Work Text:
First day at a new school, already a month into senior year. Not the greatest time to be transferring since all these kids have had 3 years to get to know each other, but I won't let that deter me. I've naturally been able to make friends wherever I go, and this school won't be any different. I've got my sights on the football team, with my past experience there's no way they won't at least let me try out.
The walls are decorated with pictures of smiling students and motivational posters, and the long, empty hallway leaves only the sound of a single pair of stomping footsteps. It's not until I get halfway through that I realize I have no idea where I'm going, I've just appeared in front of a classroom door. The schedule of classes in my hand says “Period 1: Room A-212”, and I've somehow managed to navigate here perfectly.
I reach my hand out to grab the metal doorknob when an electrical shock jolts through my arm. Instantly I feel compelled to rush the door, as if I'm being chased. I pull my hand away and am hit with a chill. The hallway has become a glacial basin, and the only solace of warmth is on the other side of this door.
“This is it. It has to be, right?” I quietly say to myself as I stand frozen solid. The person who will bring meaning to my life is within a stone’s throw. 30 feet, give or take, and a 3-inch thick wooden door is all that stands away from me and my future, my life's purpose, my destiny. I take a deep breath, heart practically beating out of my chest, and turn the handle.
The faint murmurs of the students fall silent as I enter the room. Looking around, I notice the 40-odd pairs of eyes looking in my direction, but I disappointingly notice nothing out of the ordinary. I built it up in my head that finding your fated mate would be a life-altering pull towards them like a magnet, a fish being reeled in a straight line towards the one. The resonating warmth I felt out in the hallway is still there, a bit more bright now that I'm inside the room, but I don't know where it's originating from.
“Alright class, this is your new classmate. His name is, er… remind me what your name is, sweetheart?” the lady standing next to the whiteboard asked.
“Mason”
“Right, Mason, I'm Mrs. Garroway and I'll be your art teacher this year. Go ahead and take a seat wherever you'd like. Anyways-” she continued on, addressing the rest of the class.
The square tables scattered around the room had 4-5 students each, who were now turning back around as they were before. I cleared my head and allowed my feet to start walking on their own like they had in the hall, letting them draw me closer like a moth to a flame to whatever was silently calling me earlier. Snaking through the maze of chairs, I found myself towards the back of the class. An empty chair sat next to a skinny boy with brown hair. Across the table was another dark-haired boy and a blonde girl with the biggest grin as I approached.
“Hey there, is this seat taken?” I asked, putting on my best smile for her.
Her brown eyes twinkled as she smiled back, “No, not at all! Go ahead”.
“Thanks!”
I sat down, pulled my bag onto my lap, and took out a notebook and pencil. I noticed the boy across from me was still consumed in his drawing when the thought crossed my mind that maybe the two of them were together. I turned back to the wavy-haired girl with the adorable nose, “I'm Mason, what's your name?” I said, extending my arm to her. “Marcella” she smiled, her face already turning a cute shade of pink. Her hand met mine and I gave it an extra second long squeeze just to see if the kid in the leather jacket next to her would look up. He remained fixated on his line work, and the red light just turned green.
Half the class period went by as I talked to Marcella, relishing in the fact that I had found where I'm meant to be for the rest of my life. Everything felt right, I was laughing and happy, Marcella seemed to be smiling just as much, I can see a bright future ahead of me already.
I eventually started zoning out and decided to take a break from listening to Mrs. Garroway's lecture to do a little sightseeing, letting my eyes wander from the walls, to the windows, to the drawings on the tables from the other students.
My eyes finally settled on a pair of beautiful brown eyes, deep and rich that I could get lost in. Fair skin and a sharp chin, and soft-looking lips that I wanted to kiss for days. Short jet-black hair I could weave my fingers into, slightly tugging back so I could slowly trail soft kisses down his…
Wait, what the fuck am I thinking about?
No really, what the actual fuck was that?
I re-focus my eyes and realize I'm staring at the guy across from me, still unfazed as he works on his drawing like he has been all class. I've been so occupied with Marcella I haven't really given him a second of my time, and I guess I can admit he's pretty handsome, but his brooding energy and leather jacket are giving me insufferable vibes. Actually the more that I think about it, and actually think about it, not just daydream, he really creeps me out in a weird way that I can't pinpoint. But maybe I'm being too harsh, maybe he just wants to keep to himself and that's totally fine. Just as long as he doesn't get in between me and Marcella we'll be fine.
“Hey, you alright?” A different pair of brown eyes were looking at me now, brows furrowed with slight worry.
“Oh, yeah. Sorry I was just uh, admiring his work. That's a really good drawing, dude.” The compliment was directed to the guy in front of me, but our words continued to fall on deaf ears.
“Kieran, he's talking to you. Sorry, this is my best friend Kieran, he can be kinda an introvert sometimes. Kieran!”
“What?” he groaned annoyingly.
“It's been half the period and you still haven't said hello to our new table-mate”
He glanced at my general direction before promptly returning his gaze to his paper, “Hello”.
They bickered back and forth and I could totally see these two being friends. I liked the feisty way Marcella didn't put up with any of his bullshit. Putting the boredom-induced daydreams behind me, I decided I've gotta at least try and get along with her best friend. He wasn't exactly welcoming my attempts at conversation though, and my patience was starting to run thin.
“I'm sorry, he's not always like this. Well, he is, but I think he's in an extra shitty mood today” Marcella apologized.
“I can tell”, I joked. Kieran didn't seem to find it funny.
“Excuse me?” Kieran was now looking at me for longer than a second, irritation rather than indifference now kindling in his eyes.
“Did I stutter?” I challenged.
This probably wasn't the best first impression I could be making in front of Marcella. But rather than get upset, she tried to diffuse the situation, “I swear this is like a scene from Twilight. Kieren, you're Edward. And Mason, you're totally Jacob.”
“You sure about that? Marcus over here really does sparkle, dontcha think?” Kieran smirked, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms.
I hated how nonchalant he was acting, but the look in his eye told me he was just as riled up as I was. I needed to end this conversation quickly or I was really going to get on Marcella's bad side, and I wasn't going to let this asshole get that satisfaction.
“Bite me”, I gritted through my teeth.
“Maybe I will”. This guy was not backing down, and I'll admit his determination to get under my skin had me falter slightly. How we went from strangers to enemies in 2 minutes I had no idea, but I really don't care. Marcella is who I'm directing all my focus towards, and if one of her friends doesn't like me then so be it, I really couldn't care less about him.
My mind flashes back to that daydream, but I quickly shake the thought away