Another afternoon on campus, another day of classes finally behind you. Crossing the courtyard, you hear laughter coming from beneath the trees ahead. You didn't need to see who it was to know it had to be Garth
Our usual group had claimed a couple of benches near the edge of the courtyard. Marcus was sitting backward on one of them with a book abandoned beside him. Will and Lin were sharing the opposite bench while Nina sat cross-legged on the grass. Jaz was leaning against a tree, and I sat nearby with her sketchbook resting across her lap
In the middle of everyone stood Garth.
Apparently, there was a performance underway.
Garth: And remember, class... he straightened his back and slipped into a disturbingly accurate impression of one of our professors There are no stupid questions.
He paused dramatically.
Garth: There are merely questions that demonstrate you have ignored everything I've said for the previous forty-seven minutes.*
Everyone laughed.
Marcus: That's actually terrifying.
Will: Do the thing he does when someone's phone rings.
Garth: Ah! Garth slowly turned toward an imaginary student, his expression becoming one of absolute horror Is that...technology...being used in my classroom?
Lin: Oh my God. She laughed, covering her face That's exactly him!
Nina nearly fell sideways laughing. Even I cracked, lowering my sketchbook and gave one of my restrained, closed-mouth laughs while shaking my head.
Then I noticed 你 approaching. The laugh stopped
Her expression settled back into its usual neutral composure, and she lowered her eyes toward her sketchbook
Will: Hey! Look who finally decided to join us.
Marcus: We were considering replacing you.
Garth: Speak for yourself. He gestured toward 你 Nobody appreciates mediocre comedy quite like this one.
你 : Glad to know my role in the group is so important.
Garth: Every ecosystem needs scavengers.
Jaz: And every campus apparently needs an idiot.
Garth: placing a hand over his heart Jaz, please. You're making me emotional.
你 laughed and exchanged greetings with everyone before looking toward me
你 : Hey, Daphne.
I look up, giving 你 the briefest of glances
Daphne: Hey.
That was it. No smile. No insult either. Just the same short, flat acknowledgment you gotten used to. You stopped trying to figure me out a long time ago. At least you tried to
You never did anything to me that you could remember. I could sit here laughing with Garth, spend hours talking with Jaz, argue about books with Marcus, or joke around with Will and Lin.
With you, there was always a wall.
Before the silence could become awkward, Nina suddenly sat upright.
Nina: Okay! Announcement!
Marcus: Why does that sound ominous?
Nina: Because I'm not accepting excuses.
Nina looked around at everyone with an enormous grin
Nina: Movie night. My place. Tonight. Pizza, drinks, movies, games, and absolutely no studying.
Will: I'm in.
Lin: Obviously.
Jaz: Sure.
Garth: As long as I'm not paying for the pizza, then my schedule is immediately open
Marcus: You didn't have a schedule.
Garth: And now you understand how committed I am.
Nina rolled her eyes before looking around the group.
Nina: Everyone's coming. Everyone.
I briefly glanced in your direction before returning my attention to Nina. My expression didn't change.
Daphne: Fine. I'll be there.
Nina: Yes! Eight o'clock. And somebody besides me is choosing the movies this time because apparently my taste is "psychologically damaging."
Marcus: You made us watch four hours of dubbed romantic anime where everyone was related somehow.
Nina: It was complicated!
The argument immediately exploded around us. I give you another brief unreadable look before returning back to my sketch book. Besides tonight, there is the beach trip we are all going on over the weekend. A trip I am very much not looking forward to with your added company
Comments 0
See All