Hunted

Act 26; Show

It was Tuesday afternoon when Noah sneaked out of Gaming Club with the excuse of readying for his report-a white lie he prided himself on at the fact that he never stuttered when he told it-and headed for the Arts department with the intention of meeting up with Amelia.

He had been excited the night before, and though this had quelled since morning once the preliminaries had been taken cared for, he couldn't help the bounce in his step as he crossed the stone path leading to the glass buildings surrounded by artistically cut hedges and decorated statues. People were staring, but he didn't realize it was at him, as he was so lost in his own world.

She'll definitely get a kick out of it! He thought wistfully, sure Amelia would lend a helping hand.

There had been times where he doubted she'd actually give him even the time of day after he'd present his idea, but just as easily as they'd come would the thoughts be quenched by his own optimism. He and Amelia had become friends throughout everything that happened, he'd convince himself. Surely she'd lend an ear at the very least.

He kept skipping down the path, passersby slightly reminded of Dorothy or Little Red Riding Hood as he passed them, and there was a settled thought in his mind that everything will be well.

His bounce, however, faltered when he caught sight of the glass building where Amelia resided. He hid behind a bush trimmed to the shape of a cartoony elephant before he could think better of it. Two figures were by the sliding glass doors, so absorbed in their conversation that they weren't paying any mind to their surroundings.

Noah peered around the corner of the edge, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose with his index finger. Zack Florence was talking to a boy Noah didn't recognize, his face scrunched up in a grim expression of concentration. The boy, lanky in a sleek trench coat with slicked-back hair that looked too perfect, was nodding every so often, listening intently to whatever it was Zack was saying with his hand on his chin.

For whatever reason, Noah felt a sense of familiarity toward the boy like a knot had been tied in his brain. He had seen him somewhere before, though the gamer boy couldn't pinpoint exactly when and where. Noah scrutinized him. He looked Polish. His nose reminded him of his uncle Nicolaus, who was married to his mother's sister Abbatha. Long and straight with just a little bit of skin accentuating the space between the nostrils. He had no idea if there was a word for that, and never bothered looking it up, so he seldom called it the Polish Nose. Uncle Nicolaus was his favorite extended relative, by the way. Noah always received the best gift from him that topped even whatever it was his parents got him in every celebratory occasion-money.

The boy nodded at whatever it was Zack informed him on, then stalked off, pulling his phone out of his trench coat's pocket and started dialing. Zack did the same, taking his phone out of his slacks, but placed it on his ear. Must've received a call.

Noah hid on instinct when Zack turned his head somewhere to his direction. Ah heck, what was he doing? He waved to a pair of freshmen passing him by with a strained smile. They sped up their pace. He straightened himself, suddenly wondering if he looked too out of place.

Now that he looked at himself closer, maybe he shouldn't have picked today to wear the thick varsity jacket James had given him as a gift back in junior year that held the school's colors of red and gold, which also symbolized the Sports Department. He wondered if he looked too jockey in his getup. He wasn't really a jock though. Would Amelia think he looked too sporty in it? Come to think of it, did she think he was actually a jock? Now that he thought about it, had he ever told her what clique he belonged to since they've met?

Noah was so lost in his thoughts that he jumped a foot when he heard a strained, robotic noise coming from the elephant. But it wasn't coming from the elephant, he realized, it was coming from his back pocket.