Unfinished Fanfics and Original Stories/ideas

All Strings Attached: Chapter 2

The 5-minute warning bell echoed throughout the hall as I waited outside my class. More classmates crowded around their classes with others scurrying quickly through the halls. The bell rang again signaling the start of class, as if on cue, the teacher, Mr. Gomen, opened the door and shook every person's hand as they entered.

"Do-now is projected on the board. Please work on that silently for the next five minutes before we discuss," he said, sitting down at his desk once the students were settled. Since the class was the history and the literature subjects combined, the Do-now asked for a summary of last night's reading about the Greek war, at least that's what the gist of the book was about. After a few minutes of working on it, we launched into a discussion. I sat silently next to the window, keeping an open ear for any questions I'm asked to answer. Every day, it seems like the class gets longer during these discussions.

Almost every class seems longer except when you don't want it to be. Art class is one of those classes. Probably because I still daydream during that class, but I would start unconsciously start drawing dolls of my classmates? I have a notebook filled with doodles of different dolls; they would look like the dolls Tyler would make. But today, it feels like the world just stopped, time stopped, and all that. I was drawing in my "doll" notebook when Ms. Tregan cleared her throat to gain everyone's attention and closed her laptop since she finished attendance.

"I have an announcement to make," she said. "We have a new student." We all turned toward the door as it opened. The person stepped into the threshold and I swear, my heart stopped for a few seconds. Once the girl got to the front of the classroom, she wrote her name on the board and spoke.

"Some of you may already know, but my name is Ariel Argoni." Her tone was simple and monotone. The very opposite of who she was before her father passed when we were kids.

Some classmates were muttering around me. I looked at her, up and down. I definitely didn't see her around the school, even in my classes. Was I really that space out? Today was definitely not my day. I think you can imagine why. Her whole style was different. Some of her hair was dyed and her mood... her personality was changed. Ariel slowly moved her gaze across the classroom as those who didn't know her disgust this new information. Her dull gaze finally landed on me. Ws locked eyes. It seemed like time was frozen and nothing else but us existed. Ariel's brows furrowed slightly like she couldn't believe I was here. I could say the same thing. I mouthed her name, still staring at her in disbelief.

She finally looks away and walks to an empty seat, bringing me back to reality. This time I did try to pay attention to class, but I couldn't stop thinking about her. Why is she here? Why now? About an hour later, the bell rang and everyone burst out of the classroom to go to their lockers and leave. I quickly grabbed what I needed for homework tonight, and sped down the halls to find and catch Ariel before she disappeared. I burst outside and frantically looked around.

I see her fleeing figure turn a corner. I pushed through the crowd, running after her. I turned the corner and she was crossing the parking lot to get to the sidewalk near the main street. I run as fast as my bag will allow me. As Ariel reached the corner to wait for the crosswalk to be clear, I finally caught up to her.

"Ariel!" I yell, getting her attention. She turns and faces me as I stop in front of her, doubling over and panting.

"Meg?" She asked quietly as if she said it any louder, she would wake up from this impossible dream. I stand up straight and smile at her, and open my arms wide.

"Welcome home, Ariel," I say.