"Mommy!" Mrs. Turner shrieked in despair. Pulling out her cat-shaped specs, blood-red in color. She rubbed her eyes, exhausted. She heard the boy chuckle slowly walking into the room, he didn't sit on the table. This surprised the tired woman.
Instead, he stood by the coy girl and went on to introduce himself.
"Hello, there! I am Griffin Hayes. " He started. Mrs. Turner raised her eyebrows in surprise at the flirty tone.
"Hi!" Mannat said, passing a quiet smile, but not raising her chin to look at him directly in his hazel orbs. He stood next to her, easily towering the petite girl.
"This is Mannat and Riaan Dayal. They are studying with us now." Miss Mannat here will be in fact, studying with you. "Why don't you be a sweetheart and give them a tour of our school? " Mrs. Turner asked as she tapped her fingers on the mahogany table.
"With Pleasure." The smirking boy had been really unsettling for the mother of the two newcomers. The kids simply walked out of the cabin, without any other word.
"Don't worry, he's a lovely boy." Mrs. Turner provided, as she then saw Mark snort in clear disapproval.
"That's not how I would describe that boy, after our first meet. " Sarah rubbed her nose; she did that whenever she did not approve of anything.
"Mark, how are you?" Mrs. Turner quickly turned her blue eyes to her former student. The same. She remembers him, like yesterday when he would visit her cabin for something or the other. He got in a lot of trouble; as a child, and assessing his current situation, nothing about that has changed.
"I am good! How are you? " He asked politely. Sitting up, straight, and smiling happily. He looked at peace. He didn't remember his mother, but he was sure if he had one, this how she would be. Loving and always caring.
"Ah, I have grown a little rusty with the coming of age. Backache, legs don't support me for too long. But that's okay, I guess." She smiled at him pleasantly, as the little boy that she remembered fondly laughed in return.
"Well, it surely doesn't show. I must say, you look exactly like you did when I walked these corridors." He assured the woman, but smiled further watching her eyes narrow in suspicion.
"Are you implying, I looked this rusty, all those years back?" She inquired as she rang a calling bell on her desk. Sarah was a quiet spectator for now, but had grown worried to see Mark speak so freely to the Principal of the school.
"I am sure, I have gifted you a few of those creases on forehead, myself." He smiled smugly, pointing a finger at the woman, dressed in a pink suit.
"Ah, don't you look pleased with yourself?" The lady asked quietly.
When the door opened and a young lady walked in, in blue pants and white silk top.
"Ah, Hope! Could you please ask for some tea to be delivered to my office?"
"Sure, Mrs. Tea!"
This made Mark burst into laughter. "Is there anyone in this school, who addresses you properly, YoYo?"
Mannat walked behind Griffin, as he gave the school tour to Riaan. At least, that's what it would look like to a person passing by. Mannat wasn't usually great at making friends, and in front of Riaan's extrovert personality, she was always overlooked by the people. Also, her first meet with this boy was awkward as hell, which gave her more reason to not talk to him.
"Wow! This is awesome!" Riaan ran towards the basketball pitch. "You like basketball, champ?" He asked, Mannat was astonished as to how comfortable the two were they had nicknames planned for each other, already. Didn't champ, sound like a dog's name?
"Yeah! Finny, I love it!" She wouldn't even start with that name. Hazel eyes, crinkled as he laughed whole-heartedly.
"Why don't you go and play then?" He asked passing an encouraging smile. Riaan smiled as he
"No!" Mannat cried walking towards the boys, scared for her brother. "Those, boys are tall and buff! Look at them! They can break you!" Mannat reasoned.
"You are still here?" Griffin asked, turning towards the worried girl. He was very well aware of her presence, but he couldn't let her know about that, yet.
"Where else am I suppose to be?" Mannat asked.
"I will be fine, Manny" Riaan assured and ran towards the court.
"Dyl!" Griffin boy called out but said nothing. "Weird," Mannat noted.
"You said something?" He asked, eyeing her for a second. The summer dress looked marvelous on the beauty, that is Mannat Dayal. He sighed as she negatively shook her head.
"Is this how much you usually talk? Or am I special?" He asked sarcastically, leading the shy girl towards the bleachers.
"I don't talk to strangers." She informed as she gracefully sat next to him.
"Mommy told you not to?" He asked, in a taunting manner. Smirking little as the girl hung her head slowly.
"Yes!" She answered slowly. This shocked the long-haired boy. "Boy, we'll have to work a lot with you!" Surprised, she eyed the boy with worry.
"Work?" She asked, raising an eyebrow in question.
"Yes! Do you have any problem with that?" He questioned prissily, to which the Indian shook her head, slowly.
"Good Job! Champ!" Griffin cheered as he clapped his hands, to Riaan dribbling the ball and making a swift pass to Dylan. She smiled happily, to see her brother enjoying. Sure, he was good at swimming but he loved Basketball. But, mother never approved of the game, for some reason. She didn't have any problem, with Mark playing the game, but with Riaan, she pushed him towards swimming.
"So, how are you finding the countryside?" He asked, eyes still trailed towards her brother. It felt, extremely normal, but for some reason she wanted him to look at her.
"I.." She didn't know how to describe it. She didn't feel anything. She felt incomplete, after her father when, she was in New York. But in Shenoir, she didn't feel anything. New York reminded her of her father, no matter what she did, it was a constant reminder of him, his warm smile and embraces. Small outings, him taking her out shopping teaching her about cars and all other things/ Shenoir was nothing like New York, it was just a small reminder of what he wanted from life. Peace.
Griffin didn't know a small question like this could put someone in such deep thoughts. But, he studied her, the way her eyebrows creased together as she pondered on the question. The way a glassy frame, was laid on her shiny eyes, she was in deep thought.
"It's alright! You have got a lot of time to make up your mind about Shenoir. Anyways, you are just getting to know the real Shenoir." He winked at her, once he got her attention. She smiled at his carefree attitude.
"You know what's weird?" She asked, suddenly gaining some confidence.
"No" He sang.
"But, you could tell me?" He asked, now sitting on the railing of the bleachers. Folding his hands across his chest, he nodded slowly indicating her to continue.
She was entranced, at how amazing he looked. His eyes, reading her as she gaped at him like a fish out of water. Handsome. The most simple action looked so flawless. The way smell of woods seemed to surround him.
"Mate?" He asked, in a beloving tone. Mannat frowned coming out of her dreamland, again questioning the strange nickname. Mate as in friends, right? It's a weird tone that made her confused.
"Manny! Ri! Let's go!!" Mark called out, walking in with Sarah.
Mannat quickly got up and started to walk out, worried at the stern look that Sarah passed towards her. The woman did not like the way she was talking to the 'delinquent', so it's better to leave. She was walking towards the couple when she was held back.
Griffin's hand wrapped easily around her slender arm, his metal rings cold around her arm. Her sensitive skin causing goosebumps to rise on her wheatish flesh. She looked up to meet his hazel eyes. "Hazel... I thought they were Green."
He smirked. Let's exchange numbers, you will learn new things every day. It's a promise." His smirk grew when her mother turn red.
"MANNAT" Her mother shrieked.
"Sorry." She whispered as she quickly sprinted towards her mother.
"Wow.. She can scream." He muttered, she heard a small smile graced her lips.
Now she looked forward to her days in Shenoir.