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IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG FOR LENA'S VISION TO ADJUST TO THE MORNING LIGHT. Fortunately, for the over-dramatically hungover brunette, rain had poured consistently through the night of New Ham, leaving behind a breezy chill and cloud hidden sun.
Already, Lena grew accustomed to the melancholy empty feeling along the streets. Granted, she sometimes felt the same feeling in the real world; still, something about this morning felt eerily off – her accusations proven when she noticed stores trashed with broken windows and a faint smell of burnt metal and wood.
Downtown New Ham looked as if a riot stormed through.
If only she knew how right she was.
A fellow classmate scurried out a broken window with boxes of pasta pressed against his chest, causing Lena to jump in fright and mutter profanities under her breath. She watched him hurry as if someone would pry the raw Italian food from his hands within a blink of an eye until she noticed Jessica.
Her soft wavy curled hair lightly blew in the morning wind, while her hands hung at her sides in small fists. Lena's brows furrowed as she examined the girls appearance.
Jessica was a natural bombshell. She was one of the few girls in her class who had clear acne free skin, blemish free where foundation wasn't needed; plump lips, full brows, and supple cheeks. It seemed to be the end of the world yet here the blonde stood with her emerald green eyes just as bright as her matching jade haltered dress ready to strut the run way.
"Is it fashion week already?" Lena said with a faint smile.
Leave it to West Ham's IT girl to still turn heads and stand out wherever she went – making the most out of every terrible situation.
Jessica feigned a scoff at Lena's teasing voice and shrugged.
"Didn't you Cassandra or Allie text you?" she said, her eyes darting to the church.
Lena shook her head and frowned. The only messages she had on her phone were from Harry, other than that her phone was dry until it died mid-walk to town. Plus, her late friend was the last person Lena genuinely wanted to speak to – the morning run in being forced and awkward.
"Probably doesn't want me there," she shrugged and continued her walk, passing Jessica along the way.
Jessica turned around, her eyes following Lena's retreating body.
"It's a girl's only meeting, I guess," she said, "I'm sure she does."
Lena stopped, her shoulders tensing. When it came to most girls at her school, they all hated her; the feeling being mutual. The only two girls Lena truly got along with were Allie and Elle, if you counted her considering they had been close friends at one point in time. In reality, Lena didn't have many girl friends' and after seeing Allie sneak off to sleep with Harry, Lena didn't consider either one of them friends to her for the time being.
