They turned a corner, and the school finally came into view. It was bigger than Ruby expected, with students already gathered outside in small groups. The school was called Windemere high school. Some were laughing, some were on their phones, and others just stood around talking. It looked normal—but something about it still felt off.
Ruby slowed down slightly, taking it all in.
Beside her, Max suddenly stopped walking.
"I'll walk you to the entrance, but I've got a different class," he said, glancing at the building. His voice sounded casual, but he avoided looking at her.
"Oh… okay," Ruby replied.
Then, without waiting, he turned and walked off toward another part of the school.
Ruby stood there for a second, watching him leave. She adjusted her bag and turned back toward the entrance, trying not to feel awkward standing alone.
That's when she heard a voice behind her.
"Hey! You're new, right?"
Ruby turned around.
A girl with blond hair and glasses was walking toward her, smiling brightly. Unlike everyone else, she didn't seem awkward or distant at all—she looked completely comfortable, like she already knew Ruby.
"Uh—yeah," Ruby said. "I just moved here."
"Knew it," the girl said, stopping in front of her. "This is a small town and I never saw you around here."
She held out her hand. "I'm Victoria."
Ruby hesitated for a second, then shook it. "I'm Ruby."
Victoria's smile widened. "I like your name."
"Thanks," Ruby said, feeling a little less nervous.
"So, what class are you in?" Victoria asked.
Ruby told her, Victoria's eyes lit up.
"No way," she said. "We're in the same class!"
"Really?" Ruby said, surprised.
"Yeah! You're not getting lost anymore," Victoria said with a small laugh. "You're stuck with me now."
Ruby smiled a little. "I guess that's not so bad."
"Not bad?" Victoria grinned. "Wow. I'm offended already."
Ruby laughed softly, the tension in her chest easing.
"Come on," Victoria said, turning toward the school. "I'll show you around."
As they started walking together, Ruby felt a little more at ease. Maybe this school wouldn't be so bad after all.
They walked through the entrance and down a long hallway filled with lockers. Students moved past them, talking loudly, laughing, slamming locker doors.
Victoria walked close beside her, like they had already known each other for years.
Then, after a moment, Victoria slowed down slightly.
"Hey," she said casually, reaching into her pocket.
Ruby looked at her. "Yeah?"
"I actually wanted to give you something," Victoria said.
She pulled out a small ring.
It had a delicate flower-shaped design, simple but oddly eye-catching.
"For me?" Ruby asked, surprised.
"Yeah," Victoria said with a soft smile. "Like a friendship thing."
Ruby hesitated for a second. "That…really kind of you."
Victoria laughed lightly. " New school, new start, right? Think of it as… a good luck charm."
Something about the way she said it felt a little strange.
But Ruby pushed the thought away.
"Okay… thank you," she said, taking the ring.
"Why don't you put it on?" Victoria said
Ruby slipped the ring onto her finger it fit perfectly.
For a split second Ruby felt a strange chill run through her hand.
She blinked.
"…Weird," she muttered.
"What?" Victoria asked.
"Nothing," Ruby said, shaking her head. "It just felt cold."
Victoria smiled.
"That just means it suits you."
Ruby nodded slowly, looking down at the ring.
For some reason…
she couldn't take her eyes off it.
Beside her, Victoria's smile stayed in place, but her eyes were watching Ruby a little too carefully.
By the time they reached the classroom, the bell was about to ring. Victoria led Ruby inside, and the room quickly filled with students taking their seats, talking loudly before class started. The desks were arranged in neat rows, and sunlight streamed in through the tall windows, making everything feel almost normal. Almost.
Ruby sat down beside Victoria, placing her bag on the floor. She could feel a few students glancing at her, whispering quietly to each other.
Then the teacher walked in, and the room slowly quieted down.
"Alright, everyone, settle down," the teacher said, placing a stack of papers on the desk. Her eyes moved across the room before landing on Ruby. "We have a new student today."
Ruby felt her stomach tighten slightly.
"Would you like to introduce yourself?" the teacher asked.
Ruby stood up, brushing her hands lightly against her skirt. "Hi… I'm Ruby. I'm new to town." she said, her voice a little quiet but steady.
A few students nodded. Some didn't react at all.
"Thank you, Ruby. You can sit," the teacher said kindly.
Ruby sat back down, letting out a small breath she didn't realize she had been holding.
"Alright, open your books to page 42," the teacher continued. "We're starting with something simple today."
As the class began, everything seemed normal—pens scratching against paper, pages flipping, quiet murmurs here and there. Ruby tried to focus, copying notes and listening.