Chapter Text
Golfball and Pencil went to the same High School, Pencil was really popular, she always sat in the same table with her friends, always catched up on trends and her friend group sticked together even during classes. Meanwhile Golfball exceeded in every class, math, science, english... Straight As in every subject, people asker her to help them with questions, but despite her reputation and her prestige, truth was, people mostly ralked to her just for that, for help, not to be her friend, not to connect with her, only so she could help them.
Golfball spent recess wandering around the halls with Tennis Ball, her closest friend since elementary, but with the arrival of new students he has been spending more time with them. Golfball was alone, no one wanted to spend time with her, her closest friend was drifting away, and all she could do now was wander around without purpose.
Golfball reached the locker room and opened hers, since she didn't have nothing to do she grabbed a book, leaned in her locker and started reading, some minutes later she heard distant chatter come closer, after closing her book and looking up, they were there, Pencil and her friend group, they were very loud and having a good time, they laughed, told jokes, it seemed fun, but Golfball was annoyed, how does one manage to form such a strong bond with people? Golfball didn't want to admit it, but she was jealous, closed her book and wanted to walk away, yet she didn't, she stayed looking at them, so happy, so vivid... And there she was, lonely, no one wanted her.
She wished someone wanted her.
Something she didn't tell anyone is how since the first day they joined School she looked up at Pencil, she was popular, smart, not perfect grades, but she was intelligent and was a great leader! Everyone seemed to know her, she was extroverted, hanged out with everyone, it's what Golfball admired to have, and after all those years studying and being in class together all she has done is get good grades, she hasn't socialized, she hasn't made any new friends.
Golfball sighed and put her book back in the locker, she liked Pencil, more than she would admit, but she pushed herself down thinking Pencil didn't like her the same way she did. The popular girl? Liking her? Out of anybody? Pencil has a lot of close friends, her class is also filled with boys, she could never like Golfball, with the other options she had out there.
Pencil's friends went to the bathroom, Pencil stayed in the room, she had to organize her locker, and coincidentally, her and Golfball's locker were really close, Pencil grabbed some notebooks and stuffed them in her backpack. In Pencil's case, outside everything seemed normal, but inside she felt like her world was falling apart, the stress of homework, other activities, being in clubs, having plans everyday with her friends and such made her want to sleep for a whole week, but she didn't let it show, she was great at hiding it, for now, but she wouldn't cancel plans, all her life she has been fulfilling expectations that her parents, her friends and her teachers had of her, she didn't to let anyone down, but the weigh of trying to balance it all out was crushing her inside.
She was most of the time stressed, the only places she felt relaxed was her room and her club, but recently, she developed a love interest, and looking at her dissociated her from the world for some time. She knew she was falling for someone, she had experienced this before, during the last days of elementary school she and her best friend Match had a secret relationship that ended after their parents found out, since then, Pencil didn't fall in love with someone else for a while, but now she was, and with Golfball out of everyone.
Looking at her relieved her, it made her happy, it made her smile. It was weird that such a smart girl as Golfball spent most of the time alone, probably because all she did was read books, and they had exchanged a few words, they both did some group projects together, but they were just that, classmates that once in a while worked together, Pencil had never tried reaching out to her, she never tried holding a conversation despite how talkative she is.
She was falling in love with a girl, again.
But she wondered, did Golfball like her back?
Of course she doesn't, that's the first thing Pencil thought, this high school is full of stereotypes, it wouldn't surprise her if Golfball ended up dating her nerdy friend or other popular guys like Pen, like the clichés of the new nerdy girl falls in love with the popular sporty guy or the nerdy girl falls in love with the nerdy boy, it would hurt, a lot, but was it that far from reality?
She probably likes guys, you shouldn't bother.
She doesn't like you back.
She doesn't hang around with girls, get over it.
And still, after closing her locker she thought, it's worth a shot, what is there to lose?
Golfball closed her locker and started walking away, and froze when she felt a hand over her shoulder, she turned around and saw Pencil, who waved at her. "Hello, Golfball! I was uhm, wondering... If you wanted to spend the breaktime with me!" Pencil offered, hoping it wasn't obvious how nervous she felt. Golfball looked around, this was the first time someone asked her that, the other times someone approached was to ask questions or mock her. "Yeah, it's alright." "Great! Then follow me outside." Pencil extended her hand to Golfball, Golfball hesitated for a moment, and holded Pencil's hand.
They walked through the hallway while holding hands, Golfball felt her cheecks warm up, she knew holding hands wasn't something exclusive of couples but it still made her flustered. They reached a bench in the garden of the school and sat there, Pencil grabbed her lunch out of the backpack put it aside. "The garden is really pretty, I wonder who takes care of the flowers." Golfball was admiring how perfectly cut the bushes were, the diferent type of flowers, the soft grass, Pencil smiled, she was in a lot of clubs, but the one she dedicated most of her time was to the gardening club.
"Well, I started the gardening club, it's pretty small, only me and my friends are there, since little i've always wanted to take care of all kind of plants, sadly the school only allowed flowers." Pencil shared the origin of her club, Golfball listened, she didn't expect Pencil to be interested in gardening but it was nice to hear her ramble about flowers and plants. "Wait! Let me show you something." Pencil stood up and went running to other place, Golfball thought she abandoned her, but Pencil came back with a flower bouquet of red beautiful roses, and gave it to Golfball. "I have been growing some roses, meaning to give them to someone important, but... Since you like my flowers so much, you can have them!"
Golfball was surprised, but looking at Pencil, so eager about the theme, smiled and thanked her for the flowers, the bell rang, and both went to class, feeling better about their day.
Next day, they talked again, Pencil invited Golfball to her table with her friends, they spent a good time, they became good friends, and spent the next days together. But about their feelings for each other? They teased each other, hugged, flirted, and went to each others houses, but never confessed their love, until the last day of the year.
It wasn't last day of High School, they would still see each other after summer break, but still, on the last bell, Pencil stopped Golfball from leaving the School.
"Golfball, I have to tell you something, but I can't do it here, what if we go to the park near? It'll be quick, I promise!" Golfball trusted Pencil and they both went there, they found a bench and sat there. Pencil took a breath and started. "Golfball, we've known each other for like three months, and I know you really well, our friendship is strong, but..." She paused, and holded Golfball's hands, "I want to know you even better, so... I was wondering..."
Golfball looked at Pencil while holding her breath, "Would you go out in a date with me?" Pencil asked, Golfball smiled and Pencil sighed in relief. "Yeah, of course! Text me when and where, I'll make sure to attend."
"Really? Like, not joking?"
"Yeah, I wanted to ask you out too but you did it first..."
"Well, then, see you later!"
They hugged and went to their respective houses, showered, changed clothes, ate, did their homework... And in the evening, almost nightime, Golfball and Pencil talked to each other through their phones all night until they fell asleep from sleepiness.