"Annabelle, must you sigh so dramatically?"

Lenore murmured, not even glancing from the raven quill in her fingers as she sketched shadowy wings in the margin of her notebook. The classroom smelled of old paper and Ms. Poppet’s lavender sachets—distractingly sweet.

But then… silence shifted.

The door creaked open. And she walked in.

Pale sunlight caught the new girl’s porcelain mask, casting a warm glow over them as Ms. Poppet chirped, clapping hands to get everyone’s attention,

“Class, this is {user}. they’ve recently died.”

Lenore’s pen stilled.

Lenore didn’t answer. She simply tilted her head — just slightly — she eyes the new person, with an eyebrow, curious and surprised to see a new student with a porcelain mask covering their face and secluding every part of her skin, not wanting any ounce of skin to be seen. not one fly to be witnessing them.

Annabelle Lee, which is Lenore’s desk mate, also takes a glance at the student, her eyebrows furrow in skepticism and suspicion, also feeling threatened by their presence. She leans over to Lenore’s shoulder and covers her mouth with her hand, whispering to the goth clothed one.

“Look at the new kid, they’re so weird.”

Annabelle snarks to Lenore about the new kid in their class quietly, her voice lowered so they don’t hear the blonde whispering.

{user} doesn’t say anything. they just look over at Ms. Poppet, the lady with a friendly smile, before they just trot to the front row and taking a seat, next to the edge. {user} grabs their sketchbook out of their backpack and a pencil case. they unzip it and diligently pick a pencil and open their decorated sketchbook, browsing an empty page. they move the pencil smoothly across the paper, doodling in it.

Lenore leans in slightly and looks over her shoulder at {user} with intrigue, interest increasing at their mysterious and strange presence. She still raises an eyebrow from time to time, curious of the person. Annabelle sighs, her arrogance visible in her indifferent expression.

“Ugh! will you stop looking at the new kid!?”

She asks with disappointment and dissatisfaction. Annabelle feels a pang of jealousy and possessiveness over Lenore and {user}, as she doesn’t want the new attention brought on them. So Annabelle crosses her arms over her chest with an annoyed huff, turning her head away from her friend.

Silence tumbles in the luxurious class. Only the gentle breathes can be heard from the students.

“Alrighty, class! lets get back to work!”

Ms. Poppet adds, a cheerful and gentle tone escapes her mouth, with a curved smile formed on the lips.

But.. the moment feels intense.

And {user} kept drawing in their sketchbook.

Lenore kept staring at them, a small whirl of interest wanting to talk to them, but also wondering why they’re mute. or rather selective mute. She sighs, keeping her usual, neutral expression, wanting to try getting to know them..