Chapter 1: First Day
Ever since Ivy was a kid, people always had something to say about her hair.
Too thick, Too curly, Too messy. She got it from her father, whose ginger curls somehow made him look effortlessly good. On him, people called it unique. Charming, even. But when it came to Ivy, those same curls became the reason people laughed.
“Spaghetti head.”
That was the nickname they loved using most.
When she was younger, she didn’t really care. Kids used to play with her curls and tell her they looked cool. But the older everyone got, the meaner they became.
Somewhere along the way, curiosity turned into teasing, and teasing turned into cruel jokes she pretended didn’t bother her.
By the time Ivy turned ten, school had become something she dreaded.
She hated mirrors most days. Sometimes, she stood in front of one for minutes, staring at her reflection while tugging gently at her curls, wondering if life would be easier if her hair were straight. Maybe people would stop staring. Maybe they’d stop laughing.
Maybe she’d finally feel normal.
Instead, all she saw was herself.
Messy curls, Frizzy strands. Someone who didn’t fit in.
Before she could sink deeper into her thoughts, her mother’s voice rang through the house.
“Ivy! Hurry up! You’re going to be late for school!”
Ivy groaned loudly, burying her face into her pillow for another five seconds before dragging herself out of bed.
“I’m coming!” she shouted back.
The smell of breakfast drifted upstairs as she slowly made her way down, still half asleep. But halfway down the stairs, she paused.
Familiar dramatic voices echoed from the living room.
“Long ago,” someone said ominously, “a mysterious scientist created a deadly virus that spread across the entire world and wiped out half the population.”
Ivy rolled her eyes immediately.
Ivan.
Of course.
She leaned against the staircase and looked over. Her older brother sat dramatically in front of their younger cousins with a flashlight shining under his chin, making himself look unnecessarily terrifying. The younger kids sat huddled together under blankets, staring at him with wide eyes.
“My great-grandfather survived,” Ivan continued proudly. “Along with many others. They rebuilt civilization and became known as the Asterian people. That’s why this land became Asteria.”
One cousin nervously raised a hand.
“What happened to the scientist?”
Ivan leaned closer, lowering his voice.
“No one ever found them.”
The kids gasped.
Ivy snorted.
“That story gets more dramatic every year,” she muttered.
Ivan turned around instantly.
“Well, look who finally woke up,” he said, standing up dramatically. His eyes moved to her hair before he smirked.
“Wow. Did a tornado hit your head this morning?”
Ivy frowned.
“At least I don’t spend my mornings traumatizing little kids.”
“It’s called storytelling,” Ivan replied proudly.
“Pretty sure that counts as emotional damage.”
Ivan laughed.
That was Ivan.
Annoyingly perfect.
He somehow got the best parts of both their parents. Their father’s height and sharp jawline mixed perfectly with their mother’s golden-brown hair, soft features, and green eyes. People naturally liked him. Teachers loved him, friends followed him around, and somehow he always looked good without even trying.
Meanwhile, Ivy felt like she got whatever traits were left over.
“You seriously going to school looking like that?” Ivan asked while grabbing toast from the kitchen counter.
Ivy looked down at her oversized hoodie.
“What’s wrong with it?”
“You look like you lost hope before first period.”
She rolled her eyes.
“Thanks for the confidence boost.”
“No problem.”
Their mother sighed from the kitchen. “Ivan, stop teasing your sister.”
“I’m helping her,” he said casually.
“You literally called her hair a tornado,” their mother replied.
Ivan shrugged. “Constructive criticism.”
Ivy kicked his leg under the table.
“Ow— okay, rude.”
She crossed her arms and looked away.
School was already stressing her out, and now she had to deal with him too.
After a moment, Ivan looked at her again.
“You brushed it at least, right?”
Ivy narrowed her eyes.
“Can you stop talking about my hair?”
For once, Ivan went quiet.
He scratched the back of his neck awkwardly before muttering, “I’m just saying.. .”
Ivy blinked.
“What?”
“ugh nevermind. ” he said quickly, sounding mildly annoyed at himself for saying something nice. “People are dramatic.”
She stared at him suspiciously.
“You literally called me a tornado.”
“Okay, because it was funny.”
“There it is.”
He rolled his eyes.
“Whatever. Just don’t let random people mess with you, if they do they meet the first of the man”
But before the moment could become too serious, Ivan smirked again.
“Though if your hair doubles in size during lunch, I’m pretending we’re not related.”
Ivy groaned.
“You’re impossible.”
“And yet, I’m still your favorite sibling.”
“You’re my only sibling.”
“Exactly.”
Before leaving the kitchen, Ivan quietly placed the last chocolate muffin onto her plate.
He didn’t say anything about it.
Just walked away like it never happened.
Ivy frowned slightly.
The school gates felt larger than Ivy remembered.
Students crowded near the entrance, laughing loudly and catching up after summer break. Everywhere she looked, people were already grouped together.
Friends, Best friends.
People who belonged somewhere.
Ivy adjusted the straps of her backpack.
Maybe this year will be different, she thought.
Maybe people changed.
Taking a deep breath, she walked toward a group of girls standing near the lockers.
“Hi,” Ivy said quietly, trying her best to smile. “Can I hang out with you guys?”
The girls exchanged glances.
One smiled awkwardly.
“Oh… sorry. We kinda already have our own group.”
Another girl leaned toward her friend and whispered something.
The two giggled.
Ivy immediately understood.
“Oh,” she muttered. “That’s okay.”
It wasn’t okay.
But pretending was easier.
At lunch, she tried again.
This time, she spotted a girl sitting alone near the courtyard.
Perfect.
Slowly, Ivy approached.
“Hi,” she asked softly. “Can I sit here?”
Before the girl could answer, laughter suddenly erupted nearby. One boy pointed toward Ivy.
“Yo, what happened to your hair?” he laughed. “Looks like ramen exploded.”
Another snorted.
“Spaghetti head’s back.”
Several students laughed.
The girl immediately looked uncomfortable.
“Sorry,” she mumbled before grabbing her tray and leaving.
Just like that, Alone again.
Ivy quietly sat at the far end of the lunch area, staring down at her untouched food while pretending not to care.
But deep down
It hurt.
More than she wanted to admit.
