Stephen bursted out of the changing room and into the school's empty hallways, dressed in his football uniform. His cleats clicked every time his feet came down as he rushed through the hallways. The 14 year old looked at the digital clock mounted in the hallway and saw that he has ten minutes before football practice starts. He was in the clear from having to run extra laps the coach assigns to those who are tardy.
But, he wasn't taking any chances, so he continued on running.
He was about to exit the school's main building when he heard somebody's crying echoing down the hallway. He hesitated by the doors, contemplating whether or not he should mind his own business. A part of him thought it'd be best to ignore it, while the other part wouldn't let him.
Stephen followed his good conscience and went to find the crying person. He had to go down a whole other hallway until he found that the crying was coming from an empty classroom. He peeked through the little window on the door and saw who was crying.
There, sitting on chair by the window, was Amanda Holden. The 16 year old girl is in year 11, one year above Stephen. She was staring out through the window as she cried. Her back was turned towards Stephen, her face out from his view, but Stephen still knows it's her. Who wouldn't know her? Stephen reckons only a new kid wouldn't know Amanda Holden, one of the most popular girls at their school. To have her talk to you in public was a blessing for your social status. Everyone else will actually start talking to you just because Amanda Holden did.
Now that he's seen that it's her that's crying, Stephen isn't so sure whether he should approach her. Surely, one of her other popular friends would come and find her. Amanda doesn't need Stephen to awkwardly try to console her. Besides, she wouldn't want a nobody like him to try and talk to her.
So in the end, Stephen decided to leave her alone and go to practice instead. He turned on his heel to walk away, but he froze in his spot when Amanda let out another loud sob.
Stephen sighed. I'm gonna regret this, he thought as he turned back around and quietly entered the classroom. Or at least he tried to. The clicking of his cleats immediately gave him away, making Amanda hurriedly wipe her tears away and turn to him.
"Yes?" she asked in a voice that was barely above a whisper.
Stephen stood a great distance away from Amanda, not wanting to annoy or creep her out. "Um...I popped in cos I heard crying. I just wanted to know if there was anything I can do to help, but it's fine if you don't need anything." Amanda just stared at Stephen, her face neutral. "Sorry, I'm probably just bothering you. I'm gonna go leave you alone now," Stephen quickly said as he retreated towards the door.
"Wait!"
Stephen paused and faced Amanda once more.
"Stephen, right?"
"Yeah...you know my name?" He says with genuine surprise in his voice.
"Haha, yeah. Why wouldn't I? You won this year's talent show with your magic tricks." Amanda is smiling now, but Stephen can still see a hint of sadness in her eyes.
"Right...anyway, is there anything I can do for you?"
Her smile faltered and faded. "Um yeah, can you just sit here with me? I just need to have someone that will listen."
"Sure, I can do that." The younger teen pulled out another chair and set it next to Amanda. "So...what's up?" What's up?! Did I really just say that out loud? God, don't open your mouth again after this; just shut up and listen. That's the only thing she wants you to do.
She let out another sob. "Simon's cheating on me," she said before she unexpectedly leaned forward to hug him and bury her head against his chest.
Stephen returned the hug and proceeded to awkwardly pat her in the back to comfort her.
"He's seeing some girl from that school down the road. He didn't even try to deny it when I confronted him about it; he just said that it's good that I found out. Saves him the trouble of actually breaking up with me," Amanda angrily recounts what happened to her earlier that day. "I can't believe he did cheated on me...I hate him so much! He really hurt me! I don't know if I'm gonna get over this; he's my first love!"
It's okay to be hurt right now, but you'll get over this. You're a strong, beautiful woman that can move on from this. And as you move on, you'll find the right guy that will be faithful to you and love you very much.
That's what Stephen wanted to say. Instead of that, this is what came out of his mouth, "I know you're hurting right now, but just think...someday you will die."
As soon as the last word left his mouth, he inwardly groaned. I definitely just said that. Why did I say that?! How did I think that was comforting in anyway?!
Stephen looked down to see if Amanda heard what he said. His suspicions were confirmed when he saw that Amanda was looking up at him with an expression on her face that shouted out, "what the fuck?!"
At least, she stopped crying.
Stephen disentangled himself from Amanda, letting her sit back on her chair. "Sorry...I think I'm gonna go see myself out now," he said, pointing to the door.
He stood up from his chair, only to be pulled back down by Amanda. "You don't know how to comfort a girl or anyone for that matter, don't you?" she asked Stephen.
"No clue at all," he embarrassingly confesses.
A small smile appeared on Amanda's face. "Well, I'll teach you then, so you can avoid awkward moments like that," she says, referring to his previous comment. "Tip number one of comforting someone: telling someone that they're gonna die someday isn't comforting in any way. It's actually depressing to be reminded of that well-known fact," she laughs a little at Stephen's cute, embarrassed face.
"Right, got it. Again, I'm sorry again for saying that. It just flew out of my mouth."
"It's okay." She reaches forward and holds one of Stephen's hands. "That's why I'm teaching you."
The younger teen barely got what Amanda said because he was intently staring at their joined hands. As he stared, he noticed the time on Amanda's wrist watch.
It's ten minutes past football practice's start time. He's really late now.
He moved his gaze from their hands to Amanda's face and smiled. Might as well not go today, especially if she's my company right now. It's not everyday I get to talk to Amanda freaking Holden! The extra laps I'll have to do tomorrow will be worth it.
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Inspired by this:
the signs + terrible things to say when ur comforting someone
Aries: i know u are hurting right now but just think...someday U will die :-)
http://merstrology.tumblr.com/post/144219971553/the-signs-terrible-things-to-say-when-ur
