Not Done Yet

3

Ian enjoyed being alone sometimes, especially while on a walk.

It was nice to get your thoughts straight while you listened to your footfalls, or gazed at your surroundings. Often alone, you'd noticed things about your local area that you had not considered before.

Right now, Ian could not focus on the local sights he'd normally find intriguing.

Ian had always cared for Friday, perhaps not romantically at first. But he had, whether he liked it or not. At least, those were Melanie's words and he was starting to realise she had an even deeper conception than he had thought.

He'd had an interesting friendship with her. She was great and a relaxing person to be around and he enjoyed her presence. But he'd never actually had a good conversation with her until camp. Funnily enough, it was about a person they both knew and had in common.

They'd been camping out in a cave waiting for the rain to calm down outside. 

Ian had found himself awake and looking across from him to see Friday.

She was facing Ian and sleeping on her side. Her hair had been mussed up and her face was calm and serene, a look that didn't often cross her features but one that Ian thought suited her. 

Beside her was Melanie, looking effortlessly good and well-rested, though he knew no one had gotten much sleep.

He jumped when he noticed she'd been watching him. 

"She should sleep more, it'll do her good." she'd yawned before meeting his gaze. "You should too,"

Ian regained his composure. "I probably sleep more than she does,"

She watched her friend with a soft gaze. "I'm sure you do, but sleep is the only time she doesn't look so sad,"

He wasn't expecting that. "What?"

Melanie gave him an indignant look but her voice was kind. "I know you've been watching her."

He turned away, flushing slightly. But he didn't deny it.

"I can't blame you, it's a rare sight." she sighed a little. "People always describe Friday as annoying, nosy and too smart for her own good. 

She chuckled lightly. "Sometimes they're not wrong,"

"She plays it off by acting strong and brave and she is, but no one bothers to look deeper than that."

This caught Ian's attention. "What do you mean?"

She smiled. "Surely you've noticed?"

"Noticed what?"

"Friday hides things not many of us can see."

"Like her emotions?" Ian asked, his mouth quirking.

"Exactly. And so many other things,"

"Oh that's a relief 'cause I was starting to think she didn't have any," he'd joked.

Melanie frowned. "You and I both know that that's not true," she'd said, scolding him.

His smile and his sense of humour vanished. It was so rare to see Melanie adamant that it must've been important.

She'd continued. "Whether she likes to admit it or not, she faces all kinds of pressure."

This was hard to imagine. Friday usually seemed unfazed by the world around her. "Like what?"

"To act normal, to conform to society, to follow in her family's footsteps."

"I thought she wanted to follow after her family," Friday's family consisted of theoretical physicists who spent all their time working and in their minds coming up with complicated equations.