Everything Goes Back to You

ii | The Hunchback of Notre-Dame

"When one has but a single idea he finds it in everything."

"Damn, Harumi's a knockout. Think she knows?"

Turning the page of his textbook on the bleachers, Arlo inwardly groaned.

"I'm not sure, Benny. Why don't you go ask her?"

They were in eighth grade now, and upon entering Canterbury middle school, Arlo had naively believed that the infatuation surrounding Harumi would slowly diminished. After all, every aspect of her life was broken apart and analyzed (he always thought that his classmates would give spies a run for their money with their stalking skills).

Surely they were tired of talking about her. It was only logical.

But with each passing year, several new incoming students would immediately decide that Harumi was the best thing since sliced bread, and engrossed themselves in conversations of how truly amazing she was.

Because, obviously, they were the first ones to notice her, and it wasn't as if everyone was already half in love with her.

And thus, the buzz of her quickly started again.

Benny sighed dreamily. "I just don't get it. Sometimes I think I've seen enough of her and then she smiles and it's like I'm seeing her all over again."

Adam, another classmate of his, laughed and threw his arm around Benny's shoulder. "That was some girly speech, Benedict. You sure you're not gay?"

"Hey, even if I was gay, it's not like that's an insult. I just see beauty and tell it as it is."

The bleachers were a good spot for watching the Canterbury girls' track team, which conveniently Harumi was captain of. Adam and Benny (along with a handful of others) made it a habit to religiously watch her every day, rain or shine.

They thought it made them charming. Arlo thought it made them creepy.

Just this once, Arlo agreed to accompany them so long as they worked on their assigned project due tomorrow. With the way things were looking, Arlo figured he'd probably have to stay up late to finish it for them.

When Harumi ran by, Adam hooted. "Damn, those legs. Pretty and athletic? Sign me up."

Arlo rolled his eyes but didn't look up from his textbook. "I don't think Harumi would appreciate you eyeing her up like that. If anything, look at her time." He glanced at the clock. 12.50 seconds for 100 meters.

Benny turned towards him. "You must be the only guy I know who doesn't seem remotely interested in her."

"Good observation."

Adam snorted. "He's being serious. Maybe you're still pissed that you're gonna be salutatorian your whole life. No offense."

He slammed his textbook shut, startling the two boys, and gave the fakest smile he could muster. "Yes, that's exactly it. Also, that's a pretty long word you used there, Adam. Given your lack of vocabulary, I'm surprised you know what it means. No offense."

Adam narrowed his eyes. "You're such a dick. Why are we friends again?" Arlo shrugged and focused his eyes straight ahead.

In all honesty, Adam and Benny weren't the first ones to question his relationship with her. There were frequent rumors going around that he was maybe gay. Or racist. Or, his personal favorite, that he had already been rejected by her and was too embarrassed.

It made him laugh. Having romantic feelings for her seemed as foreign as Japan.

Stuck in his train of thought and staring into space, he accidentally made eye contact with Harumi as she walked back to the starting line.