Chapter Text
Chapter 1:
Daniela stared at the paper in front of her, her eyes fixed on the glaring red mark.
63/100.
She blinked, as if the numbers might rearrange themselves into something kinder. But they didn’t. A heavy sigh pressed against her chest. This was the third quiz this semester and the second time she’d failed.
Beside her, Lara leaned over. “What’d you get, Dani?”
Daniela hesitated, the words sticking in her throat. Before she could answer, Mr. Gonzales cleared his throat at the front of the room.
“Alright, everyone,” he began, his voice carrying a weight that made the chatter die down. “Your quiz results are out, and I’ll be honest, some of you are not doing well.” His eyes swept across the class, pausing just long enough on Daniela to make her stomach twist.
“You’ll be seniors next semester,” he continued, his tone firm but not unkind. “It’s time to take things seriously.”
Daniela lowered her gaze, the paper burning in her hands. She hated how the numbers seemed to scream at her.
Lara nudged her elbow. “Hey, it’s not the end of the world,” she whispered, trying to sound casual. But Daniela caught the quick flash of relief in her friend’s eyes. Lara’s score must have been better.
Daniela forced a smile, though it felt brittle.
"Yeah,” she murmured, “just another quiz.”
Mr. Gonzales continued, pacing slowly across the front of the room. “Biology isn’t just about memorizing terms. It’s about understanding how life works. And if you don’t put in the effort now, senior year will be even harder.” His gaze swept the class again.
Daniela’s stomach churned. She wanted to disappear into her chair, to fold herself into the pages of her notebook and hide.
The bell rang, sharp and sudden. Chairs scraped against the floor as students rushed out, relieved.
Lara stood, slinging her bag over her shoulder. “Come on. Let’s grab lunch. You’ll feel better.”
Daniela hesitated, staring at the red mark one last time before sliding the paper into her folder.
Maybe Lara was right. Maybe food would help. But deep down, she knew what she really needed wasn’t a sandwich. She needed a plan.
The cafeteria buzzed with chatter, trays clattering as students squeezed into crowded tables. Daniela followed Lara to their usual spot, where Megan and Yoonchae were already waiting.
Megan waved enthusiastically. “Dani! Over here!” She scooted over to make space.
Megan and Daniela met through the school’s dance club. Even though Megan was a year younger and in a different grade, the two quickly grew close, bonded by their shared love of performing.
Megan’s childhood friend, Yoonchae, was shy and reserved at first, but as she spent more time with them, her quiet nature gave way to a lively, outgoing personality. Lara, meanwhile, had a habit of whisking them away on shopping trips or just to hang out together outside of school.
Daniela set her tray down, trying to shake off the weight of the red mark still lingering in her mind.
Megan leaned forward, eyes bright. “So, how was the quiz?”
Daniela froze, her fork hovering above her food. Lara shot her a quick look, as if to say don’t.
“Not great,” Daniela admitted, forcing a laugh. “Biology hates me.”
Megan tilted her head. “But you’re amazing at dance. You always remember the steps faster than anyone. Maybe you just need to study like it’s choreography.”
Daniela blinked. “Alright Megs,” she said, a small smile finally making its way to her lips. “Anyway, I need to pass the next quiz or else I’ll never hear the end of it from my parents.”
Daniela shivered. Her parents were supportive of her dancing. They would drive her to rehearsals and would cheer the loudest during her performances, but grades were another matter. If they found out she was slipping, they might ask her to quit the dance club altogether and focus on school.
And she couldn’t let that happen.
Senior year was just around the corner, and everything felt like it was starting to matter all at once.
Daniela had plans. Big ones.
After high school, she wanted to get into a good university and pursue performance arts. Dancing wasn’t just something she loved, it was the future she was working toward. But to get there, she had to prove she could balance both her passion and her responsibilities.
Lara studied her for a moment, her gaze soft but edged with concern, before turning to Yoonchae. “Hey, Yoonchae, didn’t you say your older sister’s studying Biology in college?”
Daniela’s attention snapped to the girl across the table, who had been quietly picking at her lunch.
Yoonchae paused mid-bite, then gave a small nod. “Yeah. She’s in her second year.”
“So,” Lara continued, leaning back slightly, “why don’t we ask her to tutor Daniela?”
“Tutor?” Daniela echoed, blinking.
Lara nodded, a hint of a knowing smile playing on her lips. “You clearly need it, Dani.”
“Yeah, I mean Yoonchae’s already smart but her sister is like on another level smart,” Megan added. “She used to tutor us too when were kids. And even now, whenever we’re stuck on something, we still go to her. She just gets it. Explains things in a way that actually makes sense.” Megan glanced over at Yoonchae, a hopeful smile forming. “And I’m pretty sure she wouldn’t mind helping out a friend, right?”
Yoonchae’s gaze flickered between the three girls. Daniela was still looking unsure while Lara and Megan were looking at her like she holds the answer to all the world’s problems.
Yoonchae knew her sister wouldn’t mind helping, as long as she gets over her awkwardness around strangers.
Yoonchae was shy but her sister was something else entirely.
While Yoonchae could at least navigate polite conversation with ease, her sister withdrew the moment attention shifted her way. She could manage brief small talk, but little beyond that. She found comfort in the order of textbooks and neatly written notes, places where everything was logical, predictable, and free of surprises. Around strangers, she remained guarded, speaking only when spoken to, careful not to draw attention to herself.
It wasn’t that she didn’t like people, she just didn’t know what to do with them.
And yet, the moment it came to explaining lessons, something in her changed. She spoke more clearly, more confidently, like the structure of the topic gave her something solid to hold on to. It was the only time she didn’t seem unsure of herself.
Which meant if Daniela needed help, her sister would probably say yes.
Getting her to feel comfortable enough to actually do it, though, was a whole different challenge.
Yoonchae let out a loud sigh. “I don’t think-
“Come on, Chip.” Megan softly says, slipping into the nickname without hesitation. “Daniela’s clearly doomed if she doesn’t improve her grades. And your sisters brilliant.” She put an arm around Yoonchae’s shoulders, leaning closer to whisper, “I’m sure we can figure something out to get her to talk to these two.”
“It’s fine, guys.” The two of them turned to Daniela. She gave a small shrug, as if she already made up her mind. “I’ll make it work, somehow. I’ll just spend more time in the library after dance practice.” She gave Yoonchae a smile. “Thank you, Yoonchae.”
“You sure you’ll still have the energy for that?” Lara raised an eyebrow, concern filling her eyes. She knew Daniela had a habit of pushing herself too hard, often at the expense of her own health.
“As if I have a choice, Larz.” Daniela said softly.
“And wouldn’t that compromise your time with Jonah?” Lara added.
Right. Jonah.
Daniela’s boyfriend of almost eight months.
He was a senior and part of the music club, someone Daniela had known long before they started dating. Their circles overlapped, their schedules lined up. After-school practices that ended around the same time, giving them those easy, familiar moments together afterward. It had all felt natural, like the relationship had simply grown out of time already shared.
Now, though…
If Daniela stayed behind to study after dance, those moments would disappear. The thought lingered, heavier than she expected.
“Jonah will understand,” Daniela said. “And we still have the weekends.”
Lara leaned back on her chair. “Okay, but we still need to come up with a better plan. If ever the thing with Yoonchae’s sister doesn’t work out.”
Daniela gave a small nod, though she didn’t trust herself to say anything more. Instead, she dropped her gaze back to her food, pushing it around her plate with slow, absent movements.
Her thoughts were already racing ahead, rearranging schedules, weighing trade-offs, trying to make everything fit without something breaking.
She’d find a way.
She had to.
Dance, school, none of it felt like something she could just let go of. Each one mattered too much, tied too closely to who she was and who she wanted to become. Giving up even one of them felt like losing a piece of herself. Her grip tightened slightly around her fork.
No. She wouldn’t let it come to that.
She’d make it work. Somehow. Even if it meant longer days, later nights, and pushing herself further than she ever had before.
Right now, she couldn’t afford to lose focus.
Author's Note:
Hey guys, its my first time writing on this platform so please be kind to me. Hehe
I've been obsessed with Katseye lately so this SoDani fanfic is a perfect way to express that.
Excited to hear your thoughts!