Falling For Florence

A Spark In The Silence

Winnie,

The bell rang, signaling the end of another lesson, and the usual shuffle for the door began. As much as I wanted to just blend in and go unnoticed, I found myself trailing behind Florence in the hallway. She didn't seem to mind, her pace steady as she walked toward the cafeteria.

For the first time in ages, I felt like I could actually talk to someone without that gnawing feeling of being a burden. Florence wasn't like the others, those kids who'd nod politely and then turn back to their friends as if I didn't exist. She listened. She didn't act like I was strange for being quiet or reserved. And honestly, that made all the difference.

"So, what's your usual lunch routine?" she asked, pulling me from my thoughts as we reached the doors to the cafeteria.

I hadn't really thought about it before, but now that she asked, it felt like a legitimate question. I usually grabbed a seat in the corner, hidden away from the loud groups. But... that didn't sound so appealing now.

"I guess... I sit by myself, usually," I said, biting my lip as I wondered if she'd think that was weird.

Florence turned to me with a soft smile. "You want to join me today? I usually sit with a few people, but they won't mind."

For a second, I hesitated. It wasn't that I didn't want to spend time with her, but part of me wondered if it would be weird to just join her without knowing anyone else. But then again, I was already so used to being alone.

"Sure," I said before I could talk myself out of it. "I'd like that."

We made our way to a quieter corner of the cafeteria, a place where Florence seemed to always sit. It wasn't the most popular spot, but there was something comforting about it. We were soon joined by a few of her friends,people I'd seen around but never really talked to. They didn't seem to mind my presence though. In fact, they welcomed me with an ease that almost made me forget how nervous I felt. They were nice, friendly even, but it was Florence who kept me grounded. She smiled and kept the conversation flowing, including me in ways that felt natural.

It felt good. Too good, maybe. Like I was suddenly part of something.

For the next few days, lunch became something I looked forward to. It wasn't just the food. It was Florence's easy laughter, the way she could make any awkward moment feel less... well, awkward.

I found myself sitting next to her every day. Sometimes we'd chat about school, about random things, and sometimes we just sat in comfortable silence, enjoying the quiet. Florence wasn't like the others who had to fill every moment with noise. She was fine with the spaces between words, and for the first time, I felt like that wasn't something I had to change about myself.

One day, as we were walking out of the cafeteria, she turned to me with that smile again. "You know, you're not so bad at this whole 'hanging out with people' thing."

I couldn't help but laugh. "Is that a compliment?"

She grinned. "Take it however you want."

I didn't need to think twice about it. It was a compliment.

Florence,

The first few days of the week felt like a blur of new routines and the usual chaos. But it was different this time, Winnie. I didn't expect her to sit next to me at lunch, but there she was, following me into the cafeteria like she had been doing it all along. I knew people saw us together, but it wasn't weird. Not like I thought it might be.

I wasn't used to having someone who... just got it, you know? I've always been surrounded by my friends, but sometimes I feel like I'm playing a role. I have to be the version of myself that fits the group, outgoing, funny, always on. But with Winnie, I didn't feel like I had to pretend. It felt like a relief, really.