? |DREAMS TO REALITY| ? [SCHOOLBUSGRAVEYARD X READER]

The room smelled like old books and faint traces of coffee, like someone had tried to cover up the scent of something sterile but hadn't quite succeeded. A dusty lamp flickered in the corner, casting a dull glow over the stacks of papers on the desk. The office wasn't cluttered, but it wasn't neat either-just enough disarray to feel lived-in.

Y/N sat stiffly in the chair across from Tirana, arms crossed, her fingers digging into the fabric of her hoodie sleeves. The chair wasn't uncomfortable, but she sat like it was. Her eyes flickered toward the clock. The second hand ticked forward, impossibly slow.

She hated silence like this.

It wasn't the kind that let your mind wander-it was the kind that left you sitting with thoughts you didn't want to face.

Tirana was watching. Not in an obvious way, not like she was dissecting Y/N under some therapist microscope, but in a way that said she had time. Time to wait. Time to let Y/N say something first.

Y/N hated that too.

She sighed sharply, shifting in her seat. "So... am I supposed to start, or do you just stare at me until I crack?"

Tirana's lips twitched, the closest thing to amusement Y/N had ever seen from her. "You can start if you want."

Y/N let out a short laugh, but there wasn't much humor in it. "Great. Love that."

Silence stretched between them again. Not awkward, exactly, but noticeable. Y/N tapped her fingers against her sleeve.

Tirana leaned forward slightly, resting her arms on the desk. "You seem tense."

Y/N scoffed. "Yeah, no kidding."

"Something on your mind?"

Y/N tilted her head, eyes narrowing. "Oh, you know. Just the usual. Life, the universe, my general lack of direction. Take your pick."

Tirana didn't react, didn't push. Just nodded, like that answer made perfect sense.

Y/N sighed through her nose. "Why am I even here?"

Tirana raised a brow. "You tell me."

Y/N rolled her eyes. "Right. Therapy trick. Answer a question with a question."

"You don't think you need to be here?"

"Didn't say that," Y/N muttered, staring at the desk. "Just don't know what I'm supposed to say."

"You could start with how you're feeling."

Y/N made a face. "Pass."

Tirana exhaled, but it wasn't impatient. Just... steady. "Alright. Let's try something else. How's school?"

Y/N shrugged. "Fine."

Tirana gave her a look.

Y/N groaned, dragging a hand down her face. "I don't know. It's-loud. Too many people, too much happening all at once. Some days I just wanna disappear."

Tirana nodded. "And your friends?"

Another shrug. "They're... there. They're fine."

Tirana tilted her head. "You don't sound convinced."

Y/N hesitated, picking at the hem of her sleeve. "It's not them. They're good people, I think. I just..." She trailed off, the words sticking in her throat.

Tirana waited.

Y/N sighed. "I feel like I'm just... there. You know? Like I'm a background character in my own life. They talk, they laugh, they pull me into things, and I-I'm just standing there, watching it happen. Like I'm not really part of it."