Feeling Intensely

Amaranthine.

She pedalled faster, the autumn leaves crackling under her baby blue basket bicycle and the wind roaring it's way through the leaves making it's presence felt. She slowed down, inhaling the sweet smell of the autumn season, letting her soul dance to the music being played into her ears.

She wished to write down moments like these but they were too ineffable to be put down on a page. Too beautiful, too unreal. She parked her bicycle on the stand, walked towards the main doors and shuffled through the busy corridors. She was in her final year. She couldn't wait for it to be finally over. It was just one person that made her want this year to go slower.

In 3rd hour, She found herself
sitting on the bleachers, soaking in the slightly cool breeze and the freshly watered grass on the field as she read the same book for the nth time.

She delicately put the bill from her last Ice Cream date in, bud in her earphones and laid down on her back with her eyes closed. Her mind wandered from deep, dusty corners to upsetting memories to Izel, that pit feeling deeper than usual for not having seen him.

She jerked upright and got off of the bleachers, determined. She strode through the gym, tearing apart her bag's zipper and pulling out the philosophy notes from Ms.Shekha's class. She walked with aim towards him, knowing all too well where he would be sitting.

On reaching the library, she walked with hesitation not wanting to seem eager, the very presence of him made her feel an urgency of some kind.

She walked to the table that faced the huge windows displaying the woods leading to the Salobden Lake. She always sat there because of the view and she would like to believe that he sat there for the very same reason too. But he wasn't there. She walked around the library isle by isle but he still was no where to be seen.

Defeated, she left the library and made her way to her second treasured spot in school where no one would bother her, the classroom on the fourth floor that had the largest windows. The windows covered the entire of two adjacent walls. The classroom was to be kept as a substitute to other classrooms. As it was decided by the staff that the huge windows were too much of a distraction to the students.

When she entered the classroom, she was too consumed by her thoughts to notice someone else invading her space. Yes, she thought she should be allowed to call it her space. She thought of it too fondly for it to be someone else's.

He sat, his back facing her, on top of the desk. His hands flat on the desk, behind him, his head leaning back. His eyes were seemingly closed, completely unaware of his surroundings.
He breathed in slightly, his nose stuffy.

She cleared her throat, impulsively. He turned towards her startled, his eyes darker; a shade of black coffee and his nose, pinched red.

He turned back towards the window, got off the table, rubbing his eye with the sleeve of his t-shirt. He grabbed his leather sketchbook off the chair and walked towards her. Till he stopped abruptly.

Her eyes hadn't left him. She couldn't help but associate his each move with an emotion. And as he stood in front of her, she bore into his eyes.

She cocked her head to the side like a raven and he raised his right eyebrow confused. His hair was ruffled and a couple of strands fell over his forehead almost missing his eye.

Her impulses took over, her superego unable to suppress her ego and her left hand flies to push the strands back. Even though they seemed to belong there, covering his eyebrow. His eyes follow her hand as they touched his hair and as her hand fell, she found the back of her fingers grazing his cheek.

Her eyes widen as he slightly leans into the back of her hand as he closes his eyes and suddenly it feels like everything else is still and even time stopped for her to marvel at what was happening and then all at once, he grabs her wrist and glares at her in horror,

"What do you think you're doing?"

She looks at him like a deer caught in headlights, befuddled at having heard his voice for the first time. He stares at her for a good 10 seconds till he says, "Do you mind getting out of my way? You're blocking the door."

It takes her too long to register what he's said but she finally shifts to the side and in less than a second, he's out the door and she was left in the classroom, her hand pressed to her chest trying to stop her heart from beating right out of her chest.