stigma

|12|

I was very impassive about Mondays. I knew people usually hated them, being the start of the week and the end of the glorious weekend, the signalling of mundane routines restarting and bleary days of waking up early. But I never usually cared. It was just another day to me, one just like all the others, a day that just meant life would go on. But Tuesday, oh Tuesday was special. In all seriousness, Tuesday usually meant nothing but this particular Tuesday stood out. It was audition day, specifically for the senate.

It was the most talked about event in our grade because of course, everyone wanted to get appointed to the senate. After all, it would look good on their curriculum vitae. I was barely in the school building and I could already hear every 11th grader buzzing about it.

I clenched the straps of my bag, elbowing my way through the 6:45 am crowd while trying to rush up the stairs when I bumped into someone. I didn't bother to spare a glance, instead focusing on getting to my class.

"Oh, Ciara?"

I turned to find Adarsh looking at me with a surprised expression. His tall frame stood out in the crowd and he smiled, waving. I stopped, changing direction and standing so that I was against the advancing crowd.

"Hey," I said with a small nod.

"Where have you been? I barely see you nowadays."

"Just around I guess," I answered with a vague smile.

His expression settled into one of curiosity. "Are you okay? I heard about what happened last week."

My grip tightened on my bag strap. "Yeah well, I'm alright so don't worry about me. Just a little trip."

"Right," he nodded, trailing away before his eyes lit up again. "Are you thinking of joining the senate?"

"No way."

"But why not? I think you'd make an amazing prefect, or even a head girl," he exclaimed.

I rolled my eyes, feeling a small smirk make it's way to my lips. "You flatter me, but I don't think so. That's way too much human interaction for my taste."

He chuckled, rubbing his neck awkwardly as he stared at the floor.

I smiled slightly. "Are you thinking of enrolling?"

"Well," he laughed shyly. "As a matter of fact, I am. I could be a good 'knight in shining armour' type, don't you think?"

"I bet you'd look like such a debonair with that badge pinned to your shirt," I teased in a posh accent.

He laughed, shaking his head as his eyes crinkled at the edges. I smiled, glancing around as students pushed past us.

"So-" Adarsh started again, but his smile faded as he stared past me. I followed his gaze, turning around to find Calvin walking towards us.

It was like the world moved in tandem with him. The crowd miraculously parted as he walked through in long strides, his hair flouncing gently against his forehead. His eyes gleamed as he smiled at us from a distance. I glanced back at Adarsh to find his jaw set straight. Did he not like Calvin?

"Hey, Ciara," Calvin said to me he walked up to us, still beaming before setting his gaze on Adarsh. "Hey man."

Adarsh nodded curtly, adjusting his grip on his bag. He gave Calvin a subtle downward look, and although I couldn't decipher much, I did understand that he had a certain extent of distaste towards Calvin. He adjusted his grip on his bag and looked at me. "I need to get to class so I'll see you around."

I shot him a confused look but he walked away, taking steps two at a time as he headed up the stairs.

I looked at Calvin, who reflected the same confused expression that I bore.