactions, but Tori found it hard to concentrate. The words blended together, and her mind drifted to thoughts of Meur and the distance that had grown between them. Had she done something wrong? Was he pulling away because of what happened? The questions gnawed at her.

"Okay, everyone, pull out your quizzes," Mr. Turner announced, interrupting her thoughts. "You have twenty minutes. Don't let me down!"

The quiz began, and Tori struggled to focus on the questions in front of her. She scribbled down answers, but her mind kept drifting back to Meur, wondering if he was feeling as lost as she was.

After class, Tori exited the room with Maya, who was babbling about their upcoming biology project. "We could totally ace this if we work together! What do you think?"

"Sounds good," Tori replied absentmindedly, not fully engaging in the conversation.

Maya frowned, noticing her friend's distraction. "You sure you're okay? You seem a little... off."

"Just tired, I guess," Tori lied, forcing another smile. "Let's get lunch."

As they walked to the cafeteria, Tori spotted Ryan at a table with a group of friends, his loud laughter ringing out over the din of voices. The sight of him sent a jolt of anxiety through her. She quickly turned her head, focusing on the floor as they passed, not wanting to risk another encounter with him.