Silent Clues

-1-

Walking to school in the cold was not my plan this morning, but of course, my best friend, Enid, couldn't drive me because her boyfriend was taking her to school. She switches out partners like I switch out the expresso I use in my coffee every morning. I guess it's not too bad. I get to take in the smell of the cold and the sprinkle of snow in my hair. The elegance of the ice covering every inch of my town as if it were cast under a spell. When I got to school Enid ran up with her light jacket, a sign that she only had to walk down her driveway and into school. She apologized profusely after she saw how cold I was and how red my hands were. My hair was nearly frozen and my teeth were chattering. Her boyfriend, of course, smiled over to me in a way that made me think he knew what he did, making me walk. I don't like him. But if this basic, rich, boy makes Enid happy, I shall put up with walking.

In my third class of the day, science, a heavy feeling washes over me in a huge wave, all hitting me at once when I walk in. Not a type of feeling caused by anxiety, no this was far heavier. I noticed a boy glancing at me during the lecture. Usually I wouldn't care for glances, but I noticed that I've never seen him before. The dress code in school is a dark academia style. We are all wearing dark colors, but he seems to actually fit the atmosphere, unlike everyone else. In that brief moment it was like he was trying to get my attention subtlety. He wasn't, of course, but something pulled my gaze to him before I even noticed he was glancing at me. Then lunch time hit after the long, boring day of staring out cold windows. The world outside dull. My friends all sat together, Enid across from me, with her boyfriend next to her. He has his arm placed around her shoulders. I usually stay pretty quiet during lunch, but our friend Andy made a joke, "hey y/n, Valentine's Day is coming up, anybody catch your eye?" He laughed in an obnoxious way. The squeaky kind of laugh nobody really likes. He looked around to see if he got anyones attention. He likes attention. Everyone in this lunch group knows I haven't liked anyone that way for years, but they all looked up from their meals to see my response, as if hearing it isn't enough. "Andy you know I don't care for all that love stuff, and Valentine's Day? Are you serious? That's so cliché." I scoffed and went back to my meal. "Come on y/n!" Enid said, Smiling brightly. "Somebody has to be appealing to you." She put her arms folded on the table and put her face nearly above my tray. At this point I became annoyed. Why are they asking about this stuff. They never ask me about it. I mean, I wouldn't have an answer other than no every time, but it's weird that they're asking me now.

I looked around the room to add some character into my response, just for my bestfriend. "Nope! Not one of these rich, snobby people are my type!" I said, in a sarcastic manner, rolling my eyes. "Then what is your typeeee?" Enid replied, clearly curiosity was eating away at her. I looked into her eyes for a moment about to answer. Realizing it was pointless to, I quickly looked back down. "I don't know." I sighed and began picking up my lunch. They dropped the topic and went on talking about their own things. No longer part of the conversation due to my boring attitude, I got up and headed to the library. School was over in 2 periods and I didn't want to be in the library after school because the Student Council Club holds meetings there. They seriously creep me out. Entering the library, the big, oak door creaked when opened and made a huge thud when closed. The library is huge. It holds thousands of books with every topic you could name. Every subject. Every language. During this hour it is brightly lit, but after school it is dim. Stepping towards the table to sign in, I saw him. He was reading the back of a book, I saw it as he placed it on its correct side in his hand. It's a romance novel. One, I'll admit, I've read. I picked up my book about arts for my art class, a book about the human mind for my extra course in psychology, and while I was at it, I got a personal book, also a romance. He left as I got up to check out the books, but as he left, that same heavy feeling washed over me. I shook my head left to right as if trying to get something out of my hair and then rang the bell for the librarian.

When I got home I was freezing. I took a warm shower and when I got out of the steamy bathroom, I noticed Enid had called. I called her back and she apologized for lunch. I told her everything was fine. So then she proceeded to ask, "so, do you have a type?" I sighed as if releasing a soul in my body, pinched the bridge of my nose, said oh my god under my breath, and hung up. I put my phone on silent and began my homework. After homework I read the first chapter of my romance book.
Upon entering the classroom, she had realized that she had left her notebook in the bottom of her desk in her last class. Grabbing a pass and making her way down the hall-
That is where i left off. Too tired to continue, I drifted to sleep in my toasty room, under 3 blankets.