**Warning: Allusions of Vomiting in this Chapter**
"Good morning class, it's wonderful to see all of you once again."
My first class was with a teacher named Ms. Huntsman, she was my previous life's first period teacher as well, this being an apparent fact as I saw him sitting in the back staring off into the window.
"Good morning Ms. Huntsman, apologies for the tardiness." Ria said as she escorted me inside and unhooking my arm. Everyone in the class straightened up as they saw Ria, some of the girls began to whisper to each other as the boys in the class ogled her good looks.
"Ah, Miss Goodgarden, it's wonderful to see you again... and, who might this be?" Ms. Huntsman said as she cocked a brow at me.
"H-Hello," I managed to spit out, everyone else was now looking at me; including Lee.
He was the other mystery String of Desire, as the slack of the string tightened with this distance; it was a bright red, identical to the others.
"My n-name is Lia... Lia Wynner," I introduced myself, I could feel everyone's eyes boring into me; I hated all of this attention.
I could see some of the boys in the class run their eyes all over my body, they didn't bother trying to hide it as they focused their gazes at my exposed legs; is this how girls always feel?? Ugh.
"Lia Wynner... Lia Wynner... Ah, here you are, you're our Senior transfer student," Ms. Huntsman said as she adjusted her glasses while reading the class roster.
"Please, go ahead and take a seat next to our other Senior transfer student, Mr. Loser," Ms. Huntsman said as some students giggled over the mispronunciation.
I bit my tongue stopping myself just short of correcting her, I already blew some of my cover earlier when I had called him by his name on the field.
"And for your Ms. Goodgarden, I do not believe this is your first period...?" Ms. Huntsman said.
"It is not, I have a private period with the Headmaster that I must attend, I was just escorting our new transfer here as she had gotten... lost," Ria said as she gave me a wink.
"Is that so, well, I'll omit this tardiness on her record just this once," Ms. Huntsman said as she scribbled something on her notepad.
With that, Ria then left the classroom, but not before giving me a quick hug goodbye.
"See you later, let's keep in touch!" She whispered as she then exited out the door.
Being this close to her felt like a dream, but the anxiety of not knowing how she felt about me with this unknown String of Desire connected between us two soured any joy from it. That and well... I'm a girl now, the miraculous hope for her to notice me as a man has long since sailed.
Ms. Huntsman resumed her lesson as she motioned me to go to the empty seat next to Lee in the back of the classroom. This felt like another destined event, being next to my past life connected by a classroom seat.
As I walked down the aisle leading to Lee, I suddenly felt something snag on my ankle subsequently stumbling forward; falling flat onto my face.
I looked back at what my ankle had caught and it was an extended foot from a girl with red curled hair; she had a snide look as she and the other girls around her giggled in an uproar.
"Quiet! Ms. Wynner, are you alright?" Ms. Huntsman asked as she paused her lesson, staring at me as I hastily got up from the floor.
"Y-Yes! Sorry," I replied as I briskly made my way to my seat.
Who was I kidding believing that I wouldn't be subject to my own torment here at Lockhart? Did I really believe that just because I was a somewhat pretty girl now that I wouldn't be picked on? I felt a rush of embarrassment surge into me as I took the seat next to Lee; he pretended to not have noticed my fall as he kept on looking out the window.
Fixing my hair, I took a moment to relax. So much has happened this morning, I haven't had time to settle myself in. I just need to... hm, what's this?
As I stuck my hands into my blazer's pockets, I felt something odd in my rightmost one. Taking it out, it was a small folded piece of paper; something was scribbled inside of it.
"I know." It read.
Like a dagger being stabbed into my gut, I felt cold sweat run down my back as I stared at the ominous note.
'I know'? I know what? That I'm Lee!? That I've been given this second life!?!
How did I get this note? When did it happen?! Was it always in here?!?
Wait, when Ria had given me that quick hug, I felt her hand quickly brush my waist...
I feel sick...
please... please don't puke on your first day!
I felt my stomach churn what felt like cold ice as I stifled back a gag. Never in my past life did I ever feel as though I had to puke so bad as I do right now, maybe this was quirk about my new body.
Well, what a terrible way to discover this!
"Are you o-okay?" Lee whispered to me as he looked at me from his face planted into his crossed arms. It was my favorite way to spy on people in class without being noticed, everyone thought I was just sleeping.
"N-No, I'm not... I'm gonna p-p-puke," I managed to choke out as I covered my mouth, I felt the hot surge of acid reflux tickle my throat; it was just a matter of time.
"Ms. Huntsman, she isn't feeling well, I think she needs to go to the nurse's office," Lee shot right up from his chair as he called out to Ms. Huntsman, pointing to me.
I was too distracted by my crippling urge to vomit that I didn't protest Lee rushing me out of the classroom as Ms. Huntsman gave him the permission to escort me to the nurse's office. I could faintly hear the whispers of students gossiping as we both left.
But it was too little too late, as we left the classroom and walked down the hall, I let it all loose into a trash can.
It was a sobering experience as I felt my small body lurch over, my stomach painfully contract as everything exited out of my throat. Hot tears fell from my cheeks as I thought of the note, this new life I was hoping to lead crumbling by the mystery that was Ria Goodgarden; I was just as trapped now as I was then.
But, I felt the pressure of Lee's hand press against my back as he offered me support as I continued to vomit into the trash can. He wasn't judging me or mocking me for what I was doing, all he had was the look of empathetic sympathy as he averted his eyes from my face.
As I continued to let it all go, I looked up at his visible profile atop his head; opening it to see what his [Heart's Desire] was.
"[Name: Lee Lozer][Age: 17]...
[Heart's Desire: To help Lia Wynner at all costs]"
"Are you okay?" Lee asked gingerly, still averting his eyes.
"Y-Yeah... thank you," I told him as I got up from the trash cans rim, wiping my mouth off with my wrist.
"I-I have something to tell you..." Lee paused as he fidgeted in place.
"I have no idea where the nurse's office is, s-sorry!" He admitted as his face turned beet red.