Beyond The Crash [HIATUS]

CHAPTER 31 | [A CHANGE IN SCENERY]

"Our number?" Nicky repeated.
Lilley nodded.

Axel raised a brow at her. "You don't have Nicky's already?"

She silently shook her head with a straight smile.
"Sure. I don't mind," Nicky gave a small smile as he took her phone to type in his number.

They were currently at the cafeteria. Due to it being orientation week, some classes were surprisingly cancelled or ended early. Lilley wasn't too shocked about this as she felt that's probably how things ran in the school. This version.

She wasn't all that cheerful but was glad she had some things done the day before. She was finally able to have Lake City- or, rather, this world currency. It was a medium-sized note that had the mixture colour of blue and green.

Apparently, each city has their own colour of note, but all still hold similar value. How to know, apart from the obvious colours, was that the name of the city would be written in the middle.

She especially loved the way Star City note bill looked like. It had a fantasy vibe with a mixture of hot pink and lavender. Wave City, the city she's 'supposedly' from, had a gold note.

Apart from the paper money, which they call notes, they also had coins. And each coin also had their respective colour of where they were from.

She didn't know what type of mineral that was used in making Star City coin, but it looked pretty and mystical.

She turned to Axel once Nicky was done. He stared at her phone and then back at her.
"Your number, please," she stretched her smile.

He sipped his flavoured yoghurt while still staring at her phone.
"I don't see any reason for you to call me,"

She blinked as she tried maintaining her smile that was now hurting her cheeks. "Just... put it in."

He shrugged slightly and lazily took her phone to put in his number.
Why do you have to be so difficult? She eyed him, and as she attempted to look away, she caught Nicky's stare.

He cracked a smile before turning his attention to his phone.
Lilley blinked. Paused.
She was sure there was a difference in the way he smiled... or even act. But she couldn't place her finger on what it was.

"About your project," she was brought back to reality by Nicky soft tone that sounded both familiar and foreign. "How's it going? Any progress?"

She stretched out her arms, and in a dramatic sigh, she said, "I have no idea. He didn't like any of the sketches he drew, so... nope, still at the base."

"Is that even him being a perfectionist?" Axel muttered nonchalantly.
She heard and couldn't agree more.

What exactly does he want? She had pondered about Atticus. She wondered if it was the style or maybe their theme, but never had the chance to ask him. Partly because she hadn't seen him all day.

"Maybe it's the environment," Nicky said calmy, but his tone was like someone who understood more than he let on. He shrugged. "Maybe he can't focus because of the environment,"

Her mouth opened slightly to differ, but she closed on the thought that Nicky could be right.
"Environment, huh..." she mumbled to herself as an idea instantly popped up.

The bell rang signalling... well, she didn't exactly know what it signalled but knew she was going to go find Atticus.
She stood up with a determined smile.

"Thanks," she said only that before dashing out of the cafeteria.

Both Nicky and Axel stared at the direction she went, confused. Axel then turned to Nicky, "She forgot her phone,"