⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨ during first class ୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
Despite her best efforts, Lizzy’s attention kept slipping from her page of nonsensical words she had been writing to look busy towards the interaction taking place before her. As she had expected, her input had left Rudy unfazed, and he continued to persue Lacey with his quick wits and exaggerated performances. Lizzy’s heart dropped. His smile, his humour, his playful spark in his eyes; they had once been directed towards her. Though she had prepared herself to see this over and over again, it was still a blow to see him moving on with someone else. If there was even anything he felt he needed to move on from. It was an effort not to look back at Lottie, who she could faintly hear cursing at the sight, to say something to her and seek comfort. But Lizzy resisted, looking ahead, even smiling to the next people that came through the door.
Lizzy felt her whole body tense slightly as Rudy walked passed her to his own desk, his presence brushing so close yet attention passing over her completely. She could hear him pull up a chair for himself that didn’t sound far from where she was, but didn’t dare look back. She didn’t need to, the image of him leaning forward, effortlessly keeping the conversation flowing with Lacey was already in her head. She closed her eyes - was it possible to get though an entire class holding her breath?
The crash of the binder to the ground made Lizzy jump, her breath released and spiraling mind temporarily clearing. She looked towards where the sound had come from, meeting the wide-eyed, embarrassed gaze of Jack Stevens. Without thinking- or checking if the coast was clear- she got out of her chair, helping him to collect his array of papers, letting her mind focus on getting his notes neatly collected and in the correct order. Out the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of Lottie, who was covering her face with her hands as if to avoid watching what was unfolding. And then she noticed it, the shift in movement on the other side of Jack’s papers. Rudy had gotten up too.
Subtly fastening her pace, Lizzy kept her head down, pretending to have not seen the extra pair of hands helping them - but making a conscious effort not to aim for papers on Rudy’s side of the pile. When she had finished with her stack, Lizzy stood and returned them to Jack’s binder, offering him a small smile that attempted to ease his embarrassment. “Rough day for school supplies,” She joked, trying to minimise the awkwardness in her tone as she nodded towards the front of the classroom where Lacey’s similar paper spill had been. “Surprised it hasn’t been me yet,” Lizzy continued lightheartedly, her attempt to keep from reacting as Rudy leaned across to return his retrieved paper to Jack.
⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹