@ShadeStar
"That's fine," Zanna nodded, "You good Jay?"
"That's fine," Zanna nodded, "You good Jay?"
He didn't respond. He seemed to be holding his breath, and his face was getting a tinge of blue.
Mr. Kale nodded his head, "We're going to learn how to look at the world with a different lens." he dropped a paper on Aita's desk, "Fill out what you would think when you see an old lady struggling to cross the street."
Aita nodded and put his pencil to work, writing down that he would watch her because he shouldn't interfere with other people's problems.
Concern shadowed her face. “What’s wrong?”, she asked Jay.
Mr. Kale shook his head when he read Aita's paper, "Aita, I'm glad you didn't mention murder, but as a helping member of society, one must learn to help others. You help the old lady, otherwise she'd die by getting hit by a car. Wouldn't you feel bad if that happened?"
Aita shook his head, "I don't feel sadness when someone dies. I don't really care. Death happens anyway."
Jay took a wavering breath and slapped himself, bringing him to his senses. He turned towards the others, rubbing the new red mark on his face. His heart felt like it would pound out of his chest.
Morrigan’s eyes widened. Sure, she harmed herself on an almost daily basis, but she deserved it. Jay didn’t. She grabbed his hand and forced it away from his face. “Don’t hurt yourself.”
"Did we mention something we shouldn't have Jay?" Zanna asked. They knew about flashbacks, they had one ever so often, but they weren't sure if that was what just happened. Zanna was attempting to lightly touch the subject so they would know more for the future.
"No, no, it's not your fault! Please don't blame yourselves." He jumped a bit when Morrigan grabbed his hand, fighting his instinct to hit her. That was what caused problems with the teachers. Technically, the talk of drunk, abusive parents had triggered the flashbacks, but he didn't say that. He gingerly pulled his hand away from Morrigan, hoping he didn't offend her by doing so.
Morrigan immediately withdrew her hand, realizing how forward she’d been. “Sorry. Don’t be sorry. Not your fault.” She carefully set up her protective walls again, hiding her reals feelings.
Mr. Kale paled. "O-okay Aita." he threw a paper into the trashcan, "Class dismissed, your officer is here to escort you to lunch."
Jay felt bad. Morrigan was withdrawing herself again, and it was all his fault. The side of his face stung from hitting himself, but that was the only way he could snap out of his flashbacks.
"Both of you, it's fine. Nobody's at fault," Zanna spoke up, "Jay, I should have known the topic was sensitive. I apologize. Morrigan, don't say sorry, you did nothing wrong. You were doing it in his best interests, just know that's not how you should react next time. Okay?"
The bell rang, "So what's next? I got here over the weekend and I'm still not quite adjusted."
Aita walked out of the classroom, his officer holding onto one of his pale hands.
Morrigan nodded, shooting another concerned glance to Jay. “Chemistry then much for me.”
*then lunch
Jay nodded quietly, wanting to rub the side of his face again but afraid to. The area felt hot, as the blood had rushed to it. A pale bruise was beginning to form on his cheekbone.
The officer sat Aita down and handcuffed his hand to the table before kicking Aita's briefcase out of reach.
"Officer? My briefcase?"
The officer shook their head, "I don't think so Aita, there're other kids in here."
"Are you going to Chemistry too?" Zanna asked Jay.
"Er, I-I think so?" He glanced at his schedule. "Um… yeah. With Mr. Lake." (Random name lol)
Morrigan frappes her binders, getting up. “Let’s go quick then so we can grab seats next to each other.”
*grabbed lol
"What would my briefcase do to them?" Aita asked innocently.
The officer laughed and patted Aita's head of white hair, "Don't play dumb. What's inside that briefcase-" they shivered, "- creeps me out big time."
"I'm supposed to go to Physics, but screw that. I'm joining you two," Zanna grabbed her backpack and left the classroom. They peered their head back in, "Where's Mr. Lake's classroom?"
"Oh, um, o-okay." Jay grabbed his sketchbook and trotted along behind Morrigan to keep up.
“Good question. Upstairs, I think?”
"Let's go then. One of you two lead," Zanna said as they left the classroom.
Morrigan took the lead, striding confidently along.
Jay was glad that Morrigan led. Not that he didn't know where the classroom was, but because he wasn't really confident enough to lead himself.
Aita smiled, "Thank you." the officer left, noticeably shaken.
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