Sometime In July (2024 edition)

Chapter Nine

Lunchtime arrived, and Yssa and Brandon had meticulously planned everything. When Seth came, Yssa would suggest they talk somewhere private, away from prying eyes. Meanwhile, Brandon would stay behind and wait for Glenn, letting him know that Yssa needed to speak with him later that afternoon. Everything felt perfectly orchestrated, at least in theory.

Minutes later, Seth's white Honda Civic rolled into the school's parkway. Yssa and Brandon, standing under the same waiting shed where Seth had spotted them the previous week, exchanged a tense glance. It felt like the beginning of something, though neither was sure if it would go according to plan.

"Here we go," Yssa whispered, her voice betraying her nerves. She and Brandon both took a deep breath, trying to steady themselves. Brandon gave her shoulder a reassuring tap, but they both knew what was coming.

Seth stepped out of the car, resting his arms on the open door as he scanned the area. The sky hung heavy with gray clouds, threatening rain at any moment. When his eyes landed on them, he smiled and waved. Grabbing a black umbrella from the glove compartment, he made his way toward them, his steps slow and deliberate.

"Hi, Yssa," Seth greeted her warmly as he reached the shed.

"Hello, Seth," she replied, her voice soft, almost too calm. "So, where are we going?"

Seth blinked, slightly thrown off by her question. "Have the two of you eaten?" he asked, deflecting her query with a casual gesture.

"We're good, we've already had lunch. Thanks," Brandon chimed in, his voice steady but tight.

Seth could feel something was off. His writer's instincts kicked in—there was tension in the air, something beneath the surface they weren't saying. Still, he just smiled, trying to push away the unease.

Suddenly, Brandon broke the silence. "Excuse me, I need to go to the faculty room." With that, he walked away, leaving Yssa and Seth standing alone.

Yssa watched Brandon retreat, feeling a flicker of anxiety. She turned back to Seth, her face betraying a trace of uncertainty.

Seth smiled, trying to ease the tension. "We can talk here if you want..."

"I'm not really comfortable here, Seth," she interrupted, her voice firmer than before. "Maybe we could go somewhere else."

Seth raised an eyebrow, sensing her unease. "Yeah, I think we should," he agreed, though he couldn't shake the feeling that she was hiding something. "But I'd rather not leave the school grounds. How about your classroom?"

Yssa's heart sank. She knew this wasn't going to be easy, and the walls felt like they were closing in. But she didn't have another plan, and Seth wasn't giving her much room to maneuver. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to nod.

"Okay," she whispered, knowing full well things were about to get complicated.

* * *

The classroom was empty, but the lights were on, and the windows were open, waiting for the next group of students to fill the space.

"Are you alright?" Seth asked softly, unable to ignore the tension hanging between them.

"I'm fine," Yssa replied, though her eyes never met his.

An uneasy silence stretched between them. Seth racked his brain for something to say while Yssa seemed lost in her own thoughts. He glanced around the room, his fingers tapping lightly on the back of a wooden chair.

"Did you know," he began hesitantly, "that what I wrote in the letter... it's all true?"

Yssa remained quiet, but she understood exactly what he was getting at. Seth shifted uncomfortably, sensing her unease.