So High School!

Chapter fourty eight

Aarushi

I finally made it through half the day, without embarrassing myself, gaining attention or anything that could turn this year into a mess. Good.

These people finally gave us a short break but I couldn't go to canteen, I had no friends and a person that doesn't want to see me.

He hates me and rightfully so.

"Hey Aarushi, where are you going? The canteen's that way." I saw Kabir, my classmate running towards me.

"Yeah I know. I was just exploring around."

"Ohh I see." He said grinning. "I can show you around?"

Ugh. Why can't people really leave me alone and let me be? But I couldn't blame him, he was trying to be polite.

"I'll manage...." He cut me in between.

"Come on, it will be fun." Left with no choice, I followed him. "This is the library." He said walking around the space.

I was dumbstruck. Libraries had always fascinated me. Books had a magic in them, a magic so beautiful that I could fall in love with ink on paper everytime.

"Let's see the ground now." He said walking out of the library.

"This is huge." I exclaimed looking around, it was indeed beautiful. The playground looked alive, with cricket on one side, basketball bouncing against the court, footballs soaring at the other side.

"Come on, let me introduce you to people." Ugh. No. I hated people. I'd rather not, but I had to. I couldn't make these 2 years more depressing then they already were.

"But_

"Let's go." He said already moving ahead. "Hey everyone, this pretty lady right here is Aarushi, she has just joined."

"Oh, that's great. I am Trisha, by the way." A girl, with a pretty smile, long dark hair, and glowing eyes stepped forward to offer me an hug. Her smile somehow made me feel lighter, more involved.

"Nice to meet you, Trisha." I hugged her back.

"Hey, I am Nisha." Nisha seemed more like an introvert, brown hair, brown eyes. She was elegant. I nodded as we shared a hug.

"This is Siya, the sassier of all ofcoure." She said flipping her hair. I absolutely loved her energy. She was confident and she was well aware of that fact.

"That I can tell." I say almost smiling, it still felt forced and I hated myself for it. Why couldn't I let myself fucking smile? The guilt was eating me alive and Aadi's presence here was cherry on top. I couldn't run back to his arms or even move on from him, from us. He was there, even when he wasn't.

"Hey, I am Rishabh." He said forwarding his hand. I nodded with a polite smile.

"I am Ishaan, the most handsome of all and the charmer of the group." He said grinning. I smiled acknowleding his self love.

These people were amazing. They were sweet, welcoming and so loving. My biggest fear moving here was fomo, but today talking to these people, I could feel it evaporating into thin air.

"Let's go to canteen, guys." Trisha said already moving ahead.

"The fest is in less then one week." Siya said grinning. "It is going to be so fun."

"I loved fests." I said lightly.

"Really?" Kabir jumped in. "Tell us about it."

“I used to run on caffeine and panic during school fests,” I laughed. “I was the Head Girl, so everything somehow became my responsibility. But honestly? I loved it.”