MY DAYS AT CRYSTAL GEM ACADEMY

FIGHTING WITHOUT A WORD

The bell rang, signaling the end of another long lesson. The students shuffled out of the classroom, eager to get to lunch, but I stayed behind, gathering my things slowly. The classroom was nearly empty, the buzz of chatter fadiTheng as everyone rushed to the cafeteria.

"Hey, are you coming?" Skye's voice broke through my thoughts. She was already halfway out the door, looking back at me with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah, I'll be right there," I called out, giving her a quick nod. I had just enough time to finish organizing my notes before joining her.

As I stood up, my head spun for a brief moment. It was nothing new, but I quickly brushed it off. I couldn't afford to let anyone notice. The last thing I needed was to be seen as weak. Not on my first week at Crystal Gem High.

When I finally made it out into the hall, Skye was already chatting with Norrell and his friends. Jason was talking animatedly about something, probably making one of his usual jokes, while David seemed to be half-listening, his attention elsewhere. Norrell was quieter than the rest, his eyes focused on something in the distance, his posture rigid.

I couldn't help but notice how different he was from the others. His calmness was almost unsettling-like he was always calculating, always in control. I glanced at him, but he didn't seem to notice.

"Ready for lunch?" Skye asked, catching my eye.

I nodded. "Let's go."

We walked together, the group falling into step behind us. I couldn't help but feel a little out of place. It was my second day, but it felt like I was still trying to find my place among them.

The cafeteria was already crowded when we entered. The noise of students talking and laughing filled the room, and the smell of food was overwhelming. Skye led us to a table in the corner where we sat down, and I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself.

I didn't know why I felt so nervous around Norrell. It wasn't like I didn't know how to talk to people, but there was something about him that made me second-guess everything I said.

I picked up my fork and tried to focus on my meal. I could feel his gaze on me occasionally, but I refused to look up. I wasn't ready for whatever was going on in his head.

David, ever the flirt, leaned over to speak to Skye. "So, how's your day been, huh?" he asked, his voice casual, but there was a glint of mischief in his eyes.

Skye rolled her eyes but smiled. "Same old, same old. You know how it is with you guys around."

Jason, who had been quietly eating, suddenly piped up. "Hey, did you hear about the school dance coming up next month?"

I glanced at Skye, who raised an eyebrow. "The dance? I hadn't heard about it."

"Oh, it's going to be epic," Jason said, leaning back in his chair with a grin. "You're going, right? Everyone's talking about it."

I didn't respond immediately. The idea of a school dance seemed... overwhelming. I wasn't sure if I was ready for that kind of attention.

"I'm not sure," I said quietly, trying to avoid drawing too much attention to myself.

But Norrell, who had been unusually silent, finally spoke. "You should go. It's not as bad as it seems." His voice was calm, almost reassuring, but there was something in his eyes that made me feel like he knew more than he was letting on.

Before I could respond, there was a sudden sharp pain in my side. I froze, my hand gripping the edge of the table. I tried to mask the discomfort, but it was hard. My breath quickened for a second, and I squeezed my eyes shut, hoping the pain would pass.