THE INBESTIGATORS (EZRA'S LOVE STORY)

(10) STUCK TOGETHER

Today I was supposed to meet Poppy in the art room after school but she's not here.

Poppy has been into art for a long time now so she joined the school's art club.

She said that we were supposed to bring home all of her art supplies and finished paintings.

I look at the window and I see Kyle running away from Ava.

I laughed.

But looking at them made me think of a certain someone.

As I daydream about Maudie, I hear the door open.

Me: Poppy what took you...

I was turned around and saw Maudie.

Maudie: Sorry, but I'm not Poppy. Hi Ezra.

Me: Oh. Hey Maudie. Have you seen Poppy?

Maudie: Yeah I did. She told me to come help you with the art stuff while she gets a bag for all of it.

Me: That's good. I was worried something bad happened.

Maudie smiled at me which made me flustered

Me: What?

Maudie: Oh nothing. Just thinking that you haven't changed.

Me: I've grown a lot you know. I'm as tall as Ava now.

Maudie giggled.

Maudie: That's not what I meant. I meant that you always care and worry about your family, it's kind of cute.

Her words made me blush and all the blood rushing to my head stopped me from denying it.

Me: W-we should just take all of Poppy's stuff and leave.

Maudie: I suppose we could.

The two of us started gathering up Poppy's paintings and art supplies so that when Poppy arrives we can start moving them.

Maudie was at the stack of paintings while I was in her art drawer looking for pens brushes or other art things.

Me: Maudie, how about I take care of things here while you go get Poppy?

Maudie: Yeah, sure.

She walked to the door and tried to turn the handle.

Maudie: Umm, Ezra. We have a problem. I think we're locked inside.

Me: Are you sure? Let me try.

I tried to turn the handle, pushing and pulling the door, however none of it worked.

Maudie: I guess we're stuck together.

My panic from being locked in made me forget about the more anxious part of this situation, the fact that I'm alone with my crush.

I was filled with both joy and nervousness.

Me: I'm going to call Poppy maybe she can go get the keys to this room.

Maudie: Ezra, wait for a bit. We need to think about this whole thing.

Me: What more is there to think about? We're stuck.

Maudie: Yeah but have you ever wondered why we were locked inside in the first place. The doors don't automatically lock until the teachers go home and it's still early, so why would this door lock? Maybe it's a glitch.

Me: It's possible, but these doors can also be manually locked using keys so I'm not entirely sure that it's a glitch.

Maudie: The art club is a student managed club and the members have keys to this room because there is no faculty in charge of the room. Maybe one of them accidentally locked the door thinking it was empty.

Me: I'm just going to call Poppy so we can get out of here.

Maudie: Okay. I'll stay quiet for now.

The phone rang until Poppy answered it.

(Poppy): Hey, Ezra. What's up? Having fun?

Me: Maudie and I have been stuck in the art room for a while now. Can you come and help us please.

(Poppy): Sure thing, just wait for a bit.I'm pretty far away. Byyyyeeee.

She hung up.

Maudie: So how did it go?

Me: She's coming, it might take a while.

I sat down on the ground because I was tired.

Maudie: Since we have nothing to do.

She sat beside me and looked at me.

Maudie: Why don't we try to solve why the door locked?

Me: You do love your mysteries, don't you?

Maudie: Yes, yes I do.

She smiled at me and all of my worries disappeared.

We talked for a long time about all the possible ways why the door locked.

We were just talking and having fun.

Me: I'm kind of thirsty, so I'm going to get my water bottle from my bag.

Maudie: Can you get me, my bottle as well?

Me: Sure.

I went to get our water bottles and as I start to lower myself to give Maudie her bottle.

I slip on one of the painting tools on the ground and I fell on Maudie.

Maudie was lying on the ground to react to my fall.

I had my hands on the ground like I was doing a push up.

We were directly facing each other, my face, only a few inches away from Maudie's.

What seemed like hours had only been seconds.

I was probably blushing.

I opened my mouth and tried to say something, anything to break the atmosphere.

But before I could the door opened and Poppy entered.

I look at Poppy and Poppy looked at us.

She was silent for a few seconds, so was I.

Maudie pushed me aside and stood up.

She fixed her clothing and her hair, and tried to pretend nothing happened.

Maudie: Since Poppy's here, I will be leaving. Bye, see you both later.

She quickly exited the room and went away.

Poppy: Umm, what was that?

Me: H-how did you open the door?

With my embarrassment still on my face, I tried to change the topic.

Poppy: It wasn't locked you just had to turn the door handle a specific way to open it.

Me: I see.

The image of Maudie's close face still fresh in my mind.

My heartbeat quick and my face red.

Me: Does that mean we could have gotten out earlier if you told me this when I called you?

Poppy: Oh. Thanks again for helping me out Ezra. Let me just take these things and I'll see you at home.

She avoided eye contact, took her stuff and ran off.

So, only I remained.

One person.

Alone.

In an art room.

My mind was empty but five words escaped my mouth.

Me: I want to kiss her.

To be continued