MY DAYS AT CRYSTAL GEM ACADEMY

Monday Blues

Norelle POV

I woke up to the sound of my alarm blaring in my ear. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and swung my legs over the side of the bed. It was Monday morning, and I wasn't exactly thrilled about it.

As I got dressed, I couldn't help but think about Friday night's welcome dance. It had been a blast, and I had loved seeing everyone let loose and have fun. But what had really caught my attention was Kaylila. She had looked stunning in her dress, and I had found myself stealing glances at her all evening.

I pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on getting ready for the day. I headed down to the dining hall to meet up with Jayden and Skye.

As we ate breakfast, Jayden couldn't stop talking about Kaylila. "I had such a great time with her on Friday," he said, grinning. "I think I might actually have a chance with her."

I smiled, trying to be supportive. But inside, I couldn't help but feel a pang of... something. Was it jealousy? I didn't know.

As we walked to our first class, Skye mentioned the schedule for the week. "Hey, guys, have you seen the schedule for the week?" she asked.

Jayden and I exchanged a look. "No, what's going on?" Jayden asked.

Skye pulled out her phone and started scrolling through it. "It looks like we've got a bunch of orientation activities planned for the week. Team-building exercises, icebreakers... the whole works."

I groaned inwardly. I wasn't exactly thrilled about participating in a bunch of cheesy team-building activities.

But Jayden was undeterred. "That sounds awesome!" he exclaimed. "I'm sure Kaylila will be there too."

I raised an eyebrow, trying not to smile. Jayden was really smitten with Kaylila, wasn't he?

As we walked into our first class, I spotted Kaylila sitting in the back row. She smiled at me, and I felt a flutter in my chest.

Jayden noticed my gaze and nudged me. "Hey, Norrell, you're staring," he whispered.

I quickly looked away, trying to play it cool. "I was just making sure she's okay," I said, trying to sound nonchalant.

Jayden raised an eyebrow. "You're really interested in her, aren't you?" he asked, his voice low.

I shook my head, trying to deny it. But Jayden just smiled knowingly.

The rest of the day flew by in a blur of classes and orientation activities. But I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. I knew Jayden was getting close to Kaylila, and I was left to watch from the sidelines. Was I just pretending that I didn't care? Or was there something more?

As the day drew to a close, Kaylila caught up to us. "Hey, guys, what's up?" she asked, smiling.

Jayden grinned, clearly thrilled to see her. "Not much, Kaylila. Just trying to survive this week."

Kaylila laughed. "I know, right? It's been crazy."

As we walked together, I couldn't help but notice the way Kaylila's eyes sparkled when she laughed. Or the way her hair fell in loose waves down her back.

I was in trouble.

As we parted ways, Kaylila turned to me. "Hey, Norrell, can I talk to you for a minute?" she asked, her voice low.

I nodded, feeling a surge of curiosity. What did Kaylila want to talk to me about?

But before she could say anything else, the school bell rang, signaling the end of the day.

Kaylila sighed, looking frustrated. "Never mind," she said. "I'll talk to you later, okay?"

I nodded, feeling a little disappointed. What had Kaylila wanted to ask me?

As I walked out of the classroom, I was greeted by Nenoma, who was standing just outside the door. She flashed a bright smile at me.

"Norrell, hey! You have a second?" she asked, stepping closer.

I hesitated, looking back over my shoulder to see if Kaylila was still around. "Uh, yeah, sure," I said, trying to sound casual.

Nenoma's smile widened as she moved to walk beside me. "You know, I've been thinking about the weekend," she began, her voice soft and inviting. "You looked really good at the dance, and I noticed you were hanging out with Kaylila a lot. I didn't realize you two were so close."

I wasn't sure where she was going with this, but I kept my responses short. "Yeah, we talked a little."

Nenoma nodded thoughtfully, then gave me a playful look. "I just wanted to let you know, Norrell, if you ever need someone to talk to or hang out with... I'm around."

I blinked, trying to process her words. Was she flirting with me? I didn’t know how to respond to that.

Before I could say anything, Nenoma added, "You know, I think you're a lot of fun. We should hang out more. I’m sure you’ve got a lot of potential."

I couldn't help but notice the way she was looking at me. Was I imagining it, or was she making her move?

I gave her a small smile, feeling a little awkward. "Thanks, Nenoma. I appreciate that."

As we continued walking, my mind wandered back to Kaylila. Why had she wanted to talk to me earlier? Was she interested in me, or was I just reading too much into it? And then there was Nenoma, who was clearly trying to get my attention.

I had no idea what was going on, but I knew one thing for sure: I was caught in the middle of something that was only getting more complicated.

***
What do you think Kaylila wants to tell Norelle?

What is Nenoma's deal?

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