The Anomaly Affliction

Twenty Seven

"Mind if I sit here?"

I look up from my desk and see a girl in a green t-shirt standing behind the chair next to mine. She's got thick blond hair that goes just beyond her shoulders, thin lips, and brownish-green eyes. I don't think I've seen her before, but she's kinda cute.

"Sure," I reply, moving my homework and open textbook to my side of the desk so they don't take up all the space.

As she sits down next to me I take a quick peek around the library. There are plenty of empty desks here...but she chose to come over to mine. I wonder why. Not that I'm complaining, of course. A cute girl coming over to me? That never happens.

She gets a textbook out from her school bag and peers over at my homework.

"Literary studies, huh?" she says.

"Yeah," I shrug. "I'm trying and failing to write an essay about some pretentious poem from the 20th century."

"Any way I can help?"

"You take literary studies too?"

"No, but I'm good at bullshitting essays."

I grin at her, amused. "Thanks, but I think I'm gonna give up on it for today. The bell's about to go, anyway."

"Oh yeah." She rubs the back of her neck. "I came at the wrong time, didn't I?"

"Maybe. You won't get much work done now."

"Yeah. You are a bit distracting."

Did she just...was that...flirting? Or is she actually saying that I'm distracting her from her work and that sitting next to me was probably a bad decision? Either way, I start packing up my things and hope that she doesn't see my bright red face.

"I've seen you around school," the girl continues. "But you're always alone. Why?"

I zip up my bag and shrug. "People just don't like me."

"Well people suck."

I smile again. "That is true."

"I'm Lake, by the way," the girl says, holding out her hand.

Lake...that's a pretty name.

"Violet," I reply, shaking her hand.

I look into her eyes and realise just how pretty they are. A mixture of brown and green, like when I swirl different coloured paints together on a plate.

When the handshake ends, Lake says: "You got any middle names?"

"Uh...maybe," I reply awkwardly. "I hate it."

"What is it?"

I sigh. "My full name's Violet Luana Thorburn."

"Ooh, I like it!" she grins  happily. "It's cool. It's a really pretty name."

"Well, thank you."

The bell rings and Lake starts putting her textbook back in her bag.

"I really like middle names," she says. "That sounds really weird, but I think they make people's names...extra special. I wish I had one. I'm just Lake Summerall."

"Well, I think Lake Summerall is nice."

I notice her cheeks get a little rosier. Fuck, she's cute. How have I never seen her round school before?

"Thanks," she says. "Anyway, lunch is over. Where are you going now?"

"Art. You?"

"I've got photography."

We both stand up, tuck our chairs under the desk, and put on our bags.

"So are we like, friends now?" Lake asks.

I've never been asked that before. In fact, I've never met anyone so friendly in my life.

"I'm up for that if you are," I say, trying to be cool.

"Same here," she replies.

And, taking me by surprise, she gives me a quick hug. I've only just met this girl, but it feels like the embrace of a familiar friend.

"Sorry, I'm a hugger," Lake says when the hug ends. "I hug all my friends."

"I don't mind," I reply.

We exchange a smile.

"Well, we should get to our classes," she says.

She turns to walk away, then glances back at me.

"I'll see you around, Violet Luana Thorburn."

"See you, Lake Summerall."

I start to walk to my class with a little smile on my face. I don't think I've ever met anyone who has left me feeling intrigued to see them again after talking to them once. But...this Lake girl seems genuinely interested in me. And that's never happened to me before. Maybe I can have good things. Maybe-