By Design

The Curious Effect of Simple Solutions

It was a fine day for contemplation.

The sky was devoid of yellow sunlight, completely veiled by a thick layer of grey clouds. Such was an omen of rain, but it didn't. I stood by the school gates for six minutes, my head pulled backwards to the sky, just waiting for even the most minuscule drops of water. None came my way.

'Stop being such a freak and start moving already.'

I ignored the voice but clicked my head back into place, massaging the soreness in my neck with two fingers.

'Good morning to you too,' I replied and Elliot's unimpressed face broke into his usual grin.

'Nice day,' he remarked casually as we began to walk towards the school together.

'Isn't it,' I agreed, glancing up to the sky again. 'A nice day for thinking.' About that night.

I slapped my hands against my cheek to block the blush coming my way. Neither of us mentioned a word of what had happened, or what would have happened, on the way back home a few days ago and I really didn't want to start now either. I wanted no explanation from Elliot as to why it happened, and he didn't offer me any. On top of that, there was the breakdown that occurred before that. What on earth was happening to my relationship with Elliot?

'You OK?' Elliot asked. It was subtle but I could detect the caution in his tone and I felt another surge of embarrassment.
'Yes, I'm fine,' I assured him, determined to keep my countenance calm. I paused in my tracks when Lou entered my line of sight. She looked as beautiful as ever with her silky black hair twisted in a low bun and a small smile playing on her lips as she spoke to someone. I caught her eyes and waved. Her smile broadened and she walked up to me with her arms held out.

'Tess!' she squealed, crushing me to her.

'Hello, Lou,' I said in a strained voice, awkwardly patting her back. I shifted my gaze to Elliot, who was frowning.

'What's wrong?' I asked him, detaching myself from Lou's hold.

'Her,' he replied sourly. Lou arched an eyebrow at him and folded her arms.

'And what exactly have I done wrong?' she asked in a cool tone. Elliot didn't respond and instead lowered his head to bore holes into the ground with his hard stare. I bit my lip nervously as I slowly swapped my gaze between the two parties.

'Let's head inside,' I spoke quietly, tugging at Elliot's sleeve. I looked enquiringly at Lou to see if she would like to come and she politely declined, saying that she was going to wait for her friends. I nodded and gave her a small smile before walking away with Elliot.

'Elliot, you need to stop that,' I snapped at him once I was sure that we were out of Lou's hearing range.

'Stop what?'

'You know what I mean. Stop being so nasty to Lou. We went through this before,' I sighed in exasperation.

'I can't help it, Teresa. I just don't trust her,' he said in frustration, hunching his shoulders.

'You said it wasn't your call to decide who I'm friends with,' I reminded him. He grunted and pushed through the door before turning to me.

'Just because you like her, Teresa, doesn't mean I have to,' he said in a hard voice.

'Yes, but you could at least be civil with her and stop being so unreasonably childish,' I responded in an equally cutting tone. Without another word, I marched past him and made for my classroom, unsure as to whether my annoyance towards Elliot was mainly on Lou's behalf, or simply my own frustration for my increasingly strange feelings for him.