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Foreign. And welcome to Sleep Tight Stories. Sena has been thinking and thinking about what she is going to say to Jordan when she arrives in the morning. She knows the gang is counting on her, but she cannot decide what is the best thing to say. Sena gets on the bus and heads to school, coming up with about 17 different opening lines. When she arrives at school, she is the second person there, and when she sees Jordan, she knows it is time to decide what she is going to say. The Transfer Student, Volume 3, Part 7. Senna wakes up before her alarm, which never happens. She lies there staring at the ceiling of her bedroom, thinking about Jordan Flores sitting alone in the library corner, about coded notes and loneliness and what she's supposed to say to someone who's been helping people while feeling invisible, no pressure or anything. She gets dressed carefully, picks out clothes that feel comfortable, not trying too hard, goes downstairs where her mother is already making breakfast. You're up early, her mother says, surprised. Are you finally adjusting to Earth mornings? Something like that, senna mutters, grabbing a piece of toast. I'm so proud of you. Making friends, joining that club. You seem happier. Sena focuses on her toast, not meeting her mother's eyes. Her mother has no idea she's about to approach a stranger, and who knows? They're Martian. Yeah, the gang's really nice. On the city bus, she was too early to take the school bus. Senna reviews what she wants to say. Just be honest. Talk about loneliness. Find common ground. Don't immediately mention the notes she mentally rehearses. Hi, I'm Senna. I noticed you're always here early, too. No, that sounds like she's been watching Jordan. Creepy. Hey, mind if I sit here? Too casual. Not casual enough. By the time the bus pulls up to school at 6:50am Senna has rehearsed and rejected approximately 17 different opening lines. Through the foggy bus windows, she can see the school building, most windows still dark. Mr. Rodriguez, the janitor, is propping open the front door. Jordan is probably already inside in the library corner, reading. Waiting. Senna takes a deep breath, grabs her backpack, and steps off the bus. Okay, she can do this. She just has to actually do it. The school hallways are eerily quiet this early, footsteps echoing on tile floors. A few fluorescent lights flicker overhead. Senna passes empty classrooms, locked lockers, bulletin boards. Nobody's reading yet. Mr. Rodriguez is mopping near the main entrance. He looks up and smiles. Morning. You're here early. Joining the early bird club? I guess so, senna says, trying to sound casual. Good. Jordan could use some company. He nods toward the library. That that kid's here every single morning, always alone. Nice to see another early arrival. Senna's heart pounds as she pushes open the library door. The library is dim. Mrs. Ficklestein doesn't arrive until 7:30, but enough light filters through the windows to see. And there in the corner table, exactly where everyone said Jordan Flores. Small, dark hoodie pulled up, hunched over a book, backpack on the floor beside the chair, completely absorbed in reading. Or pretending to be. Senna freezes in the doorway. This is it. This is the moment. Just walk over, sit down, say something. Her feet don't move. Jordan hasn't looked up, hasn't noticed her. Senna could leave right now, text the gang that she couldn't do it, try again tomorrow. No. She came here to help someone who's been helping everyone else. Someone who understands loneliness because they live with it every day. Someone like her. Senna takes a breath, adjusts her backpack, and walks toward the corner. Her footsteps sound impossibly loud in the quiet library. She grabs a random book from a nearby shelf, doesn't even look at the title, and sits at the table next to Jordan's. Jordan glances up briefly. Their eyes meet for half a second. Jordan immediately looks back down at his book. Senna opens her own book, stares at the pages without reading a single word. Awkward silence stretches between them. Jordan turns a page, doesn't look up. Senna pretends to read. Her book is upside down. She quickly flips it right side up, hoping Jordan didn't notice. More silence. This isn't working. She's just sitting here like a weirdo fake reading a book while Jordan clearly wants to be left alone. Maybe this was a terrible idea. Maybe she should just that's a good one, jordan says quietly, not looking up. Senna blinks. What? The book. It's good. Jordan nods at Senna's book. Apparently it's a mystery novel. I read it last month. Oh, Senna says, looking down at the COVID for the first time. Yeah, I just picked it randomly. The ending's surprising, jordan says, then goes back to reading. Senna takes another breath. Is that any good? She nods at Jordan's book. Jordan looks up again, surprised, like nobody usually asks about what he's reading. Yeah, jordan says carefully. It's okay. Another silence, but this one feels less impossible. Senna glances at Jordan's book. It's a puzzle book filled with codes and ciphers and logic problems. Which makes perfect sense, actually. You like puzzles? Senna asks. Jordan's guard goes up slightly. Yeah, I guess that's cool. I'm terrible at them, senna admits. I had a friend try to teach me about substitution ciphers once, and I just. My brain doesn't work that way. Jordan's expression softens a tiny bit. They're not that hard once you know the patterns. Maybe for you, senna says, smiling. I can barely remember my locker combination. A ghost of a small smile crosses Jordan's face. Locker 247, right? You had trouble with it on your first day? Senna stares. You remember that? Jordan looks embarrassed. I notice things. Sorry, that probably sounds creepy. No, it's just that was weeks ago. I didn't think anyone noticed me that day. I noticed, jordan says quietly, then seems to regret saying it. Looking back at his puzzle book, Senna tries to think of what to say next. Red made this sound easy. Just talk. Find common ground. But everything feels awkward and forced. So do you always get here this early? Senna asks, then immediately cringes, but Jordan just nods. Yeah. Since September, it's quieter before everyone else shows up. I get that, senna says honestly. I'm still getting used to how crowded everything is here. Back home, it was. She catches herself different. Where are you from? Jordan asks. Far away, senna says automatically, using her practiced answer. Really far. Everything here is just a lot sometimes. Jordan's looking at her now, actually looking. Yeah, I know what that feels like. Being overwhelmed. Being somewhere that doesn't quite feel right, jordan says. Like you're watching everyone else know what to do when you're just trying to figure it out. That's exactly how she feels. Yes. Exactly like that. They sit in silence for a moment, but this time it's comfortable, understanding. I'm Senna, by the way, senna says officially. I know we're on the same bus, but I don't think we've actually talked. Jordan, he says. I know. I mean, I've seen you around. The invisible observer, senna says without thinking. Jordan tenses. What? Sorry, I just meant you notice things. You see people even when they don't see you. Senna pauses. I think that's kind of amazing, actually. Jordan looks confused, like nobody's ever called his observing amazing before. Most people don't want to be noticed, jordan says carefully. I just help when I can. Quietly, Senna's pulse quickens. That's as close to an admission as she was going to get. I noticed that about you, senna says softly. The helping. Jordan's eyes widen slightly, realizing what sense. Senna just said you get here early too? Jordan asks changing the subject. I've never seen anyone else here before 7:15. I was nervous about talking to you, senna admits. Couldn't sleep. Figured I might as well come early. Jordan looks startled. Why would you be nervous about talking to me? Because I wanted to do it right. I didn't want to mess it up. Mess what up? Making a friend, senna says simply. Jordan stares at her like she just spoke a foreign language. You want to be friends with me? Why wouldn't I? Because I'm. Jordan gestures vaguely at himself. I'm the weird kid who sits alone in corners. I don't really talk to people. I'm just here. I feel invisible sometimes, senna says quietly. Like I'm here, but nobody really sees me. Like I could disappear and maybe a few people would notice, but most wouldn't care. Jordan's expression shifts. Recognition. Understanding. Yeah, exactly like that. It's lonely, senna continues. Being invisible. Even when you're surrounded by people? Especially then, jordan adds softly. They sit in silence for a moment. The morning light is getting brighter through the library windows. Soon other students will start arriving, filling the quiet spaces with noise and chaos. I miss home, senna says, testing the waters. Not like missing a place, exactly. Missing belonging somewhere. Feeling like people understood me without having to explain. Jordan nods slowly. My older sister moved away for college last summer. We used to talk about everything. Now she's in another city and it's like. Like you lost your person, senna finishes. Yeah. Jordan's voice is thick. She was the only one who really got me. Now it's just me and my parents, and they work so much. They leave for their shifts before I wake up. The house is empty every morning, so I started coming here instead of sitting at home alone. Senna's heart aches. Jordan's not just lonely at school. He is lonely everywhere. I'm sorry, senna says. That must be really hard. It's fine, jordan says automatically, then stops. Actually, it's not fine. But I'm used to it. You shouldn't have to be used to being lonely. Jordan looks up at her. Really looks. Most people don't care about stuff like that. I care, senna says. I know what it's like to feel alone in a crowd. To miss someone so much it hurts. A loud laugh echoes from the hallway. Early arriving students. The spell breaks slightly. We should probably Jordan starts. Wait, senna says quickly. Can I ask you something first? Jordan tenses but nods. Okay. This is it. Senna takes a deep breath. The notes, the coded ones in people's lockers that's you, isn't it? Jordan freezes. The color drains from his face. I'm not in trouble, am I? Jordan's voice is small, panicked. Are you going to tell? I can stop. I'll stop right now. I just no, senna says quickly. No. You're not in trouble. I'm not going to tell anyone. Jordan's breathing fast, looking toward the library exit like he might run. Then why are you asking? Because I wanted to understand, senna says gently. I got one of your notes about being far from home, and I just. I wanted to know why you were helping people. I wasn't trying to be creepy, jordan says, words tumbling out. I know it was weird, leaving secret messages, but I just wanted people to feel less alone. I see them struggling and I don't know how to help directly, so. So I thought if I just I don't think you're weird, senna says firmly. I think you're kind. Jordan looks up, shocked. What? You noticed people who were hurting, people who felt invisible, and you tried to help them. Sena's voice is soft. That's really, really kind. But I was watching people, listening to private conversations. You were paying attention, senna corrects. There's a difference. You cared enough to notice when someone needed encouragement. Jordan's eyes are shiny. I just know what it feels like to be ready to give up on something and have nobody notice. I thought if someone had noticed me when I was struggling, maybe things would have been different. So I tried to be that person for other people. That's really kind, senna says. Honestly. Jordan wipes his eyes quickly. You're really not mad? I'm really not mad. Senna takes a breath. But I should tell you something. My friends. I'm in this club at school, the Solving Mysteries Club. They've been trying to figure out who was leaving the notes. Jordan's face goes pale. Other people know? Just my friends, senna says quickly. They've been trying to figure out who was leaving the notes. And when we realized it was you. She pauses. They were impressed. Impressed? Jordan looks scared, skeptical. I've been going around school leaving coded messages. You've been helping people, sena corrects. Maya's still playing piano because of you. Marcus gave his presentation. That kid got the lead in the play. You made real differences in people's lives. Jordan's quiet, processing. They want to meet you, zenna continues. If you want. No pressure. But they're nice, I promise. They helped me feel less alone when I first got here. A whole group. Jordan's voice is small. Six of us total. Well, seven if you count Red's brother, Blue. But he's only sixth grade, so he's more of a consultant. Senna realizes she's rambling. You don't have to decide right now. Just think about it. Jordan looks terrified but also curious. What if they don't like me? They already do, senna says. They know you're kind. That's what matters to them. The first period bell rings. Students start filtering into the hallway outside. Jordan stands slowly gathering his puzzle book and backpack. He hesitates. Can I think about it? Jordan asks quietly. Of course. Take all the time you need. They walk toward the library, exit together. At the door, Jordan stops and looks at Senna. Thanks for not thinking I'm a creep, jordan says. Senna smiles. You're not a creep. You're kind. For the first time, Jordan smiles back. Small but real. See you around? Jordan asks. Definitely, senna says. As they head to their separate classes, Senna realizes she made a friend this morning. Maybe Jordan did too. And that is the end of this part. Good night. Sleep tight.