Sora sat back, holding her purse in her lap while looking at the various expressions from the few students who decided to come to class.
Everyone seemed to be having the same thoughts: it didn’t make sense that Kari had anything to do with Mr.
Quest not being in class, and this Handburg substitute would have been called before Kari’s outburst.
Sora’s mind was on another possibility, though.
It’s not impossible that something bad happened to our teacher; it could even be related to Kari.
Her brother was likely the reason I’ve been forced to stay here.
Does that mean Lori and Jenny are being blackmailed by this Devin guy or Kari’s brother?
Elaborate plots working in the background spun circles in Sora’s brain as she drew inward.
Kari didn’t necessarily hate her brother, but she was having issues with someone under him.
The real question was: why, and how, did Devin know about her?
It was obvious it was Devin who pushed Lori to keep her around Kari, and if Jenny was in on it too, it added a whole new level of paranoia in her; whether it was Kari’s brother’s orders or not was still unclear, and who was involved with whom, yet there appeared to be a much deeper power dynamic at play than she’d always believed.
Shifting in her chair, she glared at the poster hiding the hole in the wall.
Jenny and Kari both moved into Miami together, and it’s always been evident that they’re closer than just school buddies.
Kari asked if Jenny put Lori up to it, too… “Sora, was it?” She jumped as her name was called, returning her focus to the front of the room as Mr.
Handburg called her name.
“Y-Yes?” Dammit!
I think that one doesn’t count, though.
The man’s soft chuckle followed.
“I’m just calling roll; it seems a lot of students are missing.
Do you know the reason why?” She swiftly shook her head, drawing everyone’s attention again.
“Nope!
Umm.
It is the first week back to school, so…” “True.
Hmm…” He took another sip of his coffee and cleared his throat.
“Let’s see—I assume since it is the first week of school, you’re still getting to know one another, getting books, and the like—being the second day of school.” Several students nodded, and Sora lost interest as she stared out the window.
What is happening today!?
Maybe this is a dream… Kari, a wall-punching monster… I’ve had some weird, realistic nightmares, but nothing like this… Stress?
Sora’s mind went blank as two strange scents wafted into the room; they were very different from one another and demanded attention, yet the strong smell wasn’t necessarily putrid, and the sensation made her realize a flaw in her thinking.
Wait… When have I ever smelled something in a… What?!
She straightened, locking eyes with two girls who opened the door and walked into the room; Jin and Eyia caught sight of her instantly, prompting the blonde to smile and wave, while the Korean’s yellow, slitted irises lazily wandered the space as if unimpressed.
Their substitute teacher caught the other students’ questioning stares and muttered, “Who…” “Eyia—Jin?” Sora blurted out, making Handburg trail off.
A smirk twisted the corner of Jin’s mouth, her left hand exiting her pocket to give her a quick gesture.
“Yo, Sora!
I told you we’d probably see each other again.” Mr.
Handburg recovered swiftly.
“You know each other?
Are you two a part of this class?” “We’re new to the area,” Jin smoothly replied with confidence in every fluid word she spoke.
“Sora helped us the other day.
Right, Eyia?” The tall girl wore a beaming smile as she nodded, now in a baggy blue T-shirt, jeans, and white sneakers; it looked like she’d raided a homeless shelter.
“Jin say salutation, Sora—my, eh… Drinks fantastic—were yesterday.” At the confused expressions, Jin chortled.
“As you can see, Eyia’s getting better with English, but she’s got a long way to go.” “I try—Jin teach good!” she cutely added, seemingly melting Mr.
Handburg’s heart.
“Wow, so… you both are transfer students—studying abroad, I mean?” Jin gave a weak shrug.
“Mhm.
Mind if we go chill next to Sora since we know her?” “By all means.
Uh, I’m going to check out a TV and find an appropriate video for us to watch and discuss; this is history class, after all.
Talk amongst yourselves in the meantime.
I’ll, um, be back in a bit.
Oh, what language does Eyia speak—Jin, was it?” he asked, glancing at Sora, unsure how he should take their abrupt entrance.
Asgardian, but not like I’m going to say tha— “A rare form of Norwegian,” Jin said, motioning for the girl to join her as the blonde respectfully bowed to Mr.
Handburg like she came from one of the Asian countries.
“You don’t have to worry, though; she can comprehend English a bit—eh, speaking is just hard.” Sora couldn’t help a light glare crossing her tight eyes at the explanation.
Sure, tell me it’s Asgardian and everyone else—ugh, wait… unless I heard that yesterday and was having an episode when talking with them.
I hope I didn’t come off totally insane.
“Wonderful.
Alright, I’ll be back in a bit.” He exited, leaving Sora to watch the two proceed down the rows to sandwich her.
She hadn’t heard Norwegian spoken very often, but if it was what Eyia used, it certainly was musical and lovely, if cryptic.
Everyone couldn’t keep their eyes off the two as Jin’s voice and tone shifted instantly to converse with the blonde; whatever they were saying, the cheer in Eyia’s face turned to a somber frown while shifting her focus to various areas of the room.
Dropping into her seat to the right of Sora, Jin popped her tongue, not paying anyone else much attention.
In contrast to Eyia, the Korean was wearing the same clothes she’d seen the day before and, considering Eyia’s priceless necklace—likely hidden under her shirt—nothing about the pair made sense.
“Ugh… What’s up?” Sora whispered, trying to keep her voice down.
“Do you really go to school here?” “No,” Jin mockingly snickered.
“So… this is what school is like in this Miami, huh?
A lot of mutts acting like they own the place,” she mumbled, shooting a slight frown in Eyia’s direction as she pointed at random things.
“I guess?
Uh, so, wait…” A thoughtful grin twinkled in Sora’s eye.
“You two don’t have any ‘plastic money,’ heh, and need help getting lunch again?” Her answer came from Eyia’s sparkling blue eyes at the word.
“Food—of special, Sora?” “Mmh-hmm-hmm-hmm.” Jin’s strained smile said it all.
“Well, okay—let me be straight—I’m… trying to show Eyia what it’s like to live like… normal people, and it’s kind of challenging to show her things when… well… you’re broke.” Sora’s previous panic over Kari and whatever plot was unfolding in the background was soon overshadowed by the atypical conversation; mirth filled her belly as a playful smirk tugged at her mouth at the girl’s weird antics.
“Hmm?
A pawn shop didn’t work, trying to sell your silver and gold?” “Yeah…” Jin rubbed the back of her neck and made a sound with her tongue.
“I tried that approach, and, you see, they ask too many questions… and have paperwork.” I knew it!
She totally can’t read English.
Still, even if they’re just after a free meal, their company more than makes up for the cost, and having hopeful moochers rather than bully moochers is a huge improvement!