The classroom was finally quiet, the chatter and laughter having faded as most of the students had filed out for lunch. I stayed behind, my notebook open in front of me but untouched. My pen hovered over the page, but I couldn't find the motivation to start. What was I supposed to write? Observations? Notes? Everything felt irrelevant.
I leaned back in my chair, letting the silence wash over me. Silence was easier. It didn't demand anything. It was just... there.
The door creaked open, and I sat up instinctively, half-expecting a teacher or a student who'd forgotten something. But instead, it was her—Elise.
She was hard to ignore. The first time she spoke to me on the first day, I couldn't help but notice her. There was something about her that stood out—something bright. Elise's green eyes seemed to shine with curiosity and warmth, as though she always had more questions than answers, and she had this unspoken confidence that made her presence undeniable. Her light brown braids framed her heart-shaped face, and she carried herself with a calm assurance that made her appear more mature than I knew she was.
She wasn't tall, probably a head shorter than me, but she made up for it with her presence. Today, she wore a soft green sweater that complemented her eyes and a simple black skirt. The way she moved was fluid, almost graceful.
Her gaze swept over the room, and when she saw me, her lips curved into a smile—not one of politeness, but a genuine, warm expression that made me feel like I was being seen. Like I mattered.
"Hey, Noah," she said as she made her way down the aisle to the desk behind me. "Didn't expect to see you here."
I didn't really know how to respond, so I settled for the simplest answer. "I stayed behind."
She tilted her head, still smiling. "Clearly. Most people use lunch break to, you know, eat."
"I'm not hungry," I said, almost as if it were an afterthought.
She hummed thoughtfully, then turned to the boy sitting directly behind me. "Hey, Liam, would you mind switching seats with me? Just for now?"
Liam barely looked up from his phone, muttering something about not caring and quickly grabbing his stuff. Elise slid into his seat behind me, leaning forward so her arms rested on the edge of my desk.
"So," she began, her voice light, almost teasing, "is this your way of avoiding people?"
I blinked, caught off guard. I wasn't sure how to answer. "I'm not avoiding anyone."
She raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. "Right. You just happened to stay behind in an empty classroom while everyone else went to lunch."
"It's quieter here," I said, feeling the need to explain myself.
Elise grinned. "Fair enough. You're not exactly the 'small talk' type, are you?"
"No," I said quickly, then paused. "I mean… I don't know how to do that."
Her expression shifted slightly, not judgmental, but curious. "You don't know how to make small talk?"
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. "I've read about it. Seen people do it. But it's... different in practice."
Her lips twitched as if she might laugh but then she went serious again. "Well, let's practice, then."
"Practice?" I echoed, unsure what she meant.
"Yeah. It's easy," she said, tapping her fingers lightly on my desk, a spark of mischief in her eyes. "I'll start. What's your favorite color?"
"Color?" I repeated, caught off guard. "Why does that matter?"
"It doesn't," she shrugged. "That's the point. Small talk is about saying things that don't matter. It's just a way to ease into a conversation."
I frowned, not entirely sure about this, but I decided to play along. "Blue," I said, figuring that was as good an answer as any.
She beamed. "See? That wasn't so hard. Now it's your turn."
I hesitated, not entirely sure how to reciprocate. "What's... your favorite color?"
"Green," she said without missing a beat. "But only because it matches my eyes. Vain, right?"
I shook my head. "It makes sense."
Her smile grew, pleased with my response, as expected.
"Okay, next question," she said, leaning forward slightly. "If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?"
The question threw me off. I'd never really considered it. "I don't know."
"Really?" she said, tilting her head. "Not even a guess?"
I thought for a moment, trying to pull something out of the air. "Someplace quiet."
Her expression softened with understanding. "That makes sense. I can see that."
"What about you?" I asked, trying not too make the conversation seem forced.
She lit up at the question. "Paris," she said without hesitation. "Not the real one, though—the one in the movies. The Paris where it's always sunny, and people wear berets and eat croissants by the Eiffel Tower. Completely unrealistic, but still."
I nodded. "Sounds... peaceful."
"It does, doesn't it?" She sighed, a wistful look on her face. For a moment, the conversation settled into a comfortable silence, and I found myself...still not feeling anything or able to connect with her.
"So," she said after a beat, breaking the silence, "why'd you come to Blackridge?"
I stiffened, My mind went blank for a moment. "It wasn't my choice," I finally muttered, trying to keep it vague.
Her eyebrows knit together, a touch of concern in her eyes. "Your family?"
I nodded, not offering any more detail. She didn't press me, which was best.
"Well," she said after a brief pause, leaning back in her chair, "whatever the reason, you're here now. Might as well make the most of it."
I didn't respond, instead contemplating her words. *Might as well make the most of it.* How do you make the most of something you don't care about?
She laughed softly, the sound warm and genuine. "You'll figure it out. You're smarter than you let on."
Those words were all it took for me to know I needed to be careful around this girl, she was definitely smarter than she let on.
The bell rang, signaling the end of the break, and Elise stood, slinging her bag over her shoulder. "Thanks for the conversation, Noah. See? You're not so bad at small talk after all."
I watched her walk away, her braids swaying with each step. Before she reached the door, she glanced back at me, her green eyes locking with mine.
"See you around," she said, a soft smile still lingering on her lips.
And then she was gone.
I sat there for a moment, the silence of the room settling around me once again. But nothing was different. Emotions are baggage's anyway in don't need them, I would be able to make decisions without problems. Though a part of me would still trade anything to feel something.
A part of me—a small part— Wished I hadn't been so detached. But I couldn't bring myself to care. Couldn't bring myself to want anything more.