𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐃𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃, joseph descamps

𝐁𝐎𝐍𝐔𝐒 (𝟐). the fire alarm

THERE IS A TASTE OF SUMMER and vacation in the air. The sun shines high in the sky, and the first bursts of warmth begin to seep into the walls of the school. It is June, and the end of classes is fast approaching. The students lose themselves in their thoughts, dreaming of the sunny days ahead, golden beaches, and adventures on the horizon.

In the classroom, the second-year students are in the middle of a lesson with Madame Couret, their English teacher, who desperately tries to capture their attention. The conjugations flow one after the other, but most of the students aren't really listening. They are already projecting themselves into their vacations.

The murmur of conversations rises as laughter mixes with impatient whispers about summer plans. The atmosphere is light, and a feeling of euphoria floats among the students.

Suddenly, the thunder of a fire alarm blares, making the walls of the room vibrate. The piercing alarm cuts through the ambient noise, and the gazes turn toward Madame Couret, who, as everyone knows, is not really alarmed. The students, aware that it's a safety drill, get up in a surge of joy. An unexpected break. Faces light up, and everyone rushes toward the exit, leaving their textbooks and conjugations behind.

Aimée, relieved, makes her way through the crowd. She feels the palpable excitement enveloping her. And then, she hates conjugation.

As she heads toward the hallways, she feels a hand grasp her wrist. It's Joseph. A mischievous smile lights up his face, and she has no time to protest before he pulls her along with him.

"What are you doing ?" she exclaims. Joseph, unfazed, guides her through the flow of students heading toward the exit.

"I'm taking you somewhere," he whispers conspiratorially. They navigate around an agitated crowd and take a sharp turn, slipping into the restroom, an improbable hideaway.

She bursts into laughter as she realizes where they are. "Joseph ! We shouldn't be here !"

"Who cares ?" he replies, his smile widening as he steps closer to her. "We have all the freedom in the world for a few moments."

He gazes at her intensely, and the air between them crackles with energy. Aimée feels her heart race, both eager and nervous. He leans in slowly, and before she can say anything, he captures her lips in a sweet but passionate kiss.

The warmth of his hands in the small of her back makes the outside world fade away. All that exists is the two of them, isolated in this little bubble of happiness. She closes her eyes, allowing herself to be carried away by the moment, savoring the sweetness of this kiss that speaks more than words.

They finally pull away, breathless, smiles on their lips. "That was better than an English lesson, wasn't it ?" he jokes, his voice tinged with satisfaction.

Aimée nods, her heart overflowing with a new warmth. She feels free, swept away by this summer lightness. "Yes, really."

As the alarm continues to blare in the distance, she kisses him again, and the kiss intensifies, warmth spreading between them as if the outside world has vanished. Joseph, with a blend of gentleness and urgency, lifts her effortlessly. She feels light, almost floating, as he gently sets her down on the edge of a sink.

She feels the cold tiles against her legs, but it only heightens the intensity of this moment. The rays of light filtering through the small restroom windows cast patterns on her face, highlighting her features with an almost unreal softness. She can hear the distant sound of her classmates laughing and chattering as they exit the classroom, but here, everything seems frozen in a bubble of passion.