Unlikely Circumstances

Part IV "Merging Plotlines" / Chapter 10 / Aero

Mid-April, on the way out of the band/choir room.

I feel a shove on my back, and plunge headfirst towards the door, thankfully having enough reaction time on my side that I don't land on the door and crack my skull open.

"What the hell was that for?" I ask, standing up to see who shoved me very at a very impromptu time into a door, and seeing the face of Gabriel Cavalli.

See, Gabe and I have an interesting history, so this could go either way.

"What do you want, Gabe?"

"So you got yourself a boyfriend, yeah?"

"What does it matter to you?" I ask, crossing my arms, "We have an agreement."

He rolls his eyes, "I know, doesn't mean I was going to say anything. Just wanted to prove some facts to myself."

"Fine, yes, I do. But why do you care so badly? We barely had like a week of time before it all went to crap." I add, "Also, was shoving me really the proper thing to do to get me to talk to you."

"I needed it to seem like we actually do hate each other, you know, in case anyone is watching."

"Aww, Gabe, does somebody miss me?"

He gets an annoyed look on his face, "Not so much, anymore."

"Too bad our fate was cut short, but I'm over it. Got what you wanted?"

He nods, "Yeah, thanks."

With a pained look on his face, he turns around, walking down towards the other exit, his always-striking golden hair glimmering.

"You know, just because our fate was ill-ended, doesn't mean we can't be friends. Can't like other people. Can't enjoy each other's company. We just can't be together, and that's plenty enough for me." I say just as he takes a grip on the doorknob.

The silence is deafening, but he replies, "Thanks, Aero. I'll remember that," and shuts the door behind himself, not looking back.

I stand there for a moment, reliving that week in my head, that flame that never really died.

"This hallway has never been kind to me," I mutter to myself, as someone knocks into me.

I reach down to pick up my books, but he also reaches down, helping me pick them up, saying, "I'm really sorry. I didn't hit you on purpose, just in a rush."

"So why stop and help me?"

He thinks for a moment, a strand of golden hair falling in his eyes, "I don't really know, to be honest."

"Well, thank you," I respond, hauling my things with me as I stand, "Not everyone's as nice as you."

The next day, we saw each other again in the hallway, a slight smile curling onto his lips at the sight of me at my locker. I only find out later on that a note had been slipped into it after I had gone away from it.

Meet me at the park after school?

-G

I didn't know who it was at the time, but after school, I told Mom I was going over to a friend's house - she knew I didn't have many of those, so she let me go - but instead I went to the park, where, unexpectedly, a golden-haired boy with gray eyes was sitting atop a park table.

The same one from the day before.

"I didn't think you'd come."

"Well, it's not everyday I get a note in my locker, so I figured it was important." I say, a bit sarcastically, "Which brings me to ask, why am I here, if I don't even know who you are?"