Palindrome

Four

Chapter 4
"He what!?" Nagi screeches.

"He did," I confirm, writing down the final sentence for my literary analysis.

I hate writing with a burning passion.

Since freshman year, I've had a low A in English. So it's not news that here I am finishing my assignment ten minutes before class. Frankly, I wouldn't have even done it if it weren't for Nagi Suzuki.

I look up at my best friend of six years. It's tradition for the two of us to meet in the cafeteria before class even if it's just for five minutes. There used to be a third chair drawn by me on the other side. But it's been barren for two years instead, a sullen looking boy sits to my right with his Nintendo switch. I might have asked him what he was playing six months ago.

Now I turn towards Nagi, observing the slightest of her movements as she bends down to make sure my paragraph is formatted correctly.

Despite the icy cold outside she's wearing a thin sweater paired with a denim skirt and stockings. Her blue colored nails tap rhythmically on the tabletop as she hums a steady beat to it. Nagi's a drummer, a designer, a thespian, and a cynic.

In other words she's my perfect soulmate.

At least that's what she claims. Nagi believes that soulmates don't need to have a romantic relationship. Your soulmate can be the best parts of you. Someone who mirrors all that you are.

Naivety I say, the finer things in life is what she says. Glancing up, she slips the sheet of paper my way.

"I'd say an 85, 90 if she's in a good mood."

"That's all I ask for," I say shoving the sheet into my binder on the verge of bursting from the pages stuffed in it.

"Back to this boy," she sings, tapping her nails again.

"Nothing to say," I retort.

"C'mon Aarohi," she whines. "All this time I thought you were a lover not a fighter."

Rolling my eyes, I stand up and begin walking towards our lockers right beside one another. I didn't tell her much about Paxton. The less she knew the better.

Next thing you know she'll be gushing over his playful green eyes, writing sonnets about the two of us together. Things I'd rather not dwell in.

So for now to Nagi he's nameless, faceless, annoying new kid on the block. Who I so happened to give a ride to today morning.

"Think I can pity Bronwyn against Luke," Nagi suggests idly, popping a piece of gum into her mouth. She offers a piece to me, but I wave it off. Coffee is how I stayed her; gum is how she did.

Scoffing I open my locker bracing myself for the influx of items about to fall on me. A shame I don't have the top locker, or I could drop it all on the floor instead of on me. Or the person beneath me.

Both work.

My binders, ap textbooks and extra school supplies collapse onto me. The locker shelf I've wedged in there is on the verge of falling upon itself. It'll last, I'd give it at least another few weeks. Sighing I sort through everything and pick out what I need. Nagi's on her knees helping me stuff everything back into it.

"Aarohi you've got to get better at this," she tells me wagging a finger disapprovingly. Nagi can switch from the seventeen-year-old that she is to a Japanese obasan in seconds.

Ignoring her, I point towards my locker. She nods, setting down her stuff on the carpeted floor. I hold back everything about to fall on me, while she holds onto the metal. Then I let go and she slams it shut. At least there was that.

"You still have your jacket on," Nagi observes. I stare down at the puffy jacket I'm encased in. It makes me look like a literal marshmallow.

"It's fine," I say. Besides, it'll spice up the plain black thermal I have beneath this. There was a time when I wore 'cuter' outfits. Crop sweaters, miniskirts, and Dutch braids.

I gave up though. Picking out outfits became too exhausting just like eating anything did. Nagi didn't say anything about my sudden switch in outfits. She said they had her own charm and that I should wear whatever the heck I wanted to.

Ma had a different take on it.

Which made sense, we spent hours last year during Black Friday shopping. My outfits consisted of a few standard items every day. I wanted to go back to dressing up like I used to.

I go from caring about nothing to caring about everything in a matter of seconds.

Brandishing everything I have in my arms I stand up.

"Aarohi?" I turn around to meet twinkling brown eyes. Right, the locker above me.

"Ab, how have you been?" I ask.

I can practically feel Nagi's gawking eyes on the two of us. My counselor has an ideal sense of humor. Giving me and my ex lockers right next to one another.

Usually he gets all his stuff before practice in the morning and then conditioning in the afternoons. A year later and I still have his football schedule memorized.

Abraham gives me a one-sided shrug, "It's been pretty fucking stressful not gonna lie."

I nod in agreement, "How's the team looking?"

He smiles his dimples shining through, "Same old."

"Luke," I say knowingly.

He grimaces, "Luke."

The warning bell rings indicating that we have two minutes before class starts. Jerking a thumb the other way Abraham tilts his head to one side.

"Can I walk you to class?"

The question catches me off guard, which is rare these days.

"You'd have to walk Nagi and I together," I tell him.

He winks, "Gladly."

Furrowing my eyebrows I look around for my friend. My apple watch buzzes with a notification from Nagi.

Have fun

Two words, that's all she sends me. I can imagine the amount of innuendos she's biting back that she'll no doubt subject me to during lunch.

"Guess it's just you and me," I say. 

He grins, "Guess it is."
***
Abraham's here folks :)