Hybrid

Night jumped on to her bed next to her bag, and pulled out her phone and earphones. She plugged in ear plugs and listened to some music. She listened to some sad music because it made her feel grateful for all she had that others didn't. Well, almost all songs. Most of it.

Except for one song about friends. Night didn't want to be reminded of her 'friends' so she skipped it... but she went back to it. It was comforting to know she wasn't the only person with fake friends. She listened to each song until there was no more on the playlist, so she listened to the songs again... and again... and again. Soon enough it was almost midnight, with the moon high in the sky.

Night looked out the window. It was not like her old view. She used to live in a big city where there was always bright, flashing lights and noise like chattering or music. Here there was no noise, just silence... and there were just a few, dim lights on. It was relaxing. Night could hear her own thoughts passing through her head, like a lily pad, floating around in a rippling lake, her mind being one place one moment, and then her mind was in a different place.

She climbed into her bed and and was swept into a sleep with no dreams. Night woke up to the sound of her personal 'alarm clock', her mom. "Wake up!!! You'll be late for school!!!" And once Night got up she said, "About time you woke up..." "Yes, I know. I'm sorry mom." Night said. Her mom left the room.

She got dressed in a hoodie with a singers picture on it and some black leggings. Night picked up her ripped cross body bag and swung it over her shoulder, in a swift movement like nothing was in it.

Night walked down the old, creaky stairs, picked up a piece of toast and left. She looked at the time. "Early again...?!" Night thought. She had always been early even if she woke up late to her standards. Night shook off the time and decided to walk to school.

When she got to school she saw some people and two girls that looked her age. "Wow. They already got a new student, probably wanting to be in the popular group. With all the 'cool kids'." She thought remembering what Ecere had said. "We are the most popular and wanted to be kids in town." Ecere's words echoed in Night's head. Night thought about the words that flowed out of Ecere's mouth as Night walked up to the roof.

She looked at the view again. There was something unsettling in the air. But then again, Night had a wild imagination. But she did notice one thing that was different from yesterday.

The river wasn't calm or subtle at all. Instead in was wildly, roaring, and thrashing itself against the shore and the rocks, but there was no commotion really, so it must have been just her mind playing with quotes, and how they might connect with real life. It wasn't at all 'the calm before the storm' or 'a deep breath before the plunge' whatsoever. "Even if it is, in fact a rowdy day, nothing that bad will happen." Night assured herself.

The bell rang for preparation for first period. The bell sounded faint to Night, since she was on the roof, but it sounded loud at the same time. She walked to her locker, and put everything except her books and homework, into her locker.

Night saw the back of the principal talking to a teacher in low mutters. It sounded sort of like "...she has been through a lot of trauma, so please do your best to keep her away from her..." the principal said.

"Away from who...? And who's the new kid...?" Night thought to herself curiously. She heard the mutters stop so Night assumed this meant the conversation had stopped and went to class.

Night sat in her seat in the back and waited for class popping gum bubbles. It was her favorite flavor... Cherry Oak. The flavor was cherry but it smelled like the forest, therefore the name Cherry Oak.