A Rift Between Us

Chapter 46 - A Persistent Encounter

Alara's arms rested casually on the railings of the second floor. Her eyes tracked Keiko as she walked through the crowd, eventually disappearing below her.

"Hmm. So you hold a certain affinity for him, don't you? You have a rather unconventional method of displaying it..."

Her soft voice merged seamlessly with the commotion of the school canteen, her arms sliding from the railing as she moved away.

A group of boys from a different class dashed by Alfie as he made his way to the library. At the entrance, Mr Dodge reprimanded them, pointing and shouting. Alfie walked on, head down, unfazed by the tumult.

I couldn't even enjoy a frickin' sandwich in peace. She's always interfering with my life.

The lenses of his glasses pressed against his eyelids as he stumbled into someone's back, smearing his vision. He removed them, noticing Alara standing before him, her expression unreadable. Alfie halted, his hands fluttering nervously in front of him.

"Oh, I-I-I'm so sorry! I didn't...I didn't realise, it's my fault."

She looked at him silently for what seemed like forever, only to close her eyes as she turned away.

"Please keep an eye on your surroundings." Her voice was laden with poise, triggering goosebumps on Alfie's arms. "Take care not to repeat this accident."

He nodded vigorously like a bobblehead, with crimson cheeks, as Mr Dodge's waving arm pulled his attention away.

"Year elevens, listen up. There's been some sort of mishap in the library during break time. We can't use it right now."

Multiple students went on their tiptoes, trying to see deeper into the library. Some shrugged and whispered about not seeing anything. A series of questions landed on Mr Dodge like a hail of arrows, his eyes shutting as he attempted to drown out the voices. The skin around his temples rippled as he massaged them, accelerating the circular motions. His nose wrinkled, every part of his brain burdened by the relentless voices.

"We have a maintenance team looking into the issue..." His voice was overwhelmed by the students' noise. He opened his palms wide, attempting to restore some semblance of control. "Stop talking over me...I said stop!"

His tie sat loose in his collar, hanging crookedly as he looped in and out of the rowdy group to quieten them down. Alfie patted his torso as he reached him.

"Sir, are we gonna revise in the registration room?"

Mr Dodge struggled to answer as he promptly moved each student into a straight line. His belt barely held his trousers up during his movements.

"No Alfie, another class is...they're using it right now..."

His face warped, exposing his teeth during his failing endeavours to keep everyone in check. His palms cracked together, sending an ear-splitting clap through the air. Everyone sank their heads like snooker balls rolling into pockets. Mr Dodge's neck tensed.

"Listen! We'll have to go outside since there aren't any free rooms for this many of you. Don't shout or make noise."

The majority began praising loudly within seconds, as though Mr Dodge's words were mere gibberish. He hunched his back and exhaled. Retrieving a piece of Blue Tack from his pocket, he pressed it firmly into his palm. His finger repeatedly tapped it as if it were a button. Alfie stood aside as Mr Dodge guided everyone into the open air. A subtle scent of mint reached his nostrils, evoking memories of his mother's concoctions. The memory soon dissipated when a foot collided with his heel.

Agh, these guys don't look where they place their feet.

He sped up, only for it to happen harder a second time.

Okay what is thi-

He turned his head, seeing Keiko walking directly behind him, her eyes gleaming predatorily as she took a bite of a small, pink mochi.

"This time, we're revising together. Capisce?"