Chp#1"Just another NORMAL day"

Pete woke up to the shrill alarm blaring across her room, practically daring her to get out of bed. With a groan, she rolled to the bathroom for a quick shower, wishing—like she always did—that mornings could just… skip themselves.

Breakfast was a simple plate of rice, bacon, and egg, nothing fancy, but enough to give her the energy to face the day. Of course, she couldn’t resist grabbing her phone while she ate. BL Jinx had a new chapter, and for a few minutes, Pete’s brain was wrapped up in drama far more interesting than high school or math tests.

By the time she slung her backpack over her shoulder, Ace appeared along the street, scratching at her arms and sniffing like a tiny, frustrated tornado.

“Your allergies are brutal today,” Pete said, dodging a violent headshake.

Ace groaned. “I know… my nose is basically useless. I swear, it retired last night.”

Two blocks later, Monika pedaled up, balancing on her bike like she was training for the Olympics. “Morning,” she called, weaving around a pothole. “Ready to survive another day at school?”

Pete rolled her eyes. “Not really. Didn’t study for math. Also, BL Jinx had a cliffhanger last night, so priorities.”

Monika laughed. “Classic Pete. Always the priorities.”

The three of them continued down the street together, teasing each other, arguing over plot twists, and occasionally hopping over puddles like some kind of extreme sport. By the time they reached school, Milky and Aiah were hopping off the bus, chatting as they went, while Oonah stepped out of her mom’s car with her usual flair, adjusting her backpack like she owned the schoolyard.

Pete waved. Ace waved halfheartedly. Monika waved enthusiastically. Their group was complete, ready for what they thought would be a “normal” day.

The first period was math, and the classroom felt like a tomb. Mrs. Rosefa prowled the aisles, tapping her foot and peering over notebooks as if daring anyone to cheat. Pens clicked, pages rustled, and the clock ticked with painful precision.

Pete, on the other hand, was a bundle of restless energy. She bit the tip of her pen, tapped her feet like a miniature drumline, and stared at the test question:

"Describe the behavior of the graph of the function f(x) \= (x-3)(x+1)(x-1)."

She stole a glance at her seatmate for help, but the teacher’s sharp glare immediately sent her looking away. Not today, not now.

The test ended, finally, and Pete trudged to the gym locker room to change.

“Ughhh, why does gym have to be right after math?” she muttered, dumping her bag on a bench.

Marie was already asleep, sitting upright and drooling just a little. Pete nudged her gently. “Hey, Earth to Marie.”

No response.

Aiah jabbed at Pete. “You complain about everything. Seriously, deal with it for once.”

Pete rolled her eyes. “Oh, thanks, Aiah. Your advice is… life-changing.”

Milky struggled with her uniform, one arm tangled like a noodle, while Ace leaned casually against the lockers. “It’s okay, Pete. Relax,” he said.

Monika sat on a bench, munching a sandwich, perfectly unfazed. “You guys are dramatic,” she said, crumbs falling to the floor.

Dodgeball started, and Pete immediately realized she had zero coordination. She didn’t even have the strength to dodge, but somehow, by some miracle—or maybe sheer luck—she ended up the last one standing.

Marie was out first. Then the others. Panic surged through Pete. She faked getting hit by the ball, hoping Mr. Melvin, the gym teacher, would let her slide. He didn’t. He glared at her as though she had personally insulted his entire career in sports.

The game continued, and Pete panicked further. When the ball came her way, she grabbed it and threw it away too hard at a boy across the gym. Silence. Then cheers erupted—the boy was sent to the clinic, clutching his arm, stunned. Pete blinked, stunned herself. Somehow, she had survived.

By lunch, Pete felt drained. She opened her lunchbox to see rice, chicken, and vegetables—fuel, nothing exciting.

Aiah and Ace laughed quietly while eating. Monika talked to teachers at the sidelines, asking about updates on an upcoming project. Marie scrolled through her phone, half-paying attention, and Milky stared blankly at the wall.

Pete closed her eyes and sighed, joking to herself, “Wouldn’t it be funny if an apocalypse happened right now?”

Then a scream cut through the cafeteria.

Someone had died. The horror of it sank in immediately—their body grotesquely separated at the feet. The cafeteria erupted in gasps and screams. Teachers tried to calm the students, but panic spread like wildfire.

Pete froze, numb, her stomach turning. Something was wrong—terribly, horribly wrong.

And in that moment, she knew with a sickening certainty that things were about to get a whole lot less normal.

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