Trapped (egobang trans)

Chapter 8 - Impulse

< Arin's POV >

Arin didn't speak to Danielle again that day. She didn't even realise they were actually in the same year until she walked into her fourth class and saw Danielle sitting at the back. They'd made eye contact accidentally then, but Arin couldn't bring herself to go over. She was inexperienced when it came to social interaction and was already feeling exhausted by how much she'd ended up talking to people today. As she sat down she told herself she'd tone it down; just the thought of it all made her anxious. More talking meant more chances for her to make a fool of herself.

And so, even when she heard Danielle try to get her attention as they left the classroom, Arin didn't so much as look at her. She just kept walking, and soon it was the end of the day and she was being picked up. She climbed into the back seat of the car this time, feeling too exposed at the front. Her mum seemed to notice her nervousness and gave a concerned look in the rear view mirror.

"How was your day?" she asked.

Arin tucked her hair behind her ear awkwardly and sighed.

"It was okay," she said quietly.

"Make any friends?"

The initial answer to that question, "no" lingered on Arin's tongue. She held it back, her mind suddenly going to Jon. Were they friends? She bit her lip as she thought about him, blushing a little. He had been nice.

Well, apart from the look he'd given Arin after the fight...

She'd forgotten about that, probably too caught up in the adrenaline from it all, and all the stuff with Danielle afterwards. Her bashful smile that had been growing faded again. Maybe they weren't friends. Ross and Barry were okay, but she didn't really talk to them. To be honest, she'd talked little to Jon as well. The only person she'd properly had a conversation with had been... Danielle.

They still didn't know each other at all, but so far she was the only person Arin had actually got through an entire conversation with without breaking down or running away. Sure, she'd turned down hanging out at lunch and they hadn't talked since, but it was something.

"I don't know yet," Arin mused, looking out the window thoughtfully.

Her mum seemed to take that as the end and went back to driving, leaving Arin with her thoughts. Could she be friends with Danielle? Or Jon? Strangely, the idea didn't sound so scary anymore.

~~~~~~~~

The next day Arin was dropped off by her mum again. She waved a goodbye as she drove off and turned back to look at the school. Taking a deep breath to compose herself she walked in. She'd survived one day, she could survive another.

As she was walking to her first class Arin found her mind wandering. So much that, as she walked round a corner she failed to notice someone and collided with them, sending them both to the floor. Arin scrambled to get up, going crimson red in an instant. She spluttered, trying to apologize when she saw who it was she bumped into.

Jon glared up at her as he picked up a dropped textbook and started to get up too. Instead of running away in embarrassment like usual, Arin found herself extending her hand down to him.

"H-Here," she offered, trying to smile.

His glare, which Arin had written off as frustration at being bumped into, turned into a frown. He pushed Arin's hand away forcefully.

"I don't need your help," he said bluntly.

Arin took a step back, dumbfounded. The Jon she met yesterday was kind and forgiving, including her on a whim even though they didn't know each other.