THE MOMENT
"I hope I'm not too late," Valentine sighed to herself as she walked out of the portal. She was glad to still see several dozens of students still arriving through various portals and headed towards the main building. She followed the closest group and noticed that two of the girls didn't seem to be part of the larger group. A short girl with almost neon orange hair, and a taller, lithe girl with blonde hair. They were walking slower than the rest and engaged with their own conversation. Throughout junior high, Valentine preferred to keep to herself; however, this school was different. The Nexus Academy promised every student was as Unique as she was, and she decided the night before to try and make friends. Valentine moved closer to the girl as they walked, then turned to her as they neared the school.
"Hi, you guys want some candy?" Valentine asked. She offered an open red velvet pouch. The girls stopped walking while the rest of the kids moved on without them.
"Hi, sure!" The orange-haired girl said. She eagerly reached her hand into the pouch.
"It's kind of early for candy...," the blonde girl said.
"I'm taking hers!" the orange-haired girl said. Valentine nodded.
"I'm Valentine," she said.
"My name's Petunia, and she's Riot," the blonde girl introduced both of them as Riot pulled her hand out of the bag clutching a rainbow of sweets.
"Whoa! That's everything I wanted! Is it Unique?" Riot asked as she looked over her spoils. Valentine shook her head.
"I don't think so; it doesn't have a number. I think it's just enchanted," she shrugged. "When I was younger I helped out some fairies and they gave me this bag that never runs out," she said.
"Fairies!? That's so cool!" Riot exclaimed.
"Oh wow, that sounds horrible for your teeth...," Petunia said. Her voice was low, almost like she didn't mean to say it aloud. Valentine smiled broad and showed Petunia her perfect white teeth.
"I literally just came from the dentist, I was worried about being late," she said. "But, not a cavity in sight."
"Really?" Petunia asked. She seemed interested and took a subconscious step forward. "Even when you were younger you took care of your teeth?" Valentine shook her head.
"Nah. But, you know, fairies gave it to me," she shrugged. "It's magic candy. But, it's useful for my abilities too," she said, then put a hand on her chest. "#27, el corazón."
"La calavera," Riot raised her hand to shoulder height to introduce herself, then she pointed at Petunia. "La maceta," she said.
"What's your ability?" Petunia asked. "Mundo said el corazón is the most random Unique." Valentine nodded, then she reached into her candy bag. She pulled out a colorful, translucent gummy spider then held it on her palm in front of Riot and Petunia.
"I can do this," she said. The floppy, squiggly spider jumped up and landed on its eight legs in her palm. It crawled, perfectly spider like to the edge of her fingers towards Riot. Then, it jumped at her face. Petunia flinched in surprise but Riot opened her mouth and let it fall in. She closed her mouth and started chewing.
"That's so cool!" Riot grinned as she chewed with her mouth open.
"Uh oh," Petunia spoke up. She was looking around them and Valentine looked up too. They were now the only students not in the school. "Better get going," she said. She grabbed Riot's hand and pulled her towards the school. But, Riot waved at Valentine to follow them.
"C'mon! You need to stick close to us," she said. She raised the candy clutching hand. "This won't last me until lunch."