Running Through My Head (open)

[Momoe Ogawa]

It was almost like a dream, summer come to a cold end and Momoe was finding herself standing in front of the school gates, gazing towards the building. Dressed in the uniform, she thought that she should feel different from being in middle school but no other feeling but the clear sign nervousness fluttering within her stomach. Taking a deep breath, feeling that this huge change in her life should be a good memory, the young girl forced a gentle smile on to her face. She took one step forwards, a single breeze brushing against her bare legs, causing her skirt to sway back and forth. As she wandered slowly, growing closer towards the building with other students going on the same journey as she was, Momoe's thoughts wandered towards her friends from middle school, most of them had been accepted into Nyuushin but only a few had moved back to the mainland. It was a sad thing to become apart from them but this was a new chapter in her life and she wanted to make the best of it.

"You, there," Momoe heard someone call from behind her but at first, she didn't think it was directed towards her so she continued to bring herself towards the entrance of the school, "Hello, we're talking to you!"

Momoe stopped in her tracks, feeling that they were talking to her but she thought to herself, Why would anyone want to cause trouble on the first day of school? Her straight black hair caressed her shoulders as she spun her head to discover a group of three slightly taller girls, staring directly at her. A little shocked, Momoe opened her mouth to speak, "Wh-what?"

"You shouldn't have your skirt so high up, it's disgusting, pull it down," the one at the front said.

Momoe raised her eyebrows and gazed down towards her skirt, it was slightly above her knees but it wasn't inappropriate, "I don't see what you're talking about. Anyways, I have to be going... I--" Momoe turned herself away from the older girls, believing that they were being ridiculous; it was as if they were just bothering her for the sake of a fight.

But before Momoe could even break herself away from the other females, she felt a tug on her school bag, "Don't talk back to me."

"What?" Momoe bit her lip and glared at them, unsure of what to do. She was always told to ignore those that wanted to create conflict and her parents would be greatly disappointed in her if she had gotten into a fight. Although, Momoe's anger couldn't be completely suppressed, she managed to look away from the other student in order to keep herself from slapping her in defence. "Just leave me alone..."

"Leave you alone, huh? Why would I do that?"

Finally fed up with the other's antics, Momoe pushed the girl away from her with all the strength that she could in those few moments and began to run the direction of the school, not caring about how dirty her fancy black strap-on shoes. Pulling open the entrance door, Momoe pushed herself through the sea of students but eventually found that she was colliding into someone because she couldn't control her speed.

[Jezebel Locke]

Half lidded ruby eyes slowly roamed the wide expanse before them. The high school was, one could say, crowded. That was putting it lightly, of course. Hundreds of adolescents milling around, hormones out of check as they brushed by one another.

With a whimsical sigh, Jezebel recalled her own promiscuous wild days as a teenager.

The intricate hem of the woman's dress dragged along the ground behind her, countless belts clinking together with each step. In Jezebel's well-manicured grasp she held a small stuffed creature. Its eyes seemed almost sewn shut in the form of two "x"s, and its mouth was turned into a tiny frown. To counter the almost depressing look, a red ball stood at attention, drooping only slightly on a stick that protruded from the creature's head. This stuffed animal, affectionately dubbed "Moogle", was Jezebel's most prized possession. She never left anywhere without it.

A gentle sigh escaped the woman's lips; it figured the first day of school would be hectic. So much scattered chattering, countless footsteps and baffled looks sent her way (from her attire, no doubt).. It was all so troubling.

Tightly laced leather boots tapped loudly on the tiled floor, coming down with precision and accuracy without missing a beat. This went on for several minutes, Jezebel's hair ornaments swaying and occasionally clicking upon impact. This stopped abruptly of course, upon a small body colliding quite heavily with her own.

Only the smallest of grunts fell from her lips, elegant hands reaching to steady the small form before her. Glancing downwards, Jezebel's gaze fell onto a rather anxious looking young girl. Tilting her head slightly, brunette locks slipping from her shoulders, the librarian peered closely at her.

"Are you alright?" she inquired softly, a single hand rubbing soothingly on the student's shoulder.

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[Momoe Ogawa]

Momoe tilted her head upwards to see more of who was talking to her, she couldn't help but wonder who this person was and feel confused as to why they'd be at the school. But not wanting to appear rude, a false smile appeared on the young woman's face, "Ah," she said with a sigh and a curt nod, "I'm fine... thank you very much." It was her first day of school and she didn't think that she'd want people concerned over her well-being. Giving one glance towards the doorway from which she had come from to see if the girls were there, Momoe was glad to see that there was just too many students in the area to really find her. In the back of her mind, she hoped that her younger siblings were enjoying themselves on their first day of school.

Turning back to the older woman, Momoe bowed slightly with both of her arms straight at her sides, "I'm so sorry for bumping into you, I should've been careful!" Her parents always taught her to be polite so Momoe usually tried to be as well-mannered as possible and compared to some of her peers, she was much too friendly.

Momoe's eyes in a moon crescent shape from the grin spread across her rose-coloured lips, she added as she brushed the black hair out of her own face, "Um, if you do not mind me asking, what class are you teaching, miss?" Momoe hoped that she was in that class because of the woman's kindness but it was clear that if Momoe had first seen the woman without encountering her, she wouldn't have had the same thought and would probably ended up believing the pointless rumours that her friends and peers would've told her. After all, this was the first time she'd seen a grown adult carrying a stuffed animal.

[Jezebel Locke]

"I'm fine... thank you very much."

This was certainly good to hear. With a shake of her head, Jezebel's painted lips quirked upwards into a gentle smile. "No thanks is necessary. I'm only being polite." With a slight twist of her mouth, she continued, "Of course, that isn't so common nowadays.."

It truly was a shame; Jezebel recalled in her days of youth when, though it was quickly falling out of fashion, common courtesy was still present. The brunette could count the number of people on one hand she knew in this day and age that showed a polite attitude to strangers.

"Um, if you do not mind me asking, what class are you teaching, miss?"

With a curious tilt of her head, Jezebel peered gently at the girl. "Ah, I'm not a teacher," she began, and, blinking momentarily, took her hands off of the student, "I'm the librarian," she continued, a kind smile gracing her lips.

No, if she were a teacher she'd no doubt lose her temper from the obscene number of students lolling about in her classroom, disrupting lessons and talking amongst themselves. Which was why the library proved to be exactly what she needed. Calm, quiet, peaceful; everything a woman would need.

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[Momoe Ogawa]

Momoe didn't respond to the older woman's comment about how extinct manners were becoming but softly nodded in agreement, biting her lower lip. Maybe if she had heard this statement just a few moments previously when the slight irritation that had formed within her chest as a reaction towards the bullying girls, she may have said something. But seeing that she had cooled down, she now had the sense not to open her mouth.

Momoe glanced at the clock against the wall, most of the students had come early so then they could get to class on time without getting caught in the crowds, but it seemed that many of them had the same idea and avoiding the cluster of youth was inevitable. "I'm the librarian," was what she heard the other female say. Momoe looked down in slightly disappointed; although, it wasn't as if she would never go to the library. "Is that so? It's been a while since I've read a good book, maybe I'll drop by there one day," she said thoughtfully, pursing her lips and moving all of her weight to lean against on leg. Being a student, there would most likely be times where she'd need to go there.

"I'm new to the high school. I'm Ogawa Momoe," Momoe said with a polite bow, she didn't care whether the adult called her Momoe or Miss Ogawa. "What is your name?" she added, hoping that it didn't sound too rude because she was afraid to repeat the occassion where she had asked an elderly woman for her name and the lady angrily lectured her about it.