"𝑵𝑶𝑾 𝑰𝑻'𝑺 𝒀𝑶𝑼𝑹 𝑻𝑼𝑹𝑵 𝑻𝑶 𝑺𝑪𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑴..."

chapter 1

            ❝ Iᴛ's ɴɪᴄᴇ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ sʜᴀʀᴇ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ʀᴇᴀʟ ᴡɪᴛʜ sᴏᴍᴇᴏɴᴇ. ❞

It's your first day at a new school and since you haven't made any friends yet, you are nervously wandering about the school grounds during lunch. A boy soon approaches you.

"Hey, I've never seen you around here before." His eyes are dark and menacing, yet mysteriously alluring as he scans over your body. "I can show you around if you'd like?"

"Oh, yeah I'm new actually, I would love it if you'd show me around, thanks," you smile at him.

He responds with a slight, closed-mouth smile.

"Sure thing." Glancing around the school as he walks, he suddenly stops in his tracks, face hardening as his eyes settle on something in the distance. For a moment, it looks like he's about to say something, but he changes his mind, seeming to be distracted by something else. You can only imagine what he's thinking about, but you have to admit, it feels as if his attention is almost completely focused on you.

"Well, what do you wanna see?" he asks.

"Umm... what's your favourite spot?"

"In the whole school?" Chuckling a little, he scratches the back of his head. "I guess it'd be the gym." A faint smirk breaks across his face, as if he's sharing a personal secret with you.
"I have a lot of memories there, he continues, voice softer and more wistful than you've heard it so far, so it's always been a place I feel comfortable. What about you, what's your favourite place?"

"I like the fountain," you answer.

"The fountain?" He seems surprised by the answer, but quickly covers it, smiling slightly. "That's one I haven't heard before ... Why is that?"
His steps slow as you approach the fountain, seemingly transfixed by the running water.

"It's just peaceful, I like the sound of the running water."

Smiling slightly, he stands beside the fountain, enjoying the sound of the running water as much as you seem to. In a rare moment, he seems at peace, and almost completely relaxed. "It is ... peaceful, isn't it? I get it."

"So, you said you're new - did you just move here?" Glancing over to you, he seems genuinely interested and curious about all things you. Maybe you're the first person that truly piqued his interest? He smiles slightly, his expression softer than you've seen before. "If I'm not being too nosy, that is?"

"Of course not." you smile at him. "My parents and I just moved here from L.A. to get some peace I guess, since my dad is a director and he has a lot of crazy fans."

He smiles, nodding his head as he listens to your story. He seems interested, but you also sense an undercurrent of sadness and sympathy beneath that calm exterior.

"Oh, wow. That must be a big change, moving from L.A. to Woodsboro to get some peace." He pauses, seeming to consider something before speaking again. "Well, I hope it's been peaceful here - it's pretty quiet." He smiles, offering a slight shrug. "What do you think so far?"

"I love it. It's so much more private and everyone's so close," you assured.

Nodding slightly, he smiles. "Yeah, everyone does seem to be close. I feel like everybody knows everybody here. It has its pluses and minuses ... He sighs slightly, a hint of sadness and wistfulness in his voice. He glances over at you, then back at the water, thinking. "I'll be honest with you ... I don't really have a lot of friends, so I've been on my own a lot." The sadness in his voice is more prominent now. "I guess you could say I'm glad we met."

"Wow, really? I thought that you'd be, like, super popular with all the girls drooling over you."

He chuckles softly. "I wish that was true." A slight, weary smile crosses his face. "But nah." Shaking his head, he gestures generally to his person. "I'm not exactly the most approachable person in a crowd." He pauses for a moment, a slight frown pulling at the corners of his mouth. "I guess people just don't know what to make of me."

"Who cares what people think. They're missing out," you shrugged at him and gave him a reassuring smile.

The slightest smile lifts his lips. "You're right, they are." His smile widens slightly. "I'm glad you didn't make the same mistake they did." He pauses for a moment, and when he continues, his voice is quieter and more thoughtful. "You've been very kind to me today. It hasn't gone unnoticed, I promise."

"Well, I'm sorry that others aren't so kind but we're friends now, right? So, we can look out for each other," you declared and give him a reassuring look.

Smiling softly, he nods slowly. "Of course. Of course, we're friends now." He turns to you fully, his expression more open and genuine than you've seen it. There are no walls this time, just an honest smile, and in that moment, it feels like his heart is on full display. You'd have to be made of stone to not notice this, and to not feel at least a little bit charmed. There's something about him that's just so genuinely likeable and sweet.

He offers you a small wink. "It's nice to be able to share something real with someone."

"Yeah, maybe we can hangout sometime?" you ask.

"I'd like that. I really would." He smiles softly. "How about we exchange phone numbers?" He pauses. "We can watch a movie at my place sometime!" His expression brightens, and he looks excited to hear what you'll say.

"Yeah sure, that sounds great" you expressed while writing your phone number on his hand.

A wide smile crosses his face, and for a brief moment, his demeanor seems to lighten. It seems that this small offer to watch a movie together is something far, far bigger to him. It makes you smile, seeing someone so happy, and so eager for more in his life.

"Great!" A slight blush flushes his cheeks then, as if he's embarrassed by how excited that has made him. Shaking his head, he tries to compose himself. "So, I'll see you after class then?"

"Yeah, see ya!"

He smiles, and with one final nod, he turns and walks away. The last thing you hear from him is a little wave of the hand, and that smile, that smile which seems to be directed entirely at you.

You smile and wave back

That smile ... You can't help but wonder if there's some kind of deeper meaning behind it. Is he just being kind, or is there something more? Is he attracted to you? Is he glad to have made a new friend? It's hard to say, but one thing's for sure. Whatever he's thinking, it makes your heart beat a little faster.

You turn and walk away to class.