Walking into school had always been the same: sit down, pay attention, move to another class, repeat until I had to go home.
There were certain circumstances that changed every now and again, but regularly it would be boring. Tedious.
Not like I could do much about it, since it was basically a requirement to go there.
There was one decent thing going on, though. And that was…
"Hey Fog, what's up?"
There she was, Lila Hush—the unanimously appointed "Queen of Juniors," given to her for the kindness she gave, her talent in sports, and how excellent her grades were. She was the most popular girl in our grade.
She had strawberry-blonde hair that was accompanied by a golden-ivory claw clip holding up her half-up, half-down hairstyle. Her eyes, on the other hand, were what stood out the most. She had sage green eyes with glimmers of yellow, the kind that you could stare into for hours.
Why was she talking to me, a loner who seemed far from her world, some might ask.
Well, that was because we got paired up to be partners in an upcoming science project. A project that projected to be sixty-percent of our overall grade.
We had agreed to meet in the library to research the topic about our project: Nuclear Reaction.
"Um… Hey, how are you doing, Lila?" I asked in a reluctant tone. I knew I was far out of her league, yet I still tried to strike up a conversation.
She had an annoyed look on her face and let out a sigh, "You don't have to be so formal with me, y'know?"
I realized I messed up by speaking formally. I decided I'd try to speak to her more like a friend would.
"Yeah, I suppose… Uh, well, want to get started?" I said as I put my sweaty palms onto the wooden table.
"How far did you get in your research, Fog?
I pulled out my notes—a messy list I'd hastily jotted down—and began reading aloud:
"Essentially… Uh… Okay. So—"
"Mhm?"
"—I don't really know how to word it, to be honest."
"Try your best, we don't have all day," she said with a small giggle.
"There are various different kinds of reactions, with the main ones I found being 'Nuclear Fusion' and 'Nuclear Fission'…," I said. "After we give our initial assessment, I was thinking we'd describe those and a few more different kinds of reactions."
"So having more than just those two?"
"Yeah."
She had a content look on her face. "Alright, sounds like a plan. Wouldn't hurt to try and secure that A, huh?"
"Yeah, definitely."
She pulled out her own notes, where she began to explain the basic outline of how our presentation would look: Introduction, information, information, information, conclusion.
Of course, there would be more than just that, but it was really barebones to start.
I remained slightly awkward during the entire duration of our study session, but I would be lying if I said it wasn't slightly fun.
"Wanna end it here?" Lila said as she stretched her arms.
"Already?"
"Yeah, I have a curfew. My momma' will kill me if I'm not back before then."
"You have strict parents? Couldn't have imagined."
"Nah, they're not strict, just cautious. Dad got mugged a few weeks ago, and ever since then, I can't be out past eight."
"Damn. I'm sorry to hear about that."
"Why are you sorry? Did you rob him?"
"Of course not!" I said frantically. "I just feel bad for y'all, y'know?"
"It's fine, don't worry too much."
She gave a slight smile, one that would bewitch any man. My cheeks started to heat after looking. I could feel myself getting more and more flustered.
No, stop it!, I thought to myself as I slammed my hands upon my already-red cheeks.
"Are you okay…?"
I looked back up, her smile lost. "Yeah, I'm okay… Just, y'know…never mind." I couldn't continue what I was about to say. How could someone like me even try to be so bold to say that she's cute when she smiles? What was I even thinking?! We were just partners for a group project, and soon we'll be no more than strangers.
"Okay. I'm so sorry, but I really gotta go," Lila said as she checked the time on her phone. The time read 7:00 P.M.
I looked out a window not too far from where we were sitting. The scarlet sky stretched across the horizon, offering the relief you'd need after a long, hard day. Soon, it would give way to the night's beautiful view.
Mustering up the courage, I said, "Want me to walk you?" My fingers twitched with anxiety, awaiting her response.
Why did I say that? What is wrong with you, Fog?! You have watched too many romantic films!
"That's sweet," she said with another heart-piercing smile, "but I think I can manage. Instead, what's your number? I'll just text you to tell you I made it safe."
I felt my jaw drop. Silent gasps seemed to escape my mouth. Not even in the cringiest movies have I ever seen a smoother way to ask for someone's number.
Wait, she wants my number? Wouldn't that cause too much trouble if some of our peers found out?
Then it hit me. Lila is the princess of our grade. Of course she's nice. She's probably like this with everyone she comes across, whether that be male or female.
With that realization, I seemed to calm down—at least a little. I reached into my left pocket, pulled out my phone, and handed it to her.
"Feel free." I tried to act nonchalant, but even I could tell I looked like a mess. I felt anxious, like I could run for hours or even lift up a train. I was overexcited, sure, but this was my first time getting a girl's number. Or maybe it was because it was Lila. I couldn't answer it back then.
"There ya' go!" She handed me back the phone with a smile. "Don't hesitate to call or text, but if you text, it might be a while before I respond. I don't get on socials too much."
"Okay, cool," I said as I tried to remain calm.
However, Lila doesn't get on social media that often? That has to be a lie to excuse the fact she'll rarely text me back, right? Or maybe she was telling the truth and that was her way of saying 'I'll text you when I can!'.
Either way, it still filled me with joy that I got her number.
"Bye-bye."
"See you later."
We exchanged our goodbyes before heading opposite ways. I pulled my phone up to pass the time while I walked. My house wasn't too far from the school, only being a fifteen minute walk.
Later that day, around eight-thirty in the afternoon, I heard my phone buzz on my desk. It was turned face-down, so I couldn't see who texted me, but I reluctantly went to go and answer it. On it, I saw Lila.
"Heyyy, this is Lila"
"Hey"
"No need to be so dry loll"
"Oh, I'm sorry. Did you need something?"
That is how our conversation proceeded. While it did not seem like it, my heart was beating out of my chest, and it felt hard to breathe. How did I, out of all people, get her number?
I looked at her contact. It read Lila!!, which she did herself.
Just as I was staring at the giant "L" on the contact bubble, I got a ding.
"Here's a contact photo for you!"
With it, a photo came through. If people thought she was beautiful in person, they'd be shocked to see what she looked like in a photo.
She had a pair of glasses on, with her hair tied into buns on both sides of her head. She had no makeup, allowing me to see an image of straight beauty, one unlike I had seen before. She seemed like a model.
I took no time in changing the contact photo into that image.
"Thank you. Here, I'll send a photo, too."
That was easier said than done. Her picture made me feel even more self-conscious about myself. How could I show her the most bland guy after she showed me what a goddess looked like?
Hesitantly, I sent a picture of myself that I thought was decently good. It was of me in casual clothes, my brown hair glimmering into a lighter shade because of the lighting. The same also applied to my eyes, which glistened a dark-blue.
"Okay, get it, Fog!"
I froze as the message popped up, followed by:
"What?"
"Nothing… you know how to take pics tho!"
Was that her way of calling me handsome? Cute? I didn't know, but it filled me with euphoria. I bounced around my room, my heart racing in excitement.
I laughed, a blush appearing on my cheeks. There was no way she actually said that to me. She may be out of my league, but she sure can lift a guy's spirit up.
In a good mood, I decided to give some motivation back:
"Thank you, you're extremely beautiful!"
I pressed send before I fully thought out what I said.
Why did I send that? I thought, feeling my hands grow heavier around the confines of my phone while my heart seemed to be getting enclosed. I threw myself onto my bed, a loud thud roaring from the impact. If I can just delete it before she reads it…
I tried to press "Delete", but then she saw it. Without thinking twice, I turned my phone off and threw it to the side. My heart was pumping too hard for me to continue looking at the messages.
I heard my phone ring multiple times, but I could not convince myself to pick it up. I was too embarrassed.
After many, many deep breaths of air, for even a semblance of trying to calm, I picked up my phone and saw that she had texted me over five times in under two minutes.
My fingers jittered as I clicked on the notifications.
"Oop, thanks!!!!"
"Oh no, did I scare you away?"
"Hello?"
"Helllllooooooooooooo?"
"You're saved. For now. I'm gonna go to bed. See ya tmr, goodnight!"
Goodnight?
I looked up at the time: 9:30P.M.
She goes to bed at nine? I thought to myself, dumbfounded at the message. For some reason, it made all of my anxiety—my crippling fear—go away. I didn't know how, but it just did.
A yawn escaped my mouth as I stretched. All that hyperventilating exhausted me. I felt sluggish, and knew if I didn't fall asleep now, I'd feel like crap in the morning.
Before getting into bed, I decided to shoot one last message at Lila:
"Goodnight."