The next day Dave goes to school feeling alive and ecstatic. He didn't walk, he skipped. He didn't pass other people like usual, he smiled at them. He doesn't look down on his shoes while walking, he had his chin up the whole time.
The day was sunnier than expected, it was different than yesterday which was rain pouring out cold. Sometimes Dave thinks it's cool, because the weather somehow reflected on his mood.
The whole day he waits for Health class, because it's the only time he gets to see Arabella. It was kind of stupid how he gets so flushed and warm when he sees her. It made him feel slightly unmanly-ish.
He sits down on his regular seat. Two seats away from Arabella. He fiddles with his pencil and bounces his knee, waiting for her. He plans on asking her to be his girlfriend today, he's even practiced a whole speech for her on his mirror this morning. He hopes it would turn out better than expected.
The bell rings and he sneaks back a glance on Arabella's seat only to see she still hasn't arrive. Dave's eyebrows seem to furrow more in confusion. Arabella was cynical and reckless but she doesn't show up in class late.
--
"Have you seen Arabella anywhere?" Dave asks Martin, who's stuffing books into his locker. He leans beside him on one of the lockers, looking at him with a disappointed look plastered on his face.
"No, actually." Martin frowns. "But you said you guys were okay now?"
"Yeah, but she didn't show up in class." He whines, hitting his head on the locker slightly.
"Dude, relax. She mostly skips school remember?"
"Oh, right."
"Yeah."
"I'm planning to ask her to be my girlfriend tonight, so I guess I'll have to postpone tomorrow or something?" Dave sighs, because he really wants to do it tonight. And he feels like he can't wait any longer.
Martin nods, chuckling at his reaction. "Patience is a virtue, man." He says before the both of them walk together to their next class.
--
Dave gets home and finds his mother cooking pasta, he approaches her and gives her a kiss on the cheek.
"How's school?" She asks, looking at him expectantly.
"Arabella wasn't there, so basically I hated this day." Dave sighs, sitting down on a stool and leaning his elbows on the kitchen counter, placing his chin on his palm.
His mother looks at him for a while like he had just grown two heads. Before her look changed into pure confusion and her eyebrows seemed to dip further in thought. And then, all of it was then replaced with a look of realization.
"I'm sure there'll be better days, sweetie." She says, giving him a sad smile. "I'll call you when it's time for dinner, why don't you go upstairs in your room for a while?"
And so he does.
He opens his door with a pout on his face, closing it grudgingly and setting his backpack on the floor, causing a noisy thud. He lets out something in between a groan and a sigh, looking up at his ceiling.
