Fake Bully, True Crush

Clashing Encounters

Arriving at the dim lit library in the afternoon was just another breather for me. I cradled my essential books to study and chose a seat that had a nice view of the wooden bookshelves,

I studied for a while with my hands under my chin as I tapped lightly at the ground, my eyes fleetingly grazed up to the familiar student that burrowed some books via the reception in his darkish jeans and a navy casual shirt, he caught my eyes and I looked away. But it was too late because he was heading towards my table.

So, Noah came along to say hello. “Hi, my not close classmate. Good day to you.” He was a smirking mess, his hair getting on his light grey eyes before he placed it on the back. He didn’t know how to back down after our last goodbye, he just kept reappearing as if he wanted this to happen. He wasn’t good at camouflaging, he stood out from among the people. Or it was only my hawk eyes noticing everything and anything.

I caged in my smile, “Hello, Noah, nice to meet you here.” I didn’t want to sound harsh on him, especially since he didn’t do anything wrong. I glimpsed at the books in his hands, “what are all these books doing with you?” I was puzzled because he was holding four big books in his strong arms.

“Oh, just some books about keeping dry flowers,” Noah replied, with familiar fire in his eyes. He was passionate about it, and it left me wondering about his choice of books.

“You only need one book for that, here let me help you,” I pointed to the section where they kept botany books, he followed close behind, probably enjoying my nervous figure in front of him. We stopped as I stood on my tiptoes to reach for the botanic guidebook, I got crystallized when he easily took the book from behind, his body stuck to mine, his heat matched mine. He had an arm around my waist to keep me from toppling over the shelves. His breath fanned against the back of my neck, and I barely had any constraint in my willpower to end this. I turned to face him, his eyes closer to mine until I pulled away and he furrowed his eyebrows at me.

I doubted that he was talking about the red rose I gifted him before, I connected the dots to my suspicion, he wanted to keep it safe and healthy, or maybe he had a journal he wanted to put the rose in. Either way, I was glad he was into books. But I didn’t want to lead him onto this poisonous friendship. I tried to turn the conversation, “See you around, Noah.” I redeemed the curiosity in my head, and I didn’t want this to get longer than it should. But he was adamant to continue.

Noah smiled grudgingly, “Hey, I am having a birthday party this Friday evening, 8:00 pm at Wantirna Club. Would you love to come?” his wonderous eyes lightened up at him as if he expected me to agree, but I didn’t want to hurt his ego. I knew that club, it was a couple of miles away, and it had the popular people around. I had never seen it from the inside, but it was huge enough for me to notice the outside sign with the name of the club.

I was, nonetheless, surprised at the sudden invite. Yep, he didn’t get the ‘goodbye’ memo. But that didn’t mean I had to be an ass to him. “I'm not quite sure, Friday is a girls’ night with my best friend. I will text you by then, Okay?” I amended. Noah’s smile faltered, understanding that I might not come for sure.

“By the way, happy birthday to you. I am glad that I can say it to you in person.” I voiced aloud with a gracious smile. He crossed his arms as he dejectedly straightened up. I didn’t know that his birthday was today, I seemed to forget but I did remember the balloon party back when we were children and how we rode the bicycles together. He acknowledged it too when he looked at me.

“Thank you. I would really appreciate it if you came.” Noah said with bold, aggressive eyes. I was taken aback at how serious he looked, it seemed like he didn’t appreciate the birthday wish and he wanted me there.

“I will try my best.” I gave him a petite smile, trying to calm my wild heart. I breathed through my nose as he quakingly gave me a nod with a smile and walked off.

I tied my hair up with the band around my wrist and searched for a good book to read for a break from the stressful workload. I wanted an English fiction book, I ended up borrowing Princess Diaries to read it against the shelves. I loved to read from time to time, but the tension didn’t leave me alone. After getting in four chapters of the book, I closed it and went back to my table to dig it inside my heavy bag. I resumed my studies till another hour or so, the library was about to be closed. The students rushed in to get some work done, the aroma of coffee was everywhere. I was about to get back to the library table, but I detected Aiden as he trudged by to the entrance, I wanted to hide but he saw me, his distant eyes returned to life.

“Hey Emma, what are you doing here?” he asked as he walked up to me. He was in black joggers and a Balenciaga white shirt with a cap on his head. It was no wonder that Mia liked him a lot. That guy was conversational and knew how to dress.

I let out an uneasy smile. “Just studying and reading, you?”

“Just wanted to grab a book for the project we have, are you coming to the party this Friday?” he questioned in a friendly way.

“Probably not.” I clipped, I wanted to escape this conversation, not that Aiden wasn’t a good person, but I didn’t feel in the mood to talk to anyone.

“That’s a bummer, it will be the most well-known party to humankind. I guess I will see you around.” He winked and proceeded to walk through.

The palpable tension was in the air, so I finalized studying and shoved the books into my bag before getting out of the library with Noah gone and vanished. I didn’t know why I thought of him a lot, but I was dead sure that I would stop somehow. Maybe I should stop overthinking, I was a pretty much indecisive person with an overloading of thoughts.

I groaned internally when I spotted Ava on the field on my way to my room. The school’s sports day was coming up, so they had to practice cheerleading. I wasn’t into sports, but from what I saw her perform her signature move: the backflip with a twist in the air, she was a natural, it was a shame that her personality didn’t match what she liked to do. If Ava wasn’t my bully, I would stop and give her a round of applause. I bet she wouldn’t do that to me if I was ever a cheerleader. She had a white and red skirt on with a matching crop top, showing off her physique as guys pretended not to stare at her talent.

The grassy field showed how wealthy the school got, mostly Ava’s family money going into the top-quality bleachers, and the stadium that was owned by Ava’s dad. The huge field overshadowed the arrangements of benches and the long white lines of the soccer field. The sunset was beautiful, it contrasted on the girls who were practicing like their life depended on it.

Ava noticed my gaze at her, hollered with a hard glare: “Stay away from my man, do you hear me? b***h!” The girls beside her giggled like there was no tomorrow as most of them grouped up with her, I frowned at the stuck up girl.

With my mood swings, and my flared-up state today from the hectic work I had done, I hated how Ava was a prick to me, how she acted high and mighty about this s**t. I was raging and I wanted to prank her when I was ready to run, I yelled back into the air with the other people around. I heard the laughter behind me and Ava’s squealing sounds, my vindictive smile painted on my face as the wind whipped by me.

“Sorry, you fart too loud, I can’t hear you.”