Finding Us

13

Aria rolled her eyes at Nash as he kept telling them about the math paper and how he copied it from Julie. Sage kept eating the popcorn with her comical eyes fixed on Nash. "Nash, you could try your luck at acting. You do look like that guy from-" Sage's brows frowned in deep thinking as she thought of the movie.

"Call me by your name." Aria finished the sentence.

"Exactly, that movie. You look so much like the boy with your hair now." Sage said, and everyone chuckled when Nash frowned in annoyance. "Why haven't I noticed it before?"

"Guys, what am I saying and what you are all talking about," Nash complained, shrugging his shoulders and taking his seat.

"Dumb move, Nash, it's okay if you accept the fact that you prepared for the exam. Sage did well and she fucking pulled nights together to prepare. So shut the fuck up and, your bitch story," Florie said, getting up from her seat.

Everyone looked at Florie in a bit of shock. "I'm gonna go and get my fucking coffee."

"Okay." It was Nash who replied. Florie stood there for a minute looking down at Nash before giving him a nod and leaving.

"What was that?" Rhett asked. Nash looked down at his hands. He knew the reason why Florie snapped out of the blue. She is sad and anxious, she didn't do well and got a 'C'. Now her parents would be asking about it in the evening. Florie had asked him to help her but he kept dodging her saying he was busy.

"It's about her mark sheet and the call she is going to answer in the evening, isn't it?" Indigo questioned, looking at Nash. Everyone knew that Florie's best friend or the closest person was Nash. Nash is the only person in the entire school with whom Florie would be sharing every bit of her secrets and family life.

Sage stayed quiet and sipped her cold coffee, waiting for Nash to speak up. "Ugh, I should have helped her with the paper." Nash slummed down in his seat with his head between his hands. "She kept asking me to help her but I wasn't ready to help her this time and shit."

"It's fine bro. You don't blame yourself, we were all anxious about our preparation and exams. It was hard to concentrate on our shit, you don't have to take up the blame," Rhett voiced, placing his hand on Nash's shoulder.

Gideon passed the table and frowned when Sage didn't glance at him nor did she observe his presence. He looked back to see that they were having a serious conversation and Tariq was missing.

Sage sighed, picking up her bag. "I will go and check on Florie." Sage didn't wait for anyone as she left the cafeteria in a hurry. She saw Gideon but didn't spare a moment. She needs to find Florie before she finds her closed off and in a broken stage. Florie's parents are very particular about Florie's grades. They don't spare her if she gets anything less than an A.

Sage found Florie in the resting hall. Usually, the hall is always empty as it is far from the residential buildings. "Florie?"

Florie turned around and smiled at Sage. "Hey..." Sage took her seat beside Florie and they sat in complete silence. Florie leaned her head on Sage's shoulder and sighed before closing her eyes.

"6 am every morning, in my dorm room," Sage spoke in silence. She didn't get any reply and she wasn't expecting any reply. She was mentioning it.

*

Gideon watched as Sage traced her finger on his arm, her eyes focused on his. They were sleeping on Sage's dorm bed facing each other. The only light in the room is the study lamp. They are okay with it, they didn't want to turn on the lights in the room. The warm light is enough for them as they are sleeping close.