Static Hearts

Static feelings

This same scenario kept repeating itself for days. There was always something new, another experiment. Glasses became lenses, shoes turned into heels, shirts were replaced by short skirts. But he kept loving her because ....well something about feelings not changing that  easily.

In one of the quiet school backyards so densely covered in trees, two teenagers were crouching on the usual oak tree's stump. The girl was lazily stretching her legs while the boy seemed engraved on a pile of school papers.

"You are condemned to useless labor. Are you aware of that?" she said.

"It's not that bad. A ten page essay about Dante Alighieri's hell doesn't sound that revolting to me. I've got my own life as a reference." A blush was creeping on his cheeks as he added "Plus Vanessa asked me to do it. You know I can't say no to her."

"Then how about, do it yourself?" was her response while she was digging in his backpack, in search of anything edible.

"Oh come on. It's not that bad to do something that can be helpful to others once in a while." Those words reminded Reina of good intentions, misunderstandings and a case of unappreciated help she had experienced in the past.

"Writing down what you already know to be read by nobody." She sighed at his backpack that was now just as empty as his bank account. "I'm sure Dante would have agreed that qualifies as useless."

"You could just ask you know?" Greg drew a cocoa flavored lollipop out of his pocket and handed it to her. "That should satisfy your sweet tooth's thirst for now."

"So why did you call me? Not to help I hope."

"Nah, that would be far-fetched. Vanessa called me earlier and she sounded sick. The cold or something. She wanted for you to meet her."

"Right. I will cure her with my incomparable skills in medicine" which were by the way nonexistent.

"It's some girl stuff. You know, being dependable on your girlfriends when you're not feeling well, or sharing painful experiences to strengthen your bond stuff." In that moment he tried not to laugh at Reina's blank face. "Of course things you probably know since... you're a girl."

"Yeah...still not going."

"You know she really wants to get to know you right?"

"More than you, that's for sure." Every time the three of them met it was a fact that Vanessa would completely ignore her boyfriend.

"Oh stop it. She's seriously sick. I went to her class and her friends told me she was absent."

"Ugh..." She ended up going after all. After driving for twenty minutes she finally arrived to what was written as Vanessa's address.

Her house was what a rich guy's villa would look like, with beautiful gardens and fountains at the front. Still not comparable to the mansion Reina lived in, but in a close range of extravagance. For a second she wondered if Greg minded this gigantic difference in status.

Rich girls are not necessarily popular in their school, but attractive girls are and that was a category where Vanessa wasn't included. For years she was treated like a pushover or simply a nerd, far from the spotlight of popularity and fame. Greg loved her for that. He loved her for what she hated the most. Her insecurities and fears, her clumsiness and strength to live unaffected by others.

But people are not like that. Reina knew perfectly well how greedy and pretentious humans can be. For those who live in the dark spotlight is all they wish for.

"Do you want me to accompany you?" Gilles asked.

"No need. They're just little girls." He nodded confirming her response while standing on the car following her figure with his vigilant eyes.