Garrett entered the classroom, and waved to everyone. He smiled a little while talking to Skylar's classmates and giving his presentation. Meanwhile she adjusted her hair, and covered her chubby cheeks with them. She looked at him, but he never even glimpsed at her. Well that's what she thought. After finishing his speech, the new tutor waved to everyone and exited the room, but before that he locked his eyes with hers and flashed her a cute, gummy smile. Immediately she felt her cheeks burning and ears becoming red, so she turned to face the window again, nervously gulping.
Truth was she was the first person Garrett noticed when he entered inside, just like he did that day, in high school, when he came into her class as a transfer student.
Skylar just wished to not face him again, but since he was working in her college, that was going to be quite impossible.
Soon the lesson was over and, because, she didn't have any other classes for today, she rushed towards the library, avoiding everyone.
*
As soon as Garrett saw her, a weird feeling took over his calm heart. Many memories flashed in his mind: every single hour he spent with her, every single word she said to him, everything .... even the last unusual goodbye. It was becoming hard for him to concentrate on the presentation, since his past was sitting in front of him, just a few meters away.
Finally, completing his work, he waved and was about to go away, when he looked for her, and saw her already looking at him. He just wanted to make sure she hadn't forgot him, so he smiled at her, as he got to know that she still remembered him.
Exiting the classroom, the music teacher took him to the small music studio for the college and then they visited the auditorium where the competition would take place. Garrett tried his best to follow the teacher's every word, but it was difficult, since in his mind there was only one picture: Skylar smiling, her chubby cheeks getting red, when they used to laugh together during high school years. He wanted to see that smile again, he wanted to talk to her again. That's why he was waiting for lessons to be over, so he could meet her. He had so many things to tell her.
*
Rafael left the college's swimming pool, and went to change his clothes. Today he didn't have any lessons, so he just came here alone to practice, but his mind was occupied by only one girl. He knew she was avoiding him, that's why he thought it was better to give her some space and not put pressure on her, but she constantly ignoring him, was making him nervous. Did I make her uncomfortable with that talk? But this time I thought I could solve problems. Aishh Rafe, why are you like this? Rafael thought while showering inside the changing room. Warm water was giving me the relaxation his body needed, but his mind? It was just overthinking.
He wanted to talk to her... again. Whatever he saw in her locker, made him understand a lot of things: what she thought of herself... something he never did for himself, because he always had the fit body he needed and everyone wanted.
Another thing bothering him was her overthinking. Her locker was proof of that. How can she overthink so much? I've been doing it for the past two weeks, and it feels like I will become crazy soon. My mind feels like it is exploding. How can she bear all that for years now?
Rafael closed the running tap, and grabbed the white towel to dry himself. Then he went outside and wore his clothes. He was willing to talk to her today. I think I gave her enough time and space. We need to talk... again.
*
Few bells rang already, while Skylar was just leafing through pages of unknown books. From the past two weeks, the college's library became a refuge for her, her safe place, where nobody came to judge, just a bunch of nerdy students, who let her live peacefully in her own world, since they were here just to increase their grades. Carefully looking at her surroundings, she took a glimpse of what others were doing. The constant fear of someone watching her and judging with their stares was always there. Glad, no one is watching me. She thought, while her hands unintentionally went to cover her thick thighs, after she adjusted her hair, covering her chubby cheeks. Life is unfair. She thought and sighed out loud.
The muffled sound of the last bell could be heard behind the wooden, old door of the library. So she quickly got up and started putting her study books inside the bag, and hastily went towards the door. Her aim now was to get to the main gate without being noticed by anyone, especially Garrett or Rafael. Climbing down the stairs, her eyes were constantly checking her surroundings. Many students were leaving their classrooms and were going towards the exit, while others were staying at college for afternoon extra classes.
Skylar just wished to get home now... as soon as possible. Pulling out her phone, she checked the time, and got to know that her bus was arriving within ten minutes, so she fastened her pace and was now on the ground floor, just some meters away from the main gate. Seven meters. Five meters. Two meters. I'm almost there. She reassured yourself. But just then a hand on her shoulder made you halt. Panic. Uneasy breath. Heart pounding. She didn't want to turn, until a deep voice called her name. "Skylar" someone softly mumbled, which made her take a 180° spin to face the unwanted presence. Her eyes landed on his face, a few inches away, her past was standing, softly smiling. "H-hey" her voice cracked, when she tried to speak. He giggled.
"Wanna grab a coffee or something?" He asked. "No. Thanks. I'm fine" Ouch! That sounded more rude than expected. "No, I mean... well just... hmm... I'm sorry" she didn't know what she was saying, just blabbering random words. "I should say that" he sighed. They were still standing near the main gate of the college. Her bus was long gone. "I should say sorry" he repeated himself. "Can we talk?" he asked again. She shook her head, now battling with her emotions and tears, which were dying to come out of her. Then he held her one hand in his bigger one, and took a step closer. "Please" he whispered, his eyes pleading her.
Sitting in the nearby cafe, in front of her ex-boyfriend, she was stirring the brown sugar in her espresso. Hand trembling, sharp sound of the spoon touching the tiny cup, some people chatting in the background. She gulped hard, and looked up around to see if someone was watching them, or if someone she knew was here. The answer was no.
"Well I think I should start... hmm..." he cleared his throat, being nervous. "I'm sorry" he paused to look at her, and he internally smiled when he knew he caught her attention. She, who was looking everywhere, but him, now had her eyes fixed on him. "For that night. I was a dick. I-I s-shouldn't have left you there. I'm really sorry Sky"
She stopped looking at him, as her eyes went to stare at the small table in front of her. Her whole body shivered, when he mentioned something she wanted to forget, something she was embarrassed about. Unintentionally, her hands grabbed her hoodie's hem and dragged it all over her thighs. A habit that she couldn't get rid of. Words weren't forming in her mind, she didn't know what to say. "I-It's o-okay. I'm s-sorry too" she mumbled, loud enough that he could hear. "No no, please don't say sorry. It wasn't your fault. Maybe I was rushing things. I thought we could... but then we didn't .... I just tried to make one more step in our .... but it all got ruined, I'm sorry. I should have understood you weren't ready." he tried his best to explain himself, his voice shaking, his hand gestures making her understand that he was nervous. But she was glad that he talked to her, she were happy that he wanted to sort things out, even after years, that he wanted to meet her and make unforgettable talks more comfortable for the both of them.
She nodded while he was speaking, and then, after gathering a lot of courage, she put her hand on his. "It's okay. Whatever happened in the past, it's just there. We both moved on, I guess. But I'm happy you talked to me... hmm..."
"Wow this was easier than I thought" he giggled a little now squeezing her hand in his bigger one. And she smiled. A genuine smile, full of joy; an honest smile, without caring much about the rest of the world. A smile that showed her white teeth and made her cheeks lift up and her eyes disappear for a moment. A smile Garrett wanted to see.
"So how's life going?" She asked, being a little confident and comfortable with him. "Great. I'm studying music... and yeah... I got my driver license" he proudly said, to which she giggled. "Yours?" he asked, sipping his coffee. "As usual" she said, because actually she didn't have anything interesting to tell him. "Boyfriend?" The conversation was pretty casual. She didn't know what to say, so she simply shook her head. "You?" She questioned. He put the cup he was holding down on the table. "Anna. She studies music with me. We met in college" he admitted, as she nodded, being happy for him. It felt like a heavy weight was lifted up. She was glad that both of them weren't living regretting what happened in the past and he was enjoying his life, as he should, because she knew he was never at fault.
The conversation went by, and she didn't notice when her hand left her hoodie's hem, and she was serenely chatting with him.
But little did sge know that a pair of sorrowful eyes were watching them, especially her, from not so far.
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