The morning sun streamed through the classroom windows, casting golden light across the desks. Arthur sat in his usual spot near the back, his gaze fixed on the notebook in front of him. The pages were filled with sketches—some of landscapes, others of abstract designs. One sketch, a pair of eyes with irises that mirrored the sky, stood out among the others.
"Good morning!"
Arthur looked up to see Alishia standing in front of his desk, her blue eyes sparkling with their usual energy. She wore a light pink cardigan over her uniform, her hair tied back into a simple ponytail.
"Morning," Arthur replied, his voice quiet but steady.
Alishia leaned against the desk next to his, a playful grin on her face. "You seem deep in thought. Drawing something special?"
Arthur flipped the notebook closed, his expression neutral. "Just... doodling."
She raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "You know, you could show me sometime. I won't bite."
Arthur smirked faintly. "I'll think about it."
Before she could press further, Luke appeared, sliding into the seat in front of Arthur. "Ah, the mysterious duo," he said, his grin wide. "What are we chatting about today? The weather? The meaning of life? Arthur's secret hobby?"
Alishia laughed, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Nothing that exciting. Just trying to get this one to open up a bit more."
Luke leaned back in his chair, his hands behind his head. "Good luck with that. Arthur here is like a locked treasure chest. It takes persistence to crack him open."
Arthur rolled his eyes. "You're not helping."
"That's what friends are for," Luke shot back, unbothered.
The lunch bell rang, and the trio found themselves sitting under a tree in the schoolyard. Luke was animated as ever, gesturing wildly as he recounted a story about an embarrassing moment from their middle school days.
"And then," Luke said between laughs, "Arthur just stood there, holding the paintbrush like it was a sword, completely clueless about what to do!"
Alishia burst into laughter, the sound light and infectious. Arthur, despite himself, smiled faintly. "That was your idea, remember?"
"Details, details," Luke said, waving a hand dismissively.
As the laughter subsided, Alishia glanced at Arthur. "You're lucky to have a friend like Luke."
Arthur's gaze softened. "Yeah. He's been around for a long time."
"Don't get all sentimental on me," Luke teased, though his grin hinted at genuine fondness.
After school, Arthur and Alishia walked home together. The streets were quieter than usual, the faint hum of the city in the background.
Alishia broke the silence. "So... are you coming to the weekend fair?"
Arthur glanced at her. "Fair?"
"Yeah," she said, her tone growing more enthusiastic. "It's this big event with games, food stalls, and even a small fireworks display. It's kind of a tradition around here."
"I don't usually go to those things," Arthur admitted.
Alishia tilted her head, her eyes studying him. "Why not?"
Arthur hesitated. "Too many people."
She smiled, a soft, understanding expression. "What if I promised to stick with you the whole time? Would that change your mind?"
He considered her offer, the sincerity in her voice making it difficult to say no. "Maybe," he said finally.
"Great!" she said, clapping her hands together. "It's a date!"
Arthur froze, the word lingering in the air. Alishia, realizing what she'd said, quickly backtracked. "I mean, not a date date! Just... you know, as friends."
Arthur's lips curved into a small smile. "I know what you meant."
Her cheeks turned pink, but she smiled back. "Good. Then it's settled."
As they reached their apartment building, Max greeted them with excited barks from Alishia's balcony. Arthur glanced up at the golden retriever, his expression softening.
"He's waiting for you," Arthur said.
"More like he's waiting for food," Alishia joked.
Arthur chuckled, a rare sound that caught Alishia off guard. She found herself staring at him, the way his white hair caught the fading sunlight, the way his crimson eyes softened when he laughed.
"See you tomorrow," she said, her voice quieter now.
Arthur nodded. "See you."
As he watched her disappear into her apartment, Arthur felt a strange sense of anticipation. The fair wasn't something he would have considered before, but now, he found himself looking forward to it.
For the first time in a long time, he felt like he belonged somewhere.