𝐻𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝐸𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒☏︎

Chapter 6, 'Anxiety?'

Ava's POV
Tuesday
7:53 am

I was walking away from the front gate of the school when I saw Maudie, Kyle holding a football ball—I think— and Ezra on the ground. And I definitely know what happened.

I ran over to them and asked Ezra, 'Ezra are you okay?'

'I'm fine.' Ezra replied.

'Sorry, Ezra.' Kyle apoligized.

'How did you even manage to hit Ezra? The field is on the other side of the building.' Maudie asked, confused; While helping Ezra get back up, scratching his head, and pantomimed an annoyed expression.

'Me and the team we're playing rugby and got off course. Speaking of the the team, I have to go back. BYE!' Kyle said, leaping out of the conversation. So it wasn't a football ball, it was a rugby ball.

'KYLE!' I shouted. How rude of he.

Maudie's POV
7:55 am

'Anyway, you look like you have somewhere to be.' I told her. Which seemed to click something on her mind.

'Oh, yeah, wait, I do, sorry guys, but I have to go. Pixie, and Amelia, and Esther, and the other members of my party planning club are planning a suprise birthday party for our teacher, Miss Ruth.' Ava hurriedly said. I could see birthday paraphernalia light up all over her face. She then ran off to the school entrance.

'Isn't Miss Ruth's birthday placed on saturday? What are they planning?' Ezra pointed out. It was quite confusing too. We looked at each other in a confused yet sarcastic way. 'I'm going to class, I'm gonna be researching on stuff. I'll see you when class starts, I guess.' Ezra waved bye, then went to the direction of our classroom.

So, now I'm all alone; Figuratively. I sat on a nearby empty bench, placing my backpack beside me. I feel lonely. And I mean, inside lonely. I think this is what Ava describes this as. I looked around my surroundings, preparing myself for class. There is nothing really to look at except for the students, school buildings, and the surrounding areas. The students here all look almost alike, and the school uniforms were not helping. The uniforms look the same from our old school but looks more formal, with ties, and blazers, with the color, navy blue. I guess the color of our uniform is quite helpful during winter season. Not so much with the other seasons though.

Ezra's POV
7:54 am

I sat on my chair in our classroom so I could start researching on the internet. I shifted my eyes at the time on my phone, seeing that I only have 36 minutes of free time. I started typing out in a new tab: 'Types of Mood swings' just to be sure. I clicked on the first article that popped up and opened them in another tab. I scrolled past the headlines, unnecessary text, and paragraphs with the slide of my finger. When I reached the information I needed, I quickly read the definition and types of it. I took note on what types had similarities with what I was feeling. And so far, so good. I tried looking at more articles, and with what I have found. It was not mood swings. I celebrated mentally and emotionally, for a moment then got back to research.

I then searched, 'I feel nervous, then I feel happy?' And saw:

'That's because anxiety and excitement are both aroused emotions. In both, the heart beats faster, cortisol surges, and the body prepares for action. In other words, they're "arousal congruent." The only difference is that excitement is a positive emotion‚ focused on all the ways something could go well.'

After reading the paragraph, I took paused for a moment processing if the description matched my feelings, it kind of did, but why? And again I searched up, 'Causes of heart beating faster' Unsure what I would expect, I pressed enter.

After pressing enter my phone I got bombarded with articles of medical conditions, which was enlightening, of course. Yet, I was suprised that it wasn't associated with love, society nowadays associate,

'heart beating faster'

with love. The exact same thing happens when you ask Ava that. She'll scream out that you're probably experiencing romantic attraction, and start asking you questions like,

'Who's that special someone?'

'Do you feel all warm and tingly inside? Then that is definitely romantic attraction'.

I searched for the other results. After seeing nothing helpful, I was gonna type a search again, when I gleamed at the window and saw Maudie sitting alone on a bench. I checked the time, 7:11 am, I got up and left for Maudie.

7:15 am

'I thought I was gonna see you at the start of class.' Maudie said, looking at my direction.

'Well I couldn't leave the most frustrating person I know, alone. Besides, I'm done researching.' I told her. Am I done with researching? I guess what I said answers it. I'll just ignore it. All the results ended up with anxiety. It is definitely not that.

'Still?' Maudie rolled her eyes.

'Of course. Kyle's second.' I teased. She just kind of smirked.

We sat on the bench and chatted with the sun ray shining upon us. This feels warm, like something I know; I don't think I've experienced this feeling before though.

7:25 am

Maudie's phone alarmed us that class will be starting in 5 minutes. Our teacher is always late though. We got up, Maudie grabbing her backpack, and we went to class.

➷➹➷➹ long time skip ➷➹➷➹

Maudie's POV
10:32 am

Finally, it was lunch time. I grabbed my lunchbox in my bag and by the time I was up, everyone headed their way to the stairs, which I included myself into. I got lost in the way and reached the restroom. I just waited by the restroom until the halls cleared up.

10:35 am

After the halls cleared up, I went outside near the pond, looking for a place to sit. Hopefully with an InBestigator. I found a table to sit down and eat. The table had some wrappers and dirt on it which I pushed aside to place my lunchbox. I started eating my lunch, it was just some leftover curry, salmon and peanut butter sandwich. It made me recall when I was sitting alone earlier this morning and Ezra went to sit with me. It was really nice and considerate act. That was an understatement; It was lovely. Now, I'm in that same situation a few hours later, minus the Ezra part. Wonder what's gonna happen next...

End of chapter.

January 8, 2023