The Day we Watched the Fireworks

Chapter 3

I heaved a heavy sigh as I walked into the school the next day. I spot Archer and Merrin on opposite ends of the hall. That's strange,why aren't they talking to each other?

As I travel further down the hall, I see both of them exchange a glance with each other. They quickly turned their heads away from each other, are they mad at each other?

I thought that was just an odd occurrence until the day rolled around like clockwork, until was finally fifth period gym.

As I pushed open the door to the locker room, I already see Merrin changed and ready to go, but she's sulking in the corner, a piece of ripped note paper in her hand.

Merrin and I were so different when it came to appearance. Her ash brown hair fell just after her shoulders, and her amber eyes had no bags or dark circles underneath it. My round face and small nose contrasted heavily to her slender face and straight nose.

I approached her slowly as I pushed my glasses further up my nose, slowly reaching out my hand as a supporting gesture.

"He would really like a girl like you," She said suddenly.

"What...?" I took several step back, my face flushed.

Merrin placed all her hair on one shoulder, "Archer would really like a girl like you, Eleanor."

Merrin pushed herself off the floor, brushing past me and out the door. What was that about?

As I proceeded to get changed more girls entered the locker room.

"Did you hear about what happened?" A girl exclaimed from the aisle next to me, "Archer and that Merrin girl got into some fight."

"Yeah," Another girl said, "Apparently Merrin is going to the carnival with some other guy name Stephen."

"Well yeah," Another girl chimed in, "It's not like they were dating in the first place."

"True," The first girl added, "Archer was way out of her league anyway."

I bit my lip in contemplation as I exited the locker room, should I be happy or annoyed? As I took a couple of steps into the edge of the gym, I was immediately greeted by Archer, my face flushed.

"Hi..." I managed to breath out.

"Eleanor," I was caught off guard by the fact he called me by my actual name.

"Yes?" By that time I was little bit more calm, but my voice was still too quiet.

"Go to the Spring Carnival with me tomorrow."