Introvert

11 0 0
by Mandolivv
by Mandolivv
                                    
                                                                
                          I stared at the boy across from me. I observed the school's most recent addition to the senior class as my teacher attempted to make some point about spirituality and free verse. Normally I would hang onto every word leaving my teacher's mouth, but even the thought of writing free verse poetry couldn't focus me today. 
                          As I continued to watch my classmate, I began to notice his mannerisms and subconscious movements. His leg fidgeted nervously as he stared blankly at the folded hands in his lap.

                                      He intrigued me. I don't know what it was – his soft features or his neat desk. I can't say whether I was controlled by a physical desire to know him or by an emotional curiosity to understand him, but I know that some force other than my own introverted personality coerced me into talking to him.
                                      The sound of rustling papers and backpacks brought me from my trance as students around me prepared to leave class.
                                      "Hey, Greyson," I called out timidly as the bell rang. He'd just begun to place his Creative Writing folder inside his backpack when he looked in my direction, as if startled by the sound of his name leaving a classmate's lips.
                                      "Hey," he responded almost questioningly.
                                      "Do you have a partner yet for the project?" I let out the breath I'd been holding, knowing I came up with an almost reasonable excuse to converse with him.
                                      "Wait, let me think..." He squinted his eyes in mock contemplation. "Hm, a transferring senior in his second week of school? Yeah, I actually have forty-three partners."
                                      "Oh, that sounds unhealthy. You should probably get tested," I responded with my best deadpan. The sound that left his mouth was the most genuine laugh I'd heard in a while.
                                      Greyson recovered from his bout of elation before questioning, "Do you have a partner?"
                                      "Well, I'm married. Other than that, no," I said with a smirk.
                                      "Great! It's settled," he announced to me. "Give me your number and we'll talk after school."
                          "Sounds like a plan, man."