"Hey, Cassie," Haley said, aiming for casual and landing somewhere in the vicinity of someone trying really hard to look cool.
Cassie was stunned, not because of Haley, although the latter was exactly the kind of shiny, popular sophomore who normally existed in a different dimension from someone like her. She was stunned because the glowing blue panel had materialized in front of her face again for the second time this week.
[System Interface Initialized]
[Choice 1 — The Reserved Acknowledgment:
You glance up briefly, offer a small, polite smile like you're acknowledging a coworker you don't really like but have to be nice to, and say, 'Hey,' before returning to your very important task of existing.
Reward: Improved Fine Motor Control (Hands)]
[Choice 2 — The Warm Engagement:
You stop what you're doing, give her your full attention like a normal human person, and offer a genuine smile that suggests you might actually enjoy talking to another human being.
Reward: Enhanced Vocal Cord Elasticity & Control]
[Choice 3 — The Anxious Fumble:
You jump like she just caught you googling 'how to survive high school' and blurt out whatever embarrassing thought is currently rattling around your brain.
Reward: Improved Autonomic Nervous System Recovery (Heart Rate)]
It had been exactly one week since the memories of her other life had crashed back into her with the force of a tidal wave.
One week since she had woken up with a gasp, suddenly remembering she was also Cassie. Twenty-eight, a lonely copywriter in a dying world.
It felt like a fever dream, or a movie she'd once seen. But the memories were too sharp, too detailed, too painfully real to be anything but true.
One week since she'd gone from being a fairly straightforward, if tragically depressed, fifteen-year-old goth to a girl with the emotional baggage of two full lifetimes.
She remembered the grey, hopeless skies of her old world, the constant anxiety about money, and a war that felt inevitable.
And now she was back here, in a world where the biggest crisis was a certain Martin Channing's rumored mistress. It was like recovering from a long, terrible illness.
The world felt brighter, sharper, and impossibly fragile.
Although the system panel was very clear, Cassie didn't have time to carefully weigh her options; standing there staring at nothing would definitely make her seem weirder than she already looked, so she went with her gut.
"Hey, Haley," she said, and then tacked on a smile that probably looked more like she was bracing for impact than being friendly. "Is there something you need?"
[Choice 2 Selected: The Warm Engagement.
Rewards: Enhanced Vocal Cord Elasticity & Control.]
A strange little ripple went through her throat, like someone had just massaged her vocal cords with a warm washcloth. It lasted about a second, and then it was gone.
Huh? Okay, it felt cool. She could work with that. It was one of many new, strange perks that had started showing up along with the memories.
"Uh, actually," Haley said, shifting her weight and looking suddenly like she'd rather be anywhere else, "we would like to ask for your help concerning the Sadie Hawkins dance."
Did she lose a bet? The twenty-eight-year-old part of her thought, and she almost laughed out loud at the mental image. The fifteen-year-old part was just completely, utterly bewildered.
"You want my help," she said slowly, just to make sure her ears weren't malfunctioning, "for a dance."
Haley nodded, visibly gathering confidence like she was putting on a second layer of mascara. "Yeah! Okay, so, like, my friends and I are going as a group, right? But we thought it would be so unique and edgy to have, like, a theme. You know? Something dark and romantic."
She gestured vaguely at Cassie, at her black lace gloves, her silver ankh necklace, her dark, perfectly-lined eyes that the twenty-eight-year-old Cassie had to admit she'd kind of nailed this morning.
"We thought you'd be the perfect person to help us plan it out. Costume ideas, music, the whole vibe. You know, gothic romance."
Ouch.
Cassie wasn't sure if she should be offended or flattered. The aesthetic was undeniably hers. It always had been, even before the memories returned.
But still, gothic romance consultant wasn't exactly the career path she'd envisioned for herself. Either time around.
She shook her head, gentle but firm. "I appreciate the invite, but this really isn't my thing."
Because here's the thing: she was fifteen, but she'd also been twenty-eight. She'd already done high school, survived it, and spent the next decade figuring out who she actually was.
She didn't feel like spending her real, actual, miraculously-given second chance playing party planner for the popular kids.
Haley didn't find it strange that Cassie rejected her invitation; it would be weirder for the loner girl to suddenly be all friendly.
She smirked, the kind that says I know it.
"Figured you'd say that." She shrugged, already turning to go. "Worth a shot, though. Later, Cassie."
And then she was walking away, ponytail swinging, shoulders set in that particular way popular girls had.
That was it? No pressure, mockery, or "oh my god, she actually thinks she's too good for us" whispered loudly enough to carry? Cassie watched her go, a strange smile on her face. Yup, she may have simply lost a bet.
She didn't dwell on it though because sometimes, teenagers are really hard to understand. Better figure out how to make the best of everything in her second life.
•••
Haley walked back, keeping her pace measured, her expression carefully neutral because she'd learned years ago that the trick to looking confident was controlling what people could read on your face.
Give nothing away, and they'd assume you were in control.
Inside, though, she was feeling a complicated relief mixed with a weird sense of guilt.
When she'd volunteered, well, when she'd been voluntold, to approach Cassie, she'd braced for the worst.
The goth girl had a reputation, didn't she? Intense, unfriendly, the kind of person who could make you feel stupid just by looking at you.
Haley had spent the entire walk over running through worst-case scenarios in her head. What if Cassie laughed at her? What if she said something cutting and humiliating in front of everyone? What if she went full creepy and made Haley feel like prey?
But Cassie hadn't done any of that.
Cassie had looked at her like she was genuinely surprised to be spoken to. Like the idea of someone wanting her help was so absurd she had to check if she was hearing things. And then she'd said no, politely and gently.
This really isn't my thing.
The words echoed in Haley's head as she approached her friends, who were clustered by the water fountain trying very hard to look like they hadn't been watching the entire interaction.
Lauren spotted her first, eyebrows lifting in silent question. Jessica and Brittany turned in unison, like meerkats sensing movement.
"Well?" Lauren asked.
Haley considered her options. She could play it cool, make a joke, brush the whole thing off. That was the script.
"She said no," Haley said simply.
Brittany snorted. "Wow, truly shocking, Hmph."
"Did she do the thing?" Jessica asked, "The thing where she stares at you like you aren't worthy to talk to?"
"No." Haley frowned. "She was... normal. She said she appreciated the invite but it wasn't her thing."
Three pairs of eyes blinked at her.
"Normal?" Lauren repeated, skepticism dripping from the word. "Cassidy March being normal?"
"I know what I saw." Haley crossed her arms, suddenly defensive in a way she couldn't quite explain. "She was polite and smiled. Well, kind of smiled. It was more like she was bracing for me to throw something at her, but still polite."
The girls exchanged glances. The kind of glances that said uh-oh, Haley's gone soft.
"Well," Lauren said, drawing the word out, "at least you tried. We'll figure something else out. Maybe we can just Pinterest some gothic stuff and call it a day."
"Yeah," Haley agreed. "Probably for the best."
(END OF THE CHAPTER)
Roughly what I have in my mind, and for info, the world is too much of a mashup and AU, you are prevented.