Crossroads → Nicholas Scratch [CAOS]

ii. disguised hero

DISGUISED HERO
CHAPTER TWO

Slamming and locking her locker door, Dani scanned the hallway to see if Harvey, Theo, Sabrina or Roz were nearby. She smiled as she spotted them by Sabrina's locker huddled together just at the end of the hallway. The first few days of school had been surprisingly enjoyable. She supposed she had her new friends to thank for that– it certainly had nothing to do with Mr. Hanson's science class. He and his ways of teaching had been anything but enjoyable for Dani so far. She was sure that, had Rosalind not been in her class, there was no way she would have survived just these few days at Baxter High.

She made sure her bag was zipped up securely and slung over her shoulder before heading in their direction. When the four instantly stopped talking and glanced at each other nervously, Dani frowned. It seemed as though the topic of discussion wasn't meant for her ears. She was used to this kind of behavior in Riverdale, but after how welcoming her new friends at Baxter High had been, she was hurt to be excluded again.

Smiles quickly returned to their faces, though, so choosing to ignore her suspicion, Dani returned the gesture as if she were just as oblivious as they believed her to be. Having forgotten for a moment that Nicholas didn't go to Baxter High, a strange feeling of disappointment dawned on her when she joined her new friends, realizing that she wouldn't be seeing the witty boy for a while. She brushed it off, forcing herself to pay attention to her other friends.

"We were just talking about heading to Cerberus Books," Roz said, Harvey's arm draped around her. Dani noticed Sabrina's eyes flickering back and forth between the couple that stood so close to one another and her hands. "Right, guys?" Everyone chorused in agreement to what Roz had said and Sabrina revoked her attention from the two.

"We're thinking of going there and then to see a movie at the theatre," Sabrina affirmed, nodding. "Wanna come?" Dani opened her mouth momentarily, pausing and shaking her head when she reminded herself of the mass of boxes that were yet to be unpacked.

"I'm sorry, I wish I could. There's so much I still need to unpack. I don't think I can live any longer in the disastrous state of my room."

"Why don't I help you? We could unpack your things and then meet the others later for the movie," Sabrina suggested, the corners of her mouth turned upward like always. Her optimism made it seem like the unpacking would be done in no time, but Dani was sure once the blonde saw the mess in her room she'd regret ever offering to help.

"Are you sure?"

"Of course! I'd be happy to." They all remained by the lockers, chatting a bit more before Sabrina and Dani parted ways with them. Throughout the entire walk to her house, Dani couldn't help the uncomfortable feeling that kept building in her stomach. After all the kindness she'd been shown, she still found it hard to believe that things were going to stay this way. Even something as simple as Sabrina helping Dani prepare her bedroom– which Sabrina herself suggested she help with– discomforted Dani. It was as though the brunette wanted to believe that her new friend would quickly get fed up and bored of helping her. Somehow, she felt more comfortable with Nick than with the four teenagers she'd spent more time with and who actually went to her school. Maybe it was because she saw them more often, or maybe it was just because Nick seemed so different to Sabrina, Roz, Harvey and Theo.

The silence between Sabrina and Dani ended when Dani stuck the key into the front door of her house. They walked inside and Dani immediately directed her to the kitchen, the only remotely tidy room in the house.

"I'm home!" she called out for her dad before stepping into the kitchen, stepping over the few pages of bubble wrap and the screwdrivers that were sprawled messily across the marble floor. "Do you want something to drink?" When Sabrina nodded, she started to pour apple juice into two glasses.