the spaces between

normality

matt leaned against his locker, hair still damp from the shower he took ten minutes too late. his hoodie sleeves were pushed to his elbows, and his backpack hung half-zipped from one shoulder like he'd forgotten how mornings worked.

ruby spotted him from down the hallway, threading through the noise with the kind of practiced grace that always made people look twice.

"you look like you barely slept," she said, slipping in beside him. her voice was light, lips brushing his cheek like muscle memory. "late night?"

"not really." matt's voice was low, a little hoarse. "just didn't feel like sleeping."

"practice getting to you again?" she asked, brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear. "or something else?"

he didn't answer. just shifted his weight against the locker and looked down the hallway — past the cluster of students — toward isa.

ruby followed his line of sight, catching sight of her. isa was at her locker, earbuds in, her fingers looping absently through a strand of hair. she didn't look up.

ruby glanced back at matt. "you're quiet today."

"just tired," he muttered.

"you said something about this weekend?"

matt blinked, pulling his gaze away. "yeah. i was thinking we could go to nate's thing. if you want."

ruby raised her eyebrows slightly. "you're inviting me?"

"yeah. of course."

she hesitated, like she was about to say something else, then just smiled. "sure. sounds fun."

the second bell hadn't rung yet when isa's pencil case slipped from the pocket of her bag, scattering pens and highlighters across the hallway floor.

"hey — hold up," someone said.

she turned.

matt was already kneeling beside her, grabbing a runaway marker that had rolled toward the lockers.

"thanks," she said quietly, crouching down to help.

"you still use this one?" he asked, holding up a pale green highlighter.

isa's lips curled just slightly. "i do."

"you always liked it best. used to steal mine."

"you never noticed."

matt looked at her, something unreadable in his expression. "i always noticed."

for a second, it felt like the hallway dulled. the voices blurred. isa's fingers paused on a capped pen. her eyes lifted.

but someone brushed past, bumping her shoulder and shattering the stillness.

"i should get to class," she said, rising.

"isa—"

but she was already walking away, bag slung over her shoulder, head down.

matt stayed there for a moment, kneeling among highlighters and half-finished thoughts.

in science, gabriella shoved a pair of goggles up her forehead and narrowed her eyes at the beaker in front of them.

"you forgot the sodium bicarbonate again."

"i didn't forget," chris defended. "i was giving you a dramatic pause moment."