Chapter Text
Yeri first met Saeron when she was about ten feet off the ground.
The first semester of their senior year in high school had just ended. Yeri entered finals week thinking she’d do well, knowing she’d studied over several nights instead of her usual last-minute ten-hour cram session.
Luck was not on her side, though—she left furious, knowing she left about half of her last exam completely blank. She stormed into the parking lot, grabbed a large rock off the ground, and ran behind the school.
Tucking the rock in her sweatshirt pocket, she began scaling the side of the old school building, using the uneven bricks to lift herself up. She was determined to make a severe dent in her chemistry teacher’s Tesla, and nothing could stop her.
“Hey! What are you doing?”
Yeri swung around to see who had interrupted her, holding a brick with one hand to keep steady. “I’m climbing the wall.”
The girl standing at the base of the building had a round face, with smiling eyes and small pink lips. She wore a ponytail in her hair, a too-long soccer jersey on her body, and an amused look on her face. “Right. Why are you climbing the wall?” she asked, her smile widening.
Yeri huffs. “It’s none of your business.”
“It isn’t, but I do feel like I should be concerned,” the girl replied.
Yeri rolls her eyes. “Yeah, whatever. Just leave, please.”
The girl hums. “No, I don’t think I will.”
Yeri groans. She contemplated giving up her current plan and just throwing the rock at the girl, but she knew that the consequences would be far worse. And anyway, she knew the real enemy was her incompetent, condescending, old teacher. She really couldn’t damage her car with a witness, though. “Dude, I’m having a bad day. Can you just leave me alone?”
The girl tilts her head cutely. “Why are you having a bad day?” she asks, eyes widening and lips forming a mocking pout.
Yeri narrows her eyes. “Okay, now you’re just making fun of me.”
The girl’s expression melts into a grin, and she shrugs. “Possibly.”
Yeri groans again, even louder this time. “If I tell you why, will you go away?”
The girl taps her chin, pretending to ponder the question. “Maybe, maybe not,” she smiles.
Yeri stares at her. Maybe seemed like a decent enough prospect. She pulls the rock out of her pocket. “I did horribly on the chemistry final, so I’m going to throw this rock at the teacher’s car. Happy?” she asks sharply, praying that the girl would leave.
The girl hums softly, mulling over her answer. “No,” she finally replies, smirking at a very irritated Yeri.
Yeri rolls her eyes as hard as humanly possible. “God, just go away.”
The girl bends down to pick something off the floor, hopefully preparing to give up on this cause.
Yeri looks away, trying to return to her mission, when she is suddenly pelted with pebbles. “What—stop! What the hell?”
The girl throws her head back and laughs obnoxiously, yelling, “You should get down!”
Yeri attempts to block the projectiles with her arm, to little avail. “Why—stop! Why would I listen to—stop throwing shit at me—to you!”
“I won’t stop until you get down,” the girl responds, smiling.
“Fine! Oh my god,” Yeri relents. She scales her way down the wall, getting an idea when she reaches about three feet off the ground. She quickly turns to check where the girl is standing and then unceremoniously launches herself backward onto her, toppling them both over and into the muddy ground.
Yeri expected a scream or a punch or any negative response, especially considering the dirt definitely would not wash out of the girl’s pristine white jersey. But instead, she reacted with even louder laughter.
“You’re so fun, oh my god! You have to tell me your name. We are going to be best friends!”
“What is wrong with you,” Yeri mutters.
The girl giggles. “A lot.”
Yeri stares into the sun, her eyes starting to tear up at the pain, as she contemplates giving in. It’s not like this day could get any worse. Eventually, she mumbles, “I’m Yeri.”
“It’s so great to meet you, Yeri. I’m Saeron.”