The cafeteria was a chaos, as always. Students were pushing, laughing, arguing, and amidst it all, Asher tried to stay calm, his shoulders tense and eyes fixed on the path ahead. He hated the number of people there: the unbearable noise, the mixed smell of food and teenage despair. The cafeteria line was longer than usual, and he just wished he were anywhere else.
Beside him, James, well... James seemed to be in another world. He was smiling, talking to people around him, cracking jokes, and seemed completely at ease. Asher was used to his friend's cheerful demeanor. It was rare to see him sad or irritated.
"It's truly impressive..." Asher thought, observing him for a moment. Though he admired this lightness, he didn't envy it. He couldn't imagine being in James' shoes, exchanging words and smiles with strangers as though they were long-time friends. The effort seemed annoying — a type of energy Asher preferred to keep to himself.
"Hey, Asher." James turned with a smile. "What do you think about playing basketball with me after school? And please, don't try to pull some random excuse. I know you've got nothing to do."
Asher sighed, already expecting that proposal at some point. He wasn't the biggest fan of basketball, especially since his lack of skill always ended up being a source of teasing. But this time, he actually had a good reason to refuse. The problem was the reaction that would likely follow.
"I won't be able to today." He answered, trying to sound casual. "I've... got something to do after class. I'll... show the new student around the library. Talk a bit and give her a little tour of the school."
James' silence was immediate and almost deafening. He just raised his eyebrows, staring at Asher with a disbelieving expression.
"..."
"...What?" Asher furrowed his brow, confused. The silence was strange, he was expecting a more provocative reaction.
"…Oh, really? Pft—" After a brief moment of silence, James started laughing as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world. "Hahahahaha! You? Meeting with a girl? The apathetic guy who avoids any interaction because he finds everything boring, is going out with a girl? I can't believe it."
Asher frowned, irritated. He almost couldn't hold back the impulse to give James a "light" punch on the shoulder, which "might" end up missing and hitting his face.
James wiped a tear that was rolling down his cheek and gave a light tap on his friend's shoulder.
"Alright, alright. Looks like you're really busy today to come up with that. But just know that this excuse will be hard to beat. I'll schedule another game for some other day."
Asher huffed, exasperated. Although the comment still irritated him, it was better than James believing him and teasing him even more.
Soon, the cafeteria line shortened, and Asher and James bought their respective lunches. They ate in the short time remaining of the break, exchanging a few words while James complained about the slow line. Once they were finished, Asher said goodbye to his friend and went back to the classroom.
Upon entering, he couldn't help but notice Clara sitting next to his desk. Alone.
"She didn't go eat?" he wondered, slightly furrowing his brow. Maybe, being new, she didn't know where the cafeteria was. But there was something else that intrigued him: the absence of anyone around her. New students were usually the center of attention, especially when they were girls. But there was Clara, absorbed in a book, seemingly oblivious to the world around her.
Well, it wasn't his business, he decided. Caring about that seemed boring.
He walked to his desk, but he couldn't avoid being drawn to the open book in front of her. A title on mathematics. Clara seemed to be at the beginning of a chapter called "Determinants."
"Is she studying matrices?" Asher raised an eyebrow, surprised. Not because of the topic itself — it had been covered at the start of the year — but because of the level of the book. It was much more advanced than the normal class content.
Clara noticed his presence and looked up. A soft smile lit up her face.
"Ah, Asher. Hello."
"…Hello. Are you studying?" He asked, gesturing with his chin to the book.
"Hmm, yes. I have a great appreciation for mathematics. Sometimes I like to explore more advanced books." She replied, her green eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.
"What an unusual taste." Asher thought, but didn't let it show. Instead, he decided to keep the conversation going.
"And what's this book about?"
Clara seemed to brighten instantly. Her smile widened, and the excitement was palpable in her eyes.
"Oh, this is Linear Algebra and Its Applications. It covers topics in linear algebra, like matrices, determinants, vector spaces… It's fascinating!"
Asher nodded slowly, watching the almost childlike enthusiasm with which Clara explained. Clara, very excited, continued talking about the book with an enthusiasm Asher rarely saw in anyone other than James. He listened attentively, but not knowing much about what she was saying, he limited himself to nodding or murmuring a "hmm" occasionally.
"Huh..." He thought, averting his gaze for a moment. Asher had the impression that the reason Clara was alone during the break was obvious.
Clara's rambling was interrupted by the sharp sound of the bell, signaling the end of the break and the return to classes. The scattered students began to head back to their classrooms, the chatter in the hallway gradually dying down. Clara looked at Asher, a slight blush of embarrassment on her cheeks.
"Oh, sorry. I got a little carried away." She laughed awkwardly, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.
"No, it's fine. I like math a bit too." Asher replied, trying to ease her a bit. It wasn't a lie, after all. He did like math, but of course, not as much as she did, to the point of venturing into more advanced topics on his own.
Clara opened a smile that seemed more relieved.
"Really? Then, maybe we can talk more about it later."
Before he could respond, the teacher entered the room, and the remaining murmurs ceased. Asher quickly averted his eyes, sitting down in his seat.
The lesson began with the teacher writing the title on the board: "Introduction to Kinematics."
Introduction to Kinematics? Asher frowned. He was sure this topic had already been covered. For a moment, he thought he might be wrong, but he immediately remembered where this sense of déjà vu was coming from—his dreams, once again. This time, he wasn't as surprised, as the same thing had happened in Mr. Winslow's math classes and history class.
As the class went on, he took automatic notes, paying only superficial attention just in case the topic differed from his dream at some point. The minutes dragged on until finally, the sound of the next bell echoed.
At lunch, Asher noticed Clara still sitting in the same spot. He hesitated for a moment but decided to speak to her.
"Hey, Clara."
She looked up from her book, curious.
"Hi, Asher."
"The cafeteria is in the building next door, if you haven't found it yet. It's not hard to find. If you want, you can just follow me there."
Clara smiled, carefully closing her book.
"Oh, thanks. But I brought food from home just in case I didn't know where the cafeteria was."
"No problem. Enjoy your lunch." Asher gave a quick wave before heading out.
---
He found James already in the cafeteria, holding a tray full of food and waving enthusiastically at him.
"I thought you weren't coming!" James said, his mouth half-full.
"This time, I barely ran late," Asher replied, sitting next to him and starting to eat.
The lunch went on between James' jokes and comments, which Asher listened to with a mix of distraction and patience. The following classes passed in a blur; even the subjects that usually grabbed his attention seemed vague, as if his mind insisted on revisiting the strange feeling from the morning.
The last bell of the day rang. Asher packed his things, feeling the fatigue fade and replaced by a sense of relief. He was ready to leave, but as he passed the classroom door, he noticed Clara approaching his desk with a shy smile.
"Ugh. I almost forgot I had agreed to go to the library with her..."
He couldn't blame himself, though. He didn't usually interact deeply with many people at school, except for James, whom he had known for years, so he ended up completely forgetting about his pseudo-meeting with her.
He masked his discomfort with a weak smile and tried to find words to start the conversation.
"Um... So, which library do you prefer to go to? The school one, which will be open for a few more hours, or the city library?"
Clara hesitated for a moment, as if considering the question.
"Oh, I was thinking of the school one, since it's closer," she said, glancing down the hallway.
"Hmm. Alright, let's go then." Asher stood up and gestured for her to follow as he walked toward the hallway.
They walked in silence, but Asher soon noticed that she seemed a bit lost in thought. He didn't take long to realize she was searching for something to say. The doubt in her eyes made him wonder what she was thinking.
"Hey, Asher..." Clara began, breaking the silence, "You looked at me differently when I entered the room today. Like you already knew me from somewhere. Was that just my impression, or have you seen me before?"
The question caught him off guard.
"What should I answer? That I've seen her naked in my dreams?" The answer to that question was obviously no. He didn't want to be labeled as a crazy pervert.
"Ah, I don't know... maybe you just look familiar. That's all."
Clara studied him for a moment, but didn't seem inclined to press the issue. They walked in silence for a while, the sound of their footsteps faintly echoing down the empty school halls.
It was Clara who broke the silence again.
"I suggested the library because I saw you with some books in your bag. I thought you were more... studious," she said with a relaxed smile, almost as if it were a casual observation. "It seems like you enjoy studying."
Studious? Asher was surprised by her perception. She wasn't that far from the truth. He was indeed someone who studied more than the average student.
"Yeah, I... I like reading, but I'm not that focused." He chuckled, trying to appear nonchalant. "I just... kind of accumulate books here and there."
Clara laughed too, and the mood between them seemed to lighten.
When they reached the library, Asher couldn't help but think about how strange that exchange had been, but at the same time, he couldn't deny that he enjoyed her silent company and the light curiosity Clara showed.
Once inside the library, they both headed to one of the back tables where they could read in peace. Clara sat beside him and placed her bag on the floor. She quickly glanced around the room, which was quiet and almost empty, except for a few students studying at distant tables.
"So," Clara began, breaking the silence, "you're really a chill guy, huh? I thought you'd be more... I don't know, hyper." She smiled teasingly, as if it were a joke.
Asher looked at her with disbelief. "You're talking about me?" He asked, clearly surprised. "Because according to most people, I'm the opposite of hyper. I'm more... apathetic. Almost uninterested in things."
Clara was a bit surprised by the answer but quickly smiled. "I didn't mean to say you were unbearable, just that... I don't know, you don't seem like the type to spend time in silence, reading and reflecting. By your looks, I thought you were more into videogames, you know?"
"Ah, I see." Asher smiled faintly. "Video games are good too. But I prefer the tranquility of a good book. Especially fantasy books."
"You like fantasy books?" Clara asked, now more curious. "I would never have guessed."
Asher raised an eyebrow, surprised by her reaction. "Why? I don't seem like the type?"
"It's not that," Clara replied, messing with her hair. "It's just that you seem more like the type who likes action and technology."
"Well, I'm from a generation that loves technology, but I also appreciate a good story. Fantasy has that whole thing of escaping reality for a while."
Clara thought for a moment. "I'm more the type who likes science fiction and philosophy, but a good fantasy story has its place. Who's your favorite author?"
"I really like Tolkien. The Lord of the Rings is a dense read, but incredible," Asher said, with enthusiasm. "But I also really like Mistborn by Sanderson. It's a pretty unique fantasy."
"I haven't heard of Mistborn, but I've heard of it. I'll check it out," Clara replied with a smile. "Now that you mentioned Tolkien, it reminded me of when I tried reading The Hobbit. I never finished, but I loved the world he created."
Asher nodded, feeling the conversation flow more naturally. "The Hobbit is great, it's lighter than The Lord of the Rings, but still has that charm of a well-built world."
Clara smiled, her eyes lighting up. "I also like books that make me think. Like '1984' by George Orwell. The way he describes a future controlled by surveillance... It's disturbing, but fascinating."
"I read that one too," Asher said, with a tired smile. "It's a heavy read, but necessary. The way he portrays the manipulation of reality and truth is something that still makes me think to this day."
Clara smiled, satisfied. "I'm glad you've read it. Looks like we have more in common than I thought."
The two continued talking about books, genres, and favorite authors, without rushing to finish. Time passed more quickly than they expected.
"I was thinking," Clara said, suddenly breaking the silence. "You've told me so much about your tastes. I want to know more about you, Asher. What do you really like, besides books and video games?"
Asher paused for a moment, pondering. The conversation was getting more personal, deeper, and he felt like he didn't want to fully open up, but at the same time, something about Clara made him want to keep going.
"I like challenges," he replied finally. "Solving problems. It could be anything, from puzzles to more complex riddles."
"Challenges, huh?" Clara smiled, as if she was starting to understand more about him. "I also like challenges, but mine are more... creative. Like drawing or inventing new ideas."
"I'm not that creative," Asher said with a shy smile. "But who knows, maybe I'll try something new one day."
The atmosphere in the library had warmed up with the conversation, but soon the final bell of the day rang, signaling the end of extracurricular activities like clubs and that the library would be closing.
"Well, looks like the day's over," Asher commented, feeling the lightness of the conversation begin to dissipate. "Where are you heading now?"
Clara thought for a moment, then smiled. "I'll grab a book for later. Maybe we'll run into each other again?"
Asher nodded. "See you later, Clara."
He stood up, grabbed his things, and walked away from the table, but when he looked back, he saw Clara still flipping through a book with a subtle smile. The rest of the day felt very different now, an odd feeling for him, but somehow pleasant.