Anonymous

Chapter 1

Nora walked down the sidewalk, laughing merrily, her long black hair blowing in the light, warm spring breeze, she was flanked by her two best friends. Undine was on one side, her flaming red hair  kept up in a huge ponytail, and forest green eyes that always seemed lit up with excitement. She was holding her stomach in her hands, laughing so hard that tears were forced out of the corners of her eyes. On Nora's other side was Elora, a girl with short brown hair that hugged her shoulders and light brown, almost yellow eyes, who had just finished her joke and was now laughing along with the others.

Nora gave her friend a playful push, making her stumble forward a bit but not pushing hard enough to make her fall. Even so, Elora still spun around dramatically on one heel and fell into the grass, clutching her chest dramatically. "Come on Maple," Nora laughed, using her friend's preferred nickname while she offered a hand to help her friend to her feet, "cut it out." Maple laughed in return as she stood up, brushing bits of grass and dirt off her jeans as they all trotted into the large school entrance, increasing their speed as they walked through the groups of chatting people.

Nora tightened the grip on her backpack's straps, rubbing the fabric between her fingers, her eyes darting around at all the people gathered around the school. Even though they almost never bothered her, usually only giving her and her friends a sideways glance, and occasionally a small sneer, she always hated the feeling of being around so many people, and she felt like the gaze of a hundred people was burning into her skin.

The sharp ring of the school bell woke her from her daydreaming, and she filed into the building with the rest of her classmates, who were all muttering their disapproval of school starting so early or else trying to hurriedly finish their topic of conversation started outside.

Undine let out a muttered goodbye to them both and ran ahead to greet another girl, Alphia, she had short, light blonde hair that stood out in all directions, and light blue eyes that were always darting around the room. She was extremely shy, and jumped slightly when Undine placed her hand on her shoulder. But calmed down quickly when she saw her friend, a small blush spreading across her cheeks.

Undine smiled, a small amount of red passing by her face as well. She looked back to wave goodbye, but Nora and Maple were busy making over-exaggerated kissing faces. Undine glared at them for a heartbeat, her face flushed with embarrassment, before the anger faded and she started giggling and waved goodbye as she ran deeper into the school, Alphia giving a small wave and a shy smile before hurrying after Undine.

Maple laughed at the sight, poking Nora in the ribs with her elbow. "They're cute together," she smirked, and Nora had to agree. She didn't know much about Alphia, but Undine had become good friends with her, Undine had started going off every week to watch movies at Alphia's house, and they had a mutual crush on each other, although each was much too embarrassed to admit it.

Nora and Maple stood in the hall for a few minutes, watching the last few people amble into their classrooms, before they joined the last trickle of people who were settling in at their desks.