Out of place
The Night and the FaeThere was so much curiosity in the air. It turned the school gold, a happy contrast to how uncomfortable Dahyun felt. Each time she looked away from the colours, she saw her fellow students. The new student allure wasn't going to fade on her first day, she knew that much, but the stares were unbearable. They held questions that no one asked. She wished the silence around her would be broken.
She finally made it to the staircase. One boy nudged his friend, nodding. They quickly looked away when they realised she’d seen them. She felt guilty, but their embarrassment was a welcome change.
“First day going okay?” Momo appeared beside her.
Dahyun gripped the staircase railing. She hadn’t heard the girl approach. Was it the underlying chatter of the school? “Yes.” They walked together into the second floor hallway. It was just as full as the one below. There was some irritation among the students now. Jealousy?
“Know where you’re going?” The taller girl was unaffected by the attention.
Dahyun made a mental note to ask her how she did it. That is, if she ever got to know her better. There was something about her and a few others here. She’d been warned that Korea would have different magic than she was used to. She hadn’t expected it to make her nervous in addition to uneasy.
“Yes.” They passed a couple who seemed to have just realised their feelings for one another. She felt uplifted at the sight. Then she realised she was being rude again. “Thank you for checking,” she said, “Unnie.” It would take time to get used to that. She wasn’t close to being the youngest here.
Momo laughed. “What class are you going to?”
“Physics.” The fact that this school let them choose their classes was a blessing.
“Really? Do you also do Biology?” Her humour shone orange.
“Yes.”
“I have a friend who does the same.”
She was still walking beside her. Dahyun figured she wasn’t being that unbearable. She hoped she wasn’t. There was a surge of anger, then shock, and relief. It was all coming from downstairs. She could make out the raised voices of an argument, but she tuned them out.
Instead she decided to further the conversation. “Who?”
“Chaeyoung.”
“I know her,” Dahyun said, “the only one I’ve seen to be shorter than myself.” She felt a burst of surprise from Momo. Did she say the wrong thing?
The corner of the girl’s lip quirked up. “Don’t let her hear you say that.”
Dahyun passed one door, but she saw that Momo was no longer beside her.
“I thought you knew where you were going.” She leant against the doorframe, a smile spreading across her face.
Her cheeks warmed. “I thought I did.” The few steps back were made worse by the fact that Momo’s amusement never faded.
“Right,” she pursed her lips, “next time, just ask.” With a softer smile, she waved her hand in front of her. “You first.”
“Thanks.” She brushed past her and into the classroom. Most of the stares were directed past her. More than one of the students seemed to be rendered shy by Momo’s presence. All of them were enamoured by her.
She saw Chaeyoung with a warm smile. No one was beside her. Dahyun took that seat.
_______
Even though she was sitting a few rows in front of her, Dahyun’s scent was the most potent in the room. It was fresher now, as if rain had just fallen. Momo had spent the morning wracking her memory for the last time she encountered supernaturals that weren’t vampires
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