Soul Death

Ch. 5 Whispers

***Time Skip To Lunch***

It's lunchtime and Amani has already made many new friends, I heard them invite her to sit with them at lunch, and I tuned them out not wanting to hear her say yes. My lunch is in my hand as I make my way to the table in the back where I've always sat alone. I'm reading Klance fanfiction on my phone when someone drops into the seat in front of me. (Yes I like Voltron and I ship Klance. Bite Me.) I look up to see Amani. The shock must have been visible on my face, because the entire lunchroom had gone quiet, wanting to see what I was going to do. "What's wrong? You look like someone just stole your puppy." She laughs, and I can feel a smile start to creep onto my face, so I push it into a scowl. I look around the lunchroom glaring and everyone avoids my gaze pretending they weren't staring. I just sigh looking at Amani and continue to eat my lunch, preparing myself for the rumors that were sure to be flying around soon.

Sure enough after a few minutes of watching me do nothing you could hear whispers going around the cafeteria. "--What do you think Layla?" I snap my head up, and tilt my head confused. "You weren't listening were you?" I shake my head feeling guilty and gesture for her to repeat herself. "I asked if you were free to hang out after school? Maybe you could show me around town?" Without a second thought I grab a paper and write:

I can't. I have to take my brother to a soccer game and pick up some groceries after school.

I feel guilty when I look up at her expectant face so I continue writing after some hesitation.

But I'm free Thursday. We could go out then.... As long as you don't mind if my brother tags along.

I hand her the paper and watch as her face falls then lights up again as she reads. "Oh course your brother can come! The more the merrier right?" I simply nod. We continue talking this way for the rest of lunch. Mostly Amani telling me things about herself and I just listening and answering, when she asks me a question.

The bell rings and I take her to her next class, we walk down the hall and I hear whispers about us.

"--sat next to her at lunch--"

"--who is she--"

"--do you think they're friends?--"

"--maybe they're dating--"

Laughter at that last one, "Yeah right, who would want to date Layla?"

I glare at everyone causing them to shut up and cower in fear. Amani looks as if she's oblivious to what everyone else was saying. We arrive at Amani's math class, I drop her off and head to my advanced math class right next door.

I spend the next hour trying and failing not to think about Amani. What was it about her that I couldn't get out of my head? Maybe it was her choice of colors, or the way she never shuts up, or maybe it was the way she sat next to me at lunch instead of her new friends. Or maybe it was because of that glimpse I had when she talked about finding her soulmate. The hope in her voice at finding them and the utter devastation at the thought of never finding them. The way she said she was waiting for them to save her. What did she mean?