X. New Beginnings (?)

For the remainder of the night Jude couldn't sleep. She wouldn't allow herself to sleep. Whenever she attempted to close her eyes she'd simply be reminded by the fact that Luke killed himself in front of everyone.

So that night she found herself staring at the ceiling fighting the urge to sleep. Her eyes burned with tiredness but she just wouldn't allow it. Refused it.

Jordan also stayed the night mainly because they knew that if Jude was alone she might do something drastic and out of her emotional reach. So maybe they ended up trauma bonding. Just a little.

Once morning arrived Jude eventually woke up groggy and incoherent (that's what happens when you refuse to sleep). A big part of her hoped that Marie was okay since she'd just arrived at the school and was already pulled into some shit. She wanted to call her personally to ask but the girl didn't even have a phone or a way to reach her. It was cute yet somewhat refreshing.

Jude eventually removed herself from her dorm. She couldn't stay in there any longer as felt as if she was suffocating. Black became a potent color choice, the only thing of difference in her outfit was her nails. They were dark blue. With cat-eye shades covering her eyes, her phone dinged in her back pocket which she ignored for the moment.

As she neared the circular concrete path that she previously sat on yesterday, a wave of deja vu crawled up her spine, ripping out her spinal cord as she watched repairmen fix the glass door that she smashed Luke into.

Once her phone continued to ding, Jude knew that she couldn't ignore it anymore. With a sigh, she came to the remembrance that every Monday, the day the weekly rankings for the Top 10 students got updated. The last time she looked at the rankings, she was at a decent number four, with Luke being at the top once again. But he was no more and there's no telling who might be on top now.

Remaining where she stood, Jude the God U app her eyes widened as she couldn't believe what she saw "Shit, shit, shit!"

Hearing whispering voices behind her, Jude looks up only to see some students pointing at her while saying something to each other. Rolling her eyes she sticks a middle finger up before looking at her phone.

Once they got the memo that she wasn't the one to be fucked with, especially at this time. Andre ranked first, Jude second, Jordan at five, (which was beyond surprising), and Marie surprisingly and somewhat impressively at eight.

Jordan at number five. Even that didn't sound right. Jordan already faced a bunch of reluctance for embracing the fact that they're bi-gender, and with Brink now dead the support system they once had was pretty much halfway.

"Shit!" Jude should be happy. She finally achieved what her mother wanted this entire time and that is being on the top. But since she's gotten that achievement why did it feel so unnecessary? Why did it feel like it didn't matter anymore? So fake. So vague. Maybe because it was.

And all it took was for a person dying for her to get it. Letting out a string of curse words, she sent Jordan a quick text already knowing that they must've seen the update. She could only imagine their reaction.

Shoving the phone in her back pocket, Jude took the step of courage and headed towards the small memorial created for Brink and his memory.

Near Lamplighter's golden statue, sat some people while others took the opportunity to snap some photos for their failing social media pages in the hope it'll spruce it up. It wasn't until the camera went off that they eventually moved on.

Capitalizing off death seems pathetic really but the things people do for that fifteen minutes of fame.

As Jude closer, the feeling of eyes and the whispering only grew stronger. Ah yes, the girl who fought Golden Boy to his death. Consider that her new name. Remaining stoic in case there were any cameras on her, she simply crossed her arms and hoped that she wouldn't have to cure anybody out today.

Standing in front of the memorial, Jude lets out a breath. Turning her head she noticed some students crying—their crying sounding very fake and unconvincing which only made her cringe.

Eventually, someone stops the stand beside her. It was none other than Jordan. Their eyes were busy looking down at the flowers that rested on the many candles and memorabilia. Pulling out a small photograph of them from their pocket, they simply looked at it, an unrecognizable expression of emotion being placed.

Turning her head at Jordan, she smiles at them softly. "Brink is Brink I'll tell you that, but he really did care about you."

Jordan glanced at Jude with a look of sadness before looking back down at the photo.
Jude continues, "How are you holding up?"

"Fine I guess," Jordan answers vaguely. Leaning down they were about to place the photo down when, a loud, obnoxious cry echoed from beside them.

Jude and Jordan looked over to see Mikayla Beckette (Stretchy Girl), a supe who could stretch her body into different forms. One hand was outstretched as it held up her phone, recording as she pretended to cry loudly.

As soon as the cameras stopped rolling, so did her pathetic tears.

Rolling her eyes, Jude faces the girl. With a flick of her wrist, Mikayla's phone suddenly grew hot before eventually cracking.

Mikayla let out a gasp as her phone fell from her palm, and Jude could only smirk out of satisfaction.

Cate hurried past those who were in her path, her body shaking with grief. Walking up to them with bloodshot eyes she proceeded to speak "I-I'm sorry," Cate uttered to the both of them rubbing her shaking sides as if that would do anything to soothe it. "I know what Brink meant to you." She looked at Jordan, "And I'm so sorry."

Jordan could only look at her with a stoic expression before not saying anything. Cate who hadn't noticed the change in emotion continued, "I don't...I don't know why Luke did it." Cate sniffled lightly "I have no idea why."

Not wanting to hear anymore, Jordan pushed past her, heading into the bathroom. They did not need it today. Really didn't. It wasn't Cate's fault it's just that it was all too overwhelming.

Cate sniffled lightly looking at Jude with a solemn gaze "This whole day has just been a lot for me and I don't know if I can deal with it right now. I mean they're saying that Luke's a murderer. Sure I mean he's a lot of things but he wouldn't do this without having a decent reason to."

Jude listened as she continued to speak what was on her mind without even realizing what she was saying. Luke is the type of person to just kill someone without a visible motive seemed unreasonable. Unless when he was at  Brink's office fueled it.

"I don't know why he did it but only time will tell," Jude answers honestly.

Cate was about to say something else when her phone suddenly rang. Excusing herself with a hand, Jude steps to the side and answers the call. Not expecting much she answers "Hello?"

Brows furrowing deeply, Jude was shocked by the person who was calling her on the line but at the same time not surprised. Word goes around that fast "Courtenay Fortney...it's been a while."

Courtenay Fortney is the PR for anything that involves superheroes and supes. Good or bad she'll be there to make sure that you're being covered on the daily news. She's the one who'll set up a photoshoot faster than you can say no. Although her methods are often unrelenting and overbearing, she knows how to get the job done.

Walking towards the building, she simply asks "What do you want?"

✺ Authors Note: To be honest, I looked up stretchy girl's name and only found the actor's name so we're gonna call her by that. So imma do the best with what I GOT.