Roses For My Love ♞ sprm

i.

They were sophomores in high school when I first stumbled across them. I was very much so present, they just didn't know it. However, as time went on and more encounters happened between the two my presence grew stronger. It was only a matter of time before they slowly figured out I was there.

As it would typically go, one would notice before the other, but wouldn't say anything. Not with Mary Ellen and Shawn though, I'd say they noticed around the same time, but of course at the time neither wanted to admit it, or have the feeling.

Yes, sophomore year, I remember vividly. They were both new to the school, Mary Ellen had moved states, Shawn had moved districts, so I guess you could say Mary Ellen had it harder. Although Shawn still had all his friends, and some new ones due to summer soccer conditioning, he was anxious to be at a new school. Mary Ellen on the other hand didn't have many friends and was using the move as an opportunity to restart her life in a sense; make new friends, experiment with new hobbies, the whole nine yards.

The morning of September third, the first day of school Mary Ellen was frantically trying to put together the perfect outfit while Shawn threw on the first articles of clothing he saw. Eventually Mary Ellen settled on light wash jeans, her favorite flannel and white high top converse. Shawn wore black jeans with a light grey t-shirt that hugged his muscles in a way he knew the girls would appreciate and his favorite pair of black slip on vans.

That morning Mary Ellen decided it would be smart to walk to her new school, her google maps telling her the walk would take merely ten minutes. Her mother texted her asking if she was alright, the mere ten minutes mostly gone, Mary Ellen realized she typed the address wrong and was ten minutes in the opposite direction. With a few groans and stomps of her small feet, Mary Ellen meticulously typed in the address sent by her mother and began on the proper way to school. Shawn was being driven in that morning by his mother.

They arrived at school at more or less the same time, Mary Ellen walking up the steps as Shawn's mother pulled up. Their first encounter was a rather awkward one, for the both of them. I remember most of their encounters in the beginning of knowing each other being awkward. Mary Ellen was almost at the front doors and Shawn was nearly out the car when Shawn's mother spoke up, a little too loudly, "Look, Shawn! She nearly has the same flannel as you!"

Shawn's eyes widened as he scolded his mother and Mary Ellen's cheeks turned hot with embarrassment. Mary Ellen turned around slowly and made eye contact with Shawn, of which she quickly broke and hurried up the stairs and into the school building. Mary Ellen couldn't help but worry that she was wearing a guy's shirt, sure she's worn some before, but it was never blatantly pointed out.

She tried her best to clear her head, her focus on having a good rest of high school. She collected herself and walked into the office.

"How may I help you, honey?" the plump woman with rosy cheeks asked from behind the desk.

"I'm new, my name's Mary Ellen. I'm here for my, uh, schedule," she said.

"Ah, I've been expecting you! Sit tight, I'll be right back," the woman disappeared into one of the back offices. Mary Ellen looked around the office and found herself staring out the window and into the hallway filled with busy high school students. The door to her left opened and Shawn walked in. Mary Ellen and Shawn made eye contact yet again, but this time she wasn't so quick to break it. To both of their dismays, they forced themselves to look away from each other.

The initial thoughts that went through Shawn's head were mostly about her looks, 'Wow, she is so pretty' he would think, nearly every time he saw Mary Ellen. Mary Ellen would often think the same.

The woman soon came back with Mary Ellen's schedule. "I called a student down to help you throughout the day. My name's Mrs. Cathy, come down if you need anything!" she chirped.

"Of course, thank you," Mary Ellen politely spoke in the way her mother had taught her to and Shawn began to think that maybe Mary Ellen was too proper for him. Of course he ignored these thoughts, seeing as he went for her anyway.

Mary Ellen took a seat in one of the rather uncomfortable plastic chairs as she waited for the student who was assigned to help her.

"How can I help you, sir?" Mrs. Cathy attended to Shawn.

"I need my schedule, please," he said as he rocked back and forth on his heels. Mary Ellen was admiring Shawn from behind, his tall muscular build and his incredibly soft looking chocolate colored hair. Shawn knew Mary Ellen was staring at him, he felt it, and he wanted to stare back. As if by staring at her he could figure her out.

"Mary Ellen!" an unfamiliar voice to both of them sing songed.

Mary Ellen nervously looked up at the preppy girl standing in front of her. "Hm?"

"Hello! I'm Mallory, I'll be showing you around today!" she said, to loud for the small space they were in and the early hour.

Shawn turned around and locked eyes with Mallory and then Mary Ellen. Mallory's eyes widen at the sight of Shawn, she thought he was hot, who didn't? But, that's not the focus here.

"Am I showing both of them around?" Mallory questioned, you could see the excitement radiating off of her. Mary Ellen couldn't help but think that Mallory would get annoying, and heads up: she was right.

"No, Mallory," Mrs. Cathy sighed.

"Bummer," Mallory pouted, but quickly covered it with a smile. "Come on now, Mary Ellen! We have places to go and people to see!"

Mallory grabbed her hand and dragged Mary Ellen out of the office and into the busy hallways of her new school.

Until Shawn and Mary Ellen's next encounter.

••

thoughts so far?

main acc: thefactoury

---

unedited