Cracks in the Ordinary

The sharp blare of my alarm ripped me out of sleep, and I groaned, rolling over to smack the snooze button. My brain felt foggy, still halfway stuck in yesterday. Belle’s laugh echoed in my head, and I could practically see her smile as she hugged me, her hair brushing my shoulder. I blinked hard, and a wave of heat hit my face when the memory of her kiss—however brief—flashed in my mind.

“Stop,” I muttered to myself, throwing off the covers. I sat up, rubbing my face, but the blush wouldn’t go away. I didn’t have time for this. Then it hit me—I didn’t have time for anything.

“Oh shit!” I scrambled out of bed, realizing I was almost late for school. I grabbed my uniform from the chair in the corner, hopping around as I yanked on my pants, then bolted for the bathroom. After splashing water on my face and brushing my teeth in record time, I dashed down the stairs, nearly tripping over the last step.

The smell of food stopped me short. I grabbed a sandwich wrapped neatly on the counter and started to head out the door, but something nagged at me. I frowned, looking at the sandwich.

“Wait…” I muttered, turning it over in my hands. Who made this? My mom didn’t usually bother with breakfast, and I was definitely too groggy to have done it myself. My heart skipped a beat. Had I just grabbed her sandwich by accident?

I spun around, placing it back on the counter as quietly as possible. “Crisis averted,” I muttered, turning back to the door.

“Wise,” my mom’s voice called from the living room. “The sandwich is yours.”

I froze. “Wait, what? Seriously?”

“Seriously,” she replied, her tone unusually soft. “Just take it. You’re going to be late.”

I didn’t know what to make of that, but I wasn’t about to question it. “Uh, thanks,” I said quickly, grabbing the sandwich again and heading out the door. The cold air hit my face as I swung my leg over my bike, pedaling hard toward school.

By the time I reached campus, I had barely five minutes to spare. I yanked off my helmet, chained my bike to the rack, and sprinted up the stairs two at a time. The hallways were already filling with students, and I muttered apologies as I shoved past groups blocking the way. My locker wasn’t far, and I skidded to a stop in front of it, fumbling with the combination.

Okay, first period, I thought, rummaging through my bag. What do I have again? My timetable ran through my mind like a broken record, and after a few seconds of mental scrambling, I remembered: math. Of course. With her.

I grabbed the necessary books, shut my locker with a sharp clang, and turned to sprint toward class. My legs burned as I pushed forward, the seconds ticking down in my head. When I finally swung open the classroom door, the bell hadn’t rung yet—but just barely.

The teacher, Mrs. Carmichael, gave me a sharp look over her glasses. “Cutting it close, Mr. Harrington.”

“Sorry,” I said with a sheepish grin, scratching the back of my head as I walked toward my seat. My gaze fell on Luca, who was already sitting near the back, waving me over like an idiot. I waved back and made my way toward him, sliding into the desk beside his.

“You’re lucky,” Luca whispered, leaning closer. “Carmichael was about to roast you alive.”

I laughed quietly, trying not to draw attention. “I’ve had enough roasting for a week, thanks.”

Mrs. Carmichael’s voice cut through the classroom, starting her usual monotone lecture, but Luca didn’t seem too interested. He nudged me, his grin widening as he pointed at my bag.

“Nice keychain,” he said, smirking. “Didn’t know you were getting into the holiday spirit.”

I frowned, glancing down. There it was again—the little Santa Claus keychain, dangling from the zipper of my bag. My stomach twisted. I was sure I’d left it on my desk last night.

“When did this—” I started, my voice trailing off. I turned to Luca, lowering my voice. “I didn’t put that there. I don’t even know how it got on my bag.”

Luca raised an eyebrow, leaning back in his chair. “Seriously? Maybe Belle stuck it on there.”

“She didn’t,” I said, shaking my head. “I saw it on my desk before I left. It wasn’t—”

“Mr. Harrington!” Mrs. Carmichael’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts, sharp and unyielding. “Would you like to share with the class?”

I froze, feeling every set of eyes in the room turn to me. “Uh, no, ma’am,” I muttered, sinking lower in my seat.

“Good,” she said, tapping the whiteboard. “Then perhaps you can solve this for us.”

Great. Just what I needed. I stood reluctantly, my mind still stuck on the keychain as I made my way to the board. I hadn’t been paying attention to the lecture, so I stared at the problem in front of me like it was written in hieroglyphics. My classmates chuckled, and I felt my face flush.

I picked up the marker, trying to piece together something—anything—that wouldn’t make me look like a complete idiot. But even as I worked, my thoughts kept drifting back to the keychain, the book, and the ritual.

This can’t be a coincidence.

I didn’t have time to dwell on it. Mrs. Carmichael cleared her throat, her foot tapping impatiently, and I forced myself to focus. For now, the questions would have to wait.

The bell rang, and the collective groan of students escaping Mrs. Carmichael’s class filled the air. Luca and I filed out with the rest of the crowd, his hands stuffed into his pockets as he stretched his neck like he’d been sitting in a torture chamber.

“Man, that was brutal,” Luca said, rolling his shoulders. “I swear she gets some kind of sick joy out of making us solve her impossible math problems.”

“You mean making me solve them,” I muttered, still feeling the sting of humiliation from earlier. “I’m pretty sure half the class enjoyed watching me tank.”

He laughed, clapping me on the shoulder as we headed toward our lockers. “Yeah, but seeing your face when she called on you was worth seeing.”

I shot him a glare, but before I could say anything, the sound of a locker slamming made us jump. We turned to see Belle standing by hers, her face twisted in frustration as she leaned her forehead against the cool metal.

“What’s up?” Luca asked as we approached.

Belle turned, sighing dramatically. “English class is what’s up. Mr. Halsey is convinced that none of us know how to read, so he spent half the period lecturing us on sentence structure. Sentence structure, Luca.”

“Tragic,” I said, smirking. “Truly.”

She stuck her tongue out at me but didn’t lose her usual sparkle. Then her eyes drifted to my bag, and her face lit up. “Oh my gosh, Wise, that’s adorable!”

“What?” I followed her gaze, and my stomach dropped. She was pointing at the Santa keychain again, dangling innocently from the zipper.

“Don’t tell me that’s not the cutest thing you’ve ever seen,” she gushed, touching it. “I didn’t know you were such a holiday guy.”

I stepped back, holding up my bag. “I didn’t put this here, Belle. I don’t even know where it came from.”

She tilted her head, clearly not understanding the issue. “Wait, really?”

“Yeah, really.” My voice lowered as I added, “It was on my desk last night, not on my bag. And I didn’t put it there.”

Before she could respond, my eyes caught something else. Dangling from her own bag, just below her zipper, was another keychain—this one a tiny Mrs. Claus.

“Belle,” I said slowly, stepping closer and pointing. “What’s that?”

She looked down, her brow furrowing. “Huh?” She grabbed the keychain and held it up, her confusion mirroring my own. “I… I don’t know. This wasn’t here before.”

I felt my pulse quicken. “Check it out,” I said to Luca, turning to him. “Look at your bag.”

“What? Why?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Just do it,” I insisted.

He shrugged, hoisting his bag onto the bench and unzipping the front pocket. His eyes narrowed as he pulled out a small keychain shaped like an elf. “What the hell? This wasn’t here before either.”

My stomach churned, and my thoughts immediately spiraled back to last night—the ritual, the way the room had felt wrong, like something unseen had shifted. I opened my mouth to tell them, to explain what I thought might be happening, but I didn’t get the chance.

“Well, well, look who it is.”

The booming voice echoed down the hallway, and I clenched my teeth, instantly recognizing it. Dez.

I turned to see him strutting toward us, Bella hanging off his arm like an accessory. His lackeys trailed behind them, laughing at something one of them had said. Dez’s grin widened when he saw me, his voice dripping with mockery.

“Did you think I forgot about that goal you stole from me, Harrington?” he said, his tone loud enough to turn heads. “Don’t worry—I’m gonna make you pay for it.”

I forced a smile, giving him a nod like we were best friends. “I’m sure you will, Dez.”

Bella blew a bubble with her gum, popping it loudly as she leaned in closer to Dez. “Can we go now? I’m dying from the nerd aura over here.”

The lackeys laughed, but Luca didn’t miss a beat. “Maybe you’re feeling it because you’re too dumb to emit your own.”

Dez’s grin disappeared, replaced by a scowl. He stepped forward, his shoulders squaring as he jabbed a finger at Luca. “That’s my girl you’re talking to, Morales.”

Luca crossed his arms, unfazed. “Lucky you.”

I stepped between them, trying to mediate. “Guys, come on, let’s just—”

Dez shoved me aside, and I stumbled backward into Belle, the weight knocking both of us to the ground. My bag slid across the floor, and I winced as my elbow hit the hard tile.

“Watch it!” Belle snapped, glaring at Dez as she sat up.

Dez scoffed, looking down at us with a smirk. “You two are pathetic.”

Bella cackled, looping her arm through Dez’s. “Let’s go, babe. I can’t take this loser convention anymore.”

Dez gave one last glance at Luca, his eyes narrowing. “I’ll see you later, Harrington. Count on it.”

Bella turned her head as they walked away, tossing a parting shot at Belle. “Keep up the good work being ugly!”

Belle didn’t say anything, but her hands clenched into fists. I could feel her anger radiating off her as I stood and offered her my hand. “You okay?” I asked softly.

She took it, nodding as I helped her to her feet. “I’m fine.”

Luca was still fuming, his hands curled into tight fists. He took a step forward, ready to chase after them, but I grabbed his arm. “Don’t,” I said firmly. “It’s not worth it.”

He looked at me, his jaw tight. “One day, it’s gonna be worth it.”

“Not today,” I replied.

The bell rang, signaling the start of the next class. Belle straightened her bag, her Mrs. Claus keychain swaying as she adjusted the strap. “Thanks, Wise,” she said, her voice softer now.

“Anytime,” I said, giving her a small smile. “See you later?”

“Yeah,” she replied, the faintest hint of a smile on her lips as she walked away.

Luca followed a moment later, brushing past me without a word. As he went, the elf keychain on his bag glinted under the fluorescent lights, catching my eye. My thoughts spiraled again, returning to the ritual, the strange figure at the tent, and the collapse of the black stall.

Something was happening. Something none of us understood. And I had a sinking feeling we weren’t ready for it.

The day passed in a blur. My body was in class, but my mind was stuck somewhere else—trapped in an endless loop of thoughts about those damn keychains. The Santa Claus on my bag, the Mrs. Claus on Belle’s, and the elf on Luca’s. None of us put them there, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that they weren’t just some random prank. My brain kept cycling through what Belle had read from the book, trying to piece together the connection.

“Twelve Trials of Christmas,” I thought, staring blankly at my math worksheet. Sacrifice, trust, endurance… What did the ritual even mean? The words from last night were a haze, but they felt important—like a puzzle I just couldn’t solve yet.

The teacher’s voice droned on in the background, and I scribbled random numbers on my paper, pretending to work. My head buzzed with questions. Why those keychains? Why us? Did it have something to do with the trials? Every thought led to another dead end, and before I knew it, the bell rang, jolting me out of my spiral.

Lunch couldn’t come fast enough. By the time I grabbed my tray and found my usual spot with Belle and Luca, my mind was still racing. I barely noticed the line for food or the chatter of the cafeteria around me. All I could see were those keychains, dangling in my mind’s eye like ominous little clues.

I slid into my seat across from Belle and Luca, staring at my tray but not really seeing it. They tried to talk to me, but their voices were distant, muffled under the weight of my own thoughts.

“Wise?” Luca said, waving a hand in front of my face. “Earth to Wise.”

I didn’t answer. My brain was still stuck, chasing some elusive truth just out of reach.

Belle sighed, resting her chin in her hand as she studied me. “He’s doing the thing.”

“What thing?” Luca asked, leaning closer.

“You know, the thing,” Belle replied. “Like he’s trying to figure out the meaning of life or something. Look at him—he’s in the zone.”

Luca squinted at me, then snorted. “You’re right. He’s got that ‘shut up, genius, I’m almost at the good part’ face.”

I vaguely registered what they were saying but didn’t respond. I was so close to connecting something when it happened.

A hand slipped under my tray, tilting it just enough to send everything toppling forward. The movement startled me so badly that I jerked back in my seat, and my arm flailed instinctively. The next thing I knew, the remains of my spaghetti splattered across Dez Carter’s face.

Time froze. For one horrifying second, I stared at Dez, spaghetti dripping from his hair, his jaw clenched in what could only be described as murderous rage.

“Wise…” Bella’s voice broke the silence, a drawn-out, dramatic “Ooohhhhhh.” She grinned wickedly, leaning against Dez like she was about to watch a show. “You are so dead.”

Dez wiped his face with one hand, his eyes narrowing dangerously. “You’re fucking dead meat, Harrington,” he growled, grabbing the collar of my shirt and yanking me halfway out of my chair.

Panic shot through me as I tried to think of a way out. “Dez, it was an accident! I didn’t—”

“Shut up!” Dez roared, cocking his arm back. I saw the punch coming but had no way to stop it. His fist connected with my face, and stars burst behind my eyes. My head snapped back, and pain radiated across my cheekbone.

“Dez, stop!” Belle’s voice cut through the haze, and I turned my head just enough to see her standing up. No, don’t, I begged her silently. Please, don’t get involved.

She took a step forward anyway, but Dez barely even glanced at her. He raised his fist again, but before he could swing, Bella stepped in front of Belle and shoved her hard. Belle hit the ground with a thud, and I heard the collective gasp of the cafeteria as Bella grabbed a cup of soda from a nearby tray and splashed it all over Belle’s face.

That was it. Something inside me snapped.

I wrenched myself free from Dez’s grip, grabbing the closest thing I could find—a roll of bread with some sauce on it—and hurled it at him. It hit him square in the chest, and I didn’t wait for his reaction. I grabbed another random piece of food and chucked it at the lackeys holding Luca. One of them yelled as mashed potatoes hit his face, and both let go of Luca in the commotion.

“Let’s go!” I shouted, grabbing Belle by the arm and pulling her to her feet. She cradled her other arm as I led the charge out of the cafeteria, Luca on our heels.

“Food fight!” Luca yelled over his shoulder, launching a handful of fries at another table. The cafeteria erupted into chaos as food started flying in every direction.

We ran through the hallway, the noise fading behind us. My heart pounded as I looked around, trying to figure out where to go next. “Where’s the nurse’s office?” I asked Luca.

He looked at me like I’d just grown a second head. “Why—”

“Where is it?” I snapped, glancing at Belle. She was cradling her arm tightly, her cheeks red as soda dripped from her hair. Luca swallowed whatever sarcastic comment he’d been about to make and nodded.

“Down the hall, second door on the left.”

“Thanks,” I said, sprinting in that direction while Luca peeled off toward the staff room.

Belle’s voice was soft, barely audible over the pounding of my feet. “Wise,” she said, her gaze meeting mine. “I can walk, you know.”

That’s when I realized I’d been carrying her the entire time—in a princess carry, no less. My face burned as I nearly tripped over my own feet. “Oh—uh—I mean—I didn’t even—”

Her lips twitched into a faint smile, and I couldn’t tell if she was amused or embarrassed. Maybe both. “It’s okay,” she said, her voice quieter now. “Thank you.”

I opened the door to the nurse’s office and set her down on the nearest bed, my heart still racing. She rolled onto her side, letting out a soft sigh. “That was… a lot.”

“Yeah,” I said, grabbing a towel from the sink and running it under cold water. I handed it to her, and she sat up, taking off her glasses and unwinding her hair to clean herself up.

For a second, I just stared. This was the first time I’d seen her without her glasses, her face framed by loose waves of hair. She wiped the soda off her cheeks, and when she looked up, my breath caught in my throat. She was… beautiful. Not just pretty or cute—beautiful. More than Bella ever could be.

Maybe getting punched in the face was worth it.

“Wise?” she said, snapping me out of it. Her cheeks were still pink, but now I couldn’t tell if it was from the soda or something else.

“Yeah?” I said quickly, hoping I didn’t sound like an idiot.

“Thanks,” she said softly, her smile small but genuine.

“Anytime,” I replied, sitting down in the chair beside her bed. My cheek throbbed, but I didn’t care. For the first time that day, I didn’t feel like I was spiraling.

Belle dabbed her hair with the damp towel, her movements slow and deliberate. The soda had done a number on it, leaving sticky streaks that tangled as she worked. Her lips pursed in frustration as she muttered something under her breath.

Meanwhile, I sat on the bed, wincing as the nurse dabbed ointment around my eye. “It’s going to swell a little,” she said, her tone calm but firm, “but it’ll heal. Just a black eye—you’ll be fine.”

“Great,” I muttered, feeling the sting of the ointment. “That’s just what I needed. Now I’ve got to explain this to my mom.”

“You’ll figure it out,” she replied, already packing away her supplies. “For now, just don’t overdo it. And try to avoid any more fights today, hmm?”

I grunted in response, but before I could think too hard about it, the door opened, and Luca strolled in, dropping himself into the seat next to Belle. “Man, that was insane,” he said, shaking his head like he’d just come out of a war zone.

“How’d it go?” I asked, my voice still hoarse from earlier.

Luca leaned back, a grin creeping onto his face. “Well, Dez got slapped with detention for clocking you. That guy was fuming, but he couldn’t even argue—the whole cafeteria saw it.”

“Good,” I said, nodding. “Finally, some justice.”

“Oh, there’s more,” Luca added, gesturing between the two of us. “We, uh… also have to stay back after school. Clean up the cafeteria.”

“What?” I sat up too quickly and winced, grabbing the edge of the bed for balance. “How is that fair? He hits me, and we have to clean?”

Luca shrugged, clearly unfazed. “Look, I got the teacher, but the food fight counts as our responsibility too. Don’t worry—it’s not as bad as you think. A few trays here and there, some spilled mashed potatoes. We’ll knock it out quick and leave before Dez even finishes his detention.”

I groaned, leaning back against the wall. “Fine. As long as I don’t have to deal with him again today.”

Belle, still working on her hair, sighed dramatically. “At least you don’t have soda in your hair. This is going to take forever to get out.”

Luca tilted his head, watching her for a moment. “You know, I’ve never seen you without your glasses before.”

Belle stiffened slightly, her hands freezing mid-dab. “Oh,” she said softly, looking away. “I guess I don’t take them off much.”

I glanced between the two of them, noting the expression on Luca’s face—a mix of curiosity and something I couldn’t quite place. Belle’s cheeks turned faintly pink, and she focused even harder on her hair. I frowned but decided to ignore it, shifting my weight to stand.

Big mistake. My legs wobbled as soon as I pushed off the desk, and I nearly tipped forward. Luca was on his feet instantly, steadying me with a hand on my shoulder.

“Take it easy,” he said. “You got clocked in the face less than fifteen minutes ago.”

I grunted, lowering myself back onto the bed. “What did I even do to deserve this?”

Luca smirked, crossing his arms. “Well, it was kinda your fault.”

“What?” I shot him a glare. “Come again?”

“It was,” Luca repeated, shrugging. “You were so zoned out, and when Dez grabbed your tray, you freaked. Not that I’m defending him, but…”

Belle chimed in, her voice softer. “You were thinking about something, right? It’s like you didn’t even realize what was happening.”

I looked away, already seeing their point. “Okay, maybe,” I muttered.

They were both still watching me. I blinked. “What?”

At the same time, they asked, “What were you thinking about?”

My stomach twisted. This is what I was afraid of. “Nothing,” I said quickly, shaking my head. “It’s not important.”

“Wise,” Luca said, narrowing his eyes. “Spill.”

Belle tilted her head, her expression softer but no less curious. “Yeah, Wise. Come on.”

I sighed, knowing there was no way out. Reluctantly, I gave them the rundown of my thoughts—the keychains, the ritual, the eerie feeling I couldn’t shake. As I spoke, their expressions shifted from curiosity to something more serious.

When I finished, Belle sat quietly, her towel resting in her lap. “That’s… weird,” she said finally. “Do you think it’s connected? To the trials?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted, running a hand through my hair. “But it feels like it. Like it’s all tied together somehow.”

The day dragged on, but eventually, school let out, and the three of us met at the bike rack. Belle tested her weight on her ankle, wincing slightly as she adjusted her footing.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” I asked, watching her carefully.

“It’s just a sprain,” she said, brushing me off. “No big deal.”

Luca mounted his bike, giving us a quick wave. “Catch you guys tomorrow. Take care, Belle.”

She waved back, and we watched him ride off before heading down the street together. The late afternoon sun was warm on my back, but the day still felt heavy.

“Well,” Belle said, breaking the silence. “Today was… eventful.”

“Yeah,” I muttered, still replaying the cafeteria scene in my head. “That’s one way to put it.”

She smiled, glancing at me sideways. “I have to say, though—you really know how to whisk a girl away.”

I stopped in my tracks, staring at her. “What?”

“You know,” she said, her voice teasing. “Carrying me out of the cafeteria like that? Very bridal of you.”

My face went red instantly. “I—it wasn’t like that! I was just—”

Belle laughed, her eyes sparkling. “Relax, Wise. I’m kidding. But seriously, thank you. For everything.”

“Yeah,” I said, rubbing the back of my neck. “No problem.”

We reached her house not long after, and she turned to me, her smile softer now. “See you tomorrow?”

“Yeah,” I said, nodding. “See you.”

She headed inside, and I stood there for a moment, watching the door close before finally turning to head home. My thoughts swirled as I pedaled down the street, but one thing kept repeating in my head.

What the hell is going on with those keychains?