#Episode 2: A familiar Feeling
1400 Words
—Coco’s POV—
I stared at the ground, tracing little patterns in the dirt with the tip of my shoe.
I could still feel the weight of everything that had happened today sitting heavily on my chest.
Mom was leaving.
For months.
I knew it wasn't forever. She had reminded me of that at least a hundred times.
But knowing something and actually accepting it were two completely different things.
“You’re still thinking about her.”
I looked up.
Ehud was sitting beside me, his arms resting on his knees.
I sighed. “Obviously.”
He nodded slowly.
For a few seconds, neither of us said anything.
The silence wasn't uncomfortable, though.
It was strange.
Comfortable, but strange.
Maybe because I'd known him before I even understood what friendship really meant.
I turned my head and looked at him properly.
He had changed so much.
The little boy I remembered was gone. In his place was someone tall, with dark skin, curly hair, and the most unusual green eyes I'd ever seen.
“You really don't remember me that well, do you?” he asked suddenly.
I frowned. “What?”
“You keep looking at me like you're trying to figure out if I'm actually the same person.”
I laughed softly.
“Because you don't look the same.”
He smiled.
“Neither do you.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Is that a good thing?”
“Definitely.”
I looked away before he could see me smile.
“Don't get too confident.”
He laughed.
For the first time since Mom told me she was leaving, I felt a little lighter.
“You know,” he said, “you used to cry every time your mom left you somewhere.”
“I did not.”
“You did.”
“I was a child.”
“You cried when she left you at my house.”
“That happened once.”
“Three times.”
I turned toward him.
“You remember that?”
He shrugged.
“Some things are hard to forget.”
Something about the way he said it made me pause.
Before I could ask what he meant, Aunty called from inside.
“Coco! Ehud! It's getting late!”
“We're coming!” Ehud shouted.
I stood up.
He followed.
As we walked toward the house, I glanced at him.
Maybe coming back here wouldn't be as bad as I thought.
Maybe.
---
The next morning came way too quickly.
My alarm went off at six.
I opened one eye.
Then closed it again.
“Nope.”
I pulled the blanket over my head.
Two seconds later, there was a knock on my door.
“Coco?”
I groaned.
“I'm awake.”
“You said that five minutes ago.”
I sat up.
“I'm getting ready!”
I heard Aunty laugh from outside.
“Your school uniform is already downstairs.”
Right.
School.
I had almost forgotten.
Today was my first day at Hawkens High.
I dragged myself out of bed and got ready.
When I finally looked at myself in the mirror, I barely recognized the girl staring back.
My curly hair framed my round face, and my brown eyes still looked tired from yesterday.
I adjusted my uniform and grabbed my bag.
I wasn't nervous.
At least, that's what I told myself.
But the second I stepped into the school grounds, I realized I was lying.
Hawkens High was huge.
Students were everywhere.
Talking.
Laughing.
Running toward their friends.
I immediately felt like everyone was looking at me.
I lowered my head slightly and walked faster.
“New girl?”
I looked up.
A girl was standing in front of me.
She had a bright smile and an easy confidence about her.
“Yeah.”
“I knew it.”
I smiled awkwardly.
“How?”
“Because I've never seen you before.”
I laughed.
“Fair enough.”
She held out her hand.
“I'm Aliya.”
“Coco.”
She smiled.
“Coco? That's cute.”
“Thank you.”
“Come on. I'll show you where your class is.”
I hesitated.
“You don't have to.”
“I know.”
She started walking.
“I'm doing it anyway.”
I smiled and followed her.
I had a feeling we were going to be friends.
---
Jason’s POV
I was already annoyed.
I walked into class with Matthew, Carls and Soly behind me, talking about the football match after school.
Then I saw her.
The new girl.
She was sitting in my seat.
I stopped walking.
Matthew bumped into me.
“Bro, why'd you stop?”
I pointed toward the desk.
“Who's that?”
Carls looked over.
“Oh.”
Soly grinned.
“She's fine.”
I rolled my eyes.
“I don't care.”
I walked toward my desk.
The girl looked up when I approached.
Our eyes met for a second.
She smiled politely.
“Hi.”
I didn't answer.
I dropped my bag beside the desk.
“That's my seat.”
She looked confused.
“Sorry?”
“My seat.”
Before she could respond, our teacher walked into the classroom.
“Jason, you're sitting there today.”
I frowned.
“Sir—”
“No arguments.”
The teacher looked at Coco.
“And you can stay there. You're new, so Jason can help you catch up.”
I stared at the teacher.
Seriously?
I sat down beside her without saying another word.
She turned slightly toward me.
“I'm Coco.”
I looked straight ahead.
“I heard.”
She blinked.
“Okay.”
I could hear Matthew laughing from behind us.
I turned around.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
I narrowed my eyes at him.
He smiled innocently.
The teacher started the lesson.
I tried to focus.
But for some reason, I kept noticing the girl beside me.
She was actually paying attention.
Most people in this class barely listened.
When the teacher asked a question, Coco raised her hand.
She answered correctly.
The teacher smiled.
“Exactly.”
I looked at her.
She wasn't just pretty.
She was smart too.
Great.
As if I needed another reason to be annoyed.
---
Coco’s POV
By lunch, I was already exhausted.
Aliya and I walked through the cafeteria together.
“So,” she said, “what do you think of Hawkens?”
“It's huge.”
She laughed.
“You'll get used to it.”
We found a table and sat down.
“So where did you come from?”
I told her.
She nodded.
“And you're staying with family?”
“Yeah. My mom had to travel for work.”
“Oh.”
She didn't ask any more questions.
I appreciated that.
We started talking about random things instead.
Teachers.
Classes.
People.
Then she suddenly lowered her voice.
“Just don't get involved with certain people.”
I frowned.
“Who?”
She glanced across the cafeteria.
I followed her eyes.
A group of boys were sitting together.
Matthew.
Carls.
Soly.
And the boy who had barely spoken to me all morning.
Jason.
“Jason,” she said.
I looked at her.
“Why?”
She hesitated.
“It's complicated.”
Before I could ask anything else, someone walked past our table.
I looked up.
Ehud.
My heart skipped for a completely different reason.
He was talking to someone, but the moment he saw me sitting with Aliya, he stopped.
Then his eyes moved toward the other side of the cafeteria.
Jason.
The expression on his face changed immediately.
I frowned.
Why did they look at each other like that?
Jason noticed Ehud too.
He stood up.
Matthew grabbed his arm.
“Bro, leave it.”
Jason pulled his arm away.
Ehud didn't move.
Neither did Jason.
The cafeteria suddenly felt quieter.
Aliya looked uncomfortable beside me.
I looked at her.
“What's going on?”
She didn't answer.
Ehud finally looked away.
Jason sat back down.
I stared at Aliya.
“Okay…”
She sighed.
“That's a very long story.”
I leaned closer.
“Then I guess you better tell me.”
She gave me a nervous smile.
“You're definitely going to regret asking.”
I laughed.
“I doubt it.”
But something told me she was right
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