Bet ~Jean x Reader AU~

Chapter 1: Dawn's Mocking

I stared blankly up at my ceiling, watching as the dawn's dim golden hues danced across the smooth surface, their soft gleams gently shooing the greasy shadows from the night before away. Nothing but the sound of the warm air rolling through the vents filled the room, a stilled silence occupying the spaces between each growl. It was all so pleasant in a way. I felt like I was embraced in a warm hug that swaddled me closely, each hum of the vents working to coo me back to sleep, which I gladly accepted.

I draped my eyelids shut, allowing the sleepiness to blanket over me as I burrowed deeper into my comforter cocoon. I sunk more onto my mattress, the coziness of the heat kissing my cheeks. I could feel myself just starting to doze off into the early state of slumber when a horrible sound wailed through the canals of my ears.

The shrill shrieks of my alarm clock screaming.

I squinted my eyes open, glaring at the ceiling I once stared at with hopes of being lulled to slumber. The light that had helped to ease me into a state of sleep now mocked me, each gleam dancing through my mesh curtains as it taunted me. The soft rumbles of the heat no longer were gentle to me, but now stirred me to full consciousness. I was fully on alert, still listening to my alarm clock wail at me relentlessly.

I turned my head towards the clock and threw daggers at it with my eyes before finally reaching over and shutting it off. The earsplitting cries it had been unleashing finally muted, the quiet once more creeping in. It was such a pleasant atmosphere that made me want to stay curled up in my bed, but alas, I couldn't do that. The real world was beckoning me to it, but I just wished I could ignore it all.

With a grunt of frustration, I peeled my blanket back and began to slowly sit up, cracking the stiffness away from my bones and joints. The soles of my feet brushed against the lush carpet of my room as I stretched again, still dusting the rust from myself. I rubbed a balled fist against one of my eyes, wiping away all the sleepiness from before and slowly rising to my feet. I shuffled towards the restroom, staggering in my exhausted condition until my bare feet met the cooler texture of the slate floor, waking me up.

At that, I peeled myself out of my pajamas and set them on the vanity before turning to the tub. I turned on the water, running my fingertips under the current until it warmed up, in which case I turned on the showerhead. The water squealed to life, the steam already beginning its slow hike up. I jumped in and closed the curtain behind me and got to bathing. I lathered my wet hair up with shampoo and scrubbed my body clean with a moisturizing bodywash and rinsed myself clean before just standing under the water.

The warm beads of water pounded against my back, massaging me in attempts to wake me up even more. I could feel my senses stirring to full consciousness, allowing me to function more like a normal human being. I breathed in a haggard breath, the hefty humidity in the air swaddling me in a tight hold as it pecked my bare skin. It all felt amazing, but I knew I needed to get out of the shower.

So, with another hardy sigh, I shut the water off and pulled the curtain back, freeing the steam to run wilder. I yanked the towel I had hanging up close by to me and began to dry myself before stepping out of the tub. I wrapped the towel around myself and began out of the bathroom and back into my room. I worked quickly to wrap my hair up into a towel cocoon and dug into one of my drawers. I stepped into a pair of comfy panties and shrugged into my bra before rubbing some deodorant on my armpits.

To be honest, I didn't want to get dressed. If anything, I wanted to put my pajamas back on and climb back into bed, but I had no choice. After all, it was the first day of my second semester of college. And, with that said, I had to get dressed. There was no other option. I had to start the new semester off on the right foot. No ifs, ands, or buts about it.

I moseyed over to my closet and yanked a pair of jeans from a hanger before dancing into them. The material clung to each curve of my body, hugging my legs in a comfortable way. After that, I found a plain black sweater and pulled it from the closet before yanking it over my head. The soft material of the sweater hung loosely from my body, giving me a perk of not just comfort, but of invisibly as well. I relished in the way it made me feel safe and secure, hiding me from view. Some girls preferred being flashy and gaudy, but I thrived in the plain Jane attire.

With another sigh, I freed my hair and let it fall, the damp strands gently brushing my cheeks. I could feel the cool hairs tickle my skin, though I paid it little mind. Instead, I flung my towel onto the floor and turned to my other dresser, snatching my brush up off the surface of it. I raked the brush through my hair, detangling my h/c (your hair color) locks and glimpsed over my reflection.

My appearance was plain. My hair was plain. My eyes were plain. My clothes were plain. My body was plain. Everything about me was plain. Plain was just the way I liked it. I was plain.

I breathed sharply in through my nose and sighed, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear before deciding to just let it hang freely at the side of my face. Barefaced with no makeup and damp hair. That was me. That was me and I was fine with that.

I turned to my side and grabbed my bookbag, sliding it on. It was hefty due to containing all the books I'd need for my classes that day. Ugh. Gonna feel this later. I mentally whined. Winter break spoiled me too much. I still didn't want to leave the safety and warmth of my dorm room, but I was bluntly aware I had to. The first day of classes demanded me to.

I slid on a pair of socks and stepped into my black combat boots, completing my process. I grabbed my room's keycard and began for the door, just steadying my breathing. Okay, Y/N. I pep talked myself. Day one. You can do this. It's just like any other day. I grabbed the door handle and turned it, listening as the sounds of people laughing and talking in the hallway flooded into my room. I bit down on my bottom lip.

Yeah. Just any other day...

...ugh. I hate people.

**Ello my sweet lovelies!! I hope y'all enjoyed the first official revamped chapter of the book. I must say, I am way prouder of this start versus the original. I just feel this one is better. Anyway, thank you so much for all your support! Y'all are the bestest!! <3**

-Noel Ross