The masked and the message
295 Words
The wind was cold that morning, sweeping through the empty hallways as Ava walked to class.
She’d gotten used to the whispers, but today they felt louder — like every voice carried her name.
She clutched her hoodie tighter and kept walking.
When she got to her desk, Eli was already there, doodling on the edge of his notebook. He looked up, smiling as if he’d been waiting for her.
“Morning, mystery girl.”
Ava blinked. “Mystery girl?”
He shrugged, half-smile playing on his lips. “You never talk much. You’ve got this… mysterious vibe.”
She rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the small laugh that slipped out. “You say that like it’s a compliment.”
“It is.”
For a moment, they just looked at each other. Something unspoken passed between them — something that made her heart race in a way she couldn’t explain.
That night, back home, Ava opened CloverChat again.
FacelessGirl: Weird day.
Starboy_17: Tell me.
FacelessGirl: There’s this guy at school. He’s… different.
Starboy_17: Different how?
FacelessGirl: He actually talks to me.
There was a long pause before Eli typed again.
Starboy_17: He sounds lucky.
Ava smiled at the screen. She didn’t know why that made her chest feel warm.
Meanwhile, Eli stared at his own reflection in the dark window.
There was something about FacelessGirl that pulled him in — her honesty, her humor, the quiet sadness behind her words.
But lately, he couldn’t shake the feeling that she reminded him of someone.
The way she talked.
The things she said.
Even her silences.
It felt… familiar.
And as he lay down that night, one thought refused to leave his mind:
What if the girl behind the mask isn’t a stranger at all?
- Writer
