Misty silently stayed in the back of her father’s car during the entire ride to her new school. She gazed longingly out the window, trying to take her mind off the arguments that haunted her last night. But she knew fully well that it was a regular occurrence.

  The car slowed to a stop. Across from the parking lot were a series of tall, imposing brick buildings—the main one being in front with large pillars at its entrance. In front of it was a huge sign on the manicured lawn that read, “Sternberg Public Residential High School” in bold letters. Below it was their slogan in smaller italic letters, “The School of Opportunity.” It was rather ironic, seeing as this place was more like being shipped from one prison to another for four years.

  Mr. Tash, let out a short, dismissive laugh. “Your sister would have killed to go to a fancy public boarding school like this—and for free, too,” he said, gesturing toward the sign as though it were some grand monument.

  Misty sat quietly in the passenger seat, clutching her bag. She didn’t trust herself to say anything after last night. Her father’s tone was already sharp, and she knew how quickly it could turn.

  Before they got out of the car, Mr. Tash’s voice took on a sterner tone. “Look over there,” he said, pointing out the window.

  Following the direction of his finger, Misty saw a security guard sitting on a folding chair near the gate, a cup of coffee in her hand. The woman was dark-skinned and hefty, her hair pulled back into a practical ponytail. She seemed lost in thought, her eyes scanning the street.

  Misty hesitated and looked up innocently, unsure of what her father wanted her to say. “...”

  Mr. Tash’s voice rose, breaking the silence. “Well?!” he snapped.

  Sweat beaded on Misty’s forehead, and she nodded quickly, her wide eyes betraying her nervousness.

  Mr. Tash sighed roughly, shaking his head. “Well, people like that don’t get anywhere in the world,” he said, his voice dripping with disdain. “They barely get paid, and she probably can’t even run fast enough to catch criminals.” He barked out a humorless laugh, as if expecting Misty to join in.

  Her gaze dropped to her lap. She bit her lip, fighting back the surge of emotions threatening to bubble to the surface. Her father’s words stung, and she wished he wouldn’t say things like that, but she didn’t dare speak up.

  “If you don’t want to end up unsuccessful like her,” he continued, his tone growing harsher, “you need to follow directions and speak when spoken to, for crying out loud!” Misty’s eyes widened and her heart nearly popped out of her chest. Her father then scowled, giving his grim ultimatum. “You’d better shape up, young lady, or I’ll take you back home and be in charge of your education myself.”

  As they stepped out of the car, Misty thought of a sentence that she dared not to mutter in her father’s presence, ‘Aren’t you already…?’ She hurried to grab her things, shoulders slumping under the weight of his expectations.

  Then, a slender girl with elegant blonde hair and demure light blue ribbon flashed her kind and gentle smile. Her father trailed not too far behind her, looking much sharper and more professional than Misty’s father. “Hey, Misty! Long time, no see!” The blonde girl greeted loudly with a cheerful wave.

  “R-Regina…” Misty’s eyes finally brightened.

  Seeing her only friend Regina von Eld after nearly a full school year was like sunshine after the storm. But Misty’s heart started sinking when she scanned her studious and fashionable friend from head to toe, with her well-tailored short sleeved cardigan, tank top and skirt. Just standing next to her made Misty feel like wearing just the cheapest shirt and jeans her mother found from the department store a serious offense in Regina’s flawless presence.

  Regina, completely innocent of the inner turmoil that brewed inside Misty, curiously tilted her head. “Is something wrong?”

  “Oh we just had a bit of trouble this morning. You know how kids are,” Misty’s father joked, his cheerful tone betraying his usual demeanor.

  “Well, I’m going to help you get adjusted to residential high school life. Think positive. You’re going to love it.”

  ***

  As soon as the dorm room opened, the scent of fresh cleaner wafted through the air. The parents departed as soon as the girls dropped off their luggage in their dorm room. Regina was already organizing each textbook and her expensive laptop on her desk. Misty’s books and clothes were still hastily stored in her suitcase, wondering which to take first, and where it was. As she was rummaging through her suitcase, art books, astrology books, and manga fell out.

  “Do you need help?” Regina joined Misty on the floor to assist her. “Are you still into these?” She picked up one of her favorite astrology books from the floor.

  A blush crept across Misty’s cheeks, and she stayed silent, struggling for too long to find a good excuse.

  “Listen, it’s okay to have your own interests, but this school’s pretty tough. You won’t have a lot of time for these anymore.” Regina placed the astrology books and manga back in the suitcase, and after a bit of searching, managed to take out the textbooks and small tablet, and placed them on Misty’s desk.

  Misty’s throat tightened as she gazed longingly at her beloved interests, being left behind.

  ***

  After organizing everything in the dorm, Regina stood with the proud posture fitting for a wealthy girl. She flashed her smile at Misty, “I think we’re done here. Why don’t we take a tour around the building?”

  Misty nodded.

  The dormitory door clicked shut behind them as Regina and Misty stepped into the hallway. Regina’s blonde hair shimmered under the dim fluorescent lights, her light blue ribbon swaying with each step. She glanced at Misty, her lips curving into a warm smile.

  “You look a little slimmer since the last time I saw you,” Regina complimented in a cheerful tone. “Whatever you did during summer break is paying off!”

  Misty forced a smile, her gaze darting to the floor. A bead of sweat trickled down her temple. “I’m so scared to go to the nurse’s office,” she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. “I actually gained like five pounds.”

  Regina chuckled softly. “Well, don’t worry. This school has another wellness program!”

  Misty internally groaned, trying to keep her smile from faltering. ‘Kill me.’

  The late summer sun shone down on the two girls as one guided the other around the campus. The brightly colored garden and scent of the freshly mowed lawn was a pleasant contrast to the imposing school buildings. The sweet-smelling flowers swayed in the light breeze. It would have been a perfect setting for Misty to make another sketch, if Regina didn’t occupy her time.

  “That’s the gymnasium,” Regina said, pointing in its direction for Misty. “And over there is the boy’s dorm. You don’t want to go there.” A lighthearted chuckle escaped Regina’s lips, and Misty smiled in agreement.

  “So, what do you think so far?” Regina asked, gesturing to the towering buildings and manicured lawns. “It’s a lot bigger than junior high, isn’t it? And it’s literally a home away from home!”

  Misty nodded silently, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her shirt.

  Regina’s voice softened. “Is there anywhere else you’d want to—”

  A burst of giggles and the sharp click of a camera shutter cut her off. Misty froze, her heart pounding. She quickened her pace, her head ducking low as if to disappear into herself.

  “Misty?!” Regina’s voice was laced with concern as she reached out, turning Misty to face her. “Misty, what happened?”

  Behind them, a group of girls with heavy makeup stifled their laughter, their phones hastily hidden as they scurried back to a tall boy. He stood out with his meticulously spiked dark hair, piercings, and expensive headphones draped around his neck. A devious smirk plastered across his face.

  Regina’s expression hardened. She stepped closer to Misty, shielding her with an arm. “Let’s just ignore them, Misty,” she said firmly, guiding her forward.

  But the girls’ voices carried, sharp and cruel. “Oh my god, she looks like a literal walking turd,” one sneered.

  “You sure we won’t get caught putting up these photos?” another whispered.

  The boy chuckled darkly. “It’s not like anyone who looks like that will tell.”

  Misty flinched at the words, her hand clutching her chest as if to keep the pain from spreading to the rest of her body. She tried to hold it in, but a soft, pained sound escaped her lips. “Ugh…”

  Regina’s eyes widened. “Misty!”

  Before anyone could react, a figure burst onto the scene—a tall athletic boy with bleached hair and an undercut, his sunglasses askew as he tumbled to the ground, snatching the phone from the smirking boy’s hand.

  “What the hell’s wrong with you, Ryan?!” the newcomer snarled, his voice loud and furious, shaking his cane at the bully. “School didn’t even start yet, and you’ve already hit your asshole quota for the day?!”

  Ryan scowled, his bravado faltering. “Mind your damn business! Shouldn’t you be with your guide-slash-girlfriend?!”

  Although it was evident from his sunglasses and cane that he was blind, the boy with bleached hair kept his glare on the boy with headphones.. “She’s helping some freshman kid around the school.”

  Ryan’s smirk dropped as he glanced over Misty’s direction, and found a stern and unimpressed Regina standing with her fists on her hips. “Ah shit, there’s student council bitch again…”

  He turned back, his voice low and venomous. “You got lucky, preppy bitch. And whoever you are…” The bully pointed to Misty, “I’ll remember you.”

  With that, Ryan and his gang retreated, their laughter fading into the distance.

  Regina let out a sigh of relief, her shoulders relaxing. “Thank you,” she said, stepping closer to the boy and wrapping her arms around him. She glanced up, her expression a mix of gratitude and exasperation. “Oh, I forgot to mention…this is my boyfriend, Eric. I’m supposed to be guiding him, but he’s always running off…”

  Eric grinned, his tone teasing. “Hey, I’m supposed to be babysitting my older cousin! He’s always going around, being a giant asshole!”

  Misty’s stomach churned as she forced a smile. “Uh…”

  Her mind raced for an excuse, her voice faltering. “When you…said…that you got a new boyfriend…I didn’t think it was…him…”

  Regina blinked, realization dawning. “Sorry, I forgot! I know you’re a big fan of him.”

  Eric’s grin widened. “A fan? Hey, cutie!”

  “Eric, stop…” Regina scolded, though her tone was light.

  Misty squinted, a pang of jealousy tightening her chest. She had admired Eric for his inspiring journey with childhood blindness, following his story online, and developing a distant crush. But now, standing here, she felt a bitter twist of irony.

  Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

  ‘He’s the only reason why I wanted to come to this school…’ She thought, fighting the tears that wanted to escape her eyes.

  “We have to go to the gym next. If you need a better person to guide you, I’d be happy to do it,” Regina said to Eric, breaking the awkward silence.

  “I’m good, stop babying me!” Eric retorted playfully.

  Misty had long hoped that anyone would see past her offensive flaws and give her unconditional love. And who better to do that than a person who lost his vision completely? But now she had to return to painful reality. Of course, it made sense. The mayor’s brilliant son—the miracle boy—would fit perfectly beside the poised daughter of a jewelry store owner. Misty, would just be an unwanted stain in their pristine picture.

  ***

  A few hours passed. Misty was now free to roam around the building alone. Regina had introduced her strict exercise regimen to Misty, and each step down the hallway reminded her of how much more intense the wellness program was going to get as the school year progressed. She tried to retrace her steps to the library, where Regina guided her.

  When Misty finally arrived, her jaw dropped. The inside was impressive. Towers of books lined the walls, and best of all…computers. Which meant only a few things: social media, videos, and games. She took another quick glance, and found a few other students inside, confirming that it was open. She zoomed as quickly and quietly as she could, trying not to disturb the other students.

  Misty was internally overjoyed that there was an empty seat. She did a quick search to make sure that her favorite sites weren’t blocked. Thankfully, the video hosting site wasn’t. She took out her sketchbook and joyfully started while watching clips from her favorite anime.

  While Misty was in her seat, swinging her legs, in her silent moment of bliss, she failed to notice another ghostly figure clad in gray, lurking in the halls.

  After the show was over, Misty absentmindedly scrolled down through the pages to find another video to spend the remainder of her time. Her stomach dropped to her feet at the sight of a certain internet teen personality—Delilah van Vuuren.

  Her emerald eyes and sharper than knives, equally as sharp purple nails ready to screech on a chalkboard, brutal words betraying her waif-like frame and blonde hair streaked with purple were just designed to intimidate the faint of heart. Delilah was famous for making people cry with her scathing opinions, and ruthless clapbacks that would make even a grown man twice her age stutter. A couple of years ago, Misty did cry after one click, and her innocence still has yet to fully recover.

  Before she could scroll down to hide the face sullying her feed, the familiar sight of an old friend stopped her eyes cold.

  ‘ZACKY EGAN, IS THAT YOU?!’ Her thoughts seemed to scream loud enough for others to hear, ‘What the hell is she doing to you?!’ Ever since the day Raphaelle passed away, Misty hadn’t seen him for eight years. But now Zacky was sitting across from Delilah, his tender smile and gentle blue eyes clashing with Delilah’s edgy appearance in the thumbnail. A mixture of emotions—nostalgia, joy, and a bit of sadness welled in Misty’s heart. Defying her caution, Misty clicked on the thumbnail, as if ready to protect Zacky from harm.

  The interview was relatively short. Of course, Delilah’s sharp tongue was fully on display, despite her tender age. Misty even felt sorry for the troll of the day who scorned the rainbow flag proudly hanging on Delilah’s wall. But Zacky didn’t seem to flinch. His smile was just as pure and cheerful as ever.

  He proudly announced, “I’m going to start a new journey. I’m going to be an idol.”

  “But don’t you fucking know how hard it is? I mean, the music industry eats kids like you alive.” Delilah’s statement was still brash, but Misty’s ears caught a flicker of unexpected concern.

  At the corner of Misty’s eye, there was a sudden flash of gray that dashed in the distance. A cold shudder ran down her spine. She turned around to see what it could be…but nothing was there. Maybe she was just seeing things all along.

  “It’s okay,” Zacky continued. “I’m going to be with my mom the whole time.” His smile widened, illuminating the room and the video even brighter. “And I haven’t forgotten about my friend that I told you about.”

  Misty’s ears perked up, her eyes glistening with nostalgia.

  “Yeah, she’s one of the reasons why I’m doing this! So we can meet again someday!” Zacky’s voice resonated through Misty’s tingling ears, even after the video concluded.

  ‘An idol…’ she thought dreamily, as she typed Eric Binley’s name in the search engine. Videos of her crush’s dancing appeared, and she immediately clicked on the newest one.

  Eric’s movements were swift and smooth, perfectly in sync with the music. Warmth spread from Misty’s fluttering heart to her cheeks. For a moment, she forgot everything else, lost in the rhythm of his dance. Eric moved like not even the world or his blindness could weigh him down, unlike the chains of self-doubt and the literal mass of fat that weighed Misty down every day.

  Misty put up her sketchbook next to the computer. The drawing on that page was a persona—one of the three characters from the “Together again someday” page. ‘There’s no way I can stand next to him as myself,’ she thought. Even if it was just a drawing, it was everything that Misty was not—sleek, golden haired, confident, and powerful. Someone like that looked more fitting next to Eric, fictional or not.

  Misty could never bring herself to draw something so ugly, not even if she was commanded to. If she did, she would be frozen in place, unable to even lift her hands.

  The track record of Misty’s greatest failures replayed in her mind, drowning her like waves of sorrow. The clever nicknames, being the last student to finish the mile run, her parents berating her, and the school nurses expressing ‘concern’ that she wasn’t meeting their expectations. ‘I can’t take it anymore! Is there any way for me to be a completely different human being…? It’s impossible. But I have to, because…’

  Her father’s cold scowl and grim ultimatum replayed in her mind. “You’d better shape up, young lady, or I’ll take you back home and be in charge of your education myself.”

  ‘Whatever I do, I have to do it fast.’ Misty concluded in her mind, her eyebrows furrowed in determination.

  A disturbingly close snickering sound interrupted Misty’s thoughts. She spun around in her chair, her eyes widening and stomach dropping at the sight of the last person she wanted to see that day.

  “See, I told you I’d remember you!” Ryan mocked loudly, with his entourage tittering behind him.

  “I…I have to go…” Misty stammered, keeping her head down. She tried to gather her belongings as quickly as she could and run away, but tripped on the chair and painfully fell palms first into the floor.

  The bullies erupted in sadistic laughter. “Heh, clumsy dumbass,” Ryan snorted, his grin wide and sly. His eyes glanced at the computer screen. “What’s that you’re looking at?”

  Misty’s cheeks burned as she frantically covered the screen with her hands. “N-nothing!”

  “Liar. Are you another Eric Binley simp?” The other bullies made loud, elongated teasing noises, like they were a choir for cruelty. Ryan stepped forward, his muscular chest puffed out in an imposing manner. “You know…he’s my cousin. And you’re not gonna get anywhere near him without going through me and the thousands of girlfriends he has.” Ryan raised an eyebrow, taking a side glance at Misty’s sketchbook, and immediately swiped it like it was his own property. “What the hell’s this?”

  “Give it back!” Misty shouted her plea. She caught a glimpse at the other students staring at the scene, their eyes heavy with judgment, and softened her tone. “I-I mean, could I please have it back…?”

  “You want it? Come get it!” Ryan tossed the sketchbook to one of the tall girls in his group. She raised her arms and teasingly dangled it in front of Misty before tossing it back at Ryan.

  Ryan flipped the sketchbook open, sneering. “Look at this dumb shit. You realize that I can just feed your shit to AI and make something better, right? Who the hell draws these days other than pre-schoolers?” Ryan mocked, making sure that his words cut through Misty’s heart like a venom-laced blade.

  …And it did. Misty always knew that she wasn’t the most talented, but that entire book was filled with her own histories, desires, and emotions that she could never put into words. Misty’s eyes started burning with rage, and no matter how hard she tried to hold back, the tears came spilling out of her eyes.

  “Aww, boo-hoo! The fat-ass is crying!” Ryan jeered loud enough for everyone else to hear. The other girls whipped out their phones to record Misty’s distress, watching her collapse on the floor and bury her face in her arms.

  Misty retreated under the desk, curling herself into a ball, her face turning as far away as possible from their phones. Her high school life was over before it even officially began. She had hoped things would be different, and finally leave elementary and junior high school traumas behind. If anyone saw the video—especially her parents, she would never be allowed to show her face on campus again. And if her enraged father pulled her out of this school, she would be forced into be homeschooling or sent to a military school.

  But then, the clamor in the library was interrupted by a few male voices saying, “Found the asshole!” and swift footsteps shuffling in the crowd’s direction. A hush fell among the other students, followed by a stern, “What the hell, Ryan?!” A very angry Eric gallantly shoved himself between his cousin and Misty. Eric’s arm flailed a bit before catching Ryan’s arm, causing him to drop Misty’s sketchbook. The girls behind Ryan began to retreat silently.

  At the sound of his voice, Misty lifted her tear-stained face to see her personal hero in sunglasses. Glimmers of hope fluttered like butterflies in her heart as it lifted above the clouds of humiliation.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” Ryan retorted with a sneer, “You don’t study.”

  “I got bored, okay?!” Eric snapped back. “You’re s’posed to be my roommate, and it’s getting late!”

  “Why do you keep on defending this ugly chick?!” Ryan grumbled, gesturing to the floor. “You already have a girlfriend!”

  “That didn’t stop you. You have like, five,” Eric shot back with a smirk, causing his friends to burst in laughter.

  “I only pick perfect tens. This walking pile of garbage with a bow wrapped around it,” Ryan pointed at Claira’s pink hair ribbon, “is a freaking ZERO. I would even say she’s a negative number.”

  The words seemed to twist Claira’s insides into a knot. But Eric’s immediate retort loosened them.“That’s what you said about Regina. Shut up.”

  “No, I said she was mildly hot, but she’s stuck up and preppy, so that only makes her a seven-point-five,” Ryan told Eric, as if stating a fact.

  Eric lunged forward, and snapped, “You wanna square up?! ‘Cause I feel like kicking some ass today!”

  Under the table, Misty gasped with widened eyes. But Ryan confidently replied, “Bring it, goody-goody golden child.”

  The middle-aged librarian, fed up with the banter, trudged away from her desk and caught everyone’s attention. “Everyone, can we please take this outside?!”

  “Tch. Whatever.” Ryan sneered, turning his head to the opposite direction. “I’ve got my own laptop. I’ll meet you at the dorm. I know you’re blind, but don’t act stupid.

  “Jeez, that mother—” Eric’s cheeks puffed out. He abruptly regained composure with a deep sigh when his friend patted him on the shoulder.

  Misty slowly crawled out from under the desk, hoping no one else would notice her for the rest of the day (or for the next four years…).

  But Misty got a sudden shock seeing Eric’s face when he stuck his head under the desk. “Helloooo, you okay in there?!” He called cheerfully. Playfully and chivalrously, Eric grabbed Misty’s arm and helped her to her feet.

  Warmth spread from his hand on her wrist to her racing heart. She knew she couldn’t have him, for the first time in years, Misty finally had someone else on her side…

  “Hey, sorry my cousin’s such an asshole,” Eric said with a hint of seriousness. His lips curled into a flirtatious smirk as his face lingered closer to Misty’s, causing her blush to deepen and her pulse to quicken. “But I bet you’re not trash. I bet you’re actually really cute…”

  One of Eric’s friends chimed in. “Maybe he actually likes curvy girls…

  “So whaddya think? What would you rate her?” Eric turned to his friends. His voice carried a teasing warmth, but it only made Misty’s cheeks burn with confusion and unease. Behind him, his friends exchanged knowing grins, their expressions laced with mischief.

  “Seven.”

  “Nah, eight-point-five.”

  Misty’s eyes darted around, as if looking for an exit from all the sudden attention. She cast her head down and clutched her arm in embarrassment.

  Flashing a devious grin, Eric leaned on the table, leaving very little room for Misty’s personal space. “So you wanna walk me back to my dorm?” Eric asked, knowing for sure that question would earn a few hoots from friends.

  With her cheeks burning at the highest possible level, Misty quietly uttered, “…Okay.” She gathered her belongings in silence, feeling the warmth (or heat…?) from the boys’ leers. Were they just…flirting with her? And why?! Hopefully Regina wouldn’t be angry…

  Eric led Misty to the elevator, heart pounding like a runaway drum the entire way. She glanced nervously at the sign above the elevator: ‘For emergencies and handicapped only.’ “Um… that’s only for—”

  “Don’t mind us…”

  “We’ll just let you two get to know each other…” Eric’s friends chimed in before disappearing, their laughter trailing off into a low chuckle.

  Before she knew it, Misty found herself beside Eric. Her chest tightened, her breaths as unsteady as airplane turbulence. Her heart thumped louder than she thought was humanly possible.

  Eric zoomed into her and grinned. “So, what’s your name?”

  “M…M-Misty…” she answered, her voice cracking, and barely above a whisper.

  Eric raised an eyebrow. “Huh? I didn’t get that.”

  The chime of the elevator was the only thing that broke the silence between the two. They stepped into the elevator together, and the metal doors slid closed. Misty fidgeted with her fingers, sweat starting to form on her forehead.

  Eric tilted his head, watching her with a half-smile. “Not much of a talker, are ya?” he quipped, though his tone was more amused than annoyed. “Whatever. Could you hit that button for me?”

  Relieved for a simple task, Misty reached for the first floor button and pressed it. Nothing happened.

  “Hm?” She tried another button, but still no response. The silence stretched, heavy and thick.

  “Lemme try.” Eric barged into Misty’s space and pressed it. Still nothing.

  Suddenly, the lights flickered, and then…everything went dark. Misty gasped, clutching the side rail. “Ah!”

  “Oh, man, I don’t like the sound of that,” Eric muttered, his unsure smile betraying the sweat on his face. He turned his head around uneasily. “Are we gonna be stuck here…?”

  Before Misty could answer, Eric banged on buttons, hoping brute force would give any kind of response…

  Suddenly, the panel erupted into flames with a loud FWOOOOOM! He jumped back with a startled yell. “Oh SHIT!”

  Misty let out a shriek, clutching his shirt tightly. “Aiiiiieeee!”

  “Hey, keep your eyes open!” Eric commanded. “Don’t be scared!”

  Misty did as she was told, but it only caused her more panic. The flames climbed higher, rapidly consuming the small space. Misty coughed, her breaths short and ragged as smoke filled the small space. Sweat trickled down her temples as panic set in. ‘Oh god,’ she thought, shutting her eyes tightly, and clinging onto Eric’s clothes as tightly as she could, to avoid the fire . ‘Is this the end…?!’

  A sudden ‘BANG! BANG!’ echoed through the confined space, jarring her from her thoughts. Misty opened her eyes, coughing as she squinted at the source of the sound.

  Through the flames and smoke, a brilliant blue crystal slammed into the elevator doors like a battering ram, cleaving them open. Misty’s jaw dropped as the Blue Birthknight that saved her once before emerged from the haze, reaching a hand toward her and Eric.

  “Grab on!” the knight commanded, his voice steady and resolute.

  Misty didn’t hesitate, gripping the man’s hand while clinging to Eric’s with her other. In an instant, the knight pulled them both out of the inferno.

  Seconds later, the Red Birthknight appeared, summoning a wave of dirt and stone that swallowed the elevator whole, smothering the flames just as the cab threatened to explode. Misty stumbled out of the building, coughing and gasping for air as three heroes guided her and Eric to safety.

  As she looked back at the smoldering wreckage, her knees trembled. Her mind whirled, unsure if she should be overwhelmed by fear…or awe at her miraculous escape.