melting [pearlet]

t w o

PEARL

I'VE never really been interested in school. My school day usually consists of going to a class and not paying attention to anything, then chain smoking behind building seven before my next class. But something in the air today feels, different. I'm excited for once.

Walking into that same frigid and eerie classroom has never felt so great, seeing this new face. A face engulfed in shyness and insecurity, I can see him huddled together trying to not be seen, keeping to himself.

I purposely sit in front of him, he's sitting in my usual seat. The corner desk in the last row, isolated from everyone. It's not that I'm shy and hate everyone, I just like to play on my phone and have some space to myself since everyone likes sitting in the front. I usually sit with Trixie but today he's not here, odd.

I decide it's best to strike up a conversation. I whip my head around and lean on the back of my chair, "Hey."

He looks up from the paper he's writing on, confused, "Hi."

"So you're knew around here, is that so?"

"Yeah that is." He tucks a loose strand of hair behind his ear.

"What's your name?"

"Violet."

I hazily repeat under my breath nodding my head, "Violet..." There's a grin plastered to my features.

   I stare at him shamelessly, he holds my gaze. We stare a few more seconds before the teacher parades into the room, "Silence!" Her voice sounds like a dictator, it shuts everyone up in a matter of seconds.

"Let me take roll call." She sits down.

"Ginger."

"Here!"

"Jasmine."

"I am here H-E-R-E bitch I'm here!"

There's a look of disgust on the teachers face before nodding her head slowly and resuming to roll call.

At the end of class Violet gets up and rushes down the hall. I can't help but follow him, I'm intrigued.

I run up to him, once I finally catch up, his slow and steady pace turns into a fast jog. It's like he's freaked out by me. I tap him on the shoulder and he turns around still walking with a brow raised full of superstition, "Why do you keep following me?"

"Why do you keep running away from me?" I reply crossing my arms.

He stops in the hallway and faces me. "Whatever you're doing, it's freaking me out."

"What am I doing?"

"You keep staring at me."

   "I like to look at beautiful people."

   "This isn't a John Green book."

   I shrug running my fingers through my messy brown hair. "You're right this isn't a John Green book, it's a Wattpad story written by a teenage girl who's a hopeless romantic."

   "What?"

   I act like I don't know what I said, "Hmp?"

   "I have to go." He tries escaping the conversation.

   "You don't even know where to go, you got lost yesterday. I'm in your next class, let's go." I offer my hand, he hesitantly takes it but finally grips on. Letting me lead him to our next class.

________________________________________________________________

   Trixie asked me to meet him in our usual spot after school, top row of the football field bleachers.

   "Hey Trix." I greet him as I place myself next to him. He usually sits and sulks here with me about his ex.

   "Why weren't you in school today?"

   "Why is it any of your business?"

   I give him the look I always give him, head cocked to the side with my two brows raised. He cracks.

   "I couldn't bare seeing Katya." He admits throwing his head down.

   Katya is his ex. They went through a nasty breakup but I sat there and went through it with him. He's my best friend, I had to.

   I put a hand on his shoulder rubbing it slowly, "I'm sorry."

   He puts his head down for a few minutes before looking up, "Have you ever looked at someone so beautiful you want to cry?"

   "Yes."