✔︎ | Part of Me (Trilogy)

9 | good plays

9 | good plays

S h i r a y  W i l s o n 

All The Light We Cannot See is boring me. I hate to admit it, but I'm not interested in reading right now. The book is amazing so far, but have absolutely to desire to carry on. I groan and slam my book closed, repositioning my sunglasses. I look up at the cloud dotted sky, the warm sun beaming down through the leaves of the enormous blue oak tree.

I rest my back against the seat of the bench and swing my legs over the arm, letting the sun rays seep into my skin. I like that I'm not surrounded by snow in the middle of January.

I wait a few more minutes before deciding that I've been sitting too long and need to exercise my legs. I pack up my stuff and take it back into the school, shoving everything into my locker. I check my phone. It's too early to go to my last class, but if I take my time and walk slowly, I won't have to be alone with Axel for a long time. I grab my gym bag and find someone to unlock the change rooms for me.

I change slower than I ever have before. A child who has never dressed themselves could probably have beat my speed.

I trudge slowly back down the hallway to the furthest doors so the walk takes longer.

My eyes accidentally meet with someone I pass.

"Will!" I exclaim, and sigh out in relief. "That would have been awkward if it was someone else."

He laughs out too, swinging his arm around my shoulder and continues walking with me in my direction. "I hate looking at people in the hallway!" He tells me. "That awkward eye contact — it's like peering into the deepest, darkest pits of somebody's soul." He chuckles, "very uncomfortable."

I laugh. "No kidding. So why are you not in class?"

Will shakes his empty water bottle in front of me. "Filling up. Gotta keep myself hydrated."

"You sure that's all you're doing?"

Will chuckles. "I may have noticed a girl that sits near the door in a class I pass on the way to the fountain," Will rambles, hoping that I miss the part where he said that he was noticing a girl.

I giggle. "Oh My God, Will has crush."

"Says you," he chuckles.

I roll my eyes. "I'm leaving. The bell rings soon too and I don't want to be stuck in the crowded halls," I squirm out of his grip, "so bye bye, Willy Wonka. Good luck finding love."

He chuckles. "See you tonight."

I drum his shoulder and he turns to walk back down the hallway. I dreadfully walk outside into the sunny day and down to the soccer field, hoping that maybe Axel decided he was in too much pain to student teach today. Unfortunately I get my hopes up for no reason. Axel's already on the field, laying on the grass, throwing a soccer ball into the air and catching it. His head rests on a jacket, and he lays so peacefully, I think maybe he doesn't notice me.