𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬

12 | Twittering Musician

          The sprinkling of water woke me up from a fitful sleep, the cold wetness making my eyes flutter open in aggravation. I tried blocking the intrusion with a hand. When that didn't work I lifted off my hard pillow, which was the bag of fertilizer, and glared upwards.

"Rise and shine, Nova Scotia!"

A cheerful voice spoke from above.

I finally regained senses, realizing that falling asleep in a cramped shed overnight was horrible for my back. The lean figure of Lyric Mayfair graced my foggy vision. It would have been considered a lovely sight, if not for the watering can's contents being poured onto my face.

I swatted the intrusive object away. "Can you not?"

"Aw, why so mad?" Lyric teased, placing the item on a nearby shelf. "Funny enough, Ender claimed you were a morning person."

"Well, last time I checked there wasn't a need to be watered like some dehydrated houseplant." I rolled to my side and inelegantly got up, ignoring the hand that was offered.

"Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed... or not bed." He quickly dodged a kick. "Watch it, you bruised Ender's shin from doing that!"

"Ender this, Ender that!" I tried kicking him again, but he jumped out of the way with a bell-like laugh. "Why is everyone in this damned school obsessed with him?"

God, was he always this aggravating?!

Lyric quickly slipped away before responding, glancing over his shoulder with a playful smirk. He hiked deeper into unknown shrubbery, whistling a tune that matched his chipper steps. The Light Representative's blazer and tie were missing, sleeves rolled up to the elbows as plants greeted his entrance.

"Wait, where are you going?" I tripped on a pot while trying to catch up. "The exit is that way."

He briefly stopped whistling to respond. "Do you want to join?"

"No, now hand over whatever key is needed to escape this place."

The blond glanced over his shoulder once again with a sly grin. "Entertain me for a bit and I'll let you go free."

"Fine." My hands swiped away overgrown flowers, giving particularly hard slaps towards the violet ones. I followed Lyric further into the greenhouse, surprised that he would randomly be inside here. Then again, the student expertly navigated his way through.

I wouldn't be surprised if he was the one taking care of it.

The blond was uncharacteristically calm as he aimlessly caressed stray branches and leaves, gracefully maneuvering through the greenery with ease. He looked at peace, and the fond expression was more pleasant to witness than the carefully structured smile that usually sported his face.

It was genuine.

We were making our way towards the middle of this gigantic glass structure when Lyric unexpectedly turned, his arctic eyes lighting up in delight as he placed slender hands on a glass door.

The moment he slid open the sliding entryway my gaze widened in wonder.

The joyous student stepped in and laughed as dozens of birds flew towards him, gently landing on angular shoulders and a golden head, greeting their caretaker with chirps that seemed to be easily comprehend. One began pecking at his flowing hair, earning the small feathered creature a light chastise from the human.

It was an oddly cute sight to see, a young man genuinely smiling with flocks of fluttering animals.

I drifted away from Lyric's impressive display of Snow White, taking notice of an opening in the domed ceiling that let in air and natural light, birds flying through at their own accord.