[Fear's POV]

I was practically jumping through the whole class.

Or, at least, I would have, if I could muster the energy.

Shade had tried to slip me an energy bar, before Time told her that I was in Phase 4. Shade looked at me for five seconds with empathy before shrugging and eating the bar herself.

With friends like these, what do you need enemies for?

The moment the bell rang for the end of the lesson, I was out of my chair as fast as I could manage.

Snail's pace.

Shade scoffed at me as I tried and failed to make myself walk faster before she motioned for Time to help her drag me out of the classroom.

"Just leave me here," I grumbled as I tried to pull away from them. "Go on without me."

"Shut your whining," Shade gritted her teeth before heaving me onto both of their shoulders before leading me out of the classroom as if I were a puppet.

That gave me an idea.

I waited until a teacher walked past before implementing my plan.

"THIS IS PUPPET ABUSE!" Time bit her lip while Shade started chuckling at me. I ignored the both of them and continued. "I AM A MARIONETTE AND I KNOW MY RIGHTS! I WILL NOT LET YOU TREAT ME LIKE-" Shade literally had enough of me and decided to shove a sock down my throat, stopping me from talking while Time tried to control her laughter as I flailed around. I mouthed around her impromptu gag before flailing listlessly, Time giving the teacher a sheepish shrug while Shade didn't even bother to look at her.

"Nicolas," she said my mortal name slowly. "If you do not stop, I will exchange that perfectly clean sock with a mouldy gym sock."

I immediately just hung limp.

When Healie and Jee bumped into us later, Healie had a hard time trying to be polite and not giggle in my face.

Jee, however, had no such problem.

" Why are you all dragging him around like he's one of those mannequins?" I huffed and glared at her as she only laughed harder. Time just shook her head with a smile as Shade dumped me into one of the chairs by our usual table.

I had no idea what Shade had been expecting, but seamlessly fitting into the group had probably not been it in the slightest. I noted the few times she looked confused at how fast they adapted to her presence, but that's Jee and Healie for you.

I didn't miss the way Jee looked at Time, as if they had to discuss something important. I also didn't miss how they had nodded quietly to Healie, almost as I'd silently communicating something.

"I think we should turn these two into immortallites," I leaned over to whisper into Time's ear. She looked at me with a raised eyebrow as I shrugged. "Just think about it, will you?"

"Fe-Nicolas," she shook her head with a chuckle. "I don't think you need to worry about that too much. Just saying."

I knew from her tone that she probably won't tell me anything else right now, so I leaned back. That didn't stop me from glancing at the two.

Time knows something about them.

But what?

A/N: Thank you PhantomDimGrim for reminding me that I kinda am obligated to finish the story and that I actually do have a few ideas for this story.

(*rustle of calender*)

Uhmm, Happy New Year, I guess. I kinda missed it majorly, but I could care less, so…

Anyway, in celebration of the new year, Time and I were stuck up until 3am cleaning the office of streamers and confetti (blame Fear for going a little wild) while Fate had to deal with all of the sugar to prevent Fear from getting hyper.

I am not amused right now.

But when has that ever stopped me from writing 😂?

Denograde out ;)