Orthography

12:40 p.m.

Is this one too many in just a few minutes? NAH.

Someone familiar appears in this one~

I crouched down to reach my bottom locker of a column of three that were all ashen white. My knees grazed the cold, concrete floor as I stood, shutting my locker with a locked lock. A binder, a few colorful notebooks with intricate designs, and my pencil pouch were in my arms; the school supplies were tucked tightly towards my chest. I spun around to head down the hall that was darkened by the grey clouds that blanketed the sky, bringing in its gloom. However, I lost my footing since my shoes were strangely slippery against the concrete and that was when our eyes met. Kind green hues were all that my plain, chocolate brown optics could focus on. Gentle hands caught me from slamming against the floor, but his warm touch made me want to melt. Our bodies were close together as he had placed his hands on my shoulders, stopping us from coming any closer.

"Oh, hey Sylvie. A bit clumsy today are we?" He chuckled softly then stepped back once I had regained my balance. Running his fingers through his blonde hair, he simply curled the corners of his lips into his wonderful smile that always shone, brightening up the hallway (at least in the way I see it).

"S-Sorry..." I stuttered in a small, timid tone. I cast my eyes down to my toes as I shuffled backwards, creating a respectable distance between Adam and I. I could feel his anxious gaze pressing against my cheeks... or was it just my cheeks burning?

With a small nod and feeble wave, I was going to make my way to class. However, his firm yet careful grasp around my elbow held me in my place. Pivoting on my toes, my thickly curled, coffee brown locks whirled around with me. Our eyes were locked again, but this time I swear my heart was thumping so loudly that he could hear it. Quickly, he released me.

Opening my mouth to speak, he mirrored my action; only an awkward mumble escaped our lips. Our thoughts that we planned to express orally were unfinished, yet phrases he once spoke to me kept wrapping around my mind. What could he possibly want to say to a girl that was always so quiet?

He searched my eyes patiently to see if I would speak, though once he realized he couldn't read people's facial expressions very well, he offered, "Sorry. You can talk first."

"N-No..." Was the only thing I managed to reply in a reticent stammer.

"Well...err..." He immediately took the opportunity, though his words were caught in his throat which caused him to bite his lower lip and take a glance to the side quietly which was a bit strange. Normally, he'd be dignified or even bold, nonetheless anything but shy. "Wanna eat lunch together?" He finally finished, anticipating an answer with his warm gaze that pierced through my already fragile heart.

So badly I wanted to blurt out my acceptance to the invitation, though my thoughts stirred, "Wait, but there's still club today... it is Thursday after all and they always say they'd steal me away... But maybe Jacki and Clover will allow it this once." What I thought for the small time I had to consider I might regret, but I had come to a conclusion.

"Sure." The single word rolled off my tongue smoothly, reverberating in my throat. It surprised me how confidently I could speak in front of him even if it was just one term.

"Okay. Well, see ya." He gestured and then vanished into the sea of diversity; fake smiles and personalities, lost souls searching for a path, and simply put it was middle school.

Now, I was either too caught up in my thoughts or time was transcending its usual pace because it was already fourth period. In my usual place by the brick wall by the exit of the girls' locker room, Clover was casually dancing in place in her Catbug t-shirt. Her thick, straight shoulder-length hair tousled with a slight breeze as she swayed from side to side in her usual happy mood. Though, I think her eyes were on...

"Jacqueline!" Clover called out as the bell rang and eighth graders filed out of Jacki's English class.

Jacki simply smirked as she came down the old, hollow ramp that always echoed with the sound of feet walking on it. As always, she would walk to her locker with us behind her and put all of her things away in her neat locker.

I could see their lips moving, but somehow I managed to drown out the noise that wasn't involved with my mind. "This is like a dream...it must be a dream...but I hope it isn't..."

"I bet Sylvie's on my side!" Clover declared, throwing her arms around me.

I blinked in confusion and looked at them both. An apologetic expression crossed my face as I fiddled with the sleeves of my sweater. "Sorry...wasn't listening."

Jacki shook her head. "No, it doesn't even really matter that much." Her stride quickened a bit and Clover went to catch up while I lagged behind. It was going to be difficult to sing during choir while such a reverie was about to occur in less than an hour.

With all the excitement and anticipation that sped my pulse and raged around in my brain, I don't think any noise came out of my moving lips during all the warming up and practice. And, just like earlier in the day, the time seemed warped and already choir was over.

"Maybe‒just maybe‒I'd be able to make a quick escape without anyone knowing..." Of course, it was too late. It was like two hooks grabbed at the corners of a fish's mouth and tugged in opposite directions when they came to link arms with me. "Of course it would be impossible..." My mind wandered.

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