Two lives.

29. 777: Guided Home

May 30th
7:05 PM

After laughing about the dumbest things for what felt like forever, we all agreed it was probably best to start sneaking back to the school. Ekko led the way, retracing the same path we'd taken earlier, his steps steady and confident even in the dim light.

"I'm so tired," Andi groaned, exhaling a thin stream of smoke. It was probably from her weed pen, but at this point, who knew?

"Same," Ophelia chimed in, kicking a small pebble ahead of her. She laughed softly as I instinctively nudged it forward with my shoe. "As soon as I get back, I'm taking a shower and crashing. No one bother me."

"Noted," I said, smiling as the pebble disappeared into the bushes. There was an easy warmth in their presence, the kind that settled over me like a blanket on a cold night.

The night air was crisp, the faint hum of crickets blending with our hushed footsteps. For a moment, I let myself drift into my thoughts.

My whole life, I'd felt... different. Like I didn't fit anywhere, not with my family, not with my parents, not even with my friends or cousins. Everyone else seemed so sure of their place, like they belonged without even trying. And then there was me, always on the outside, watching, wondering if I'd ever feel the same.

When I first came here, I assumed it would be more of the same. Another group of people I'd never truly connect with. Another place where I'd be reminded of how much I didn't belong.

But somehow, it wasn't like that.

I glanced around at the group—Ophelia, Andi, Skin, Ekko, Caylus, Lucifer, and Colby. None of us were remotely the same. We didn't share the same backgrounds, the same stories, or even the same struggles. Yet, for some reason, this group felt more like home than anything I'd ever known.

It's strange how one group of people can change everything. They didn't just make me feel included; they made me feel understood.

"Hey, you good back there?" Ekko's voice broke through my thoughts. He'd stopped a few paces ahead, waiting for the rest of us to catch up.

"Yeah, just thinking," I said, jogging a bit to close the distance.

"Dangerous habit," he teased, flashing a quick grin.

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help smiling back. As we continued down the path, I felt a quiet sense of peace settle over me, a feeling I hadn't had in years.

And for the first time in as long as I could remember, I wasn't just okay with where I was. I was happy.

I guess the devil heard me feeling something other than anger for the first time in forever and decided that was enough. A phone ringing snapped me out of my thoughts, yanking me back to reality.

Ekko turned around, raising an eyebrow at me with a curious smirk. "Who's calling you now?"

"Are you just gonna stare at me, or actually answer it?" he teased, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

"Oh, yeah," I mumbled, fumbling to pull my phone out of my pocket. As I did, I caught a glimpse of the polaroid photo through my clear phone case, a fleeting reminder of the warmth I'd just been feeling.

The screen lit up, and I froze, staring at the contact name.

"Who is it?" Ekko asked, his voice more serious this time. He scratched the back of his head, taking a couple of steps closer.

"My mom," I said quietly, my voice shaky as the words left my mouth. "I don't really want to talk to her."

Ekko's expression shifted, his usual calm replaced with something softer—concern, maybe? I met his gaze briefly, then quickly looked back down at the screen. "I haven't talked to her since I left," I admitted, my words barely above a whisper.