It's another bright day, the beginning of the second semester. I was standing at the entrance of Northveil State University. I couldn't believe the holidays were already over.
It's my first year at this school, and I was still trying to fit in. Last semester had been a bit rough to begin with, and I was still trying to settle.
I hardly knew anyone here; it had been really hard to mingle, but I managed. At least I had my best friend with me, Jacana Cliff.
Jaca and I had been friends since the eighth grade, inseparable, people might say.
I stared at the grey-coated iron gates that concealed another city within Northveil.
"Hey, bitch, what are you doing?" Jaca bumped into me, her pink designer purse swinging as she leaned in. Her silky blonde hair, tied into a high ponytail, bounced behind her, and her eyes rolled as she took in my expression.
"I can't believe I'm back here," I muttered, my stomach twisting with reluctance. Just thinking about stepping into the halls of Northveil State made my chest tighten. I'd hated school ever since elementary. Mum would sweet-talk me or find some sneaky way to bribe me into going, but nothing ever made it feel easier.
Jaca let out a short laugh, shaking her head, and grabbed my arm, dragging me forward. "It's a school, Paige, not a pool party," she teased, her voice full of mock patience.
Yikes. Pool parties. Just the thought made my skin crawl. Ever since the news about that girl who drowned at one went viral, I'd avoided them like the plague. Even if Vana somehow managed to trick me into attending, I stayed as far away from the water as possible, clutching my towel like a shield.
School was still the same, Tall brick and glass buildings towered over the walkways, their windows glinting in the morning sun. Each department had its own style, some with sleek, modern façades, others with old stone exteriors covered in ivy that climbed toward the rooftops.
In the heart of the campus stood the Doplin Fountain, a massive stone structure whose water shimmered like liquid silver in the sunlight. Students lounged on its edges, tossing coins or chatting in small groups, while pigeons darted between the sprays, sending sparkling droplets into the air.
The walkways were lined with neatly trimmed hedges and flowering trees, their petals drifting lazily across the paths. Benches dotted the lawns, offering quiet spots to study or disappear when you didn't want to be found. Lamp posts stretched along the streets, their soft yellow glow hinting at the school's charm once evening fell.
The campus was bustling with students hurrying to classes, some heading towards their hostels and I couldn't help but sense being followed.
Either ways, Vana and I stepped into our hostel, the familiar smell of polished wood and faint laundry detergent greeting us. The hallway buzzed with chatter and the occasional slam of a locker door, but as we turned into our room, a calm settled over us.
Our room was modest but cozy, two twin beds pushed against opposite walls, each covered in mismatched blankets that hinted at our individual tastes. Posters of bands, abstract art, and a few motivational quotes decorated the walls, creating a patchwork of our personalities. Between the beds, a small desk was littered with textbooks, notebooks and other accessories.
Jaca dropped her backpack by her bed with a sigh and flopped down onto the mattress. "Another semester," she muttered, staring at the ceiling.
I chuckled, tossing my bag onto the floor. "Yeah… and I'm already regretting my schedule."
She rolled her eyes but smiled, the kind of look that reminded me why we'd been inseparable since eighth grade. For a moment, the stress of fitting in, of navigating the endless social maze of Northveil, melted away. In here, it was just us, two friends against the world.
The window overlooked the courtyard, where students hurried between classes, their voices carrying faintly through the cool morning air. Sunlight streamed in, casting golden patterns across our room, illuminating the small chaos of our shared space. It wasn't much, but it was ours and for now, that was enough.
"Oh, it's so good to be back" Jaca moaned as she collasped on her bed stretching her body "so, peige, what's your new semester resolute"
"To pass English test" I signed as I sat down on my bed unzipping my bags "Mrs. Chleo is on to me"
"Hmm... okay, for me, I want to find a new boyfriend" she smirked
"Seriously Jaca, what about Dave?" I asked
"Well, that's his loss," she smirked, already arranging her side of the room. When she was done, she went to grab some snacks for us. "Be right back," she winked before heading out.
Her footsteps faded as she disappeared down the hallway, leaving it to return to its usual quiet, broken only by distant background noises. I continued arranging my corner in silence, placing everything exactly where it belonged.
Then I heard footsteps again, slow, heavy, deliberate. They sounded close, too close, as if whoever it was was approaching my room with caution.
At first, I thought it was Jaca, but the hostel canteen was much farther away, and it was usually crowded. She wouldn't be back this soon.
So… who was that?
I quickly grabbed the bat beside Jaca's bed and crept toward the door on tiptoe. Pressing my back against the wall, I clutched the bat tightly to my chest, holding my breath as the footsteps drew closer. Without warning, without even checking who it was, I swung.
The bat connected with the head of a blond-haired guy.
"Ouch!" he yelled as he fell to the ground, clutching the side of his head where the bat had hit.
"Who are you? And why are you spying on me?" I demanded, raising the bat again, ready to strike.
"Since when did you know how to wield a weapon?" he asked, slowly getting back to his feet, still rubbing his head. My grip on the bat tightened.
At this point, I was confused. He spoke so casually, like we'd met before but I was pretty sure I'd remember meeting a cute blonde guy with emerald eyes and pale skin, the kind most girls would die for.
"Do I know you?"
He scoffed, like I'd said something ridiculous.
"Yes, Peige," he said. "It's me. Mum."
...
I couldn't help laughing, like seriously, what the fuck...
"Look," he began "I know what you might be thinking..."
"Mum? Seriously?" I blurted out laughing "you think you're my mother? You sure you're okay?"
"Peige!"
"Look here pretty boy, that's so... adorable but I don't have a mum. My mum isn't some nineteen year old dude" I scoffed looking at him ridiculously from head to toe, it was hilarious "you here for Jaca, you could tell me to put in good words for you instead of... this"
"What? No, listen. I know this might sound weird, but it's me. Abby," he said seriously.
He took a seat in the chair near the reading table and continued, his voice steady despite the weight of his words. "When I died, after what happened five years ago, I woke up in this body. And it's been… annoyingly hard."
"So you're telling me my mum reincarnated?" I mocked. "Because that's a thing?"
He nodded, staring at me with his emerald eyes. The kind that looked like they'd seen too much too soon. His face was youthful but defined, with a clean jawline that hadn't fully hardened yet, faint shadows under his eyes, and lips naturally flushed pink. A few strands of blond hair fell messily over his forehead, giving him the unmistakable look of someone barely out of his teens.
That only made it worse. How was I supposed to believe this? This was… this was crazy.
""Maybe I hit you too hard or something," I muttered, looking away.
"Peige, I'm serious. I'm Abby… your mum."
Mum? My chest tightened with annoyance. Of all the things.
"Mum? Really?" I scoffed, tossing the bat back into its place. "Okay… what happened five years ago… Mr. Abby?"
"My husband… he went crazy," he said, voice heavy, as if the memory still haunted him. "He… turned into a monster."
"Someone told you that," I said, doubt heavy in my voice. No. I couldn't believe it. No… it wasn't true.
I wanted so badly to believe him. I hated the way she had left us, so sudden, without warning. Even if every part of me screamed that this was ridiculous, I wanted to pretend it could be true. But there was only one way to know for sure.
"Fine," I said, narrowing my eyes. "If you're really her… tell me something only my real mum would know."
He sighed, running a hand through his messy blond hair. "Do you remember that Thanksgiving when you told me about that boy you liked… what was his name again… ah, yes, Dian? I was so happy you finally told me. You even told me about the kiss… and boy, we had the talk."
A slow smile spread across my face. I couldn't believe it. "Mum… is it really you?"
...
"How is this possible" I asked still finding it hard to believe, he may have mums memory but not the looks
"I wonder though myself " he said "but the good thing is that I'm here now, and we can get our family back"
My smile broke off hearing that, I couldn't help but notice the wild smile displayed across his face. So I looked away, arms crossed, leaning beside the wall
"What's wrong" he asked when he noticed the shift in the atmosphere.
"Well, when you passed on, the government found us," I swallowed hard "they killed dad, Fred's missing and Zinnia... she's with the authorities. I ran, I had to"
"No" he sighed, hands on his head like he's guilty of something "why did they take her? Why didn't you tag her along? For all I know she could be dead by now!"
"I ran because dad said I was a demon too, I didn't want to be butchered like he was when they they found out it's ture and as for Zinnia, she's fine okay, she's now the CEO of the Bossa Nova company" I snapped " they really did her a favour"
"Wow! And Fred?"
"I don't know, he just... disappeared, I guess"
"You guess! Seriously peige!"
"Oh I'm sorry mum, but how's their where about my fault?" I snapped, really snapped because he was really getting on my nerves.
"Well..."
I bet he couldn't think of what else to say again, he just sat down there staring at the floor.
I drew a spare seat out from a tight Conner and sat opposite him still amazed by what I once considered a myth
"Well, what I can't understand is how you reincarnated"
He sighed staring at me with those emerald eyes I would have fallen for under different circumstances
"I don't know, I just woke up in this body and it's been super hard to get adjusted to" he then leaned in to a whisper, "did you know they have a long thing in between their legs"
I laughed, hard, wiping tears from my eyes "It's called a dick mum" I rolled my eyes "seriously, how were we even born?"
"I know what it is Peige, I just can't believe I have one"
"Really, I wonder what it's like to be a boy" I teased.
Just then Jaca strolled in with the packed lunch in her hands
"Wow, it's nice to see you mingling with other humans" she teased taking off her earpods when she saw... him
"Ha ha, very funny" I rolled my eyes.
His face lit up when he saw her, "Jacana cliff, wow, you have changed." He said "last I saw you, you were still a Varmint"
"I'm sorry, do I know you?" She asked a bit confused because... Well why not. I had to step in.
"Erm... Jaca, this is krin, a family friend" I smiled awkwardly
"Krin?" They both asked surprised, mum, more than ever. I pinched him so he can make it more believable
"Yes!" He said sideeyeing me "it is I, peige do talk about you alot"
We both smiled at her awkwardly, hoping our little lie would sell.
"Hi Krin" she extended her hand over to shake him. She put aside the lunch she had gotten and grabbed my hands dragging me outside the room, she seems so excited
"I want you to meet someone"