teenage nightmare ² ━━ amour

28.

28.
chapter twenty-eight:
paperball'ed.

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

I nodded, balling the paper in my fist. "Positive."

May sighed. "The target is on the other side, not to mention in the window seat. You have two major obstacles, Tierno, but he ain't the biggest one. Calem is literally across from her. You have about a ninety-eight percent chance of messing up."

"Thanks." I aimed at the honey-blond girl who was playing with Shauna, hitting high-fives and stuff. I brought the ball to the tip of my fingers and released it. Just as I did so, the bus gave a jerk, and I cursed my ill luck as it hit Calem instead. I ducked under Gary's shadow while they pretended to be talking.

"Ash, you fool," Gary cursed. "I didn't expect you to be so bad at aiming. You sure you're on the soccer team?"

"Thanks," I repeated, tearing out another sheet stealthily. May caught my hand.

"He's puzzled and looking around. If he sees that, he'll know it's you and wonder why on earth you're trying to hit on him."

I rolled my eyes and straightened up. The girls were chuckling at his antics before he threw the paper ball into his bag. I caught Serena's eye for a second before she turned back. That girl knows...

A minute after they settled into peaceful chatter, I balled up another paper ball. Gary snatched it from me. "It's easier for me to aim at her. I'll do it and point at you."

I grunted but nevertheless let him. "Miss a little, and it hits Professor Sycamore," Misty warned him. The boy waved it off and casually threw it. The paper ball hit the side of Professor Sycamore's chair and fell to the floor. "Gary, you're much more insufferable!"

The teacher looked perplexed. "Now, I was under the impression I am among a very mature audience, but here we are." He picked the ball off the floor, and Calem gasped before mentioning that he was hit with one of those too. I facepalmed mentally. "Come on, guys. You don't want to be called kids by me, do you? Let's stop polluting the environment."

A few minutes passed without anyone saying anything. I looked at our target and found that she was giggling to herself. I quickly took my phone out, but Misty stopped me. "You're going behind her way too much. Take my heed and let her come to you."

I narrowed my eyes at the girl but found she was genuinely advising me. I dropped the topic and leaned back in my seat.

I turned to the window. The fresh breeze did wonders. My chest didn't hurt as much as it did whenever I took in a deep breath, and it was a relief. Beautiful landscapes, lush habitation, and blooming patches passed by.

Kanto, albeit full of life, had very little countryside compared to Kalos. My region was much more into skyscrapers, and few towns without towering buildings existed. It's not that I've seen much of Kalos, but so far, it's the only region I've been to that has picturesque nature.

I did not realize I had fallen asleep until I was shaken awake by May. "Get up! We're here!"

"Huh?" I stuttered, groggily. The scenery outside had stopped moving, and everyone was getting off. May shoved my backpack into my arms.

"Let's go!"

We were asked to gather by the bus, and I was the last one to get off. When I joined the group, I looked around. The place was scenic. Everything was refreshingly green, filled with wild flora. A lone restaurant stood to the side, and I realized it was a drive-in hotel. The path up to the mountain was labeled by an old-fashioned wooden board.

Professor Sycamore was saying something, but all I heard was, "Breakfast!"

And everyone started to move. I trotted along in the back, checking my watch for the time. It wasn't too late for breakfast, but routinely speaking, it was. 9:31 AM.

May had reunited with Drew, and Gary and Misty were still arguing. Clemont was with his group of friends, and I caught my bluenette friend, Dawn, whining with Barry. I was trying to follow Misty's advice, so going after Serena was a no-go too. With nobody else, I just decided to settle for looking around during the short walk. I was used to solitude anyway.

But then, my phone rang. A smile tugged at my lips as I read the name lighting up the screen. I picked up the call. "Hey."

"Hey? Are you serious, Ash? I'm looking through a herd of people for you, and all you say is 'hey'? Where are you?"

Her mini-rant had me chuckling; nevertheless, I replied in a somber tone. "Behind, left all alone."

"Don't sulk too much. I'm standing to the side." My eyes scanned the area, and I found the familiar figure standing a few meters away. As I approached her, I cut the call.

"Hey," I repeated.

Serena rolled her eyes, grabbed hold of my arm, and started leading me. We mingled in the crowd fairly easily. "You need to learn to talk to people."

"I do—"

"Even after your need to talk to them is done."

I smiled, looking at her hair bouncing about her shoulders as she strode. My eyes flitted down to our intertwined hands, and I closed my eyes, enjoying the feeling of being led by her.

May had been wrong.

I am obsessed with Serena.

But not just for the looks.

Rather for how she treated me as an equal rather than someone mediocre. For how a brainiac like her gave a chance to a depressed fool like me.

I realized with a strange urgency, as we neared the hotel, that I had to tell her how I felt before the grade leader elections. Lest she grows closer to Calem.

Perhaps atop the mountains. That might be a magical place to confess, and if I were to have any chance of success, I would be riding back home with her beside me rather than a daydreaming girl or a bickering couple. I found myself inexplicably grinning at the aspect of that dream.

— 💌 —

Hey guys,
Just a note to let y'all know to expect another book by the upcoming week! ;)

Will y'all be interested in reading that? Let me know, please!

Thank you for reading!

Miyoko x