Watching him from afar

Chapter 2

"Mae, are you walking home with me today?" Layla, my best friend from the age of 13 onwards, spoke to me at lunchtime one day, from the seat next to me in the dining hall.
"Huh? Oh... yeah I am." I murmured distractedly. I had just noticed Tom queuing to pay for his lunch, his small group of friends clustered around him, talking to one an other. He looked so effortlessly, (and this is a word which I use sparingly in my life) cool. His black rucksack was slung over one shoulder, open slighlty from where he'd delved into his bag for his wallet. He ran his fingers through his curls as he laughed at something that one of his friends had said, which I couldn't hear. Layla followed my gaze, raising her eyebrows when she saw who I was looking at.
"Oh, Mae! I know you say you don't, but I can tell that you do like him. Even if you don't fancy him, you like him. Admit it."
I tore my eyes away from him and shrugged. She was right. I did like him as a person. I wanted to be his friend.
"Well..." I began.
"You do fancy him!"
"No! I'd like to get to know him though, I'll admit that."
"Talk to him! You don't have to go futher than friendship, do you? Look! He's coming over here, maybe he'll sit with us"
I turned subtly and saw that what Layla said was true. I turned back to my food, pretending I hadn't been looking. I heard a voice behind me. His voice.
"Do you mind if we sit here, Mae? Layla?" I turned back around and nodded, probably too eagerly, but he was polite, said thank you and sat where I gestured.
Layla kicked me under the table and mouthed 'Talk to him!' at me.
I pulled a face, unsure of what to say, but he saved the awkwardness by beginning a conversation.
"Are you doing anything nice tomorrow, then?" It was a friday, one more period until the weekend. I was planning on going for a walk. I'm one of those people who enjoy walking, especially in winter months, where the fresh bitng wind seems to clear your mind of any anguish and stress, and your lungs are filled with cold air which helps you breathe once more.
"I'll probably go for a long walk." I said without really thinking, and felt myself blush because it sounded so weird. He wouldn't want to be friends with me now, surely. But he looked at me kindly and enquired further.
"Where to, may I ask?"
"I'm not sure. I tend to just go wherever I feel fits my mood on a particular day. I walk quite a lot, with Jess, my dog. I like the air clearing my mind. You?" I stuttered, clumsily tripping over my word, awkward and nervous against his calm and polite behaviour.
We talked a bit more, and he told me that he went to a drama club outside of school that was putting on a production of a play callled 'The Sunset' which was about a young girl who's boyfriend goes off to fight during the First World War. It's story of her struggle to keep her hopes up whilst he's gone, and his struggle to keep his sanity after seeing what he saw on the front line.
"Who are you playing?" I asked, curious.
"I'm the man fighting in the war."
"Really? So your kind of the main character then?" Layla butted in.
He laughed, quietly, that special laugh of his, his toungue resting on his top teeth.
"I suppose so, yes."
"I'm sure you're really good! You're excellent in lessons!" I blurted out, flushing yet again.
"Well, that's very kind of you." Yet again his politeness smeared the embarrassment from the atmosphere.
Then it was my turn to laugh quietly. "Mr Mandelle loves you!" I grinned. "How can you act so well? How long have you done it?"
"Oh, goodness. I don't know. Probably about three years?" His brows furrowed in thought, " Since Year 6 I suppose, but I've always acted in the holidays with my sisters. And you're good anyway!"
We smiled at each other as the bell sounded for final lesson.
"We should talk more often." He said, picking his bag up.
"I'd like that." I replied. "See you soon."
"Bye, Mae. Bye, Layla." He took his tray, and adjusted his bag, grinned and walked off.
"I told you." Layla nudged me. "He likes you too."