Teenage Angst Meets Actual Monsters: A High School Survival Guide Chapter 1

Lately, my deskmate has been giving me weird looks.

Whether we're in the cafeteria or during PE, she always keeps her distance.

Finally, I couldn't hold back anymore and asked her, "Did I do something to upset you?"

She flinched, backing away a few steps, looking around nervously. "No, it’s not you!"

But soon after, she asked to change classes.

I was puzzled and decided to confront her about it, standing at the door of her new classroom.

As I watched, my former deskmate, who had been chatting with others, suddenly started trembling and screamed, "It really has nothing to do with you! Please, just don’t come after me again, I beg you!"

...

I began to notice that my deskmate Quinn had been looking at me strangely.

At first, she just slid her desk a bit further away.

Then, she moved her chair over to the window.

I tapped her shoulder, trying to remind her to pay attention in class.

To my shock, she jumped and fell off her chair.

Terrified, she scrambled up and dashed out of the classroom.

I was completely baffled, wondering if I had unknowingly upset her. I planned to talk to Quinn the next day to clear things up.

But when I arrived the next morning, the seat next to me was empty.

The English teacher reluctantly informed me that Quinn had requested a class change on her own.

Our class was the top-performing one, and Quinn had mentioned multiple times how hard she worked to get in.

For her to switch classes was really strange.

I couldn't help it. After class, I found out where she had transferred to and went there with an expensive gift.

Even if I didn’t know the reason, I wanted to apologize sincerely.

Quinn was sitting by the window, laughing with her new classmates.

As I hesitated by the window, one of her friends nudged her, saying, "Quinn, someone’s here for you."

Quinn’s smile vanished the moment she turned around.

Her expression shifted to one of fear, worse than tears, and her body started shaking uncontrollably.

"Ah— It really has nothing to do with you! Please don’t come looking for me anymore, I’m begging you!"

Seeing her in such a state, the other students quickly urged me to leave.

Defeated, I returned to my classroom with the gift.

Rachel noticed my gloomy mood and guessed how my attempt at reconciliation had gone. She came over and patted my back.

"Just let it go. You shouldn’t force a relationship with someone who doesn’t want it,"

"Your seat is at the front, so the teacher will definitely assign you a new deskmate from the back,"

"Who knows, maybe your new deskmate will be even better?"

I sighed, "I hope so."

Could a new deskmate really get along with me?

The new deskmate assigned to me was named Charlotte. She was really outgoing.

In just two classes, we went from strangers to friends, passing notes and chatting easily. We hit it off right away.

But after lunch, she suddenly went quiet.

When the teacher called on her, the usually lively Charlotte froze for a moment before standing up.

She told the teacher she had been distracted and didn’t know the answer.

The English teacher frowned, "First Quinn, now you. One after another, none of you are focused. What’s going on?"

Charlotte’s gaze seemed to flicker briefly in my direction.

Though it was quick, I noticed it, feeling especially sensitive lately.

I realized Charlotte was also starting to act strangely.

She began avoiding me, both on purpose and by accident.

Even during nap time, when I half-awoke, I caught her staring at me.