[center][h1][color=moccasin]Dionne[/color][/h1][/center]
Tuesday started like Dionne’s usual days: Dionne woke up a second or two before her alarm and was out the door several minutes before the bus was scheduled to pull up. Walking to the end of the street, Dionne pulled her phone out and checked her messages. 


‘SCHOOL DANCE ON FRIDAY WE HAVE TO GO!!’ read the message from Ellie. Reading a text from her enthusiastic best friend in the morning always hyped her up for the day, and she quickly sent back a message citing her full agreement.


A car pulled up in front of the stop, causing Dionne to look up in surprise. Her father’s goofy grin awaited her as he waved her inside the car. “Get in, Didi! I’ll drive you. No pretty lady should have to wait for the bus!”


Recovering from her surprise, Dionne gave her father a exasperated smile and got into the car. [color=moccasin]“Dad, you know the bus is still going to swing by to pick me up.”[/color] On the way to school, Dionne shot a quick text to Ellie instructing her to tell the bus driver that Dionne’s ride was covered that morning. [color=moccasin]“Love you dad!”[/color] Dionne said as she exited the car, waving as Aland drove away. Spotting a few people from her usual circles, Dionne grinned and walked over. She had time before the bell rang.


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History only got more and more boring, as evidenced by the packet Miss Lovell passed out. Dionne sighed as she propped her head up on a hand, staring at the text-filled page before her in concentration. The letters rolled around on the page into a blob of incomprehensible phrases and singlets, and for all Dionne knew the page could have been talking about flying pigs and she wouldn’t have known the difference.


[i]Damn it, we’re not doing this right now,[/i] Dionne thought, sighing and looking back at the page with more concentration this time. The letters let up a bit, shifting closer to their original positions as Dionne relaxed in relief and began reading. 


“Ahem!” Mrs. Lovell said, clearing her throat to get the class’ attention. The words in front of Dionne fled from the page, meshing themselves together into gibberish again as the girl swallowed a groan and looked to the lady who’d caused the mess. Mrs. Lovell was looking right back at her, scarlet eyes wide and angry. 


[i]Wait,[/i] Dionne thought, brain doubling back as she flicked her eyes back to the teacher’s face, [i]scarlet?[/i] But the teacher’s eyes were their usual murky brown color, and Dionne shook the thought off.


“Today we read about the Lamia, class,” Mrs. Lovell said, slapping the paper onto her podium and crossing her arms. “Can anyone tell me something they know about the… Legend of the Lamia?”


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[@DFA]