this is so late 😭
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Taegan woke up in a cold sweat that night. She made sure to catch herself before she threw her body off of the twin bed. Her breathing was still staggered, hugging herself a bit too tightly she lifted herself from the ground.

It had all felt so real, her dream.

The hands felt as if they were on her skin once again, making her fear for her health both mentally and physically.

Washing her face in her bathroom, she looked up and into the reflection of herself in the mirror. She was pale, mouth dry and the lack of sleep evident in her features.

She needed a drink. Something to bring her back to reality and remind her that all was in the past and she'd healed as best she could.

The creaking of her door always sounded so loud in the middle of the night. She felt like the soft thump of her feet could wake her best friend in the room across hers.

The images of the nightmare she had been woken up from continued to play in the background of her thoughts.

A familiar figure, one that her heart feared, coming towards her. It seemed as if the figure would drag her back in time and take her to a place she never wanted to return to.

Back when things were ugly. Taegan had found one real thing. She had loved someone with her heart, soul, and mind. Giving herself up as a vulnerable piece of art only to be turned into a blank canvas. It was long until she found herself again. Thankfully she had Joy along the way. She couldn't have done it without her, and she knew well Joy wouldn't do well without her either.

Taegan opened a cabinet full of cups, taking one into her hand and setting it on the counter. She took the water jug from the fridge and poured some into her cup before gulping it down. Sighing, she rinsed the cup in the sink and placed it on the dish rack beside her.

Taegan heard the faint close of a door and suddenly a squinting Joy walked into the room. She draped a blanket around her body, scratching her arm and peering forward.

"Taegan, what the heck?" She looked at the time shown on the stove. "It's like six in the morning we have our first classes in two hours."

"Then why are you up?" Taegan chuckled, trying to lighten herself up.

"I came to ask you that."

"Just needed water."

"That sounds delicious right now. Can you give me a glass?"

Taegan grabbed Joy a cup of water and she sipped it slowly. "So will you tell me why you're really up? You're usually still a snoring warthog around this time."

"Says the snorer with asthma." Taegan scrunched her nose.

"It's not that bad anymore!" Joy whined.

Taegan laughed softly. "I just had a nightmare."

"What was it about?"

"Rosie."

Joy clicked her tongue, wobbling back and forth on her feet. "You okay?"

"Yeah. It felt a little too real but it's no big deal. Just a dream."

Joy sighed. Sometimes Taegan would cover up her true feelings about certain situations but Joy never felt like she needed to pry. Yet something about this one had her worrying a little more.

After Rosie, it had taken a lot for Taegan to move on. The forgive and forget crap didn't seem to work. Joy couldn't blame her, how could you forget such vulnerability and love turned to toxicity?

"You can talk to me, y'know," Joy said, lifting one side of her lip in a small smile.

"I know," Taegan replied. "When I need you I'll come."

"I'll see you tomorrow morning then?"

"Bright and early. Goodnight."

"Night, holler if you need me."

After another drink of water, Taegan crawled back into the snug warmth of her bed. She found herself staring into the darkness until her eyes gave up on her and brought her to sleep.

***

TAEGAN

My alarm clock didn't go off yet still I was woken up. Joy pulled my sheets off me like I would let that stop me from getting more sleep in. I'm the type of person to hibernate rather than sleep, it's a gift.

"Taegan, I don't wanna be those kids who're late to their classes. Get your ass up." She deadpanned and I noticed she was already dressed. Her hair was slightly curled with a plain baby pink shirt with a blazer and white jeans, her favorite pearl earrings and her diamond ring. No, not an engagement but a ring her father gave her on her sixteenth birthday in Bora Bora.

I definitely wasn't going to that but I heard the views were nice.

I arch my back and smirked, "Is this high enough for you daddy?"

"You're fucking disgusting."

"Only for you daddy!" I start shaking my ass and she doesn't hesitate to smack it. It stung like hell and now I was really awake. Joy smiled and folded the sheet before throwing it at my face.

"Hurry up and get dress." She turned around to walk off but stops in her tracks. "Also, please don't wear that damn dog collar you bought on Adam and Eve."

I stood up and stretched, "It's a choker."

"It's an abomination."

"So is that blazer."

Joy flips me off and walks out of my room.

***

I wore the choker.

Joy was red the entire walk to class, which we were on time for while everyone was practically eyeing my outfit. It wasn't like I wore anything bad, it was just a leather jacket and a short skirt with black lipstick.

"I swear, I'm gonna burn that thing when we get home." Joy whispered as we took our seats in the middle row.

"Oh yeah? Try getting it off me."

"I'll put up fight, don't underestimate me."

"Aww, so you wanna fight me in bed?"

"I'm questioning this friendship." Joy groans while I laugh and turn my attention to the professor's chair. It was empty and class just started.

"Does anyone know where this teacher is?" I heard from behind me.

"How can you be late to your own class?"

"I wouldn't be mad though, have you seen his face? I would love to sit on that thing."

Joy and I looked at each other, "Gross."

"Alright high schoolers, take a seat."

The smooth and deep voice came from the front of the class. Everyone seemed to settle down and took their seats. There stood the professor, dark raven hair with a black turtle neck and trench coat. His entire outfit reminded me of some big shot musician. The way he walked around the desk and leaned against it screamed superiority.

"I'm gonna skip the introductions, except for mine and say this straight away," He smiled. It was a warm welcoming smile that seemed to lighten the mood.

His smile immediately dropped, "You're all losers."

"Huh?" I said on accident. He looked at me and I quickly shut my mouth.

"You heard me." He raised his eyebrow, particularly at me, observing me like a damn hawk. I'll be honest I felt intimidated but not enough to make me walk out this classroom.

"Losers; losers destined to win at something. It may not be what you want to win at but it's at your grasp. Your championship, that thin gold medal you'll wear around your neck like a scarf," He chuckled and rolled his shoulders back.

"My job here is to make you become winners. See, you all don't realize the power you have today and it's my job to help you see it. I don't ask for anything but respect and that you receive it back as upcoming scholars. This won't be any ordinary writing class." 

I can practically see the excitement on Joy's face right now. She likes a challenge and this guy just might give it to her.

"You're all allowed to ask about me around campus, the seniors know me well enough that I only have one rule in this classroom." The man started to walk back and forth slowly like some old monk. It was interesting really, the way he carried himself as if he was the wise man in a story.

"The minute you step foot through those doors," he pointed behind him, "you abide by this rule." There was this small pause and he seemed to look at me directly when he said his next words.

"You push past your comfort zone. No matter what." This time he smirked and I didn't know whether or not I should have smiled or hid my face.

"I'm Professor Min, welcome to English 101."

He got a standing ovation and we hit the books immediately. After a while we got a break seeing how long this class was. Everyone seemed to talk to someone. The minute I turned to Joy her focus was on someone else. I looked to the left behind her and saw it was the mafia guy at the party.

He was staring right at her while she looked back. He jokingly sent her a kiss and the blush on Joy's face was real.

"If you don't get up and go talk to the boy." I nudged her to get up and she held onto her seat.

"Are you sure? We've only been on one date." She bit her lip and looked behind her. The guy tilted his head, calling her over and she damn near croaked.

"I can't—I mean what if he wants to kiss me or something."

"Or propose."

"You can propose that early in a relationship!?" Joy shouted and made a few heads turn her way. I smiled awkwardly and flicked her forehead.

"For a straight A student, you're a straight fool."

"You're not even straight at all."

"Which makes me the lovable gay friend in the book sweetheart. Now go." This time I pushed her out her seat, she almost tripped over her own two feet standing back up.

"Wish me luck," She sent me two thumbs up and whispered. I shook my head when she greeted him with a bow. He got a good laugh out of it and she sat next to him.

I pulled my phone out to search for anything to do during break. I wanted to check my notes but writer's block was on my ass. Instagram or any other social media was boring right now.

And as usual ads popped up in while I clicked them away. I paused, my thumb placed over a post that immediately caught my attention.

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