Dawn Of Twilight

Chapter 6 : The Heartstopper (Part 2)

"Hey, wait up!" he called, trying to catch up despite his lingering soreness. She didn't slow down, but he could swear there was an extra spring in her step.

When he reached her, he asked, "Why'd you get so happy all of a sudden?"

Dawn glanced sideways at him, her smile soft but teasing. "No reason. Just relieved that you're not as dumb as you look sometimes."

Erevin smiled, clutching his chest in mock offense. "I am not dumb..."

She giggled, the sound light and carefree, and for a moment, Erevin forgot the bruises on his body.

The afternoon sunlight spilled through the windows, casting a warm glow on the hallways. Dawn glanced over her shoulder, her dark eyes soft and content. "Hurry up, slowpoke," she teased, her voice carrying an unusual lightness.

Erevin increased his speed, grinning despite himself. "Hey, I just got beaten up, remember? I have an excuse for being slow."

Dawn rolled her eyes playfully, but her gaze lingered on him for a moment longer. He's so clueless, she thought, but there's something so genuine about him. Something that makes it hard to stay upset.

They walked side by side toward their classroom, the silence between them now easy, like a comfortable rhythm they were both starting to understand.

As they reached the classroom door, Dawn hesitated, just enough for Erevin to notice. Then, almost shyly, she reached out and held his hand—in a simple, reassuring manner. Her grip was light yet firm, but Erevin could sense a hint of fear in her touch.

They stepped into the empty classroom, Dawn quietly let out a sigh of relief, her grip on Erevin's hand loosening before she gently let go. She didn't say anything, just walked over to her desk to grab her bag. Erevin watched her closely, his sharp eyes picking up on her subtle unease.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice soft but steady.

Dawn froze for a second but quickly masked her emotions with a small, reassuring smile. "I'm fine. I just... wasn't feeling well earlier, that's all."

Erevin wasn't entirely convinced, but he didn't push. Instead, he slung his bag over his shoulder, his gaze lingering on her for a moment before they left the classroom together.

Outside, Erevin unlocked his bicycle from the rack and wheeled it over to the gate. As he adjusted the seat and tested the brakes out of habit, he glanced at Dawn. "How are you getting home?"

Dawn shrugged, shifting her bag on her shoulder. "I'll just walk. It's not that far."

Erevin raised an eyebrow. "Where do you live?"

She hesitated for a moment before giving him her address. To her surprise, Erevin's face lit up. "Oh, that's on my way! I can drop you off."

Dawn's eyes widened slightly, her heart skipping a beat at the thought. She tried to brush it off, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Oh, you don't have to—"

"It's no trouble," he said, already climbing onto the bike and motioning toward the back seat. "Come on. It's faster than walking."

Dawn sat sideways on the rear seat of Erevin's bicycle, her knees carefully tucked together, her skirt falling neatly over them. She paused, wondering where to place her hands, before lightly gripping the back of his shirt for support. Her fingers brushed against the fabric, and she tried not to think too much about how close they were.

Erevin didn't seem to notice her nervousness as he pushed off, his focus fully on the road ahead. For him, it was just a simple ride, but Dawn's heart was racing like she'd just run a mile. The bike swayed gently with each pedal stroke, and she instinctively leaned toward him, the side of her arm brushing against his back.