Inside the classroom, there was a quiet sigh nobody but the owner heard. Not paying attention to the lesson at hand, the boy kept scribbling theory after theory on his notebook, never reaching a satisfying answer to them.

(All of it was useless after all…)

In the end, they couldn’t find out anything relevant to solve the strange phenomenon. Just like the girl said, all the classrooms in the schools were locked and, even if Chris unlocked them, the door wouldn’t budge.

The only good thing they got from it was another noteworthy point. While it was impossible to enter classrooms other than his’ when the class was happening, that wouldn’t be the case when it was time for the break between lessons. For some reason, during that time, the effects of the phenomenon would stop occurring and the school would return back to normal, even if it were just for ten minutes.

Still, it wasn’t enough for them.

Chris thought about staying in another classroom, entering it just a couple seconds before the bell for the next period rang, but he gave up such idea due to the fear of his doubts. If he stayed, perhaps he could find useful information as to why this was happening, but what if he was affected by it?

This question haunted his mind, sending chills on his spine since he thought about it. There was no guarantee it could or not happen, he knew that, still, the “what if” won over his curiosity to discover. Besides, something was telling him to not be inside them during those times, like an instinct saying it wasn’t natural to go there.

Now, after investigating the school toughly, Chris decided to rest and stay until the school ended to go home. After all, they only had this lesson left before they were free to go.

(But seriously, she is something.)

Using only his eyes to avoid attention, Chris glanced at the girl’s back as she was focused on the lesson. Today, he was honestly surprised by her actions. Not only she behaved like a normal person in front of others but also was seriously helping him

Remembering how he acted towards her earlier, Chris thought of himself being a bit rude with her. He was confused with everything happening at once that his reason just stopped and let his emotions take over him. If it wasn’t for her, he would be running around in circles without getting anywhere.

(Maybe I should start trusting her more.)

[ME & MP = Partners]

A faint smile was made with his lips. With that thought in mind, Chris made the final scribble on his notebook before closing it. The clock on the wall was almost reaching thirteen o’clock, as the students were waiting anxiously for the bell letting them go home.

-Ok. That’s it for today’s lesson. Class dismissed.

As the teacher announced the end of the school seconds before the bell rang, the students quickly got up from their seats and went out with their friends' groups.

It would be too much of a hustle to go together with them, so Chris was taking his time to pack his belongings before heading out. After all, there was no need to rush.

But then, after just a couple or so students exit the classroom, the teacher suddenly recalled something.

-Oh right! Don’t forget to study for the exams tomorrow.

Just like a bucket of cold water, the teacher’s word cooled the refreshed expression of the students who thought they could finally relax, but, for one of them, it was startled to hear it.

(…What?)

Nobody told Chris about an exam, but coming from the teacher, there was no way of it being a lie. If there was such a thing as an exam being so close, his friends would at least tell him about it but no warning was made. He lost about a week of new subjects due to his injury and today he wasn’t paying any attention to the classes because he wanted to investigate the phenomenon.

In other words, Chris wasn’t prepared at all for it!

-Yeah, I know it’s weird to have an exam so earlier in the semester, but we got our hands tied due to the snowstorm, so there was no way to remark it or the school schedule wouldn’t handle all the demands for the remaining of the year. Also, the teachers, myself included, are all confident that you guys would have a good grade even if it’s this soon, so do your best to study and…

This teacher was the type of person that, once he started talking, he wouldn’t stop before making sure he had explained everything. Well, that is also why he was teaching Physics.

While listening to the teacher’s inspiration speech to them, the students were leaving the room with less energy than before, except Chris, who had now realized his fate too late to change anything. Eventually, he was the only one left.

Quickly, after noticing he was alone, Chris grabbed his bag and rushed to the classroom’s door, disregarding anything he was hearing about the reasons for the exam.

But, before he could step out, as he passed by the side of one table, Chris spotted something that caught his interest. It was a notebook, probably left behind by a forgetful student. Usually, he would just hand it to the teacher to keep for the owner, but as for this one…

(Is this hers?)

He wasn’t paying much attention to what the girl’s belongings were, but this notebook was on top of the side where she was sitting. It didn’t cost him anything, so Chris took it for her. In the end, they would meet each other at the same home after school.

[][][][][]

His way to the entrance hasn't crowded and only a few students were casually talking in the hallways. Waiting was a good decision of Chris part. Currently, he was passing through the front doors of his school, looking for where the girl was.

And, it didn’t take him long to find out.

In the front yard, there was a circle of students around something. If you were at the ground level, there wouldn’t be a way to find out who was at the center of it. But, for someone like Chris who was at the top of the stairs between the school and the yard, they could catch the sight of a platinum hair in the middle of those students.

(Well… Isn’t this a bit too much?)

There was no doubt about where the girl was now, but seeing such a big circle surrounding her, composed of boys and girls, was quite a surprise for him. Unlike his class, those students weren’t shy when it came to a direct approach, and Chris was starting to think of it was a problem.

Anyone would feel intimidated by that many people around them while talking at the same time like it was some sort of a fish market. Even Chris having some distance between them could hear from how loud they were.

For the girl, he wouldn’t be that worried, but it was unpleasant to be in a situation like that, even more, when it was your first day at the school. But how could he help her?

He could just go straight in the middle, stoic with his feelings, grab her hand and run for it until they arrived at his home, but how many rumors would that cause about them? Also, he wasn’t very sure he could get out the circle once he went in the middle. There were some people of the football team among them as well.

Although, there was one thing he could use.

Opening his bag, Chris took out the notebook he took from his classroom. It was quite lucky for him to find out something she had forgotten otherwise it wouldn’t be possible to approach her with a good excuse.

(Seriously, compared to the whole school thing, this type of thing is made too easy.)

Just like he thought about it, Chris already all the things he needed to get her out of there. All he had to do was: went in, gave the notebook to the girl, got out, then the conversation of the circle would lose momentum and she would be free to go, simple as that.

Mission accomplished.

…

…

…

(…AM I AN IDIOT OR WHAT?!)

As if it would end like that. That circle was like a prison. Once in, it wasn’t up to you to choose when to get out. They would be the focus of the group, in front of all the curious eyes they had over the girl. It would be the downfall for the both of them.

Chris needed another plan or his peaceful school life would be over in an instant, but there weren’t many options to choose from!

(Wait! That is it!)

There was one thing he could do that wouldn’t result in him to be there, but it was awkward for him to do it. Still, it was the best shot he had to help her escape in that situation.

(Well, here goes nothing.)

With the notebook on his hands, Chris was breathing in and out to resolve himself before doing it. And then, judging it was the right time, he did it.

-EXCUSE ME!

Just like that, every student that was close to hear the shout coming from the school’s entrance turned their attention to see the lone boy standing in the stairs while holding a notebook above his head.

-Does this notebook belong to anyone here?!

And he kept shouting, loud enough for even the third floor hear him. The boy didn’t care about the gazes he was receiving, as he had a plan he was hoping to work.

-Did somebody lose a notebook?!

One by one, they began to lose interest in him and returned to do whatever they were doing before, but he wasn’t doing it for them.

-I just to return it, so if anyone lost it, here it is!

Maybe he was being a bother or even an annoyance at this point. Maybe this wouldn’t work either. Heck, even the notebook he got may not be even hers. Somebody else from his class may have forgotten there when he wasn’t paying attention.

But, the boy didn’t want this to end without a result.

And then-

-Huh… Hello there?

There she was, right in front of him. The new student of the school, the one who was stealing all the attention the moment someone saw her. Now, she was free from the students’ prison around her.

-I believe that is mine.

The girl extended her hand towards him.

-Here you go.

The boy gave her the notebook.

-Thanks… For bringing it to me.

The girl expressed her thanks as she held the notebook.

-Meh, it wasn’t much. See ya.

With that, the boy walked down the stairs, passing through the envious eyes of boys who wanted a chance to talk with her and left the school premise with a straight face, happy that at least one of his plans was a success today.

[][][][][]

And this happened when nobody was near him.

(Holy dang! That was more embarrassing than I thought!)