Hello friends and welcome to Sleep Tight Stories.
Senna's meeting with Jordan went better than she expected.
Once she actually started talking.
She finds out more about Jordan. and asks if he'd like to meet the gang.
Later, Senna tells Red quickly what happened and then updates the gang at lunch.
Jordan lets Senna know that he'd like to meet the gang and they set up a meeting for after school.
The Transfer Student, Volume 3, Part 8
Between classes, Senna spots Red at her locker and hurries over.
I talked to Jordan this morning, Senna says, keeping her voice low, about the notes.
Red closes her locker.
How did it go?
He was scared at first, thought he was in trouble.
But I told him we just wanted to understand.
Senna shifts her backpack.
I think he might be willing to meet you guys.
Really?
Maybe.
He's nervous about it being a whole group.
We'll be nice, Red says.
Let him decide when he's ready.
At lunch, Senna updates everyone at their usual table.
So, Jordan knows we know, she finishes, and he's thinking about meeting us.
When?
Charlie asks, through a mouthful of sprout sandwich.
I don't know yet.
Soon, maybe?
Alexa pulls out her tablet.
Library after school would work.
Private study room, low pressure.
What if he's not ready today?
Rachel asks.
Then we wait, Red says firmly.
No rushing.
Kurt unwraps another granola bar.
Should I bring snacks?
Snacks make everything less awkward.
You always bring snacks, Charlie points out.
Exactly.
I'm prepared.
After lunch, Senna's walking to fifth period when someone falls into step beside her.
Jordan, hood up, looking nervous.
Is your offer still open?
Jordan asks quietly.
To meet your friends?
Senna stops.
Yes, absolutely.
Could we maybe do it today after school?
Jordan's hands are shoved deep in his hoodie pockets.
I might lose my nerve if I wait.
Today works, Senna says.
Library maybe?
There's a private study room.
Okay.
Okay.
Jordan takes a breath.
Okay, I'll try.
3.30?
Jordan nods and walks away quickly before he can change his mind.
Senna pulls out her phone and texts the group chat.
Jordan said yes, today, 3.30, library.
Her phone immediately buzzes with responses, but she doesn't need to read them to know everyone's excited.
After the final bell, Senna finds Jordan standing by the water fountain near the library, frozen.
Hey, Senna says gently.
Jordan looks up, panicked.
I don't know if I can do this.
You don't have to, but they really are nice.
What if they think I'm weird?
Jordan's voice is tight.
What if they ask questions I can't answer or I say something stupid or... Jordan?
Senna steps closer.
They already know you're the note person.
They're not angry.
They just want to meet you.
Jordan pulls his hood up tighter.
That's worse.
Now they have all these expectations and I'm just me.
They know you're you.
That's who they want to meet.
But what if I mess it up?
Senna thinks about her first day being completely lost terrified, feeling like everyone could see how different she was.
I was terrified to meet them too.
Red found me on my first day, looking completely lost and I thought she was going to think I was pathetic, but she just helped.
She was kind.
Jordan shifts his weight nervously.
What if I say something wrong?
Then you say something wrong.
They're not perfect either.
Charlie sneezes on everything.
Kurt eats constantly.
They're just people.
A tiny smile.
Okay.
Jordan takes three steps toward the library, then stops again.
What if?
No more what ifs, Senna says firmly, but gently.
Just come meet them.
If it's awful, you can leave.
I promise.
Jordan takes a deep breath pulls his hood down slightly, and follows Senna into the library.
His hands are shaking, but he's moving.
The library study room has glass walls, which somehow makes it feel both private and exposed.
The gang's already there, sitting around the table trying to look casual.
Charlie's arranged the chairs in a perfect circle for optimal conversation flow.
He explains to no one.
You made it weird, Kurt says, moving her chair slightly out of the formation.
It's geometry.
It's weird.
Alexa's organizing her tablet nervously.
Rachel's pretending to read but hasn't turned a page in five minutes.
Red keeps glancing at the door.
Everyone relax, Red says.
We're just meeting someone.
Be normal.
We're never normal, Charlie mutters, then sneezes directly into his elbow.
The door opens.
Senna walks in first.
Jordan follows, hood pulled up, shoulders hunched, looking like he might bolt at any second.
Complete silence.
Jordan freezes in the doorway.
Red stands quickly, breaking the awkward moment.
Hi, I'm Red.
Thanks for coming.
Jordan manages a tiny nod.
I'm Alexa.
Alexa waves from her seat.
We've been really impressed by your code work.
Charlie, Charlie says, pushing his glasses up.
Then he sneezes.
Sorry, allergies.
Rachel, Rachel gives a small smile.
Nice to meet you.
Kurt, Kurt holds out a bag of chips.
Want some?
I brought extra.
Jordan stares at the chips like they might be a trap.
Um, okay?
He takes one chip carefully, then sits in the chair closest to the door.
Senna sits next to him.
Another long silence.
Everyone's trying so hard to act normal that nobody's acting normal.
Charlie clears his throat.
So, you're really good at codes, like really good.
How did you learn?
Alexa kicks him under the table.
Ow, what?
I was just asking.
Maybe let Jordan talk when he's ready, Rachel suggests quietly.
I was being friendly.
You were interrogating, Alexa says.
I was making conversation.
Despite everything, Jordan's mouth twitches slightly.
Almost a smile.
Kurt crunches another chip loudly.
This is going great.
Red shoots her a look, then turns to Jordan.
Senna said you wanted to talk to us.
We're not here to interrogate you or anything.
We just want to understand.
Jordan's quiet for a moment, picking at the chip in his hand.
I know the notes were weird, Jordan finally says, voice barely above a whisper.
I'm sorry.
You don't need to apologize, Alexa says immediately.
Jordan looks up, surprised.
We're not angry, Red continues.
We're just curious.
And we wanted you to know you're not in trouble.
Jordan takes a shaky breath.
Okay, take your time, Zena adds, whenever you're ready.
The tension in the room eases slightly.
Jordan's still nervous, but he hasn't run.
Jordan picks at the chip for another moment, then starts talking.
Quietly at first, then gradually more openly.
I arrive at school early because there's nobody home in the mornings.
My parents both work early shifts.
My mom's at the hospital.
My dad's at the warehouse.
They leave before I wake up.
The house is just empty and quiet and it feels worse than being alone at school.
Red nods, encouraging him to continue.
My older sister moved away for college last summer.
She was the only person who really understood me.
We used to talk about everything.
Now she's gone and I just... Jordan's voice cracks slightly.
I feel completely alone.
So I started coming to school at 6.45.
Mr. Rodriguez lets me in.
I sit in the library corner and...
At least there's people around eventually, even if they don't see me.
That must be hard, Rachel says softly.
Jordan shrugs.
I got used to it.
But then I started noticing other students who looked the way I felt.
Sad, lonely, like they were about to give up on something.
How did you notice?
Charlie asks.
Genuinely curious this time.
I'm always there early.
Always in corners.
People forget I exist, so they talk about things.
Private things.
I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but... Jordan looks embarrassed.
When you're invisible, you hear a lot.
Like what?
Alexa asks.
Maya talking to her friend about wanting to quit piano.
Marcus telling someone he was too scared to give his presentation.
That student saying they weren't brave enough to audition for the play.
Jordan's voice gets stronger.
I remembered what it felt like to need encouragement and not get it.
To feel like nobody noticed I was struggling.
So I thought, maybe if I left notes they'd feel less alone.
Why coded notes?
Kurt asks.
Why not just talk to them?
Jordan pulls his hood up tighter.
Because I don't know how to talk to people and I thought if I left regular notes they'd think it was weird.
But coded notes felt... cooler?
Like a mystery instead of a creepy thing.
You learned codes from your sister?
Red asked.
Yeah, she loves puzzles.
Before she left, we used to send each other coded messages around the house.
Jordan's expression softens for a moment.
I guess I kept doing it after she was gone.
It made me feel less lonely.
The room's quiet, everyone absorbing this.
Then Senna speaks up.
What about my note and Red's, the ones with the symbols?
Jordan tenses.
I know, those were different.
How did you know about Mars?
Red asks carefully, not accusing, just asking.
Jordan looks down at his hands.
I overheard you two talking on the bus a few weeks ago.
Early morning.
You thought nobody else was there, but I was in the back seat.
Red and Senna exchange glances.
You were talking about missing home.
Jordan continues about red skies and gray landscapes and how everything here is too green.
You said something about gravity feeling wrong and Senna said she missed her brother who was still back home.
And you figured out we meant Mars, Red says.
Not at first, but then you said something about Earth food tasting wrong and I just put it together.
Jordan looks terrified.
I'm not going to tell anyone, I swear.
I just...
I understood what you meant about missing home, about being somewhere that doesn't feel right.
So I looked up Martian symbols online and tried to include some in your notes to let you know someone understood.
You weren't threatening us.
You were trying to help.
I should have just talked to you, Jordan said miserably.
I made it weird.
I'm sorry.
Red's quiet for a moment and then she smiles slightly.
You kept our secret and you tried to help us feel less alone.
That's actually really kind.
Jordan looks up shocked.
You're not mad?
We were scared, Red admits.
We thought someone dangerous knew, but you're not dangerous.
You're just like us.
Senna adds quietly.
Silence settles over the room after Jordan finishes explaining.
Then Red leans forward.
You noticed people who were struggling and you tried to help them.
That's not creepy, Jordan.
That's kind.
Though maybe less cryptic codes next time?
Charlie adds.
We spent like a week trying to figure them out.
Despite everything, Jordan lets out a small laugh.
So does everyone else.
Maya's still playing piano because of you, Kurt says.
That kid got the lead in the play.
Those are real things that happened because you cared enough to notice.
You saw people who felt invisible, Rachel adds quietly, because you felt invisible too.
Jordan nods, eyes shiny again.
You have a genuine gift for observation, Alexa says.
That's actually really impressive.
Most people don't notice half of what you see.
The question is, Red says gently, what happens now?
Jordan looks panicked again.
You want me to stop?
I'll stop.
I should have stopped already.
I just...
That's not what I meant, Red interrupts.
I mean, what do you want to happen?
Jordan's quiet for a moment.
I don't know.
Do you want to keep leaving anonymous notes?
Alexa asks.
I don't think so, Jordan admits.
It felt good helping people, but it also felt lonely, like I was watching everyone else connect while I stayed hidden.
Senna speaks up.
Maybe there's a better way.
You've been helping people from afar, but maybe you could help by being present, by being a friend directly instead of anonymously.
Jordan looks terrified.
I'm not good at that.
Neither was I, Senna says, but you learn, and it's better than being invisible.
Red nods.
We're not saying you have to change who you are.
Just maybe let people see you, the real you, not just the notes.
What if people don't like the real me?
Jordan asks quietly.
We do, Charlie says simply, and we've met you.
Jordan wipes his eyes quickly, but he's smiling slightly.
Red looks around at the gang, then back at Jordan.
So, we wanted to ask you something.
Jordan tenses.
Okay.
You're welcome to hang out with us, Red says, at lunch or whenever, but we're not saying you have to join the Solving Mysteries Club or anything like that.
Jordan looks surprised.
You don't want me in the club?
Do you want to solve mysteries?
Alexa asks.
Jordan hesitates.
Not really.
I just like helping people, noticing things.
But mysteries sound stressful.
Then don't join, Red says simply.
Help people the way you want to. but maybe by being present instead of hiding.
You could hang out with us at lunch if you want, Charlie offers.
We sit at the weird table by the windows.
Or not, Rachel adds quickly.
No pressure.
Just know you're welcome.
Jordan looks overwhelmed, but also relieved.
So I'm not in trouble?
And you don't think I'm weird?
We think you're kind, Red says.
And we'd like to be your friend, if you want.
Jordan's quiet for a moment, then manages a real smile.
Small, but genuine.
Yeah, I'd like that.
Kurt holds out the chip bag again.
Want another chip?
I brought three bags.
You brought three bags to a meeting?
Charlie asks.
I was stress eating in preparation.
Everyone laughs, including Jordan.
The tension finally breaks completely.
For the first time since walking in, Jordan's shoulders relax.
He's not alone anymore.
After Jordan leaves, Promising to think about sitting with them at lunch, Senna lingers behind.
Thank you, Red says, for reaching out to Jordan.
That was really brave.
I know what it's like to feel lonely and scared, Senna says.
I'm glad I could help.
She pauses, then adds quietly.
I'm still figuring out this whole Earth thing.
The crowds, the noise, all of it.
But I'm really glad I met you all.
You're always welcome here, Alexa says.
I know, Senna says smiling, but I'm okay.
Really, I just needed to know I wasn't alone.
And now Jordan knows that too.
And she is.
She has Red as a friend.
She helped someone else feel less alone.
That's enough.
As Senna walks out of the library, Red watches her go.
She's going to be fine, Rachel observes.
Yes, Red agrees, she is.
And that is the end of this part.
Good night.
Sleep tight.
