Contained and Released

Stride

In this particular college, you were expected to have at the beginning of the year, 4 options of the classes you wanted to take. Then you would basically sack off the one you liked the least or just completely hated. It was a process Redacre North College like, broadening horizons you could say.

Flora however had a bit of a different opinion unlike the rest of the school. Not that she could do anything about it, she just didn't like teachings from other classes clashing in her brain. Then the fact that she had to recoil all the information from each subject, it was too much. Too much to handle.Then too much stress.

Shaking her head she packed up her stuff from her desk in front of her and calmly got out of her seat when the bell rang only in her classroom. Each class finished at different times, and to prevent the professors from making them run over time, a specific bell rang. She subconsciously flicked her silky hair over her shoulder, tightly hugging her books to herself and slinging her bag over her shoulder.

She questioned herself as to why on earth she chose sociology in the first place, but that was certainly better than English literature she decided on. Over all she did those two classes and music then photography. Music was straight up her alley, her dream was to be a professional songwriter and maybe slip in a few songs for herself as well. Over time it was clear she would never be able to be a singer. Her fright for large crowds consumed her dream and crushed it into a million minute pieces. It was only ever a dream anyways. Not possible for people like her.

As she walked down the corridors to her dorm room, most people who were in the same year of college as her smiled and said hello. It was no doubt hat she was somewhat popular around campus. How could she not be? Her undeniably kind and careful nature drew all the eyes onto her, even when she didn't want the attention.

It was one thing to be popular but all the people she new were acquaintances, not friends. They saw her for what she showed them, not what they had to figure out. She knew the sadness of it, she felt it. No one was up for getting to know her, to grab to puzzle pieces and attempt to figure her out. But to be honest, nobody thought there was anything to figure out.

Just a pretty kind girl in the flesh, inwards and outwards.

The truth made her grimace, shudder at herself for how her depths heightened the level of the sky.

All these feelings just because she liked to please people, in an innocent way and look presentable. The way she looked was always up to her, its what she convinced herself anyways. There was this one time in 9th grade where she decided to where a nice dress to school. Don't get her wrong, it was a casual dress, a skater one which was a light grey~ completely suitable. Receiving loads of compliment that day, she thought, as long as she was comfy, she would wear another dress the next day. A frilly white one with pink roses circling around her waist and spaghetti straps too.

She guessed the looks just stuck and, nice clothes eventually filled her wardrobes. She never did much with her face or hair though, only ever applying a tad bit of concealer over the odd pimple she got, like everyone else. Oh and moisturiser too, because her skin was a little bit dry so moisturiser solved that problem without a doubt. Her lips were a nice hew of red/burnt pink shade, so any lip product was not needed. Then her hair wasn't a state all the time either, it was rather thin so it didn't get too frizzy. If it did, a simple spritz of some cheap de-frizz spray would solve the problem.

Cute- it was what she was usually described as, also because of the millimetre gap in between her two front teeth at the top and of how easily a rosy blush would erupt from her cheeks whenever someone told her.

She reached her dorm the, dismissing the thoughts and picked up her scruffy brown leather song book. Since she was more in her feelings, it deemed like she should write them down, play with then and hopefully come out with a section or idea of an upcoming song.

Leaving her books behind, she walked down the corridors on the way the quietest library there was on campus.

"Hey! Flora, over here!" Someone called her over, she remembered her name was Penelope, way way too chirpy twenty four seven. Flora knew it was horrible to admit but she got more annoying as time passed.

'Here we go again' She thought to herself hoping she masked her slight annoyance over the girl.

She turned around and lifted the edges of her pouty mouth to present the greatest smile that would hide the fakeness behind it, showing joy of Pen's presence.

"Hey Pen! How are you?" She was taught manners from as soon as she was out of the whom, and was scolded at from her parents whenever she didn't use them - of course by accident.

Pen came running up to Flora, her red Marylin Monroe curls of her bob bouncing as she did so. Pen appeared to be on the chubbier side of that entire spectrum, it didn't mean anything to Flora because Pen made sure everyone knew she didn't have a problem with it either.

Penelope was also very eccentric with pretty much everything. Her hair was a new colour every month but still managed to look beautiful with whatever she dyed it to.

"Is that even a question? Of course I'm good, ecstatic even!" She elaborated walking next to Flora with her arms flailing around to prove her point.

"Is there any specific reason for that?" Flora questioned, a real smile blooming on her face at the girl, she just spread happiness even if you were on your period being grumpy as many girls were like.

"There never has to be, how are you?" Pen was quite inspirational, but it was more the cringy kind, everyone knew that at least. She as more of a 'YOLO' kind of girl that loved everything that wanted to be loved.

"I'm just great, thanks for asking, are you off anywhere?" She tried to keep the conversation flowing to prevent being rude and seeming like she didn't want to talk. Truth was, she didn't want to at the moment. She wanted to write. And not stop.

"Uhh... Oh yes! I am actually, I have to get to Theatre Studies in about..." She pauses and checks her phone for the time, "RIGHT NOW!" She suddenly blurted out loudly and immediately sprinted off, the way she came from and yelling out a quick 'see you later' to Flora.

Flora laughed and shook her head, he dirty blonde hair falling in front of her face, quickly using her hand to throw it back over her face.

She was almost at the library and thoughts of a new song were fluttering in a spiral in her mind, desperate to release them onto paper. Completely tranced in her thoughts, the door of the library flung open, breaking off its top hinges creating a thunderous bang.

Flora jumped out of her skin letting out a little yelp dropping he book onto the floor. However she didn't notice that, all she was focusing on with fear stuck eyes was the beast of a man stomping off down the corridor.

'I didn't even know people were allowed down there...'

He was utterly enormous. You could see the muscle wanted to burst out of his long sleeve shirt. Flora's mouth dropped open at the thought of his muscles having muscles and she let out a breathy laugh. Just imagine. Little muscle men working out on his arms. Hmmm.. Funny.

Then reality hit her like a slap to the face, potential danger. But not to anyone else, that guy, well man could hurt himself surely if he's that angry, which he clearly was.

She picked up her book and pen from the floor and bargained with herself.

Should she follow him and check he's ok?

'But what if you get hurt too' her subconscious kicked in.

She ignored it, and went straight after him in a speed walk.

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