Chapter Two
457 Words
Chapter Two
Little Things
At first, Tiffany told herself it would pass.
Maybe the five boys were bored.
Maybe they just enjoyed making people uncomfortable.
Maybe eventually they’d lose interest in her and move on to someone else.
But days passed, and somehow they only became more involved in her life.
It started with little things.
A bottle of water appearing on her desk whenever she forgot hers.
An umbrella waiting outside her classroom when it rained.
Coffee placed beside her during late study sessions.
Nobody admitted to doing it.
Nobody had to.
“You look tired.”
Tiffany glanced up from her notebook to find Noah sitting across from her in the cafeteria.
“I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not.”
He pushed a sandwich toward her.
“You didn’t eat breakfast.”
Tiffany stared at him. “Do you people secretly follow me around twenty-four seven?”
Primo dropped into the seat beside her before Noah could answer.
“Yes.”
She nearly choked on air.
Primo laughed while Noah looked completely serious.
“That wasn’t a joke,” Noah said.
Tiffany rubbed her forehead tiredly.
“You guys are actually insane.”
“Probably,” Primo admitted easily.
For some reason, that made her laugh.
A real laugh.
The kind she hadn’t made in weeks.
The table suddenly went quiet.
Tiffany slowly looked up and realized all five boys were staring at her.
“What?”
James leaned back slightly in his chair, watching her carefully.
“You should laugh more.”
The softness in his voice caught her off guard.
Before Tiffany could respond, another student approached their table.
A boy from her literature class.
“Uh, Tiffany?” he asked nervously. “Can I talk to you for a second?”
The mood changed instantly.
She felt it immediately.
James’ expression hardened.
Alexi looked irritated.
Shin slowly lifted his eyes toward the boy in a way that almost made Tiffany feel bad for him.
Meanwhile, Primo smiled.
Which somehow looked even more threatening.
The poor boy swallowed nervously.
“I-I can come back later.”
“Good idea,” Noah answered calmly.
The boy disappeared almost immediately.
Tiffany stared at them in disbelief.
“Was that really necessary?”
“Yes,” James said.
“You scared him!”
Primo shrugged. “He was annoying.”
“He just wanted to talk!”
Alexi finally spoke, his voice calm but sharp.
“He wanted your attention.”
Tiffany frowned. “And?”
The five boys exchanged looks.
Then James answered quietly,
“We don’t share very well.”
The honesty in his voice sent chills down her spine.
Because none of them sounded embarrassed about it.
Not even a little.
- Writer
