╰┈➤ 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐝, 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬! ๋࣭ ⭑⚝
✮ ⋆ ˚｡𖦹 ⋆｡°✩
⭑.ᐟ ˊˎ- In the aftermath of her mother's death, Tory Nichols finds herself at rock bottom, struggling to care for her younger brother and keep her life together...
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꩜ .ᐟ
𝐓𝐡𝐞 chill of the afternoon wind brushed against Yuko's cheeks as she stepped out of the school with Tory at her side. The sun hung low in the sky, its golden rays casting long shadows across the pavement. Despite the light, a weight lingered in her chest. Tory's endless chatter about Hawk's supposed interest in her barely registered; Yuko's thoughts were clouded with questions.
Did Hawk really like her? Or was Tory just reading too much into it?
"Earth to Yuko!" Tory's voice broke through her haze, and Yuko blinked, looking at her friend.
"What?" Yuko asked, trying to sound casual, though she knew her face probably betrayed her inner turmoil.
Tory rolled her eyes, her hands on her hips as they stopped at the edge of the school parking lot. "You're totally zoning out. I'm talking about Hawk. Are you seriously not thinking about him? Because, girl, you should be."
Yuko sighed, hugging her books tightly to her chest. "I don't know, Tory. He was just... nice to me. Maybe he felt obligated because of—"
"Because of what?" Tory interrupted, raising an eyebrow. "The fact that you're, I don't know, drop-dead gorgeous and mysterious? Yuko, don't sell yourself short."
Yuko opened her mouth to protest but stopped as a voice called out behind them.
"Hey, Yuko!"
The two girls turned to see Marcus, one of Yuko's classmates, jogging toward them. He was holding a book she had accidentally left behind in their shared class.
"You forgot this," Marcus said, handing it to her with a kind smile.
"Oh, thank you," Yuko said, bowing her head slightly out of habit.
Marcus lingered for a moment, his hands shoved into his pockets. "No problem. So, uh, how's your first day going? You settling in okay?"
Yuko hesitated, feeling Tory's amused gaze boring into her. "It's... okay," she replied carefully.
"That's good to hear." Marcus nodded, his smile genuine but nervous. "If you ever need help with anything, let me know. I know being new can be overwhelming."
Before Yuko could respond, Tory stepped in, her tone playful but firm. "Thanks, Marcus! We'll let you know if she needs a tour guide or something."
Marcus blinked at Tory's abruptness, then nodded again before walking off, glancing back once as if debating whether to say more.
As soon as he was out of earshot, Tory turned to Yuko with a knowing grin. "See? This is what I'm talking about. You've got people lining up to help you. Hawk's just the first one brave enough to do something about it."
Yuko groaned, hiding her face behind her books. "Can we please talk about something else?"
Tory laughed, looping her arm through Yuko's. "Fine, fine. But don't think you're getting out of this. I want all the details tonight—ice cream mandatory."
