The day they relocated—Sunday—arrived sooner than expected. Before long, they were in Williams's old pickup truck, heading toward Dereve. They didn't have much luggage with them this time, as Williams had already been moving most of their belongings earlier to ease the transition.
When they arrived, it was Dashley's first time seeing the new house, as she hadn't accompanied her father on any of his previous trips. Williams hadn't exaggerated when he said it was better than their former home. Though not overly large, the difference was undeniable. The house had three bedrooms, a kitchen, three bathrooms, an attic, and a basement. The rooms were noticeably more spacious than those in their previous residence.
"You like it?" Williams asked, watching her as she returned from exploring the house.
"I love it," she said, beaming with excitement.
"Well then, let's get everything settled in," he replied, hoisting another load into the house. Dashley mirrored his actions, eager to help. Before long, they were done unpacking. Exhausted, Williams suggested they eat out.
Being new to the area, they had to wander around town a bit before finding a place to eat. Fortunately, a cozy little restaurant was only about a five-to-seven-minute walk from their home.
Upon entering, the warm, inviting atmosphere offered a welcome contrast to the chilly air outside. Dashley led them to a table by the window—her favorite spot—so Williams made no objections. Soon, they were served their meals, and Dashley brought up school during the quiet lull between bites.
"I'm starting school tomorrow."
"Alright, that's good. Do you know where it is?" Williams asked.
"Not exactly, but I've heard that most of the kids and teens around here go there. It shouldn't be too hard to find."
"I can drive you there tomorrow."
"I'd love that. Thanks."
"All good," he smiled warmly.
"And what about you, Dad? What's your plan? Are you continuing with your old job?"
"Of course. I love being a mechanic. I've already found a garage to work at—it's about half an hour from here."
"Okay, I'll stop by someday to check it out."
After they finished eating, Williams stood up to pay the bill while Dashley remained seated, watching the world outside the window. Her gaze fell upon a group of teenagers walking past—three boys and two girls. The girls seemed to be about her age, while the boys appeared a little older, though none looked to be over twenty-one.
One pair caught her attention: a girl who kept leaning into a boy's side, clearly trying to cling to him. It was obvious he wasn't comfortable with her affection, but the girl either didn't notice or didn't care.
As they passed the restaurant, the boy glanced inside—and locked eyes with Dashley. Their gaze held for a moment, quiet and curious, until Williams returned, drawing her attention away.
By the time she turned back toward the window, the group had moved on. She shrugged off the strange moment and followed her father back home.
Once there, they exchanged goodnights and went off to bed. But Dashley found it difficult to sleep. Reading had become part of her nightly routine, yet she had returned all her books to the library before they moved. She made a mental note to find a library in town before finally forcing herself to sleep.
The next morning, Dashley made a point of waking up early so she could prepare breakfast and avoid being late on her first day. Her dad also had to leave for work, so after they ate, he dropped her off at school before heading to the garage.
From the outside, the school looked significantly larger than her old one and much busier. The hallways were crowded with students moving between classes, creating a constant hum of noise and energy. Her first task was to find the administration office, which turned out to be more difficult than expected. After wandering through unfamiliar hallways for what felt like hours, she finally located it.
She approached the receptionist to inform her of her arrival and was soon guided into the administrator's office. Seated at the desk was a woman in her mid-forties, wearing glasses and an expression that was difficult to read.
"Good morning, ma'am. My name is Dashley George—I'm the transfer student from Balish."
"Ah, Dashley," the woman said slowly, as though recalling something. Her gaze lingered on the girl in a strange way that made Dashley slightly uncomfortable.
"Yes, ma'am," Dashley replied, as the woman shuffled through papers on her desk, then picked up a pen to jot something down before handing her a slip of paper.
"Take this back to the receptionist. She'll know what to do next," the woman instructed. Then, after a brief pause—still eyeing Dashley oddly—she added, "You remind me of someone."
"Uh… I guess that's a good thing?"
"No. It's not. I didn't like her," the woman said bluntly.
"Oh…" Dashley murmured, unsure how to respond. "Well, I'll just take this to the receptionist then. Thank you." She quickly exited the office.
Inside, the woman remained seated, her eyes narrowed in deep thought as she stared at the empty chair Dashley had just occupied.
Meanwhile, outside, Dashley received her class schedule and learned where her first class would be. Navigating the large school proved to be a challenge, and she realized she was running late.
Eventually, she located the right hall and stepped into the classroom, confirming her suspicion—she was late. She explained to the teacher that she was the new transfer student, and he simply nodded, instructing her to find a seat.
Scanning the room, she noticed the only available spot was next to the window.
"What a lucky day," she thought with a small smile as she made her way over.
As she settled into the seat, the girl beside her turned and introduced herself.
"I'm Celine."
She had fair skin, blonde hair, and piercing blue eyes—clearly the kind of girl who drew attention from every guy in the room. Despite her polished appearance, she was surprisingly friendly. Their conversation flowed naturally, and Dashley felt the stirrings of a potential friendship.
Later, after the teacher dismissed class and the students began heading toward their next periods, Dashley caught sight of someone that made her freeze—the boy from the night before.
Again, their eyes locked across the busy hallway, and for the second time, it felt like the world had stilled around them.
They were lost in another silent exchange, a fleeting connection lingering just long enough before the crowd swept them apart.