Trenton Academy

Chapter 3 - Nerds

“Hey, Max.” she greeted as she stepped out of the elevator and he was walking by. “Last day?” He is dressed casually in a loose white graphic t-shirt, black distressed jeans, and sneakers.

“Yeah. Just finished my shift. I’m gonna hang with some friends. Wanna come with?” he offered, raising his brows in question.

“Nah. I’m good, thanks. I wanna know how this book ends,” she says with a smiley huff, holding it up.

“No problem. Oh uhm, your roommate arrived earlier. She’s probably asleep, though.” Max informed her. Rene nodded and thanked him. “See ya’ later.” He went out to the field while she made her way up her room not before making herself a cup of coffee.

Rene, as quietly as she could, twisted the doorknob and pushed the door open. The afternoon sun shone through the windows. She saw the girl sleeping, facing her way, and she nearly dropped the cup she was holding.

Her knees weakened and her heart rate pitched. She choked out a strangled sob. ‘This can’t be real.’ But she went closer to the girl, careful not to make any sound. ‘Of course, it’s not.’ she sighed and placed her things on her table.

She took a shower to try and take her mind somewhere else. But she couldn’t help it. She couldn’t help the tears from flowing out. After showering and changing, she took her book and coffee in the closet with her, placing them on the vanity table. She wanted to take her mind off her.

An hour passed by, and she felt her neck stiffen. Her coffee had gone cold. She decided to lay in bed instead. When she got out, the girl had stirred awake. Her green eyes looked at her own gray ones. ‘Of course, it’s not.’

***

Rene lay awake unable to sleep. It’s nearing two in the morning. Nyx is already fast asleep on her own bed. After dinner, they went straight to their room. Should she say anything? It’s probably even nothing. She shook her head, trying to dismiss it but the thought sticks.

She took her phone and drafted a text to Atlas.

hey

Her thumb hovered over the send button.

i wanna tell u something, she added.

After a few minutes, she erased it and turned her phone off. It’s been a year since they fell apart. She can’t just pretend like everything’s normal. Like nothing has happened. So instead, she tried to sleep and dream away.

***

Nyx, standing in front of the bathroom mirror, is putting eye drops on her dry eyes, mentally kicking herself for sleeping with her contacts in that afternoon. She observes her face in the mirror. Her murky green eyes stared back at her. She combed her hands through her hair, which she just finished drying, and sat on her table.

After perching her clear white glasses on her face, she took out her laptop from her backpack and placed it on her desk. She needs to familiarize herself with her schedules. She had also made herself a cup of coffee from the small kitchen.

“What are you doing up so early?” Rene asks, yawning as she sat up, having just awoken. She glanced at the wall clock. “It’s six A.M. Breakfast is at seven. Classes start at eight. Tomorrow.” she rubbed her eyes, tired.

“Hmm? I’m memorizing my schedules. I want to make my first day as smooth as possible.” Nyx said looking over at Rene. Her blonde hair sticking up in places.

“Oh don’t worry about that,” Rene started. “We have the same class schedules. They do that with new students so they’ll have an easier time. Sorry, I forgot to tell you yesterday.” Rene explained as she smiled apologetically at Nyx.

Nyx sighed with relief. “No that’s okay. I’m glad.” She closed her laptop. Then opened it again. She remembered a show she still hasn’t finished. “What are your plans for today?” she turns to Rene.

“I wanna finish my book. I’ll probably hang in the library. You?” Rene asks back.

“I was planning on binging the last season of this show I was watching. I’ll probably stay here the whole day. Go down for food maybe.” she takes her laptop and lies on the bed to start. She set an alarm for breakfast at seven just in case she was hungry then. But she would probably be too engrossed to even think about doing anything else.

Rene laid back down. She was thinking of whether to tell Atlas. How would he react? How would Luc react? She sighed. She’ll find out soon enough. Tomorrow. Today she can relax. She made her way to the library. It is big enough that she won’t easily bump into anyone she doesn’t want to see.