Hope (Tyrelliot)

Chapter 13: Handshake

Elliot's POV

We're back in the class.
I still can't get my eyes off of Tyrell.
There's something about him.
I don't quite know what yet.
According to the theory Leon had earlier we could be 'soulmates'.
This makes me think.
How many people would be lucky enough to meet theirs if they exists in the first place? And if they do, am I really one of the lucky ones?
This would be the first time in a while where I feel lucky. If they exists. Emphasis on 'If'.

The bell rings.
Everybody's storming off into the cafeteria or the schoolyard.
Shayla, Leon and I decide to go to the cafeteria as well.
We sit down on a round table.
"So, are we all just going to come along with you after school or...?"
Shayla asks Leon.
Leon replies with "I thought so."
I nod.
We are going to start the art-project later after school at Leon's house.
We are supposed to make a painting that represents ourselves and mix it all together.
"So, are we going to talk about Tyrell now or are we still doing that later?"
"I thought we were doing that later?"
I don't want to talk about him right now.
"We said we are going to talk about him later, so we'll talk him later."
"Oh come on, Elliot!" Shayla bumps her fist on my shoulder. I pull back after she does that.
"Oh sorry, you don't like touching?"
"No."
I look down.
"Okay, we'll memorize that.."
I nod.
I hear the cafeteria door open.
I look up. I'm scared.
"Oh, speak of the devil!"
Shayla chuckles, also looking at Tyrell coming in.
Of course it has to be Tyrell.
But why is he walking in our direction?
I look at Leon and Shayla.
They look up diagonally.
What are they looking at?
That question literally answers itself.
"Bonsoir, Elliot."
I turn around.
It's Tyrell.
He smiles softly.
He's holding his hand in my direction.
He wants to shake hands.
I reply with what he wants.
A handshake.
I don't know what to say.
"Tyrell Wellick" he says.
He let's go of my hand.
He has a soft but firm grip.
Another thing from my dreams.
Another piece of evidence that he's important in some way.
"E-Elliot Alderson."
He nods.
"It's a pleasure meeting you."
He's just saying that out of politeness.
He doesn't even know me, why would it be a pleasure meeting me?
"Y-you too."
Wait, I didn't just say that, did I?
He chuckles.
"Well, thank you!"
I did. Fuck. This is awkward.
I just nod.
"Anyways, I wanted to check if you're okay after what happened in maths."
If you only knew.
"Y-yeah, I'm fine."
That was a lie. I'm obviously not.
I have dreamed of this man. And now he's standing in front of me.
Talking to me.
And he worried about me.
My heart is beating a little faster than usual.
Why aren't Leon and Shayla saying anything?
"Are you okay?" Tyrell asks.
Shit, I think I spaced out. Which means I've been starring.
I snap out of it.
I look down.
"Y-yeah sorry, I d-do that....sometimes..."
He nods again.
"It's okay. Anyways, I wanted to ask if you might want to meet up sometime, y'know, getting to know each other."
Did he really just ask that? Out of nowhere?
My heart is beating even faster now. What is happening here?
"S-sure."
"Alright, here's my number if you'd like to have it!"
He slides me an official business card with his name on it.
He seems to be a high animal of some sort...
"Th-thanks."
He nods and smiles.
"You're welcome."
He looks like he's blushing a little.
What the hell is going on?
Am I blushing too?
He finally turns around and goes away.
I look after him, speechless.
"Woooow!"
I look at Leon. He seems speechless too.
Shayla continues.
"Didn't you just say you didn't like being touched?"
I completely forgot.
"U-um, handshakes are different.."
She doesn't believe me.
Leon whispers something to Shayla.
She laughs. He's chuckling.
Luckily he isn't very good at whispering. I heard him say:
"Must be a 'soulmate' thing."
"Haha, really funny."
They both stop laughing,
continuously snorting though.
Shayla begins to speak normally after a little while.
"No seriously, nobody I know of got a date with him quicker than you."
Leon chuckles again. She's smiling.
"I mean you didn't even talk before!"
I don't like any of this. At all.
I text Darlene:

"hey, can u pick me up after school?"

"Ooooh, who are you texting? Tyrell?"
They're laughing again.
I get up.
"The meeting today is cancelled. I'm going home."
I walk off. I think I hear them apologizing in the distance, but I don't care. I don't like them right now, so I'm not wasting my time with them for now.
Darlene replied:

"Sure"

"K, thanks"

"What happened?"

Now how do I explain this?
'I met my soulmate and now my friends are teasing me about it, because he gave me his phone number?'

"Nothing, just not feeling well"

"K"

This was the moment I realised that texting and walking isn't the best combination. You might bump into people.
"Wow, easy there, tiger!"
And that person might be your apparent soulmate.