'Did they change these seats? They're much more comfortable than before.'
Sitting on the bus on my way to school, I was pleasantly surprised by the seat design.
Although, that was just a distraction from what I really cared about.
'Ah, it's really the last day of school…'
My last day as a freshman at Laxus flare.
Honestly, I didn't know how I felt. All I knew was a tingling sensation resonating in my stomach.
All my hard work was over. I had no responsibility or goals. Of course, that relaxation was a good thing but it was also foreign.
'I guess I can afford to be lazy now.'
Looking out the window, I thought about my school.
A full of talented students. A place full of hardwork and troublesome assignments.
But it was still my school. With my friends, with my teachers. I had many great memories there.
So even though I hated school, even though I hated the work I had to do…
'I'm grateful I got into Laxus Flare.'
"Yo."
Suddenly, a voice called out.
It belonged to Tristan, my best friend, who wore a smile on his face.
"Yo," I replied.
And together, we went to the school I cherished.
**
"Why do you have Connect four?!"
My mouth hung open as I watched Soriel pull out the whole set of the game Connect four out of her bag.
Next to me, Nishimoya had a similar expression. Tristan didn't seem very surprised though.
"Where do you get the money to buy games? Do you even use them regularly?!" Nishimoya questioned.
We all sat in math class and since it was the last day there wasn't any assignments to complete.
So Soriel decided to go wild with the games.
"That's not all! I have more!"
After saying that, Soriel began to pull out a multitude of board games from her book bag.
From monopoly to heads up, she had them all.
'How did she even fit all of those into her tiny bag?!'
Despite my confusion, I focused on the games and we all began to play together.
We started with Connect Four, playing two on two matches each. Some of our other classmates even came by to play a bit.
My heart seemed to flutter with joy, every joke seeming a thousand times funnier than the last.
Yet, a thought kept reoccurring.
'Does Soriel like me?'
I was sure she didn't.
Despite any improvements I may have made, the idea of someone loving me was far fetched.
Impossible, even.
But then why had she been acting weird since her love comment?
Why had Tristan implied that she could've confessed to me?
'There must be a way to explain all of this. Maybe Tristan had the wrong idea. It's not like he's a love expert.'
Tristan was popular with girls but had never really been in love.
So there was a chance…he was wrong.
'Something doesn't feel right though.'
It was like I was running away.
But from what?
As I played with the others, I had fun.
It was the most fun math class I've ever had.
Yet, within that fun, was a lingering sense of confusion.
**
"What are you doing?" Tristan asked with a dead pan expression.
I sat at my table, carefully stacking different items.
A milk carton, a banana, a burger patty, cheese, barbecue sauce, ketchup packets, and more.
I was in the cafeteria and decided to gather every food item at my disposal.
For the first time, I got a whole tray of school lunch just for this.
"Elliot! It's going to fall!" Soriel exclaimed.
Nishimoya, who stood next to me, carefully placed a napkin on the tower.
"It's perfect!" She boasted.
"Why are you helping him?!" Soriel blurted out.
As Nishimoya and I proudly gazed out our masterpiece, Tristan just shook his head.
"Are you both brain dead?"
I shook my head in response.
"No, it's just me."
"Well, at least you're honest."
Suddenly, I felt that I was being stared at intently.
'Hm? Soriel?'
I glanced at her, meeting her eyes before she quickly turned away.
'Huh?'
For that single moment, when our eyes met, my heart raced.
I had liked her for a while. Likely, longer than I even realized.
My eyes softened for a moment.
'Oh yeah she's leaving today, right?'
Soriel was going away for her music program so I wouldn't see her for a while.
Only on the phone, not in person.
'But while I can't see her, will my feelings pass?'
No, more importantly…
'If she can't see me, and actually does have feelings for me, would her feelings pass?'
My heart tightened at that thought.
If that happened, I'd die of regret.
'But if I confess, and she doesn't like me, I'll lose her.'
The normalcy, the chemistry…would it all disappear?
"Are you okay?" Soriel and Nishimoya asked in unison.
I, snapping back to reality, flinch slightly before smiling.
"Yeah, I'm alright. Now, what do we do about this," I reply, staring at our tower.
Even if it is the last day of school, I wouldn't want to make a mess by knocking it down.
"I have an idea! Why don't we play a game where we try to take off everything until there are no items left. If it falls over, we lose, if it stays up, we win."
Hearing Soriel's idea, Nishimoya and I look towards each other and nod.
"Sounds good."
One by one, all three of us begin to take one item off at a time. I go first, then Nishimoya, and then Soriel.
Meanwhile, Tristan watched with confusion.
"Carefully…"
"Carefully…"
It was my turn, and I tried to take a banana off with both Nishimoya and Soriel whispering in my ears.
"Care…"
"Shut it!"
With that, I took the banana off in one swift motion.
And after a couple more rounds…
"We did it! The tower was taken down!"
We all began to high five each other and laugh.
My thoughts still lingered, yet they were momentarily silent.
Our game was stupid, ridiculously so.
But it was fun.
It was so very fun.
**
Spanish. My last period class.
My class with Soriel.
There wasn't really anything that we needed to learn or any assignments we had to finish.
Even if there were, I doubt anyone would be in the mood to participate.
So instead, we played a game of kahoot.
"Crap! I forgot what good night was!" I blurted out, staring at my phone.
"Pick blue," Soriel whispered.
Following her instructions, I quickly pressed blue.
It was right but I did fall behind someone.
"Thanks."
"Of course."
For a moment, I stared at Soriel.
Her face was shining brightly, as if she had never been happier.
And her smile was the source of that shine.
Until she noticed me staring and her face reddened.
"Is there um, something on my face?" She asked frantically, her smile wavering.
Awkwardness and anxiousness. Such a wall was something I couldn't allow to appear between Soriel and I.
But what could I do?
'I know what I need to do.'
But I didn't have the courage to do it.
"No. It's nothing," I replied.
We went back to playing Kahoot.
And I eventually got third place while Soriel got first.
"High five!" She suggested, putting her hands up.
"Ok!" I responded not knowing what to say.
We high fived and laughed.
We looked into each other's eyes, and while we did, it felt as if all my secrets were revealed.
My heart definitely skipped a beat.
"It's been quite the school year," I said, gazing out the window nearby.
"Yes, it definitely has been."
A few moments of silence passed. Yet, even in that silence, melody seemed to play.
"Despite everything, I'm happy I spent this year with you."
I went to the amusement park with everyone.
I got coffee with Nishimoya.
I dated Aurora.
I broke up with Aurora.
I played games with everyone.
I ran on the track team.
I became the number 1 freshman.
So many things happened in my 9th grade year.
Yet, I believe the best part…
…was meeting her.
"I'm happy I spent this year with you too, Elliot."
Hearing her say my name so softly, felt like a blessing from God himself.
That's when the bell rang, and my freshman year ended.