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It was a few weeks into the semester already, and very little happened during the day-to-day that was particularly interesting. A few pieces of mindless gossip, a released cast list for the school musical, and the occasional change to the cafeteria menu were about the most eventful bits of news that Tartah had encountered as of late. Honestly, the general interest in any of his lectures had long since worn off, and the voices of the professors turned into droning nonsense.
Nothing interesting happened this late into the semester. Unless, of course, there was a new student.
Most of the student body had generally known each other since freshman year. There weren't many schools in the area, and there wasn't typically a good reason for anyone who didn't live locally to go here. It didn't stand out in academics or extracurriculars. Even so, that made it all the more interesting when the professor cleared his throat one Monday morning.
"Has everyone found their seats?" Professor Qifrey smiled as he began looking over his attendance sheet and counting the students.
Tartah looked up for a brief moment before resuming doodling in the margins of his notebook. Morning announcements were nothing unusual.
Qifrey set his clipboard aside and picked up a small piece of chalk. "No absences, it seems. Very good. Now, as some of you might have heard, Zozah will be welcoming a new student to its community. I know it's a bit late in the year for a transfer, but I trust you'll all do your part in showing her a warm welcome." He finished writing out the word Welcome on the chalkboard before turning to the doorway. "Coco? You may come in now."
As his mind processed what he was hearing, Tartah lifted his head once more just in time to see the new girl in question. The moment he did, his heart stuttered slightly.
Chin-length hair and a wide-eyed expression, pretty as anything he'd ever seen. The bow of her uniform was tied with care. She stood at the front of the class, fidgeting nervously with her cardigan as she stared out at the rows of students.
"Don't be shy. Why don't you introduce yourself to the class?" Qifrey prompted gently as he stood off to the side.
The new girl nodded and swallowed before shaking her hands as if brushing off her nerves. "Right, sorry." She smiled out towards the group as she spoke in a soft voice. "My name is Coco, and I'm a third year. Well, I guess we're all third years? That's a bit silly of me to say. Um…I recently moved from the countryside with my mom, and I've just settled in enough to start school. I really hope we can all be great friends!"
"Well said. If you wouldn't mind taking your seat, I'll finish the rest of the announcements. Ah, there we are. There's an open desk next to Tartah and behind…oh, it seems Agott is running a bit late today. No matter, it's two rows down on the right. Tartah? Would you please raise your hand?"
Tartah nearly choked as his hand shot up, his face turned away so as not to make eye contact. He could hear the sound of her shoes clacking softly against the wooden floors as she made her way over beside him, setting her bag down beneath her desk before taking a seat. Professor Qifrey had begun listing off the rest of the morning announcements, though he paid him no mind. As soon as he gathered the courage to look back up, the two made eye contact.
Coco blinked before smiling warmly and offering a tiny wave. If the floor could open up to swallow him whole, Tartah wished it would have. She'd barely said a word, and yet he could feel there was a gentle sort of warmth about her. He cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck. "Welcome to Zozah. Guess we'll be desk neighbors for homeroom, then?"
"I guess so." Coco smiled as she began fussing with her bow. "It's nice to meet you. Tartah, right?"
"Yeah, that's right. You said your name was Coco?" He tried to keep his tone neutral as he watched her fidget. "Not used to a uniform, are you?"
Coco laughed bashfully as she stilled her hands. "Not really. Is it that obvious?"
"Only because you keep pulling at it." Tartah smiled and shook his head. "Have you-"
"It's terribly rude to have a conversation while the professor is talking."
Both Tartah and Coco paused and turned their heads to face whoever was addressing them. Agott was sitting in the chair directly in front of Coco, arms crossed, and eyes narrowed slightly at the boy.
"Ah, Agott. You snuck right past me." Qifrey smiled as he checked off her name on the attendance sheet. "I'm sure your student council duties have held you up, though I'll remind you that you're cutting it close. One minute more would have been a tardy."
"My apologies, Professor." Agott straightened her tie as she spoke. "It won't happen again."
Coco tilted her head as she noticed the slew of stares and whispers that followed the appearance of the dark-haired girl. Something about her was almost magnetic, like she couldn't look away.
Tartah seemed to notice as he leaned over to whisper. "That's Agott. She'd been student body president since she was a first-year, if you could believe it."
"Agott," Coco tested out her name under her breath.
"At any rate, morning announcements seem to be over. I'm not sure who you have for the next period, but I'd be more than happy to show you around during lunch. You know, since you're new and all," Tartah coughed as he attempted to remain as nonchalant as possible.
Coco's gaze remained transfixed on the girl in front of them, though she quickly snapped out of it when the boy beside her spoke once more. "Ah, yeah. That sounds great!"
When the bell rang, students quickly gathered their belongings and rushed for the hall. Coco was just about to follow when the girl from before set a hand on her shoulder.
"You must be Coco." Agott nodded as she slung her bag over her shoulder. "I'm sorry I wasn't here for your introduction; something came up. I'll be showing you around for the morning to ensure you can find your classes and amenities."
"I've already offered to show her around," Tartah spoke up as he put a hand on Coco's other shoulder. Coco looked between them, a bit confused.
Agott shook her head and waved him off. "It's the job of a council member. If I recall correctly, you have a class to be getting to."
Tartah watched on in disbelief as the pair went on without him.
A week or two went by, and Tartah was making his way to the cafeteria. His stomach growled as he trudged along toward the table where he and Coco had been meeting up for lunch as of late. Sure enough, she was already waiting at the table with her tray pushed to the side and a book laid open in front of her.
"You're not seriously going to spend the whole half hour reading, are you? You'll pass out by fifth period if you don't eat something." Tartah raised an eyebrow as he glanced at her untouched tray.
Coco looked up and smiled before letting her head drop back down so she could keep reading. "I know, but I'm already so behind. We're supposed to have this unit memorized by the end of the week for a quiz, and everyone else has had the whole semester to get this far."
Tartah hummed and began pulling his lunch out of his school bag. "Can't be easy trying to catch up all on your own. Have you considered a tutor or something? I wouldn't mind helping you out, you know."
"That's really sweet of you to offer." Coco rested her cheek in her hand. "But-"
"Sorry to keep you waiting. How far into the chapter have you gotten?" Agott set her bag on the bench next to Coco before taking a seat herself. She unzipped the main pouch and pulled out the same book.
Tartah's lips pressed into a straight line. Really? Her again? "Agott, I thought you had the next lunch period?"
Agott raised her eyebrow as she spared him a glance. "I do, though I'm surprised you know that. I also happen to have study hall right now."
The two girls began chatting (something about chemistry— how ironic) as Tartah sighed and took a bite of his apple.
It wasn't that Coco was intentionally ignoring him. A girl as kind and friendly as her? he could hardly imagine she'd have it in her. Still, it seemed whenever the student prez was around, her attention would always shift. Of all people, it just had to be Agott.
Usually, Agott Arklaum possessed a sort of untouchable reputation, almost close to that of a stereotypical ice prince. She was unshakable academically, and overall just difficult to approach. Hardly smiled or offered a spare word when she was focused on maintaining her current standing. That was the kind of girl Tartah had understood her to be.
Somehow, watching her sitting shoulder to shoulder with Coco as she patiently explained the chapter, something was different. It was almost imperceptible, and yet he swore he saw the ghost of a smile on her lips.
"So sorry I'm running late!" Coco waved as she hurried across the library, poster board in hand.
Agott hummed and pulled out the chair beside her as she approached. "No worries. Did something hold you?"
Coco exhaled with relief, laughing softly as she sat down and began pulling supplies from her bag. "My locker wouldn't open. That's what I get for trusting the locks."
"I've been telling you to replace that old thing. Perhaps this time you ought to listen." Agott nudged her ankle under the table as she smiled.
Tartah and Custas shared a look before the latter leaned over to whisper. "Am I going crazy? Or is she smiling?"
"She's been doing that. And don't gossip when the subject is right in front of you." Tartah whispered back before kicking his shin in a similar manner.
Group projects were the bane of most students' existence. Even if Tartah had lucked out having two of his friends in his group, there was still the matter that Agott would be joining them. He wouldn't have minded a few months ago— she was intelligent and always pulled her weight. However, having to subject himself to watching the two of them making eyes at each other was nearly unbearable. The fact that his little crush on Coco was yet to leave him alone only made matters worse.
Coco and Agott reached for the same pen simultaneously, their hands brushing before they briefly made eye contact. They quickly looked away and blushed to themselves. Tartah barely bit back a groan as his head hit the table. "This is torture. Just look at them," he whispered back to Custas.
Custas grinned and took the opportunity to kick his shin in retaliation. "It's rude to gossip."
Tartah opened his locker absentmindedly, still waking up after barely having dragged himself out of bed that morning. It was far too early to function.
Only a few paces away, Coco was putting in the combination for her own locker as she hummed under her breath. How someone could be so sunny at 6:30 in the morning was beyond him. Just beside her, Agott leaned against the wall with her eyes trained on Coco's face. "Easier when the lock isn't rusted?"
"Yeah, much. Thanks again for getting me a new one; you didn't have to do that." Coco grinned as she began piling up her arms with books and supplies.
Agott rolled her eyes as she began taking some of the pile into her own arms. "If I hadn't, you'd continue using the old one until you inevitably lose the ability to open it. Honestly, Coco, I think that's plenty of books."
"I just don't want to have to come back for them later!"
"How were you planning on carrying them all?"
"…Two trips?"
"You're impossible. Come on, let's get you and your mountain of textbooks to first period." Agott laughed quietly as she began walking beside Coco down the hall.
Tartah sighed with resignation as he shut the locker door. He nearly jumped when he saw Custas standing behind it. "Do you have to do that?"
Custas only shrugged. "You're fun to startle. C'mon, I'll let you carry my books."
"How generous." Tartah rolled his eyes and scoffed despite the smile on his face.
It was raining by the time classes let out. Tartah was helping clean up one of the classrooms when he spotted movement out the window. An umbrella opened as Coco and Agott stepped out from under the awning and began walking down the street towards the bus stop, the matching plush keychains on their bags swaying behind them with each step. Gifts from Agott, surprisingly enough.
He sighed as he leaned his chin against the stick of the broom. So much for the ice-cold plass prez. In the past few months, Agott had warmed up and relaxed. Even Coco seemed to have grown more confident the longer she spent at her side. They looked good together, though he admitted that to himself begrudingly.
Rumors of a budding relationship between the two girls had only continued to spread. Ever since they'd come back from winter break, the pair seemed to have grown inseparable.
Now that winter was melting away into spring, the question of promposals began to arise. Tartah shook his head and went back to sweeping. Yeah, he had little doubt they'd be going together.
A knock at the door barely managed to snap him out of his thoughts as Custas poked his head in. "You almost done in here?"
"Not even close, so pick up another broom and come help."
"You're the worst," Custas grinned as he leaned against his forearm crutch. "I come to keep you company, and this is how im treated?"
Tartah snorted as he swept some debris into a dustpan. "It'll only take twice as long if we're talking, so either help me out or get lost."
Custas shrugged and went to the closet to grab some cleaning supplies. "Prom season is around the corner. You going with anyone?"
"I'm not sure I'll go. Fun as it would be to hang out, it's awkward without a date, and I'm not really looking to third wheel." Tartah dumped his dustpan before moving to another corner of the room.
"C'mon, don't be like that. You know Coco will want to see you there, regardless of whether you're her date. We're all friends, aren't we? Prom is supposed to be fun. Besides-" Custas grinned as he emerged from the closet triumpantly with a broom in hand. "You won't be third wheeling. I'll be with you."
Tartah glanced back as he watched Custas begin sweeping at the other side of the classroom. "When you say it like that, it makes it sound like you're asking me to prom."
Custas grinned and shrugged. "Maybe I am."
Prom night came in the blink of an eye. Outside the auditorium, Tartah leaned against the wall as he adjusted his suit. Custas had run off to grab something and told him to wait there, and so he did.
Movement caused him to turn his head. Sure enough, Coco waved as she hurried over, arm in arm with Agott. He'd already seen her dress when she sent a photo of it to their group chat about a week ago — she'd made it herself as well as Agott's suit.
"Tartah!" Coco called out as she made her way down the hall. Agott offered him a smile, but kept her focus primarily on Coco. She rocked on the balls of her feet with excitement as she held onto Agott's arm. "Is Custas here yet? I want to make sure we get a photo all together!"
"He's around somewhere. Ran off to get something. You both look great." Tartah nodded and smiled.
Agott hummed and straightened her tie, which he noted was a similar green to the color Coco usually wore. She had slicked back her hair for the occasion and wore a matching boutonniere to the corsage on Coco's wrist.
Tartah was very nearly tackled to the ground as Custas suddenly appeared behind him, throwing an arm around his shoulders. "Sorry about that! Oh, hey, guy! Loving the colors."
The girls chatted quietly as Tartah turned to face his date. "What took you so long?"
"Almost forgot this in the car." Custas grinned and pinned a boutonniere of his own to Tartah's lapel. "There we go, now we match."
Prom itself was about what he had expected, that is to say, it was loud and stuffy. Even so, the group spent a fair bit of time dancing and taking photos until the girls went off on their own.
Tartah and Custas were hanging out near the back of the auditorium as a slow dance began; Coco and Agott were hand in hand towards the side of the dance floor, looking at each other as if they'd hung the stars. He watched as Coco leaned in and finally kissed her.
It was sickeningly sweet, and yet, Tartah felt no jealousy remaining. He lifted his cup in mock cheers before turning back to Custas. "Took them long enough, honestly."
Custas grinned and shrugged. "Could say the same for you."