Elena had mastered the art of blending into the background, her life a series of quiet exits and unnoticed entrances. But today, her world was about to collide with new faces, unexpected drama, and just a hint of chaos.
It started in the school library. Elena liked it there-quiet, peaceful, a place where no one bothered her. She could slip in, find a corner, and disappear between the pages of a book. But today, as she settled into her usual spot by the large bay windows, something was different.
Her peace was disrupted by a loud crash, followed by hurried footsteps and frantic whispers. Elena looked up to see two boys sprinting past the library's entrance, glancing over their shoulders as if they were being chased by a pack of wolves.
One of the boys, a lanky kid with unruly brown hair and glasses too big for his face, skidded to a stop just outside the door, panting heavily. "C'mon, Andrew, we can hide in here!" he hissed.
Andrew, the taller and more athletic of the two, shot him a glare. "In the library? Really, Tom? You think Mrs. Finch won't find us here?"
Tom shrugged helplessly. "She never comes in here. Too many... books." He made a face, as though the very thought of books caused him physical pain.
Elena watched in silence as the two boys darted into the library, ducking behind a row of shelves just a few feet from where she sat. She could hear them bickering in hushed tones.
"What if she catches us?" Andrew muttered.
Tom snorted. "Oh, she'll catch us. That's a given. I just prefer delaying the inevitable."
Elena couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at their antics. It didn't take long for her to piece together the situation: Mrs. Finch, the notoriously strict gym teacher, had clearly had enough of these two troublemakers. They weren't hiding from anyone-they were delaying their punishment. Classic.
As if on cue, the door to the library creaked open again, and in stepped Mrs. Finch. Her sharp eyes scanned the room like a hawk hunting prey. She was tall, imposing, with a no-nonsense attitude that struck fear into the hearts of most students. Evelyn slouched lower in her seat, hoping not to get involved.
Mrs. Finch's voice boomed through the quiet space. "Tom! Andrew ! I know you're in here!"
From behind the bookshelf, Tom let out a very audible groan. "She's like a bloodhound, I swear."
Andrew smacked him lightly. "Shh!"
Elena didn't mean to, but a small, breathy laugh escaped her lips. The sound was faint, but in the dead silence of the library, it was enough to catch attention. Mrs. Finch's head snapped toward her.
Her heart froze. Elena wasn't used to being the center of attention, and now here she was, caught in the crossfire of something that had nothing to do with her. Mrs. Finch marched over, her heels clicking ominously against the hardwood floor.
"You," she said, crossing her arms and staring down at Elena. "Have you seen two boys come through here? One with hair like a haystack and the other with enough gel to keep his head shiny for days?"
Elena blinked, her mind racing. She hadn't expected to be dragged into this. She couldn't exactly speak, and even if she could, what would she say? But then, as if sensing her internal struggle, Andrew suddenly popped up from behind the shelf, hands raised in surrender.
"Alright, alright! We give up!" he exclaimed, his tone exaggeratedly dramatic. Tom followed suit, grinning like a kid who knew the game was over but still found it funny.
Mrs. Finch narrowed her eyes at them, clearly not amused. "Detention. Both of you. After school." She pointed a stern finger at Tom. "And no, I don't care if it conflicts with your 'Cheez-it fan club' meeting."
Tom groaned loudly, but Andrew, with a mischievous glint in his eye, turned to Elena. "Hey, thanks for not ratting us out," he said, flashing her a grin.
Elena stared at him, unsure how to respond. Tom, ever the jokester, leaned in and whispered conspiratorially, "She probably didn't because she knew detention would be worse than whatever Mrs. Finch would've done here."
Andrew laughed. "Good call."
Mrs. Finch, still hovering, gave them one last glare before marching out of the library. As the door swung shut behind her, the tension eased, and the boys relaxed.
Elena felt an odd mixture of relief and amusement. These two had managed to turn what could've been a dreadful moment into something... strange, but funny. Andrew nudged Tom, who was now pretending to mourn the loss of his afternoon freedom.
"Detention's not that bad," Andrew said with a grin, glancing at Elena. "Though I suppose you wouldn't know, huh?"
Tom looked between them and then nodded sagely. "Of course she wouldn't. A model student like her? Never gets in trouble."
Elena's lips twitched into the smallest hint of a smile. Tom's exaggerated seriousness was too much.
The boys seemed to take this as a victory.
"See?" Tom said, nudging Andrew. "We got her to smile. Mission accomplished."
Andrew shook his head, still grinning. "It's a start. But hey, next time we're running from Finch, you're welcome to join us. The more, the merrier."
Elena didn't respond, but something about the way they acted-so carefree, despite the chaos-left her feeling lighter. For the first time in a while, her day hadn't been all bad.
As Tom and Andrew waved goodbye, heading out the door with dramatic flair, Elena found herself laughing softly. Maybe, just maybe, the world wasn't all tragedy after all.
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YOU ARE READING
Silence Screams
Teen Fiction| ongoing | |First book of mine| ;) Elena has lived a life of silence-born mute, she has faced countless challenges, from being neglected by her parents to enduring years of bullying at school. Her world is shaped by tragedy and loneliness, but when...
