m I in the

the room. Most conversations die mid-sent

s, his hands rested slightly against the handle,

due to his beautiful yet messy si

emained silent with only mus

en

, you actu

rsting with excitement as sh

! Come in,

oom s

each other, whisper

's t

do we k

's

in our

autiful yet humble, that made most la

right place," he said as he

ipped her arm through his and leaned awkwardly closer than ne

where you're s

hem finally asked, voicing the same questio

ld this

ve you all forgotten him already? Seriously? You guys aren'

ryone still lo

om high school. Have you g

owly spread from person to person. Someone recogn

wa

that'

mn.

k so dif

ook am

the crowd

sting mainly of women. Mostly compliment

y and answering politely, calm wi

raced from the sight of a previous crush. He

t, she had already ta

H

softer than the others',

t it was just a usual greeting, nothing new nor

eart cursing at her for being so. S

en

ivious to the surroundings. His thoughts filled with differ

en it

.An

in excitement,

ot dramatically, just cal

op to bottom, scannin

ike he was choosing the ex

is words felt more real than before,

as if time paused and

on his face, forced but there. His hands wrapped harder a

with his hand ext

aid smoothly. "

en accepted the handshak

eyes

arm. "Ignore him, he's joking. He's just my be

sitation, smiling naturally wi

n reasons. His inside coiled in pa

best friends." Once more

er hand, nodded, re

w through the room, making the enti

Thwack

each other loudly, drawing th

ng and the night is still early. Why don't we do somethin

arted laughin

" someon

fter high school...what everyone's been doing since then. Jobs, relatio

le some either tried avoiding the topic, or began e

been doing since graduation. From job stories

stories either sounded too exaggerated to be true or

yes slowly wandered through the room, from person to person until th

with the absence of Ben, she w

n? I did hear he was released," she said, interru

toward Anna as most of their eyes we

more than decade already, some of us grew wiser, he probab

he suffocating atmosphere, excusing herself from

as she walked to

*

med her as she stepped out,

the light from the stars and moon finally calming her down,

Bett

elt suffoca

, turning quickly

balcony. One of his hands was wrapped around a gl

sky as if he had been sta

said softly, her brea

or

e out he

s always," he said, his voice fille

head. "That's h

at her. "Wh

ly the talk of th

nked.

're serious? Or are you

one really noticed me," he said honestly. "I mostly

out a qui

have no id

do you

d to walk past our classroom

u're j

ly the talk of the entire school. A

ursting into laughter, an easy, unguar

een them slightly, creating a mom

m conversation that flowed well...like a

Hey... can I have your number? We

hesitate

, which he did. A simple and harmless gesture

she thou

nn

r her fro

curious who

his face covered with a sm

ed slowly fr

e in Franci

ly close space

face didn't hid