‘Ah, great. Back to school…’

  As I stopped my alarm clock, I couldn’t help letting the thought slip into my mind.

  It was Monday once again, and winter break had ended.

  It was terrible, but it wasn’t in my control.

  So, I sat up from my bed, getting ready to go to school once more...

  Getting ready to go to a place I didn’t belong once again.

  **

  “How’d your spring break go?” I asked Nishimoya while writing down notes in my science notebook.

  Nishimoya, who was also writing notes, didn’t look up but still spoke.

  “Good. I had to study a lot for the regents but my parents gave me a few breaks,” Nishimoya answered.

  ‘I guess that was pretty obvious. The regents are next week, after all.’

  Then, she looked up from her paper and onto me instead.

  “What about you?” She asked.

  I finished writing my notes and put my pencil down.

  “Pretty good. I went over to visit my family and studied a whole lot. Plus, I met up with Soriel,” I answered happily.

  Nishimoya looked at me with a surprised expression.

  “You met up with Soriel?” Nishimoya repeated.

  “Yeah, we went to the movies,” I replied, stretching for a second

  A mischievous smile appeared on Nishimoya’s face and she began giggling.

  I looked at her with confusion for a moment before realizing something.

  “Wait no, Nishimoya, stop. It wasn't a date,” I quickly clarified.

  However, my words did nothing to quell Nishimoya’s giggles.

  **

  It was now 4th period, meaning I had Phys ed with Tristan.

  We walked in circles around the gymnasium with the rest of our classmates.

  It was natural for us since we always had to walk laps while our teacher prepared for the today’s lesson.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “So what book are you reading now?” I asked Tristan.

  Tristan stayed silent for a few moments, seemingly trying to recall something. Eventually though, he spoke.

  “Lustrous of the Land,” he replied.

  I raised my eyebrow.

  “What an odd name,” I said.

  ‘Wouldn’t it sound better if the author switched the words “land” and “lustrous”?’

  Ignoring this, I changed the topic.

  “Are you studying for the regents?”

  “Kind of. I study a bit when I’m bored, and to make my parents get off my back,”

  I nodded in acknowledgment.

  ‘I can’t say I’m surprised. The fact that he studies at all is impressive. If he really wanted to I’m sure he’d do far better than I could in school.’

  I cracked my knuckles absentmindedly.

  “You know, we should hang out and play some soccer or basketball or something. Just the two of us,” I suggested.

  “Sure, it’s been a while since we’ve done something like that,” Tristan replied.

  I didn’t let it show on my face, but a small smile spread across my heart.

  Just then, the whole class was gathered in the center of the gymnasium.

  And class proceeded as usual.

  **

  “To kidnap Tristan or to not kidnap Tristan, that is the question,” I said philosophically.

  “Excuse me?” Soriel blurted out in response.

  I heard Tristan sigh from the other end of the table.

  It was our lunch period, and all of us had sat at our table like usual.

  Then, I noticed something.

  ‘Nishimoya didn’t respond?’

  Turning my attention to Nishimoya, I realized what she was doing.

  ‘Ah, she’s studying.’

  It wasn’t unnatural for her to study, but she was doing it during lunch once again.

  She fell back into her old habit.

  “Nishimoya, put away the book,” I commanded.

  Nishimoya looked up from her book and towards me.

  “Why?”

  I paused for a moment before speaking.

  ‘Oh crap, I must sound pretty pretentious. I’m telling her to stop studying even when I know it’s important to her. And for what? Just because I didn’t like it?’

  These self deprecating thoughts flashed through my mind, chipping away at my will to speak.

  Yet, I still did.

  “Think about it, if you overwork yourself with studying, you’ll burn out before the exam, worsening your performance. Plus, can you really focus in a loud cafeteria like this? And most importantly…” I began.

  “You don’t want to,” I said, finishing my argument.

  Nishimoya looked at me blankly for a few moments.

  Then, she put down the book.

  “Okay…”

  **

  I sat in my 5th period English class, reading over an excerpt in my head.

  English had gotten a lot harder ever since my last report card, so I was giving it my all.

  “Hi,” Soriel whispered into my ear

  “Hey,” I replied.

  “Are you okay?” I asked.

  “Yes, why?” Soriel replied.

  “I don’t know, I’m just asking,” I replied.

  “Are you?” Soriel replied.

  “Pretty much,” I replied.

  Our small conversation paused for a while as Mrs Moriel had us discuss what we read as a class.

  However, when it was time for independent work, we picked it back up again.

  “Are you going to the music room after school?” I asked curiously.

  “No, I’m going to do community service with Ash,” Soriel answered.

  ‘Ash…Ash…ah, that jerk from the time I went to Soriel’s recital. She does community service too?’

  I held in my thoughts as I continued my conversation with Soriel.

  “Are you going to the music room?” Soriel asked.

  “Well no, I have no reason to be there alone. But even if you were going I wasn’t going to come. I need to study,” I explained.

  “That makes sense,” Soriel replied.

  We both went silent for a little while again. Not because we had to, but because we just couldn’t think of anything to say.

  It wasn’t awkward silence though, just a casual one.

  “Hey Elliot,” Soriel whispered.

  “Yeah?” I responded.

  “I had fun hanging out with you during the break,” She said softly.

  Instinctively, a smile broke out onto my face.

  “Really? That’s great. I had lots of fun with you too,” I said, holding back my happiness.

  From there, we continued our class as usual, whispering to each other a few times while we did our work.