Stolen Voices ✓

March 1st

March 1st:

It doesn't bother Mara that she hasn't seen Elias in over two weeks. In truth, it doesn't even occur to her, having not seen him around the school either. It isn't until today, strolling through the halls by herself, that the two make eye contact. His melancholy gaze, staring at her in shock, before he looks away as if he never saw her.

She stops in her tracks, watching as he strides away, his toned back facing her. His shoulders are hunched over as if gravity is placing all its force on his frame. His steps are sluggish, as if he doesn't want to leave her but something is pushing him away.

"Elias, stop!" She commands, her stalwart voice ringing through the corridor, echoing off the metal lockers. Elias freezes at the tone of her voice, his feet stopping on their own accord. They squeak against the floor tiles, halting their shuffling as he drags them behind him.

With his back still to her, he bores his eyes hard at the wall, squeezing them shut. When he reopens them, painfully, she's in front of him waiting. Her hands securely on her hips, her plucked eyebrow quirked as if daring him to move. The smell of pine permeates his nose in a sort of wistfulness, panging his chest as his breathing is stuttered.

"You're ignoring me. Why?" She crosses her arm over her chest, her backpack firmly on her shoulders. Elias stares at her chipping, red nail polish, too afraid to look her in the eyes as he shrugs. He noticed that she never goes anywhere without that backpack, as if she keeps her life in the handmade knapsack.

"Is something wrong?" She interrogates, ducking her head so she can examine him square in the eye. He is impassive, a disconcerted expression covering his features as his shoulders rise and fall again with a heaving breath. He scuffs his shoe into the flooring, clenching and unclenching his fits at his sides. Emotions roll through his body like a tide.

Mara's temper is flaring, even if she can tell something is off about him, she can't control her sour rage. He is withdrawn, sure, but this Elias seems disoriented. He tetters in front of her, his eyes looking into hers but not really seeing her.

"I don't care for the bitchy attitude, so why don't you find me when you're done being a dick," she bites out, twirling on her heels. She's the one to walk away now, her knitted backpack to him as he watches.

Slamming his fist against the locker lightly, the smashing sound reverberates against Mara's eardrums. She twists around fast, looking at him expectantly, tucking a blonde strand of hair behind her ear as she pauses. He holds his hand up as if telling her to wait, reaching deep into his jacket pocket to grab the notebook she'd given him a month ago. He has kept it in his coat this entire time, finding comfort in the small piece of her he holds.

Scribbling out one word, he stalks towards her gently, handing it to her with a frown. Their fingers brush, shooting sparks through both of their fingertips, Elias surprised to find he doesn't flinch away.

In ink, the word sorry is written across the white paper. A small smile forms on Mara's lips, her icy eyes, darting over his messy left-handed writing. She idles a minute, making Elias look at her questioningly, his worry building in his chest before she laughs.

Her tumultuous voice, light and pleasant, ringing through the long empty halls Elias settles his nerves. He watches her with light amusement, finding that with her he could ease his mind. His coffee-colored eyes widening, shining at the sound of her smiling voice, a flashing grin overpowering his lips.

"I forgive you, weirdo, don't pull that shit again though," she says, walking away from him once again. Elias watches her, uncertain of what to do. It isn't until she's at the end of the hallway and about to turn the corner, her tree smell dissipating with the cool air she leaves behind, that she looks over her shoulder at him.