School was just as I remembered it: a maze of lockers, laughter, and the unmistakable smell of old textbooks. I was just another face in the crowd, an average student with average grades, making my way through the daily grind at Brightmeadow High.
As I walked through the hallways, my mind drifted back to the morning. The comforting chaos of home felt like a world away. Today was just another Tuesday, but there was something different about it. Maybe it was the feeling of anticipation lingering in the air, or perhaps it was the way Thornessa—a girl with the kind of beauty that caught your breath—walked past me. Her name fit her perfectly; she was delicate yet fierce, like a rose with thorns.
I couldn't help but steal glances at her as we gathered for physical education. Thornessa was a force of nature, with her fiery spirit and laughter that rang out like music. Even though she seemed to have the world at her feet, she was approachable, making it easy for me to imagine us together—if only in my daydreams.
"Hey, Elba!" my friend called, snapping me back to reality. I turned to see him waving me over. I shook my head, trying to focus on the game, but my thoughts drifted back to Thornessa. She was on the other side of the gym, chatting with her friends, her hair catching the sunlight streaming through the windows.
I stood at about 6'1", with black hair that fell just above my eyebrows, and eyes that were an unusual mix of black and a little red. I wasn't a flashy looker, but I tried to carry myself with a quiet confidence. I was smart enough to know I wasn't the most striking guy in the room, but I had my own charm, I hoped.
"Let's go, man! You can't just stand there," my friend urged, and I took a deep breath, joining in on the warm-up.
As we started our exercises, I noticed a girl lingering near the entrance of the gym. She had dark hair and blended into the shadows, her gaze fixed on me. I felt an inexplicable chill run down my spine, as if her stare was probing deeper than just my exterior. I shook my head, brushing off the feeling. It was probably just my imagination or someone looking for a place to sit.
"Hey, focus!" my friend yelled, pulling me back into the game as the whistle blew, signaling the start. I shook off the lingering unease and tried to concentrate, but I couldn't completely shake the sensation of being watched.
For the rest of the class, I put my all into the drills, but a nagging thought tugged at me. I glanced around, half-expecting to see the girl again, but she had vanished as quickly as she appeared. It was as if the moment had never happened, leaving only a vague sense of unease behind.
As the bell rang, signaling the end of class, I gathered my things and headed toward the locker room. Thornessa flashed a smile my way, and for a fleeting moment, everything else melted away. It felt like the world was aligned, but in the back of my mind, I couldn't shake that feeling of being followed.
Perhaps it was just a side effect of my average life, where the unusual could sometimes slip through the cracks without explanation. I pushed it aside, determined to enjoy the rest of my day. After all, there was more to life than the shadows lurking at the edges of my vision.
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