NORA

Nora**

Mom im ready!

Selma: Okbaby im coming

selma came 5 minutes later

Selma: Did you pack your lunch

Nora : Yes (rolling her eyes)

Selma: Lets go

Nora: and dad?

Selma; He is a bit unwell today, i will get him meds from the pharmacy

Nora :ok

At the school**

Selma : Bye sweety

Nora Bye mom

***

At the school

Selma : Bye sweety.

Nora : Bye mom.

Nora stepped out of the car and adjusted her backpack on her shoulder. The morning air was cool, and students crowded around the school entrance laughing loudly.

Selma watched her carefully from inside the car.

Nora turned back one last time.

Nora : Mom!

Selma : What?

Nora : Don’t forget family week on Friday. Parents are supposed to come.

Selma forced a smile.

Selma : I won’t forget.

Nora grinned and ran toward the gate.

Selma stayed there for a few seconds longer than necessary before driving away slowly.

Inside the school building**

The hallway buzzed with noise. Lockers slammed shut, students shouted to each other, and teachers tried to control the chaos.

Nora reached her locker and struggled with the lock.

Boy’s voice : You’ve been turning it the wrong way for like thirty seconds.

Nora turned quickly.

A tall boy stood beside her holding a football under one arm. He had messy curly hair and an amused smile.

Nora frowned.

Nora : I know how lockers work.

Boy : Clearly.

Nora rolled her eyes.

Nora : Then why don’t you open it, genius?

The boy stepped forward dramatically and turned the lock twice. The locker clicked open immediately.

Boy : Magic.

Nora laughed despite herself.

Nora : Lucky guess.

Boy : Sure.

He leaned against the locker beside hers.

Boy : You’re Nora, right?

Nora looked surprised.

Nora : How do you know my name?

Boy : Ms. Lina talks a lot. Also you answered a question in class yesterday and corrected her math. Nobody forgets that.

Nora smiled proudly.

Nora : She was wrong though.

Boy : Yeah, but teachers hate being corrected.

Nora pulled books from her locker.

Nora : So what’s your name?

Boy : Sami.

Nora : You play football?

Sami looked down at the ball tucked under his arm.

Sami : No, I carry this around for decoration.

Nora laughed again.

Sami : There it is.

Nora : What?

Sami : The laugh. You look serious all the time in class. I wasn’t sure you actually smiled.

Nora pretended to look offended.

Nora : Maybe I don’t like people.

Sami : That hurts. We just became friends two minutes ago.

Before Nora could answer, the first bell rang loudly.

Students immediately began rushing toward classrooms.

Sami started walking backward down the hallway.

Sami : See you at lunch, locker genius.

Nora : Don’t call me that.

Sami grinned before disappearing into the crowd.

Classroom**

Ms. Lina stood at the front writing on the board while students settled into their seats.

Ms. Lina : Alright everyone, quiet down.

Nora sat beside her best friend Layla.

Layla immediately leaned closer.

Layla : Why were you talking to Sami?

Nora blinked.

Nora : I wasn’t “talking” talking.

Layla smirked.

Layla : Mmhm.

Nora opened her notebook quickly.

Nora : He helped me open my locker.

Layla gasped dramatically.

Layla : Romance.

Nora shoved her lightly.

Nora : Shut up.

Ms. Lina turned around sharply.

Ms. Lina : Nora and Layla, do you want to continue your conversation outside?

Both girls immediately straightened up.

Nora : Sorry miss.

Ms. Lina sighed.

Ms. Lina : As I was saying, family week starts Friday. Everyone will present something about their family history. You can bring photos, stories, or even interview your parents.

Several students groaned loudly.

Layla whispered.

Layla : My mom is going to turn this into a three-hour speech.

Nora smiled faintly, but her attention drifted.

Family history.

She suddenly remembered something strange.

Last year, when she asked Selma where she was born, Selma changed the subject completely.

At the time Nora ignored it.

Now it felt odd.

Very odd.

Ms. Lina : Nora?

Nora looked up quickly.