Claudia must have thought that she had taken the easy way out by coming to the bathroom inside the school only to be stuck with a person whom she would rather not look twice at which was quite ironic and hilarious in Alice's opinion. Alice glanced over at Rowan taking the lead, but it likely wasn't even on purpose since his strides were long.
Alice decided to make small talk anyway since she found it more stifling for them to trudge down the hallways with this awkward air. She decided on a topic that she knew Rowan would bite along with considering that it was a somewhat easy part on her side as well. "How long have you known Noah, Rowan?"
"He was one of the first people who I talked to when I transferred here," Rowan replied. "I was lucky that we clicked since I didn't know how to reach out to people for information, but with Noah, his friends made it easy to learn my way around."
"That's good to hear," Alice smiled. "What made you transfer here in your last year of high school?"
Rowan scratched the back of his neck. "It was an impulse move. I wasn't able to get into the school when I applied the other years back, but I made it this last year, and I thought if not now, then when?"
Alice nodded. "That's true."
"I was weighing my options, but thought I might as well take the opportunity that was opened up to me."
"Which is a fair choice," Alice pointed out before going into the realm of a more comfortable topic knowing that it might be one that he must overly get questions about. "When did you start soccer?"
They turned the corner to walk down the main corridor to the glass entrance doors of the building careful to not make too much noise since they were already speaking at a low level. Rowan slowed down his pace so that they could all walk together in step with Claudia leaning in to listen intently.
"I played soccer since I was three years old," Rowan said slowly. "I was put into it really early since I had a lot of energy as a kid. Now, it's ingrained into me after all the long years of practice combined with the fact that I love to be on the field and playing, so I'm glad that it worked out for me in the end."
"You don't seem to get enough credit for all the hard work you put into perfecting your skills. You played really well today," Alice smiled. "Congrats on the win with the red team."
"Thank you," Rowan beamed. "It was a team effort."
Alice nudged Claudia as they got to the glass doors, and Claudia piped in. "Yes. Really good job."
Rowan sighed as he pushed open the doors. "Tell me, Claudia. Were your eyes on the game or on your nails or whatever new thing was happening on your phone?"
Claudia rolled her eyes. "I appreciate you talking smack to my face rather than behind my back, but my eyes were on the field contrary to what you thought. It was just that it was on Jackson's lower half."
Alice slowly felt more awkward standing in between the two of them, and she was surprised that Claudia brought out the name of another guy which made Rowan's eyes narrow at Claudia clearly picking her up the false words that Claudia was placing down.
A whirring sound came from down the hallway, and they all froze as Mr. Anthony was cleaning the floors with a loud machine. It looked like Mr. Anthony didn't make it over to the other buildings after as Alice had hoped since it was quiet from upstairs and when they were walking over to the doors. Mr. Anthony must have started cleaning the floors then.
His stern sight landed on the students who were frozen as if they were deer on the street before his face pulled into a cranky expression cranky as ever, but he motioned with his hands for them to get out.
When they didn't move, he was about to get off the machine which prompted them all into action. With a wave, Alice walked out the doors and bowed her head in thanks.
There was a long pause on Rowan and Claudia's end after the random comment Claudia said earlier before Rowan slammed the door in Claudia's face. Alice reached out her hands in worry since the action was too abrupt which could hurt if not careful.
Claudia lifted her eyes up to Rowan, and Alice could see the hatred brimming beneath the baby blues, Claudia pushed the door open with her lips flattening into a displeased line.
"Well, it seems that our babysitting job is over, Alice," Claudia muttered.
Alice stepped over to Claudia and patted her arm to try and calm her down. "Let's head back before it gets too late."
They said their goodbyes at the gate bowing their heads down before wishing for a safe trip back before Alice and Claudia turned left and Rowan turned left to the parking lot side of the academy.
As she and Claudia walked down the hill of the sidewalk, Claudia let out an annoyed click of her tongue making Alice laugh. "It's official. I hate him."