oh dove | Daniel Applebaum

chapter 7: sun shower

Today was when the annual student-teacher football match was going to take place but the grey skies indicated otherwise. Despite how excited the boys had been for the past week or so, I can't say that it was any loss to me that rain could cancel the match. Apparently, it's supposed to be a big deal--there were discussions of a new student lounge and such--but they had little impact in interesting me.

"Were you going to go to the game later?" Annick asked me as she filed through books and papers in her school bag before class. "...before the storm clouds rolled in that is."

I thought about her question while brushing some dirt off of my white ballet flats. "I wasn't planning on it," I answered, looking back up at her. "What about you?"

"Probably not, I need to get the philo project done," she paused. "I also need to complete the rest of my detention so I'm not particularly free on time."

"Oh right... How was your experience with Pichon?" I asked, playfully elbowing Annick. 

"It was fine," she answered, unamused at my jabs. "If I had to have a male partner, he was probably the best-case scenario considering I want to pass the class."

I chuckled. "Have you guys decided what philosopher you guys are covering yet?"

"Not at all. We have a list of potential topics but we'll probably decide today if the football game is canceled," she sighed. "If I recall correctly though, you also had a male partner," Annick added sarcastically.

I grinned at her remark. "He's not half-bad; we got a good chunk of the project done if you'd believe it. He's... interesting."

I was going to add something else about the philosopher we chose but the thought of yesterday's study-date reminded me of something else I had to do. As casual as I thought I had been, the abrupt halt in my speech didn't go unnoticed by Annick, who had been sorting her notes on the bench. Instinctively, her green eyes shifted toward the audible rummaging that was emitting from my bag, watching curiously as my hand dug through heaps of creased notes and pencils. By the time I had managed to locate one of the cigarette packs that had fallen to the bottom of my satchel, Annick's attention was completely focused on the small box that I was now gripping between my fingers.

"Are those yours?" She inquired soon after I pulled another pack from my bag.

An awkward chuckle left my lungs as if I had been caught.

"They're for Applebaum--he ran out of them when we were studying so I thought it was the least I could do for having me over."

Annick snickered playfully. "It sounds like your little study session went a lot better than 'half-bad.'"

Feeling blood rush to the apples of my cheeks, a grin unconsciously materializes on my face.

"I don't know what you mean, Annick," I reply, unable to convince even myself.

The blonde rolled her eyes jokingly as I stood up from the bench.

"Well on a completely unrelated note, I need to give these to him and find Simone," I said while patting my green, knee-high dress. "I'll see you in class though, Annick."

She looked at me with a smug expression. "I'll see you then too, Luci," she chuckled before returning her attention to her assorted notes.

As I began toward Applebaum who had similarly been sitting with his friends, it reminded me of the first time I had to approach him for the philosophy project. I cringed at the thought but it was interesting just how much could change in two days. Giggling silently, I looked down at my shoes. Shit, they're dirty already. I mumbled to distract myself, praying that the blush that had crept onto my face would subside by the time I reached the boys.