Ataraxia → Heartstopper

1

Okay, so admittedly getting a textbook from the opposite side of the class wasn't as difficult as you would think -- but Ataraxia Olsson had a long mental block period until she finally got up to retrieve the forboden object of her temporary misery. By the time she went to go get it, the rest of the class had already retrieved theirs, and the whole experience was embarrassing and unequivocally horrendous.  

Once she actually got it, she flipped the page open to the right chapter, and stared. Didn't write the words that she was meant to be defining for homework where the teacher had so generously given time in order to complete during class -- and not because she didn't want to get her homework done right then and there, but because getting up in front of the class and then proceeding to get the textbook had made Ataraxia's face turn a bright crimson red. 

Her leg bounced nervously and she could feel her shoulders slump and then tremble. Ataraxia wanted to get up and go to the restroom, but there was only four minutes left and she didn't want to garner any unneeded attention, which then resulted in her simply sitting in her own misery until the agonizingly slow bell chimed and they were all excused to leave.

And leave she did -- and she wasn't the last one to get up this time. Immediately as the bell sounded amongst the classroom she hurriedly stuffed her notebook and pencil into her bag, left the textbook on her desk, and burst out of the room before anyone could even begin to register what was happening.

And, like she was a mere puppet being controlled by a foreign string attached to her, she waited for her sister where she was meant to be heading, and once she caught sight of the familiar blonde hair and friendly face that was beaming alongside a girl Ataraxia knew to be Tara Jones, she wrapped her small arms around Darcy, enveloping her sister in a tight hug. Harsh tears were already beginning to stream down her face, generously blinding her vision. 

Instinctively, gentle arms wrapped around the small of her back. 

No words were exchanged.