After choosing to break the cycle, Jinx [now Powder] tries to find her place in the countryside away from everything she once knew, drawn to someone who seems to embody everything she's wanted but never deserved.
F/GN, fluff, mutual pinin...
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"Hey."
"Hi!"
". . ."
". . . ?"
". . ."
". . . ???"
You blinked, waiting for her to say literally anything else, but nope. Just "hey." and now she was standing there, looking like she was on the verge of shitting her pants while you wondered if this was how all her conversations went.
Surprisingly you didn't feel awkward or uncomfortable, more so confused. Looking around, your eyes landed on your old neighbor who's own eyes were on the girl in front of you. He was giving her this look of judgment. It wasn't obvious or harsh but it was still there. And then it clicked.
This was her.
The newcomer who moved into that old cottage on the outskirts of town. The one Mrs. Van Dee Kamp couldn't stop speculating about, the one Mr. Gallagher said "looked like trouble", and the same one you were so curious about.
It wasn't long before your group started to shuffle awkwardly, clearly ready to move on. They glanced at her, the kind of quick, hesitant looks people gave when they didn't want to seem rude but also didn't want to linger. One by one, they made their excuses, mumbling something about needing to get back to their stalls. They took a couple of steps away, looking back once they realized you weren't following.
"I'll catch up with you guys later!" you called, waving them off.
Turning back, you realized she was already staring at you, her wide pink eyes locked onto yours like you'd just caught her doing something she wasn't supposed to.
"Hi!" you started... for the second time now.
"Uh... yeah." she said, her voice flat as if responding to a completely different conversation.
Not exactly the warmest start, but you continued. "You're new in town right? People have been talking, but you know, nothing bad! They're just curious."
Her eyes glanced left then right as you were talking, like she was scanning for an exit. "Yeah. New."
You tilted your head. "Well, welcome. I'm–"
"Okay." she cut you off, her tone abrupt.
"...Okay?" you repeated, blinking.
"Yeah. Thanks. Bye."
Before you could say another word, she spun on her heel and started walking... no, speed-walking, towards the dirt path that lead into the forest.
You stood there, frozen, your brain scrambling to process what had just happened. Did she seriously just... run away? Mid-conversation?
It took you a solid few seconds to realize your jaw was hanging open. Shutting it quickly, you looked around, half expecting someone to jump out with a camera and tell you that it was a prank.
