HOW TO DISAPPEAR

:3

He's part Korean and dyes his long a darkish re color. Today he's got it twisted into a messy knot with a pencil poked through it. Nobody else could pull that off, but Adrian looks amazing. My eyes are glued to his man-bun (not buns, though they are certainly worth gluing one's eyes to.) I'm wondering what would happen if I yanked that pencil out of his hair when he suddenly spins around, throwing a stick in the air as he does a 360 on one heel. I come to an abrupt halt so as not to crash into him, but the kid walking next to me doesn't. He knows right into Adrian and pushes him away from the drumstick that is currently soaring through the air...Right for my face. My hand shoots up to grab it. "Whoa" Adrian says, regaining his balance. "Good catch." I blink at the drumstick clutched in my outstretched hand. OMG, I caught Adrian Ahn's drumstick. And he's speaking to me. This is my chance to talk to somebody. Somebody who spoke to me first! "HI!" i blurt. It's the only thing I can think to say, I guess because I spent the morning rehearsing it and working up the nerve to say it to Hallie, but I know immediately it's the wrong thing. So, of course, I say it again. "Hi!" Adrian laughs. "Hi to you, too."  We're stopped in the middle of the hall. Kids jostle me as they step around us. "Can I, uh...get that back?" Adrian tips his chin toward the drumstick in my hand- which I am still holding up in the air like the Statue of Liberty. I  quickly push the stick to his chest.