limerence | COMPLETED

03

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER ROUND OF CLASSES SHE HATES.

Life has seemingly become this annoying routine that Layla can't stand, like really deep down despises, and having to sit in this uncomfortable chair for homeroom, which really has no relevance to the school day, is seriously annoying her right now. Her body is already aching as it is.

She went running earlier – she doesn't understand the concept of jogging – and she probably pushed herself too hard. It had been freezing outside that morning thanks to the sudden snow overnight, but even still she had run hard and fast, pumping her arms and legs as quickly as she possibly could and leaping long distances while her feet constantly threatened to slip out beneath her. She had felt good. Breathless, but good.

But now she feels angry and annoyed and restless for no reason at all. She has no idea why. It's just like every other day and it's only just coming up to eight in the morning. But maybe that's the problem. It's this constant routine of nothing that she despises so much. This being stuck in a place that only reminds her of how useless her existence is.

Besides, why does school have to start this goddamn early?

Sighing, Layla rests her chin on her desk and blinks tiredly at the clock on the wall. They still have another seven minutes to go and she wishes she was the kind of person who could just fall asleep anywhere. She presses her eyes closed and tries to remember that beautiful dream she had last night of him and her – them – surrounded by a field of flowers painted...what colours had they been?

Already her dream has faded away, slowly blurring out until all she can really remember is him and the warmth and the smell of sunshine and feeling everything but dark. She wishes she can remember.

On the desk next to Layla, Savannah glances up from her book and rolls her eyes at the sight of Layla with her head down on the table like it always is. Noticing the gesture, Layla childishly sticks her tongue out and Savannah pulls a mock-disgusted face, turning away and pretending to focus more intently on her book.

Mercy is busy doing some last minute history work on the other side of Layla in the meantime and at the front of the class, their teacher is on her phone like usual, scrolling away on whatever app she's using. But the woman unexpectedly straightens in her seat, removes her feet off the spare chair in front of her and quietly exits the room.

See, even she doesn't want to be here, Layla thinks petulantly.

The woman comes back after a couple of minutes, however, and just as Layla goes to look out of the window, someone else steps into the room after her. Someone that makes Layla still in her seat.

Black baseball hat. Hoodie. Him.

No, not him, but the stranger she's been confusing for the boy in her dreams.

"Right class, we have a new student," their teacher announces loudly, immediately grasping everyone's attention. "If you haven't already heard, the Lees have moved to town. Why don't you introduce yourself?"

She turns and gestures at him to speak. He gives her a subtle double-take, quickly looking at the class and back to her again questioningly, as though checking he hasn't misheard her. But when she unhelpfully waves at him to go ahead, he releases a soft breath. He shifts on his feet and reluctantly faces the room.

Layla stares at him, eyes wide.

"Uh, hi," he starts, glancing around the class. "I'm Kai. I'll be with you until we graduate...I guess."

His voice sounds exactly like Layla had imagined his voice to sound: soft, like the way a paintbrush moves across paper, and calming, like that peaceful feeling a person gets just before they fall asleep. But this stranger's voice is also low and deep and she swears there's a slight southern accent. Very subtle, but there.