The first block went by super quick. My AP Literature teacher is running through the syllabus with ease. Ms. Chambers announces the two books we’ll be reading throughout the semester, both of which I read last year, so I didn’t even have to cross my fingers to hope for the best.Seems doable.
I find my second block class easily, AP Environmental Science. I can’t tell you why I chose this class, it sounded interesting on the registration forms.
After going through the syllabus, we watch an introduction video our teacher put together. There’s a knock on the door. Mr. Cabello greets the visitor, only to receive a note. He reads the note and calls for me, “Ms. Inthavong?”
I raise my hand. Mr. Cabello saunters to my desk, dropping the note to my desk. “The front office says you haven’t picked up your textbooks and need to take a picture for your school ID. They want you to pick them up before they goback into storage.”
“Oh, okay. Um, where can I do all of that?” I feel eyes burning my back just standing in the front.
“Front office, just show them the note. There’s only about twenty minutes left in class, so why don’t you take your things there so you can head straight to third block?”
“Thanks.” I lean over to grab my backpack and exit the classroom.
I stand in the empty halls, looking left and right.The front offices are in the atrium.
I grab my phone from my bag and begin checking my student emails to see if there’s anything else I need to inquire about while I’m in the office. I’m about to turn the corner and suddenly, I hear footsteps pacing against the linoleum floors in the opposite direction of me. Before I can even look up to see the commotion. I’m knocked down, landing on my ass, phone sliding against the ground, and backpack slipping off.
“Ouch.” I wince in slight pain, slightly annoyed.
“I’m so sorry, here, let me help you up.” The student shoots up quickly and lends out a helping hand as the other hovers over my back to get me back up on my feet. “I wasn’t watching where I was going.”
I rise on my feet, brushing off nonexistent dust from my dress. “It’s f–” I look at the towering figure. My breath hitches in my throat.
Blue eyes like the summer skies. Oh my god, it’s him. It’s Thai gr–
“Thai green tea,” Tyler says as if he was reading my mind. His eyes crinkle as he smiles in my direction. “You go to Skyline?”
“Yeah, it’s my first day,” I mumble, crouching down to gather my stuff.
Tyler meets me halfway, helping me grab my things. “Let me help, this is my fault. Again, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have been running down the halls like that.” He grabs the binder that fell out of my arms and hands it to me. Our hands brush against each other just like that day at Boba Republic. The subtle contact leaves a tingling sensation. An electric feeling that lingers for a few seconds, but then passes.
“Thanks and no worries about that.” I ignore the unknown feels dancing through my body and hastily tuck my binder over my chest. “I, um, have to go to the front office.” And just like that, I scurry off to get back to the main task at hand. Pretty sure I ruined our chance encounter.
Tyler watches me go, a playful grin tugging at the corners of his lips. As I walk away, I can feel his eyes on me, sending chills down my spine.
I’m starting to think the universe is on my side.
Lunch rolls around and I’m standing in the atrium, waiting for Alli to meet me like we agreed upon this morning. I watch my surroundings, students hustle and bustle around me as they head into the cafeteria, while a few students opt to eat their lunch in the atrium.
Where the fuck is this girl?
Minutes pass and she’s still not here. I check my phone to see she texted me a couple of minutes ago.
Alli:got carried away talking to my teacher!! go ahead and grab a table for us and i’ll come find you.
I stash my phone into my bag as I bob and weave entering the buzzing cafeteria by the doors closest to the lunch lines. I find an empty four-top table and quickly claim it. I place my lunch on the top, pulling out my container as I wait on Alli.
I turn slightly to reach for my backpack to grab my water bottle and a voice picks up at my side.
“The first time is chance, the second time is coincidence, and the third time is fate…” Lifting my eyes, I’m greeted by a grinning Tyler. One hand holds onto his backpack strap while the other clutches his brown bag lunch.
“Tyler.” I place my water on the table and lean back against the chair.
“Serena.” He takes the seat across from me. It doesn’t look like he’s settling down as he’s not taking off his backpack, so I assume he’s here for a quick chat. “I stopped by the boba shop the other day, I didn’t see you.”
Oh… sounds like he wanted to. Better play it cool, though, Serena.
“You must really like Thai green tea.”
