First Light

3 camille's

Monday 4th of October 2021

Faye:

The branches of the tree that I'm sitting under creak gently in the breeze, rustling the pages of the book I'm balancing in my lap. Just as I'm about to start on the next page, a shadow appears, blocking my light.

"The Fault in Our Stars. Didn't think you were into sad books, to be honest."

The boy from the party - Marlo. He towers over me, obviously even taller now that I'm sitting down.

"What makes you think you're a good judge of character? You've known me for less than 24 hours." I smile.

"Wow, okay. I'll spoil the ending for you." He says, taking a seat so he's opposite me on the grass.

"I've already read it like a million times."

He looks at me blankly.

"Ever heard of a favourite book?"

He smirks. "So you like depressing stuff, yeah?"

I laugh. "It's more realistic."

He doesn't answer me straight away, just smiles, shaking his head slowly. "You're weird."

I roll my eyes. "You're going to be late for class."

"Glad to see that you care about me getting an education, but I don't have any classes today. I was heading over to Camille's before I saw you here."

"Camille?" I ask.

Marlo stares at me in shock, as if I'm expected to know who that is. "No, I can't accept that. You're coming with me."

He stands up abruptly, not even bothering to dust the grass off his cargo trousers, and holds out his hand.

I look at it for half a second before taking it, ignoring the weird sensation I get from my palm against his as he pulls me to my feet.

He lets go of my hand as soon as I'm standing up, adjusting his skateboard under his arm, and begins walking towards the direction of the main gates. I follow him, shoving the book into my tote bag as I do so.

"It's not far, but we have to take a bus to get there. You have your card?"

I nod. "So she doesn't live on campus?"

He sighs in a can't believe you'd ask that way. "Just wait. You'll see."

Marlo:

Faye doesn't say anything else until we're both seated at the back.

"Bottom deck," I said to her before we had stepped onto the bus. "It's only a couple stops."

"Oh, here's your hoodie," She turns to me, her hand disappearing into her bag.

I smile. "Yeah, I got your text."

"You didn't even bother replying? Prick." She says, jokingly, shoving the hoodie at me.

The quick movement causes a faint wave of perfume to wash over me. A light, flowery scent.

"Sorry, I had better things to do." I snatch the hoodie from her in mock-annoyance, and see a flash of a smile on her face before she turns, looking out of the window.

Once we get off the bus, I take Faye away from the cars and buses and people, down a side road to where it's quieter. She walks next to me in silence, shouldering her bag every so often. She then turns to me suddenly, presumably to ask how much further it is, but I stop her, nodding towards the building we've reached.