Masked Affections

Chapter One:Mystery Of Perry

The soft hum of voices, the familiar shuffling of feet-it was the soundtrack to another school day as students filed into their seats. Perry Evans slipped into his usual spot at the back of the classroom, right by the window. For Perry, this seat was perfect: close enough to hear what was happening, far enough to avoid becoming part of it. It offered a subtle distance from the chatter and excitement that most of his classmates seemed to revel in.

As usual, Perry wore his mask. A simple, gray mask, smooth and understated, but it had become something of a trademark for him. Perry had started wearing it a few years back. At first, it was just a habit-something that let him feel a little more anonymous in a world he often found overwhelming. But over time, it became part of who he was. By now, he rarely went a day without it, and no one seemed to question it anymore. To most, the mask was just... Perry.

What his classmates didn't know was that he appreciated the way the mask made people second-guess his expressions, his emotions. The barrier gave him a space to think and observe without feeling exposed. And observing was exactly what Perry preferred to do.

Perry's quiet intelligence had not gone unnoticed, and even though he rarely spoke up, his teachers saw potential. Mrs. Caldwell, their homeroom teacher, had appointed him as the class representative last semester. It had been a role he'd neither wanted nor expected, but he'd accepted it all the same. He'd come to appreciate it, too. It gave him a small excuse to interact when needed, though he did so sparingly. It suited him.

Today was the first day of the new semester, and Perry opened his notebook, noting the date and then glancing out the window. Outside, the sky was a soft, mottled gray, with thick clouds hinting at the possibility of rain. He could feel a few curious stares directed his way, but he ignored them. His mask helped with that, too-without having to worry about returning eye contact, he could keep to himself.

Just as Perry settled into his familiar rhythm, Mrs. Caldwell's voice cut through the classroom noise.

"All right, class, listen up," she said, raising her voice slightly to get everyone's attention. "This semester, we're going to be working on group projects, and I've assigned study groups. These groups are for the entire term, so I expect each of you to get to know your partners well."

Perry's attention drifted slightly as Mrs. Caldwell started listing off names. Group projects weren't his favorite. He preferred to work alone, to follow his own quiet, orderly method. But he was used to school expectations and had learned to adjust. He found it easy to disappear into the background even in a group setting, letting his classmates take the spotlight.

Then he heard his own name.

"Perry Evans, Juanita Rivers, and Selomi Hayes," Mrs. Caldwell announced.

Perry glanced up, mildly intrigued by the names she'd paired with his. He knew Juanita Rivers by reputation-she was one of those people who seemed to draw others in effortlessly. Bright, chatty, always smiling. Perry had observed her from a distance, and he had to admit he was curious about how someone could carry such energy so easily. She was the type who could talk to anyone, and in any situation, she would find a way to break the ice.

Then there was Selomi Hayes. She was different from Juanita in every way. Selomi sat near the front, always focused and methodical, exuding a quiet confidence that Perry admired. She didn't make much small talk, which suited Perry just fine. Selomi had a quiet beauty and an intelligence that seemed to radiate from her, making her respected among the other students. Though he hadn't spoken to her directly, Perry respected her ability to stay composed and grounded.

When the bell rang, signaling the end of class, Perry prepared to slip out quietly, but his new project partners had other plans. Juanita bounded over to him with an energy that caught him slightly off guard.

"Hey, Perry!" she greeted him, her voice bright and welcoming. "Looks like we're study buddies this semester."

Perry nodded politely, still a bit taken aback by her enthusiasm. She didn't seem fazed by his silence; in fact, she seemed almost amused by it, as if it were a puzzle to solve.

"So, you're okay with working together, right?" Juanita asked, tilting her head as if she were trying to read his expression beneath the mask. "You don't talk much, but don't worry-I'm more than happy to do enough talking for both of us!"

Perry felt a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, though it was hidden under his mask. "Sounds good," he murmured, his voice just barely audible.

Just then, Selomi approached, her movements calm and deliberate. She offered Perry a small nod of acknowledgment, meeting his gaze briefly before glancing at Juanita. "Hi, Perry," she said, her voice soft but firm. "I guess we're partners."

Perry nodded again, feeling a flicker of something he couldn't quite place. He glanced between Juanita's easy smile and Selomi's composed expression. They were as different as night and day, and he wondered how he, of all people, had ended up between the two of them.

Juanita, always one to move things forward, pulled out her phone. "Let's exchange numbers," she suggested cheerfully. "That way, we can set up a time to meet and get started on our project. Deal?"

Perry agreed, pulling out his phone. Juanita tapped in her number, grinning as she handed it back. "Perfect. Now you can't avoid us, Perry."

He chuckled softly, and the sound seemed to surprise Juanita, who looked pleased at his reaction. Selomi gave him a faint smile as she stowed her phone back in her bag. She looked at him with a quiet intensity, her gaze lingering for a moment before she looked away.

As Juanita and Selomi walked out together, their voices fading down the hall, Perry felt a strange, unfamiliar sensation settle over him. Normally, he would simply have gotten through the day, treating each new semester as just another set of routines and assignments. But this time, he found himself wondering about his project partners, about their lives, their stories.

Throughout the rest of the day, he found himself glancing at his phone, where two new contacts sat: Juanita Rivers and Selomi Hayes. Their names seemed strangely out of place, as if they didn't quite belong in his quiet, orderly world. Yet, they had already left an impression, one that was deeper than he wanted to admit.

As he sat alone at lunch, staring at the sky through the cafeteria windows, Perry wondered why he felt so unsettled. His mind drifted back to Juanita's bright laugh and Selomi's steady gaze. He'd never been one to attach much meaning to people, but these two had struck something in him that was both intriguing and unnerving.

For now, he tried to brush off the feeling. He told himself that he'd been fine all this time on his own, that nothing-not even the possibility of friendship-could shake his quiet world. And yet, as he looked once more at the names in his phone, a small part of him wondered if maybe, just maybe, he was wrong.