Intro Part 2

Now, I believe I went a bit too far in the future, so I'll be going back a bit now.

Let's see…this should be the time I'm looking for.

Los Angeles, 2020

7:47 AM

"Darn, darn, darn, darn, darn, darn…" As she rattled off the popular PG swear, Anne was completely stressed out. Her feet hammered on the asphalt floor as she ran like her life depended on it, mostly because it did. Her destination was in the close distance and she was rapidly approaching it at the fastest speed she could. She almost caused a car to run itself off the road and scared off many innocent pigeons. The houses and restaurants of her neighborhood slowly changed into low-rent apartments and street food. Running past all of them, she came to an apartment complex that seemed to stretch up hundreds of floors. She looked between the stairs and the elevator. On one hand, the elevator would probably take forever to get up. On the other hand, stairs. No one likes them. The old lady walking up to them had a scowl for a reason. Elevator. Stairs. Elevator. Stairs. Elevator…

It smelled terrible inside, but it was still better than the stairs. It was barely more than a stained metal cube that was hauled up by the slowest pulley imaginable. Anne nervously tapped her fingers on her left hand in an unsteady beat; the elevator was taking forever. She could at least see out of the thing, since one of the walls wasn't even there. She was a bit unsettled by the whole building but was too stressed to fully care. She felt her phone buzz in her pocket and fished it out to see what it was for. In her friends' group chat, someone had posted a quick clip that seemed to be from an anime. It was basically just a fight scene that included pancakes and a walrus. After what seemed like an eternity, she had reached the second-to-top floor. She rushed out of the elevator to a door with the faded number 704 on the wall next to it. She knocked twice quickly, stopped in place, and then knocked a third time. Some shuffling noises were heard inside, along with a voice.

"I'll be right back. Don't wake up." Some footsteps. A latch moving out of place. A lock unlocking. The hinges opening. "If you guys are here to keep badgering us about your "due notices", we're getting a bit tire…" A pyjama-clad girl stood in the doorframe. "Anne? What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be going to school?" Anne raised an eyebrow.

"Shouldn't you?" The girl rubbed her eyes, seeming to be barely awake.

"Nah. Mamá's at the hospital for a morning to evening shift and couldn't stay home to take care of Paz today. Ironic, huh?" Anne bounced in place impatiently.

"Look, sorry I can't talk much, but I need to borrow your bike. I couldn't find mine and I'm already running late for school. Can I?" The girl looked at Anne, confused.

"You came all the way here to ask for my bike when you could already almost be at school by now?" Anne stood still for a moment, unsure how to respond. After a long pause, the girl sighed. "Wait here a sec." She went back into the house for a moment and came back out with the keys. "Just bring it back after school ends. You know which one it is." Anne shook with elation and grabbed the keys before sprinting off.

"Thanks, Luz! I'll see you after school with the others! And fix up your hair!" Luz stood there for a moment, waving her goodbye. She patted her hair with her other hand, which both reached her waist and was puffy enough to be mistaken for a giant hairy pillow draped over her head.

"Is it really that bad?" She then heard the sound of crying inside and groaned. "Alright, time for your diaper change, duende pequeña."

After essentially jumping flights of stairs in single bounds down to Parking, Anne quickly found the bike rack. Spotting Luz's Mountie-neer!, she shoved the key into the lock and almost ripped it off. She got on, tested the pedals, tested the brakes, and rode out of the parking lot. The next five minutes of biking passed by in a blur of near-desperation, near-exhaustion, and sweat, but she arrived on school grounds at what she assumed to be on time. Success!

She took a moment to breathe and drop her heart rate from the extraneous activity that had unfolded in the past few minutes. She slowly walked over to the school bicycle rack and found a free space to put the bike. She locked it in place and put the keys in her bag, sighing in relief. A voice sprung up from behind her.

"Anne! You finally made it!" She spun around and saw two girls, one of which had her face buried in a book. Her face turned into a smile.

"Sasha, Mar-Mar. Sorry I wasn't here earlier. I was held up with-" The bell suddenly rang, interrupting their conversation. "I'll, uh, tell you in class." Sasha nodded.

"Eh. You're here now, right?" Her eyes leaped to the other one. "C'mon, kiddo. Time to go." She grabbed her by the hoodie and froze. Her smile faded. Anne raised an eyebrow.

"Uh, Sasha? You okay?" Sasha blinked and shook her head a bit.

"Sorry, what?"

"I asked if you're okay."

"Oh…yeah, I'm fine." Anne wasn't buying it but decided not to push. It was time for school anyway.

7:34 AM

Breakfast couldn't be tenser. The only person actually eating was Sasha, who was mostly doing it to avoid seeing her parents attempt to bore a hole through each other's skulls. At least her dad stopped every half-minute or so to take a sip of his coffee, which was almost definitely cold by now. She was almost finished and had already planned on throwing the rest away, so she stood up and walked to the kitchen to throw it away. There was a trash can in the dining room, but the silence had been too deafening for her. The second she moved into the next room, she could hear her mother speaking.

"Oh, great. She left. I wonder why." Her father responded.

"She was obviously done, Carol. Where else would she bring a dirty plate? Her bedroom?"

"Well, there are stairs to the second floor next to the kitchen. She probably wanted to get away from you."

"I was being sarcastic. Either way, you would know she doesn't use those if you didn't drop her off every time it's your week."

"Oh? So, it's my fault."

"It's our fault! Why don't you understand-" He was interrupted by Sasha re-entering the room.

"Hey, uh, you two. Sorry to interrupt your screaming match, but I need someone to take me to school. Could you take a break for a moment?" The two adults stopped. They looked at each other for a moment before her father stood up.

"I'll take you." Sasha crossed her arms.

"Thank you." She waved at her mother. "Bye, mom." She didn't wait for a response.

The ride to school was quiet for the most part. Sasha had not said a single word to her father in the sixteen minutes since she had gotten in the car. She was fiddling with her phone when she got a text from her friends' group chat. Marcy had shared a video which was essentially a clip from a magical girl anime they all liked to watch. She hearted the video with a small smirk on her face. A quiet cough could be heard next to her. She looked over at her father, whose eyes were still on the road.

"So, uh…I hear you aren't doing too good with your grades." Sasha's smirk faded as she groaned.

"Seriously? That's what you use to break an awkward silence?"

"Sorry, sorry. I just haven't seen you in a bit, y'know?" His grip on the steering wheel got a little tighter. "...Your mother wanted to keep you for a bit longer this time." Sasha rolled her eyes.

"Oh, poor you. You don't have to spend time with your idiot daughter. How terrible." He pursed his lips.

"You aren't an idiot. You aren't stupid; never say that." She paused for a moment and her smirk returned. This could be entertaining.

"Woah, I never said I was stupid, I said I was an idiot. You're the one who brought stupid into this." Her father's hand seemed to tremble a bit on the wheel.

"Sasha, you know that I didn't mean it like that." She turned back to her phone.

"And how did you mean it?"

"Sasha, I don't want to argue with you."

"What? All your energy was spent on Mom? Sounds familiar."

"Sasha…"

"Let me guess, you can't take it."

"Sasha."

"This is exactly like the beach again."

"Sasha!"

"Just a different sort of thing I walked i-"

"SASHA!" Silence. Sasha looked over at her father, a bit afraid. She saw him take a small ragged breath before speaking in a much calmer manner. "...We're here. Have a good day." It was clear by his tone that he didn't fully mean it. She scoffed and got out, grabbing her bag in a huff.

As she got out, she saw a girl walking on a nearby sidewalk, her head buried in a book. She walked over to her, almost completely forgetting the argument she had with her Dad as she tapped her on the head.

"Hey, Marcy. Whatcha doin' ther-" Marcy looked up, unveiling her eyes. "Oh my god!" Red veins erupted from her irises in every direction. Prominent purple bags rested below her eyes. Eye crusties. "Have you been sleeping?" Marcy groaned at an octave that shouldn't have been possible for her.

"No! I'm really stressed about the End of Year Exam! I need to be ready." Sasha pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Yeah, I'd be stressed too if it wasn't in SEVEN MONTHS." Marcy stared blankly into the distance, unnerving Sasha. "Uh, hello? Earth to Marcy?" She snapped her fingers a few times, taking her out of her trance again.

"Oh, uh, sorry. I just want to be prepared." Sasha sighed.

"Well, I guess I can't change Classic Marcy." Marcy awkwardly laughed before going back to her book.

Suddenly, in the corner of her eye, Sasha spotted a girl near the bike rack, sweat pouring out of her like a geyser. She smiled and grabbed Marcy's sleeve, pulling her over.

"Anne! You finally made it." Anne spun around. At least a half liter of sweat flew off her face and onto the grass. She smiled weakly as she leaned over the bike.

"Sasha." Gasp. "Mar-Mar." Gasp. "Sorry I-" Gasp. "Wasn't here-" Gasp. "Earlier." Large gasp. Exhalation. "...I was held up with-" The bell rang, muffling what she said. Anne turned to the noise and sighed. "I'll, um, uh, tell you guys in class." Sasha nodded, knowing Anne would probably forget about it. She glanced to her side and saw Marcy still hunched over in her book. She rolled her eyes and instinctively grabbed her hoodie.

"C'mon, kiddo. Time to…go." As she grabbed Marcy's hoodie, Sasha froze for a moment. A flash went by in her head.

C'mon kiddo, time to go.

But I want to stay a bit longer.

I know, I know. But we need to go or Mom'll be very worried, okay?

Okay?

Okay?

"-okay?" Sasha snapped out of it, seeing Anne's worried face.

"Sorry, what?"

"I asked if you're okay." Sasha stayed still for a moment before nodding softly.

"Oh. Y-yeah, I'm fine." She could tell by Anne's quizzical expression that she wasn't buying it, but no one said anything. They walked over to the entrance together, Sasha pulling Marcy by the hoodie, which Marcy quickly waved off.

"Sash! Come on." She sighed and put her book into her bag. Sasha smirked.

"Finally decided to join us in the real world?" Marcy sighed.

"Sorry. Just a bit tired. I'll take another break." Sasha scoffed.

"How long did you stay up again?

7:21 AM

Even though she'd been up since 5:00, Marcy didn't show any signs of slowing down. Her pile of energy drinks had turned into a short mountain next to her chair, and her notes were long enough to be published as a full book. History, Geography, Science, English, Math; everything was essentially blending into one. The only thing still fueling her session was Your Biological Friendship at full blast in her ears, but even Shunned from the White Riot wasn't going to last forever. She had just finished noting down some chemical formulas when she realized her wrist was having a spasm. She groaned and put her head in her hands, which really didn't help her wrist. She took a small breath before standing up and walking away from her desk. Maybe it was time for a break.

She stretched as she walked downstairs to the empty first floor and over to the living room. Reaching behind a nearby bookcase, she grabbed a TV remote with a mischievous grin.

"Take that, Dad. You ain't keeping me from my magical girls!" She paused and looked around. "Why did I say that out loud?" She thought about it for a moment before shrugging and walking over to the couch. She switched on the TV and sat down, cycling through the channels.

A cold front is currently settling down by South Cali-

-t's spinning, it's spinning, it's spinning and it's a cash showeeeeeeeeer-

-a more serious note, South America is left devastated yet again by-

-ransform!

Here it was. Channel 7 early morning specials. The only good place to get the stuff anymore. Marcy smiled and leaned back, taking in the intense animated action and colors. The yelling in Japanese she could barely understand if it weren't for the English subtitles below. At one scene, she took a short video and pulled up LetsChat. She swiped down twice before coming to . She turned on the video option and filmed a bit of the episode before sending it and turning her phone to silent to see the rest.

When the episode finished, Marcy picked up her phone to check the time. Twenty minutes to eight. Her notification bar also apparently had a message.

Sasha left a heart on your video!

Marcy scrunched up her nose before putting her phone back in her pocket. She ran up the stairs, threw her stuff in her bag, and picked up a book to read on the way to school. She walked out the door and opened the bo

Snapping out of her trance, she found herself being called by a familiar, slightly annoying voice.

"Hey, Marcy!" Marcy sighed and looked up. "Whatcha doin' ther-" She stepped back with a shocked look on her face. "Oh my god!" Marcy raised an eyebrow in confusion, but got the gist of her reaction when she felt some sleep crust fall out of her eye. "Have you been sleeping?" Marcy groaned. Clearly I haven't, you little-

"No!" Maybe being over dramatic will get her off my back. What would be a good idea to… "I'm really stressed about the End of Year Exam!" Alright, build on that. Don't let her see you freaking out. "I need to be ready." Bravo. And I thought she was the manipulator queen. Sasha looked at Marcy inquisitively.

"Yeah, I'd be stressed too if it wasn't in SEVEN MONTHS." Crap. Think of something quick. Quick. Quick. Quick. Quick. Quick. Quick. Quick. Quick. Quick. Quick. Quick. Quick. Quick.

"-ello? Earth to Marcy?" Some snapping noises brought Marcy out of her panic before noticing that she had been staring at the grass for almost thirty seconds without speaking.

"…I just want to be prepared." Sasha expelled some air from her nose.

"Well, I guess I can't change Classic Marcy." You condescending piece of-

"Haha, yeah." She was about to go back to her book, but heard Sasha call to someone behind them.

"Anne! You finally made it." Marcy turned around to see her friend looking like she was about to pass out. She smiled weakly as she leaned over the bike and looked at Sasha.

"Sasha." She looked at Marcy. "Mar-Mar." She looked at the ground. "Sorry I-" She wiped her forehead. "Wasn't here-" She flicked her hand to the ground. "Earlier." Large gasp. Exhalation. She stood up straight. "...I was held up with-" The bell rang, muffling what she said. Anne turned to the noise and sighed. "I'll, um, uh, tell you guys in class." Marcy hid a giggle behind her book. She'd forget almost immediately. She suddenly felt a hand grab her hoodie with a firm grip.

"C'mon, kiddo. Time to…go." The grip loosened, making Marcy look up. Sasha stared into nothingness for a few seconds before Anne walked up.

"Uh, Sasha? Are you okay?" She shook her head as she came back.

"Sorry, what?"

"I asked if you were okay."

"…Yeah. I'm fine." Marcy could hear from the tone of Sasha's voice that she was most probably lying, but she wasn't very interested in doing anything about it. She then felt Sasha's grip on her hoodie again, which she shoved off as quickly as she could.

"Sash! Come on." Sasha smirked as Marcy put her book away into her bag.

"Finally decided to join us in the real world?" Have you?

"Sorry. Just a bit tired. I'll take another break." Sasha scoffed.

"How long did you stay up again?" Marcy was about to make a defense, but saw she had none.

"A lot longer than I should have." Anne decided to butt in the conversation.

"What time did you even wake up?" Marcy shrugged.

"Early." A silence sprung up between the three of them for a moment before Marcy continued. "Besides, I don't even get up that early compared to…" She trailed off, leaving Sasha in suspense.

"Who?" Anne raised her hand.

"Oh! I know. It's-"

6:07 AM

"Luz! Did you finish breakfast?" Luz turned away from the frying pan.

"Along with the cleaning, the formula, putting the baby to sleep, and my bed?" She paused. "...did you finish the laundry?"

Her mom nodded.

"Yes."

Luz smiled.

"Then, yeah. You want it in a Loczip?" Her mother nodded again, this time with a smile.

"What do you expect me to do; take the plate to work? What would you eat lunch on?" They both chuckled. Luz grabbed the frying pan and a plastic baggie, dumping the scrambled eggs inside, giving it to her mom. "Are you sure you're fine with taking care of Paz for the day? I can still call and cancel the shift. I know you're missing out on some assignments and-" Luz shook her head.

"It's fine, Mamá. The only times I really need to show up are for practice and baseball weekends. I'll be fine." She could still see some guilt in her mom's face. "...They're paying you double for today anyway, right?" Her mom's smile came back.

"Yes, they are! Mama's gettin' a new Ca-ma-ró!" Luz giggled.

"Mom, that's not how you say it!"

"You think I'll care then? I'll have a Ca-ma-ró! A Ca-mila-ró!" The two laughed for a while at the dumb joke, happy.

Camlia took a quick look at her watch, lessening the laughter.

"Ah, I need to go. Take good care of Paz!" She hugged her daughter, and Luz hugged her mother back. A small frown appeared on her face, which Camila could feel. "No te preocupes. Todo va a salir bien." The two stood there for a moment.

"...Te amo, Mamá."

"Yo también, mija."

Whoops. It seems that I went too far back this time. Apologies, I'm not quite used to this; it took a while to even know this was the wrong time, much less figure out how to stop. I'm mostly filling in for someone else. Who? That's not necessary information now, is it? I'll work at it for now, but don't expect it to be quick. I don't think I have enough energy to do another try after this, so I need to make sure I get it right. I'll hand you over to someone who can distract you for now.

…Yeah, I got nothing to say. Sorry, dude. I do hope you, the reader, are enjoying the story so far, though! I thought it'd be a good idea to make this as a good introduction, but don't get too comfy. We're going somewhere new next time. A place that should be all too familiar for you.

Also, if you think that you know what's going to happen next, you are sorely mistaken. Thirteen-Seven out. Later.