A to Z

Barely Even Friends, Then Somebody Bends

The next morning was when it happened. Z was waltzing onto campus for homeroom - on time this day - when she glanced at A's parking spot. He was there with his bike, looking at something on his phone, doing nothing especially attractive, but Z felt butterflies in her stomach at the sight of him. She was really seeing him for the first time. Maybe, just maybe, he could be what she needed. She didn't want to fall too hard for him, though, because then she may slip up and reveal some of her true self. That would destroy her reputation.

A had noticed Z walking into school and stared. When she began to look his way, he panicked and pulled out his phone in order to appear casual. As soon as she began to look away, he looked up and watched her as she walked to her homeroom. A felt himself falling for her. He had never felt this way about anyone before. That was why he had brought her to his special spot - to share something deeper with her than he did with his usual flings. It was rash thinking on his part, but a part was him was glad he had shared that with her. Maybe, just maybe, she would set him free.

* * * * *

A went to his homeroom that day for the first time in almost three weeks. He also attended all of his classes that day because he wanted to make sure he didn't get detention. Escaping from the detention room only worked on certain days. People must have noticed, but no one said anything to him because they were all scared of him. A noticed the way people looked at him for the first time, and he discovered that he didn't like it. He didn't want to be feared. Not anymore. When lunch arrived, he took his lunch from his backpack, and discovered there was nowhere to sit, so he looked for Z. She was not within his line of sight. A walked through the crowded lunchroom, a path appearing for him as people moved out of his way, and went outside to sit by the wall. When he finished eating, A headed inside, and no one noticed. He looked out over his peers heads and saw a familiar bleached head. Z was talking animatedly to some sophomore girls, and then turning to talk with her junior friends about this worksheet or that essay. A continued walking and felt himself fall deeper into the rabbit hole.

When school was at last out, A felt exhausted. He had put in more effort that day than he had in years. He shuffled out of class and made his way through the maze of students to his bike. Z wasn't there. A waited for half an hour, but she didn't show up.

A wanted to wait longer, but he knew that he would soon be kicked off the campus, so he fired up his bike and rode off.

* * * * *

Z had skipped the class after lunch in order to find A because she couldn't wait until after school to talk to him again. She waited outside for ten minutes, but he never showed up. A turned and went to her next class, but a straw teacher spotted her and hit her with a detention. Now her plans had backfired. She wouldn't be able to meet him after school after all. She felt so stupid.

When her detention ended, she ran out and didn't see his bike. She didn't see any cars. Defeated, Z trudged home. It was only a ten minutes walk away, so she decided to take a detour to the nearest coffee shop. She loved the place. It was a book cafe, so there were a bunch of books that you could read and even borrow. It was called The Chipped Cup.

* * * * *

A had gone to The Chipped Cup after waiting for Z outside of school and ordered. While his order was being made, he stepped out back to call his dad even though he knew he wouldn't care. When he came back in, he drank. Then his phone buzzed, so he stepped back out to check it.

* * * * *

Z stepped into The Chipped Cup and went to the restroom while her order was being prepared. Then she grabbed her cup and walked out the door.

* * * * *

When A stepped back inside, he heard the door jangle as someone walked out. He looked up and saw a girl with familiar swagger. It was Z. He stood up so fast to follow her that he spilt his burning coffee on his jeans.

A jumped back with surprise and tried to keep his eye on Z as she walked away while getting a towel from an employee to wipe up his spill. When he was done, he glanced up and didn't see Z anymore. Panicked, A thanked the old woman who had helped him and rushed out of the cafe, almost forgetting his jacket.

* * * * *

Z was walking out of The Chipped Cup with her hot chocolate and a scarf around her neck. The day was nearing late afternoon and it was getting colder. As she paused to adjust her jacket and scarf, she heard a call.

"Z!" A shouted, "Wait!"

"Ace?" Z said, "What are you doing here?"

"No... You answer me. Where were you...after school? You said...you would meet me. I even made sure to not get...detention in order to meet you...on time!" A said, panting.

"Oh...my...gosh," Z said softly.

"What?" A questioned.

"I skipped the beginning of fifth period in order to see you sooner and ended up with a detention. So I had to stay for half an hour after school."

They both laughed awkwardly, looked away for a second, and then looked back and right into each other's eyes. A shuddered involuntarily from a wave of affection towards Z. Z drew a breath due to her heart almost stopping from the unbelievability of the situation. After a moment's hesitation, they rushed into each other's arms and stayed that way for a minute.

The first to pull away was Z. She pulled out and looked up into A's eyes and knew what was happening. He was falling for her. And she was falling for him.