THE DAYS PASSED by like clockwork, and Ryan could feel her energy draining everyday. The seasons rotated despite the fact that everyone was lagging, their schedules all messed up and unable to keep up.
Nature waited for no one of course, and as the leaves turned from green to red to brown and the layers in clothing started piling up, their hearts started layering up as well. From being drained due to school work to being accustomed to fatigue and then finally to excitement for one of the biggest events of the year; homecoming.
There was no need for time for the excitement of homecoming to kick in, as if there was one thing they were familiar with, they were events.
Ryan trudged along the cobblestoned path, a familiar rhythmic crunch erupting as she stepped on the fallen leaves with her onyx ankle boots.
Her hands were planted deeply inside the soft pockets of her coat. Her hair swished back and forth as she stepped on more leaves.
Despite her maxi sized coat she was freezing in her short skirt and bare legs. She wished she wore tights to at least keep herself warm. It wasn't that cold, but Ryan was so used to heat that even the slightest cool breeze would make her wince.
A couple of students whizzed past her âfreshman from the looks of it â chattering excitedly about spirit week.
Ryan shook her head to herself. She walked on, crossing more than half of ALH's campus grounds before arriving at the senior dorm building.
Unlike most schools, ALH didn't really discriminate against gender so both sexes occupied a humongous building which was separated into two. The left side was for the women and the right for the men.
There was a lounge in the middle of the ground floor, which was where Ryan was headed. She contemplated going up and putting on some tights but thought against it when she realized that the heaters were functioning in the area.
The lounge was simple and luxurious, only the best for their highest paying students. Soft neutral shades of white and beige colored the area, decorated with Italian imported suede couches and linen lamp shades dotted the premise.
Regardless of ALH's alumni and the boards' effort to provide ultimate comfort with a touch of elegance for their students, Ryan knew that hardly anyone spent their time in the lounge during the first three to five weeks.
The lounge was mostly used for when people needed a breather from their work, or when they wanted comfort that wasn't included in their room to study in silence.
Even now, the place was hardly full. The student council, and the rest of their loyal dogs that fell prey to enhancing the unity of the school was gone. Ryan guessed they were all probably occupying a lecture room, debating ideas on what to do for the upcoming spirit week that loomed over them.
There was a couple at the far back, snacking on fingers foods, probably poached from the food table at the teacher's lounge. Andrea was reading a book comfortably on one of the couches.
The boy she was looking for was at the far back, blazer draped over the arm chair as always and staring intently at the scenery that could be seen if you gazed out the French windows that led to the back yard.
"Hey," she greeted him softly, taking a seat on the arm chair opposite. She kept her coat on, but brought her hands to her lap.
"Hey," Tate replied glumly, looking at her.
"What's wrong?" She asked, knitting her brows. He blew out a sigh and looked down.
"Spirit week. Or the preparations for that. Veronica's been bugging me for ages to join student council and help out with the ideas. I just don't have the fucking time for it." He went on when Ryan raised a brow.
She was surprised to hear Tate talking about his problems to her. It wasn't something she thought he'd do, but surprisingly she didn't mind.
"Why would she want your help? There's a ton of people out there willing to follow Tim's every word right?"
Timothy had been chosen as student council president, which was something Ryan never saw coming. But after he had started his duties, she could see why they had chosen him.
Leadership flowed strongly through his veins just as naturally as the blood flowed. His charismatic personality and easy going nature was just one of the means he could get everyone's attention.
"Yeah but apparently they're running out of ideas for spirit week. And it starts the day after tomorrow. Veronica insisted they do something different than the normal PJ themed days, or the Pink day or GLAAD."
"I get that but why you? It's not like you're the most creative person on the block." She joked lightly and Tate glared, looking up at her.
"Does school spirit even exist?" He sighed.
"I doubt it." Ryan chimed in. "I know it sounds cliche but I swear to god if someone in our class was on fire, I know a bunch of people who would calmly sit there and sip their water."
Tate chuckled. "You got that right."
Ryan was about to speak but was cut off when her phone chimed, at the same time Tate's vibrated. She wrinkled her nose in confusion and out of the corner of her eye she saw Andrea's phone chime as well.
Tate raised a brow before checking his phone. Ryan did the same.
The text was from Timothy, and thinking that it had something to do about the maths notes she had asked from him just before she swiped right.
"Did you see that one coming?" Ryan asked after a moment of silence.
"Is it bad if I said yes?" He sighed. "Whatever I guess. At least we can focus on homecoming now."
"That's what I'm actually here about." She said, lacing her hands together.
"If this is about the tie color â"
"No." She deadpanned. Homecoming was always a formal affair at ALH. "I meant the tickets â"
"Oh I already bought them." He replied casually.
Ryan knit her eyebrows. "You did? But I bought two too. . ." She trailed off.
"Whoops." Tate said. His lips twitched a bit and Ryan could tell he was trying his hardest not to snicker or laugh.
"What gives?" She crossed her arms. "You were never even enthusiastic about all this. And suddenly you, you â ugh." She sputtered and stopped, not knowing how to word it.
Tate shot her a look of deadpan before relaxing on his seat. "If I start something, I'll finish it. Or at least I'll do it right till the end." He said. "Also, I was thinking, that this arrangement might not be so bad after all." He finished with a childlike grin.
It made his eyes light up, radiating just like when the sun hit the peak of the pine trees in Central Park.
"Why is that?" Ryan asked, genuinely curious.
"With you as my girlfriend, you'll scare away all the girls. That's one distraction out the window for me."
"Huh. Do I look like hulk to you or something? I don't think I can scare them away." She replied, face palming.
"If you keep on glaring at everyone like you always do, they'll run away. Trust me." He said matter-of-factly.
Ryan wanted to object but she knew he was right. Even Aanya used to comment on her natural glare. But Ryan couldn't help it; she was born with this face.
"Fuck off." Was all she managed to muster.
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AANYA GAUTHAM paced around her room, her eyes flicking over towards her door every now and then.
How long had it been since she last hung out with Onella? Aanya didn't like risks. She was stuck in fear as to what would happen if somebody found out.
The faint echo of footsteps snapped her out of her deep reverie and she cast her eyes towards the door again. Was it the Head? The dorm mother? Did someone know? Did someone see her? What if she got suspended? What if she got expelled â
The footsteps faded into the background and Aanya slumped on the ground with a heavy sigh of relief. Her holidays had been blissful. She didn't need to hide anything and she could always do whatever she wanted.
But here, in school, she was forced to look at the one girl she's ever loved discreetly. It wasn't fair. Why did she have to fall in love with a teacher? It was incomprehensible.
There was a knock at the door and Aanya jumped in surprise. She clutched her jacket's left breast pocket harshly. She was scared.
Gingerly she walked over and opened the door. To her relief it was only Carter. The girl exhaled.
Carter raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Why do you look like you ran a two kilometer marathon?" He asked, pointing at the sweat forming on her temple.
She shook her head and wiped it away. "I ran all the way back to my room." She lied, moving over so he could come inside.
"Since when have you been into exercise?" He asked.
"It's a one time thing. Don't worry about it." She waved her hand.
"Did you hear about spirit week being canceled?" He asked after a moment of silence. Aanya nodded.
"Yeah I already got the message. So much for Veronica's hopes of it being the best spirit week ever."
He laughed. "Yeah."
After a few moments of silence he spoke again, his voice containing a slight tremble.
"Listen, okay I know this might sound weird but I have something to confess." He started and Aanya cocked a brow.
"Uh, okay go on."
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RYAN PUSHED her hands further inside the pockets of her coat. It was chilly. She shivered slightly. Strands of her blonde hair whipped and tickled the nape of her neck in their hasty breeze.
Despite Ryan's disdain towards the cold she had to admit ALH's campus held beauty to it during late September.
Tons of clouds loomed over the campus, and the excess of trees dotted all around the area only added to its charm. Red was one of Ryan's favorite colors so she appreciated just how beautiful the red, green and orange leaves meshed with the gloomy sky overhead.
She took her sweet time walking towards the main building. From time to time she made the habit of stepping on the almost decayed leaves slowly, not wanting to make much sound. It was like a game, to see how quiet she could be.
Most of the students lounging around on the campus gardens had dispersed inside the main building or back to their dorms. Some at practice, some at club activities and some sleeping.
It was soundless now. So quiet she could hear a pin drop. Ryan didn't feel like disrupting the hushed atmosphere so she abstained from making any clangor.
She was almost close to the front steps of the main building when a hushed â yet slightly loud â shriek rang. Ryan stopped dead in her tracks astounded. She craned her neck towards the area where the sound came from.
"Just give yourself to me and don't resist."
Behind a large tree, pressed against the trunk, Ryan saw Lucas Grayson forcing himself on a girl.
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Hello :) I'm super sorry for the late
update :/ thanks nina-zenik for helping
me with my text messages lol. Oh and
Happy New Years â¡
stay safe and I hope you liked the chapter
âDin