Fallen From Grace (#Wattys2017)

Chapter III

Eleanora awoke to the sound of her alarm ringing on the table beside her. Groaning, she turned it off and rubbed her eyes as she lay in bed for a moment. The dream she had last night about the Devil coming to her, choking Elliot, and taking her soul had greatly shaken her. It was a very bizarre dream to have, but it felt so real.

Sighing, she got out of bed and decided on what she was going to wear. Looking at the clothes she had laid out the previous day, she frowned. In front of her lay a black full sleeved shirt and denim jeans with a hood. Pursing her lips, she decided to wear something else than that over-worn hood. Taking out a pair of blue skinny jeans with a gray full sleeved shirt and a brown aviator leather jacket. She just didn't care anymore of how much of a freak people thought she'd might be.

Wearing her outfit, she laced her boots into place before grabbing her bag and making her way out the apartment, humming to herself while bounding down the stairs.

"Hello, Mrs. Scott." She greeted cheerily.

"My, aren't we in a happy mood?" Mrs. Scott smiled brightly. "You're looking rather well."

"Thank you." She smiled. "I should be heading out now. Have a good day and wish Elliot a good day from me, too."

"Oh, he won't be going to the station today." Mrs. Scott shook her head as she looked down at her letters. "He came down with a horrifying fever."

"Oh." Eleanora shook her head. "Well, I hope he gets well soon. I'll make him something once I get home."

"That'd be lovely." Mrs. Scott smiled in response. "He likes you, did you know that, Eleanora?"

"I like him, too." Eleanora shrugged before waving farewell and making her way out the building and down the sidewalk to get to the bus stop. She stood there in the cold winter air as she wore her gloves and matching beanie on her head as she waited for the bus to arrive.

Settling down on the bench, she adjusted her bag on her shoulder before looking at the time displayed on her phone.

7: 45 a.m. It read as the bus pulled up next to the stop. Getting up she watched the door open as she stepped in, looking for a seat as the entire bus population was looking at her. Generally she would have shied away from this much attention, but now, without realizing she gave them a lopsided smile as she made her way to the seat in the far back, sitting next to a timid looking girl that shied away from her.

"I hope you don't mind me sitting here." Eleanora inquired in a whisper to the girl that shook her head in response. "Good. I'm Eleanora, by the way."

"Jenny." She introduced as she shook her outstretched hand. "Are you new here?"

"Oh, no." Eleanora spoke with a dismissive wave of her hand. "I've been attending Westrover High since I was 15."

"Really?" Jenny inquired curiously. "How come I never saw you before?"

"I generally hid behind a hood." Eleanora shrugged. "But, now I realized that I didn't want to hide my pretty face in the shadows." She joked as Jenny laughed along with her.

"What about you?" Eleanora inquired.

"Me?" Jenny confirmed while biting her lower lip. "What about me?"

"Well...Tell me about yourself." She trailed. "Like what you like, how you spend your free time, what you're studying, what your aim is...stuff like that."

"Okay." Jenny nodded as she realized what she was asking of her. "Only if you tell me about yourself in return."

"Deal." She nodded as she struck out her hand and Jessie shook it firmly.