Chapter Text
Mary looked at her uniform and frowned at the skirt. That stiff ugly thing might be her current sworn enemy.
“It's the right size,” her mother had said when they bought the uniform sets a week ago.
Mary had complained internally, but despite her distaste for the boxy looking thing, she would have to accept wearing it for the rest of her high school years. A shame, really. Her middle school uniform was cuter, maybe one of the only nice things she'd miss about the all girl's school.
“Are you ready honey?” her mother called somewhere in the house. “It’s nearly seven. Breakfast's ready.”
Mary sighed and turned her back to the mirror, grabbing her backpack and coat and heading to the kitchen. The smell of scrambled eggs and coffee filled the air like any other day in their new routine. There was a full mug and a plate of papaya waiting for her as well.
“You look cute,” her mom smiled.
Mary didn’t say anything, but deep down she found it sweet that her mom at least tried. Both of them knew that skirt had no salvation.
They shared a quiet breakfast. The silence was comfortable and relaxing, a feeling Mary would probably never get tired of. Seeing the sun shine through the kitchen as they moved on with their early morning was comforting, like the world knew they deserved a nice day. Mary put on her converse shoes carefully, still smug about her very thorough customization job. At least one thing about her outfit was looking perfect! Looking up, she also watched as her mom gave herself last finishing touches, applying the shade of lipstick that had quickly become a staple of her looks in the last few months.
“Can I put some on?” Mary asked, still kneeling on the floor.
Her mother stopped the motion and looked at her through the mirror for a few seconds too long before nodding. Mary stood up swiftly and stopped in front of her mom.
“Just a hint of color,” her mother said, smudging the red shade sparingly over her daughter’s lips.
Looking at the entrance hall mirror, Mary blended the color with her finger. Her mother applied another layer on her own lips, the contrast between them very stark.
“We could go shopping this weekend,” her mom commented as they left the house. “Get you your own lipstick, I think you’re old enough now.”
Mary perked up at that. “Really?”
“Really. I'll even let you pick a bold color.”
“Even if it's a dark red? Or a plum color?” Mary tested, still not believing she would finally be allowed make up!
Her mother seemed to think a little bit, but nodded and Mary suddenly really wanted to skip four days and go straight to the weekend. A plum lipstick of her own would be great.
“Come on,” her mom called. “You can’t be late for the first day of high school!”
Walking together to the bus stop was nothing new in their current lives, but that particular day her mom insisted on waiting for the school bus with Mary instead of going to her own bus stop the next street over.
“I’m fine, mom. You’re gonna be late for work,” She protested quietly but still held onto her mother's arm.
“Kate will open the clinic today,” her mom smiled. “Don’t worry.”
Sure, I’m definitely less worried now! Mary thought in mockery but decided not to bring that discussion up again so soon.
Thankfully, the bus wasn't late on the first day and in less than ten minutes Mary was waving her mother a goodbye and getting in.
Inside, there were only a few people. Luckily, in this scenario, Mary would get to pick up a seat every morning instead of taking whatever was available or actually remain standing until they reached school. Ah, the perks of living nearly thirty minutes away from school. Something had to be positive about moving to the outskirts of town and consequently live far away from every single fun place in town.
Popping her earbuds, she picked her latest favorite pop rock playlist mix and let the mind wander in relative peace before the chaos of the first day of school started.
She tried hard not to think about going back to a mixed school after years studying at the same place. Tried not to worry about the fact she'd have to make new friends entirely, or should she say try and fail miserably? Making friends wasn't something that came easy to her. Trish was the only one she really connected to quickly and luck like that didn't strike twice.
Oh, Trish. She'd miss her a lot. At this time, they'd be engaging in their routine fashion judgement. Betting on who would get dress coded and who should have been but was clearly spared due to daddy's money. Now their hang outs were severely limited by distance and time.
“I’m gonna miss you,” she had said to Mary a few days ago. “High school won’t be the same without you there.”
Mary tried not to let her mood worsen at the reminder. She had cried enough over the school change. Instead, she focused on the landscape turning from green to gray as they approached the main town area.
The ride wasn't smooth at all as more people stomped inside the bus and the aircon began to struggle. If she turned off her music, chatter sounds would dominate the air as people interacted happily after the longer yearly break.
Mary didn't know anyone there. Maybe some of them were in kindergarten with her but nobody looked like their kindergarten self anymore so how was she supposed to recognize them? Face after face, the students showed up and the bus was packed by the time they neared the school. She decided to stop looking at them before she went mad. Who can make friends on a bus anyway? The girl sitting beside her was clearly not interested in talking.
Redgrave High School didn't look any special. Just two large one-story buildings with a courtyard where a bunch of teens gathered and stomped on the grass. There was also staff ordering them around, as usual. Mary waited for the others to leave the bus before making her way out and stepping onto the pavement with an uneasy feeling threatening to rise.
Last year, she had left the car in anger and frustration, and she had Trish to make her smile and forget the bullshit at home for a few hours. Now, she was a new girl and had nobody there to turn to. On the other hand, she wasn't angry, and Bullshit wasn't living at home with her anymore. She could survive high school. Just four more years!
To avoid the sun, she crossed the courtyard to find shelter inside and look for her assigned locker. The good thing about other people there already knowing each other was that they were too busy trying to catch up outside, and Mary could wander calmly inside and look at the locker numbers in peace.
They were not nearly as good quality as the ones her old school provided, but she couldn't ask much. Besides, this school apparently allowed students to decorate them. Mary had so many handmade stickers at home. Oh, and her new Paramore mini cut outs would be perfect to glue on the inside. It would make things all colorful and yet gloomy enough for her liking.
Stuffing her things inside, Mary heard voices down the hall, but kept her focus on organizing folders and notebooks with too much precision for her level of default messiness.
“You won't make a good impression with this sour face, you know?” A voice that disregarded quietness could be heard somewhere on her right.
A boy’s voice. It didn't sound like it was talking to her, so she didn’t look away from her task.
“Don't project your deficiencies on me, brother,” a seemingly annoyed and lower register voice replied.
She heard the first boy snicker despite the insult. That's when Mary decided to look out of curiosity.
Down the hall, side by side and with their backs facing her, were obviously two boys messing with their own lockers. Both were wearing the sophomore colors, though they looked a bit too tall for 15 year olds. Mary didn't really care about it since she was also taller than other girls in her class, but there was a defining characteristic that stopped her on the tracks: Both of them had white hair. Not blond or bleached hair. Natural, pure and almost silver white hair.
Huh. It can't be, right? It was probably a coincidence. A really, really coincidental coincidence.
As if feeling her gaze, one of the boys, the one with the longer and edge-lord-type hair, turned his attention towards Mary.
Great. You were caught staring at two boys on your first day of high school where nobody knows you! Congratulations, Mary!
Although she tried her best to keep a cool appearance, the poor girl would later be embarrassed about what happened next.
The white haired boy visibly grinned and waved at her. And that motion was far too familiar.
“Hey!”
In horror, Mary witnessed as he began to walk towards her, a grin spreading on his pale features.
Oh, no! This is not happening today!
She quickly slammed her locker door shut, locked it and turned on her heels with lightning speed to hopefully escape.
Not a coincidence, not a coincidence!
She spotted the bathroom and mentally praised her heavenly namesake that it was unlocked. Quickly, Mary entered and locked herself inside a bathroom stall, afraid the boy was stupid or crazy enough to actually get in there.
“Okay, fuck,” she cursed, sitting on the closed toilet seat.
Mary should have known that having a good hair day meant something else would be bad. She thought the ugly skirt was the universe's negative compensation for her frizz free hair and perfectly styled bangs. Apparently, it wasn't enough to balance things out.
Dante Sparda had to be the first familiar face she found in this godforsaken high school.
And she hated his guts!
_____
The first day of Sophomore year didn’t sound exciting at all. But to be fair, school was never exciting, at least not since he left elementary level and studying was all they did. Unfortunately, Dante had to go to that place because his mother said so, but if he could choose he’d enroll in online school. He had tried to convince his mom how good it would be for him, but she wasn’t impressed by his last minute slideshow of Why Dante should attend Online High School.
“Besides, Vergil would study on his own,” she said after firmly and still nicely rejecting his point. “And the two of you should be united.”
Dante could almost hear and feel Vergil’s eyes roll all the way from the kitchen. Still, his brother did not say anything mean, at least not in front of their mother.
“Yeah, you’re right,” Dante grinned, making sure his voice was loud enough for his brother to hear. “Vergil would be lost without me. I guess I’ll have to sacrifice my mental sanity.”
So, he was getting ready for one more year of annoying rules and people. He was so excited. Yay.
“Dante,” his mother called again, her voice losing her usual soft and patient tone.
“Coming!” he replied again, still fighting his backpack strap. Maybe he should have listened to her when she asked them to tidy their school bag the day before. That thing was jammed. “Ugh. Forget it.”
He nearly flew downstairs with a crooked backpack slung in one arm. In the kitchen, the table was already empty aside from a covered plate and steamy mug of coffee for Dante. Most likely everyone else ate already. Yep, he was late.
Ugh, Vergil’s going to be insufferable.He thought, sitting down and inhaling the food as fast as he could.
“Slow down,” his mother warned without even looking at him.
He pretended to, but his eyes caught movement as Vergil crossed the living room to find his shoes. Outside, a car engine purred to life. His dad was paranoid about being late, which is ironic.
“Why is your bag crooked?” his mother asked as he put his dishes on the dishwasher. He didn’t reply. “Dante!”
He grinned and quickly kissed her cheek. “See you at lunch. Bye!”
Dante bolted out of the kitchen before she could scold him more. He put his shoes on without untying the laces and nearly smashed his head on the doorframe as he lost balance momentaneously.
On the driveway, his dad’s car was already waiting for him, already parked on the road, and Vergil had taken the front seat.
“It was supposed to be my turn!” he protested knocking on the window. “You got the front seat last time!”
His brother ignored him on purpose and Dante huffed, opening the back door and getting in the car, but making sure to ‘accidentally’ kick the passenger seat strongly enough to bother his brother’s reading.
Vergil turned and sent him a death glare. Dante held the stare with a mocking one.
“You were the one late,” his brother argued.
“The two of you are far too old to be fighting over the front seat,” his father commented. “Establish a better relaying system.”
Vergil, pretending to be his usual righteous and more ‘mature’ self, turned away and went back to reading. Dante rolled his eyes and nearly melted on his seat.
“Do you remember where the school is?” he asked pointedly.
From the rearview mirror, his dad looked at him with no particular anger or upset feelings. Just dad.
“I remember it perfectly, Dante. Thank you for the question.”
The ride was silent. It wasn’t uncommon for that to happen since both his dad and Vergil were fond of the quiet mornings, but Dante wasn’t against it either. Still, he preferred when their mother drove them to school, she’d let him pick the songs and hum along. Aside from her, nobody else in that family shared the same music taste as him.
In a few days things will go back to normal anyways. From the clothes his dad was wearing, he was most likely going to another trip.
So much for spending more time at home.
Dante looked through the window, seeing as the morning sunrays illuminated the top of the trees. The green area of his neighborhood soon transformed into the stone and concrete jungle of the downtown area. People walked around with their dogs and others were cycling or jogging. Some students walked to school as well, living significantly closer than he and his brother did.
There was a particular street they crossed that always held posters about future events in town, and it was Dante’s favorite thing. Even after four years since they moved back to Redgrave, he still got excited over the newest gaming, skating or music event happening. It was one of the only moments he really got to make friends that liked things he did, a stark contrast to being a loner back when they lived in Fortuna.
“Well, here we are,” his dad announced, entering the school parking lot. “See you boys in a few days. Behave and be good to your mother.”
Vergil nearly saluted. “We will, father.”
“Got it,” Dante replied, opening the door and stepping onto the sidewalk.
School was getting fuller as more and more people arrived earlier than usual. People gathered with their friend groups and chatted away on the courtyard, some had crazy ass tans going on, nearly orange, and others clearly burnt.
“Looks like some people forgot sunscreen exists,” he mumbles under his breath.
His brother stepped beside him, both watching their dad’s car drive away.
“We should enter before the rest of them have the same idea,” Vergil sighed as if his life was being drained just from being around society.
Dante shrugged but followed his brother anyway. One of the funniest moments in life was watching people greet Vergil, especially girls, and watch him nearly dissolve in annoyance.
“Do not,” his brother said through gritted teeth as soon as he noticed Dante’s snickering.
“Come on!” he complained, turning a corner to their usual locker placement. “You won't make a good impression with this sour face, you know?”
They opened their respective lockers. Vergil’s was neat, bland and boring while Dante’s was a mess of papers and notebooks, the metal structure scribbled in permanent ink pen, which wasn’t really allowed but nobody would find out until he left school anyways. He had tried to customize Vergil’s locker but the asshole would rip the stickers away every single time!
“Don't project your deficiencies on me, brother,” Vergil said, sorting his notebooks meticulously while Dante simply shoved everything in without a single thought. Nobody cared about books on the first day of school. Teachers always pull that ‘let’s introduce ourselves’ thing anyway!
Dante snorted at his brother’s answer. Yeah, sure. I’m definitely the only one with popularity problems!
He closed his locker and from his peripheral vision, noticed someone near the end of the hall, across from them. Dante narrowed his eyes once he realized it was nobody he recognized from last year. The girl had very black short hair, kinda mesmerizing color. She was tall and lean as well. Athletic, actually, probably a sporty girl? Well, the point is: she looked really cute. There was something familiar about her but Dante couldn’t quite put a finger on it, so it sparked his curiosity.
She looked their way and the familiar feeling struck him even harder. He definitely knew this girl somehow! He needed a closer look.
“Hey!” he called, waving at her.
Naturally, Dante wanted to talk to her like any normal person approaching a new student. He even tried his best to sound friendly, but apparently he miscalculated something. As soon as he took a few steps in her direction, the girl just hurriedly closed her locker and nearly bolted away like a mad dog was about to chase her.
What the…
Behind him, Vergil snickered. The annoying bastard!
“And I’m the one giving a bad impression,” his brother mocked.
Dante felt his face heat up and he refused to turn around and give Vergil a reason to mock him even more.
“Let’s get to commons already,” he mumbled, still embarrassed but thankful nobody else had seen Dante Sparda scare a girl away.
Damn, I just wanted to say hi.