she~L.S

and he, smells like lemon grass and sleep.

he noticed me. we had a presentation for the class. i was so nervous. i was fidgeting the entire time leading up to my turn. playing with the strings on my adidas jumper, playing with the edge of my notebook while i read, not totally comprehending the words due to my horrid anxiety.

when i go up to the front of the class and set everything up, i took in a deep, shaky breath and turned around to survey the class, finding all their judging eyes on me. of course, theyre not all judging, but it damn well feels like it. i look for comfort any place i can, slowly dying inside, wanting to crumple up into a ball and cry, not even trying to steady my breaths. until, of course, i see the rippled water and can almost feel the soft, unbothered grass between my toes and in between my small fingers.

he gave me a reassuring nod, which caught me completely off guard. i took in a breath, finding this one exceedingly less shaky.

i made up a funny script beforehand, to explain my topic. just little bits of humor here and there that made the class laugh. the loudest of them all being the tall boy with the lanky body in the second row.

he was after me. he stood up and started walking towards the front before i could make my way to my desk. as he passed, i happened to take a breathe in. inhaling exactly what his eyes portrayed. nothing of what he looks like, but the trust, and the calm, and the familiarity in his eyes.

he smells like lemongrass and sleep.