Scattering Lilac Ashes

Chapter One Hundred and Twelve

English was up first on Monday morning, which meant that Lila would be spending her first lesson with Asher.

She thought it was odd, as she trudged her way to the classroom against the blistering, cutting wind, that she was now feeling unsure of herself. Sure, they were dating, but... how was she supposed to act with him at school? Like they normally did? Or... was he expecting something else?

She hadn't paid attention to how couples acted during and between classes. What should she be doing? And what were the rules at school, anyway? Were they allowed to hold hands? Was kissing allowed?

She strained to remember how she'd acted with Isaac when they were dating. They'd kissed twice, but she couldn't remember holding his hand or otherwise being very close to him. They'd had lunch together... and he'd held her school bag... but that was it, from what she could recall. They'd talked a bit, but a lot of it was awkward silence since she hadn't really known him then. Now, of course, she felt like she knew a bit too much...

"Lila!"

She looked up, seeing a beaming Asher standing outside their English classroom. He was wearing a jumper today, which was certainly a good idea given they were now in the coldest part of winter.

But just as she'd registered this fact, she came face-to-face with his jumper-clad torso. In the same instant, she felt her feet lifting from the ground. His arms were wrapped firmly around her, pulling her into a hug and he began to spin them both. She melted in his grasp, allowing herself to be spun without complaint. His overt happiness at seeing her warmed her from the inside out, spreading to her freezing fingertips.

"I missed you," he finally said after completing a rotation or two, his face flushed and breathing heavy. Lila laughed, her worries about how to act having completely departed from her mind.

"I missed you too, Asher," she smiled. He continued to look into her eyes, which seemed to get closer by the second. Lila's eyelids fluttered shut-

"Good morning, Asher and Lila," Ms Shard's voice caused them to spring apart from each other, Lila's face burning hot. Had they been about to kiss?

"G-Good morning, Ms Shard," Asher stammered, coughing slightly and readjusting his tie.

"I can see that you're both rather happy this morning," Ms Shard commented. "But you are also in the way of my door, and I'd rather not see kissing students so bright and early in the morning in general, let alone those who are also blocking my way."

"W-We weren't-" Asher spluttered before Ms Shard gave him a doubtful look.

"It's cold outside. Come on, let's get cracking on those poems," Ms Shard said firmly, holding the door open for Asher and Lila, who filed in somewhat awkwardly.

"I'd like to see your hands on your desks too, please," Ms Shard instructed as the door shut behind them. Lila didn't dare protest. She noticed several of her classmates nodding at them as they continued towards their desks – something that indicated to Lila that they had heard the news of their relationship. Gossip sure did get around fast here...

"As if we're going to do anything in her classroom," Asher whispered petulantly after they took their usual seats. Lila glanced at him, seeing that his face was bright pink.

"Y-Yeah," she replied, looking back at her desk. She wordlessly set up her laptop and other materials, waiting for Ms Shard to commence the lesson. It felt a bit uncomfortable, that Ms Shard had specifically singled them out for that, but Lila supposed that Ms Shard would've seen quite a few couples in her time. She was close to retirement age, after all. Perhaps she was just overly cautious of any of those kinds of hijinks in her classroom.