The Unspoken Currents

Shadows in the Sunlight

It had been four days since Becky Armstrong handed Freen that yellow umbrella. Four days of awkward, fleeting encounters and small, casual greetings that Freen did her best to avoid.

Four days of wondering why Becky hadn't given up yet.

The days blurred together in a steady rhythm of classes and isolation. Freen kept her head low, moving through the hallways like a shadow, trying to remain unnoticed. She had become skilled at blending in, at being invisible—until now.

Because now, there was Becky.

Becky was everywhere. Sometimes it was a casual wave from across the room or a quick "Hey, Freen!" in the hallway. Becky's presence had become a constant, even if it was subtle. She wasn't overbearing, but she was persistent. And that had set Freen on edge.

She hated how Becky had slipped under her skin, how the simple warmth of her presence had shaken Freen's carefully built walls.

---

Lunchtime was supposed to be Freen's escape. It was her quiet refuge from the chaos of the school day, a time when she could sit alone in the far corner of the courtyard, away from the noise and chatter.

But the courtyard didn't feel quite as peaceful today. Freen sat on her usual bench, staring at the sandwich in her lap but not really seeing it. The sunlight filtered through the trees, casting long shadows across the ground. The day was warmer than it had been, but Freen felt a chill settle deep inside her.

*Why won't she just leave me alone?* The thought had been nagging at her all week. Why did Becky keep trying to talk to her, keep offering her smiles and small conversations? Freen had made it clear—at least, she thought she had—that she wanted to be left alone.

But Becky hadn't backed off.

Freen's fingers tightened around her sandwich as she heard footsteps approaching. She didn't have to look up to know who it was.

"Hey, Freen."

Becky's voice was as cheerful as always, light and casual, like they were old friends. Freen stared down at her food, her pulse quickening.

"Mind if I sit?" Becky asked, though she didn't wait for a response before sliding onto the bench across from Freen.

Freen tensed. It had been four days since Becky had first spoken to her, and every interaction since had felt like a slow unraveling of her carefully guarded solitude. Becky wasn't pushy, but her persistence was enough to make Freen feel exposed, vulnerable.

Becky unpacked her lunch, completely unfazed by Freen's silence. She took a bite of her salad, her gaze drifting around the courtyard as if this was the most normal thing in the world.

Freen clenched her jaw, resisting the urge to get up and leave. But her legs felt heavy, rooted to the spot. She didn't want to engage, but she didn't know how to make Becky go away.

"You always sit out here alone?" Becky asked after a few bites, her voice casual.

Freen's throat tightened. She could feel Becky's eyes on her, but she kept her gaze down, focused on the uneaten sandwich in her lap.

"I like being alone," Freen mumbled, her voice barely audible.

Becky smiled softly, as if Freen's response was exactly what she expected. "Yeah, I get that. Sometimes it's nice to have some quiet. But it's also nice to have company once in a while."

Freen's chest tightened. She didn't want company. She didn't want Becky's quiet, steady persistence, and yet she found herself unable to push her away completely.