Fairytale • Robby Keene

seven

At school, the halls were packed with students, each one rushing between classes, creating a chaotic atmosphere. Sam firmly grabbed Odette's hand, pilling her through the sea of people. The noise of chattering voices and the shuffle of sneakers on the floor added to the energy around them as they weaved through the crowd, ignoring the irritated murmurs and stares from the students they bumped into.

Miguel had been distant for the past few days, and Sam was determined to find out what was going on. Odette, being her best friend, was there for moral support. She knew Sam didn't want to face this alone. There was something strange about Miguel's recent behavior, and Sam needed to get to the bottom of it.

After what felt like an eternity of maneuvering through students, the final bell rang, signaling the end of the prep test.

The classroom door swung open, and students began pouring out. Among them were Miguel and Demetri, walking side by side, deep in conversation. Their heads were bent low, making it hard to hear what they were saying, but it was clear they weren't paying much attention to anyone around them.

Sam's eyes found Miguel's and a wide smile spread across her face. She made her way through the crowd, trying to keep her eyes locked on him despite the chaos.

"Hey!" Sam greeted him enthusiastically, her voice rising above the crowd.

"Hey." Miguel replied flatly as he glanced up at her for a moment. His face remained neutral.

There was an awkward silence that stretched between them, and Odette could tell something was off. The tension in the air was palpable, and she exchanged a brief look with Demetri, who seemed just as confused by Miguel's behavior as she was.

Then, without another word, Sam and Miguel leaned in toward each other, closing the gap between them with a kiss. It was soft and brief, but it left an air of discomfort in the space around them. Demetri and Odette awkwardly cleared their throats at the same time, both trying to act as if they weren't witnessing an intimate moment.

Miguel and Sam pulled apart, their faces flushed, looking slightly embarrassed by the display. Demetri broke the silence with a casual remark.

"I'll meet you." He said to Miguel before turning and walking away.

Odette turned to Sam, her eyebrows raised. "I'm going to head out. I'll see you later."

Sam nodded, giving her a quick hug before turning back to Miguel. With a final glance in his direction, Odette turned to walk down the hallway, feeling the weight of the awkwardness still hanging in the air.

As she walked beside Demetri, her fingers sliding down his arm casually. The movement was slow, deliberate—something that felt comfortable between them, despite the unspoken tension in the air from the recent interaction between Sam and Miguel.

Demetri glanced down at her, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. He was taller than her by quite a bit, but she could feel his gaze soften when it landed on her. He shook his head slightly, though there was no real frustration in the gesture, just a hint of amusement.