Midterms

The humidity was stifling, it didn't help the heat that signaled summer season was near. Biancathanked the spirits for having a window seat near the school garden. It may be humid but thebreeze from the garden was cool to the skin. The plant spirits may have been the reason behindthat. Earlier, she heard them whisper to the wind to blow her way. A smile graced her face, I'llbuy fertilizer and water them this weekend. While everyone else was sweltering and sweating,she remained looking fresh even with the fluffy yellow sweater she wore that day and that's allbecause of her spirit friends.Summer break was near, just 2 weeks and 5 more months of boring classes And annoyingclassmates, she mused. Not that she interacted with any of them. It's their break time, herclassmates were clumped in groups chatting away as she remained seated, eyes trainedoutside the window.For some, this appeared lonely or implied that something was wrong with her but she neverminded it. It's not her fault why she's different neither her introvert tendencies that lean on theextremes. Regardless of what other people thought, she was at peace with being left alone.A giggle distracted her from staring at a tree nymph waving at her. She was forced to divert herattention to a small group that surrounded a raven-haired boy. The giggle earlier was from theclass muse who she didn't even bother remembering the name. The said girl was currentlyflirting with the raven haired boy who just shyly smiled back at her.I can't blame her, Archie does seem attractive for most normal girls, boys and everything inbetween. The said boy inconspicuously smirked at all the attention thrown on him and onlyBianca saw behind his mask. He seemed like the friendly boy next door but in reality, it was all afacade. All he cared about was himself. To everyone, even to the teachers, he was the perfectboy but to her he was nothing but a narcissistic jerk. Good thing I am not normal, she smirked atthe thought.Bored with the events before her, she went back to staring out the window. The Count of MonteCristo laid open on her trusty mahogany desk, left forgotten while thoughts of clouds andanother dimension filled her mind. A crisp "Go back to your desk" pulled her from daydreaming.Their Humanities and Social Sciences teacher arrived just in time as always.The shuffling of feet and murmured protests echoed across the classroom as everyone settleddown." Bianca sighed, waved goodbye to the tree nymph and focused on their chubby socialscience teacher. "Good afternoon class! Today I will be pairing you by drawing lots for yourmidterm exam," he blurted. Mr. Davies scanned the room excitedly. She rolled her eyes on this.She was never a fan of group or team assignments since it was too much of a hassle for her.The loud chatter of her classmates immediately filled the room. Mr. Davies had to calmeveryone down to explain the project. "I hope I get paired with Archie!" Bianca heard one of thegirls in front say to her seatmate. Just like the teenagers that they were, they ended up gigglingas they stole a glance to Archie's way. The raven-haired boy smiled at them and winked."Alright! Although this is later than how it usually works, but it's better late than never" Theirteacher cackled at his own words. "This midterms, we will have a social experiment or casestudy as a class. Let's call it First Impressions." He boomed and everyone went silent."Let's prove if either first Impressions are true or are just the work of our brains based onrecognition patterns that may have been affected by certain factors like experience, prejudice,beliefs and the likes."A chorus of murmurs could be heard from everyone. Mr. Davies ignored them and justcontinued, "Good! I expect a written report about it. I will call you by alphabetical order to drawfrom the box" He called them one by one and when it got to Archie's turn everyone waited withbated breath."Bianca Ruiz," Archie read the name on the paper. He immediately looked at the red-head andbashfully smiled. Everyone turned their heads to Bianca. Some were amused but most of themglared at her, especially the ones who had been crushing on him. She just nodded withindifference then went back to reading her book. Well that was awkward, but hell! I'd just dowhat I have to do and get over this the soonest.After each of them got paired, the class were asked to start with drafting or organizing with theirpairs. Archie reluctantly approached her. "Is it okay to sit here?" He gestured for the seat besideher. She nodded in permission. He carefully sat into the chair and flashed her a demure grin.Somehow it irked her, she really didn't like pretense. "Just drop the good boy thingy, I don't buythat," she exclaimed. The suddenness caught Archie off-guard. "What do you mean?" Withfurrowed brows, he asked her and tried to keep his cool. Never in his life was he confronted withsuch bluntness."Archie, let's cut the bullshit. What works with others doesn't work on me, so drop the goody twoshoes facade" She scribbled her email address on a piece of paper then placed it in front of him."Here, I'll just email what I can come up with. There's really no need for us to physically be ineach other's spaces for this."A strong grip snatched her hand and that shocked her. She was not used to any physicalcontact, much more one that could bruise. "What made you think that I am just fine with that?"That well practiced beam didn't hide his contempt. The nonchalance started to get into hisnerves and the frustration of not being in control overtook his cool. "It doesn't matter, everythingis not about you." She tugged her hand back."Not so silent I guess, who would have thought that you could talk," he retorted. That was a lowblow even for his taste but it's better than having no retort at all. If glares could kill, Archie wouldhave died on the spot. Bianca didn't give him the satisfaction of seeing her annoyed though."Not so good now that your cover doesn't do much. Not really goodie aren't you?" He was aboutto respond back but the bell rang and this defused whatever tension that simmered betweenthem. They ended up in a heated staring match that was well hidden from the rest of the class."Anything wrong?" Mr Davies asked them, unaware of the earlier events. Archie closed his eyesand plastered a smile before facing their teacher. "Nothing Mr. Davies, we are just trying to getcomfortable with each other. See ya later at your place" Archie left before Mr. Davies couldreact.This also left Bianca confused, until she remembered that they're neighbors. She nodded toassure their teacher that everything was peachy. However, deep inside she wanted to screamat him for placing her in such a situation. The last thing she wanted was to be involved inanything with the biggest fake of this school. He returned to flirting and chatting with his crowdwhile she tuned out the world and got lost in reading. She felt like someone was watching herfrom afar though and it unnerve her.After that incident, each of them avoided each other until the end of the school day. This was agood thing for Bianca so she easily slipped off to the school gardens while Archie being thesocial butterfly that he was ended up surrounded by the usual group of classmates. Invitationsto hang out in each other's houses could be overheard as she passed by the group. Bianca triedto be as inconspicuous as she can. They were avoiding each other and she wanted to keep itthat way. However, she didn't notice how his eyes followed her movements neither the glint ofdetermination that briefly shadowed his features.The walk home was comforting especially after she thanked all the plant spirits and the wind forearlier. She hummed a random tune and allowed the whispers of nature to accompany her.Everything was serene up until she noticed a familiar figure in a denim jacket leaning againstthe light post just outside her house.Ignoring him, she just waltzed by. However, Archie grabbed her arm before she got past him."Let go of me!" she hissed. A gust of wind slapped his hand away and that startled him. "Whatwas that?" His eyes grew wide in curiosity."Nothing that concerns you," she replied and hurriedly continued her way home. "What's yourproblem?" He pulled and forced her to face him. It's rare that Archie got pissed off. Gone wasthe cool-headed guy that their classmates know and the quiet calm that used to be etched onBianca's face vanished as well."Just leave me alone! We both know that we don't want to really interact with each other andthat we don't need to even if to pass this exam." She tiredly explained. A headache was startingto bother her too. She didn't like the situation they were in and she wanted out.If truth be told, she really didn't really hate the guy at first. He was a loner like her and preferredto study or read with a passion. However, after months of observing him, Archie changed a bitand ended as the type to just fake it as long as he got his way in things. She saw it done a lot oftimes, the sweet words, aim to please personality and agreeable nature that he showcasedwithout a sweat. He may be Mr. Congeniality but he never really had true friends. He just wentwith the flow to blend in but manipulates things to his advantage. That didn't settle well with her,she simply refused to be lumped with the teachers, classmates and schoolmates who wereblinded from his real identity. She despised fakes and that didn't help the predicament they wereon."Yes and no." She furrowed her brows upon hearing this from him. He was massaging histemples while studying her. He sensed her confusion which led to the decision of being honest.After clearing his throat an explanation followed and that piqued her interest. "Yes we may notlike the forced interaction but no we need to since Mr. Davies will know we never tried if wecome up a half-assed result. We are after all the top 2 students of our class and you will not pullme down from that."A deafening silence reigned between the two of them broken by her deep sigh. "Fine! Let's callit a truce then." With that, she pushed their gate open and ushered him in. He also let out abreath of relief. I guess straight-forwardness and honesty is my only chance to get this donewith her.The path to the main door was short but for Archie it felt like ages. He played with his tonguepiercing to distract himself. Her silence was unsettling although he should be used to it by now.She was never a presence to remember to begin with but something about her attractednaturally curious minds. All these months the red head fascinated him for she was aconundrum. For most she appeared boring and aloof but after half a year of figuring her out, shenever was those. Until now, everything about her was like, a mystery to be solved.The door closed by itself, but in his mind that's not possible. There was no one else in the roomthough except for a tall plant by the door. "My mom wouldn't be here until the weekend sinceshe's on a business trip. Go make yourself at home while waiting for the delivery guy." Archiescrunched his face at this and blurted, "You don't cook?" She just rolled her eyes and headedupstairs. Halfway, she raised an eyebrow to his direction and said, "What are you waiting for?Hurry up and let's get this thing rolling.""Going where?" he asked. He was caught in between amusement and inquisitiveness. "My roomduh!" was her only reply. He got taken aback on where things were heading. "Aren't you a bittoo lax around men? I mean... what if I have not so innocent intentions?" Hesitantly he steppedforward and headed for the stairs."My room would be the safest area in this house, there are more plants there compared to otherrooms." He didn't understand how that could be a logical explanation to what he asked. "I willelaborate later." She stopped in front of a green door with floral prints then pushed it open. Theyboth stepped into the room and the door closed by itself again.Archie was shocked with the purple and night time colors that dominated the room. A waft oflavender and vanilla embraced his senses making him calm. There was a mini-fridge and a teaset beside the bed and true to what Bianca said, pots of plants were artfully littered around theroom. Some have buds on them while some were more vine-like. Nonetheless, that wasn't whatreally rendered him speechless. The plants were moving as if it had lives of their own. Someopened their leaves to welcome Bianca and there was one vine that wrapped itself around herarm."I'm a nature witch." She sat down on her bed and patted the spot next to her. He read that as asign to sit beside her. He grudgingly did so and was handed a cup of peppermint tea and achocolate chip cookie by the vine earlier. So that explains it."You really are a puzzle to solve aren't ya?" He took a sip from the cup and eyed her reaction."What do you mean?" she thanked the vine for her tea and sipped from it too. "When I first sawyou, I had an impression that there's this mystery that needs to be solved around you."Bianca stared at him. "You got that right. I prefer to be around nature or specifically plants. Theytend to be more accepting than humans" Archie nodded to this. He decided to go for the kill. "Sohow come it seems you don't like me?" She pursed her lips and slowly removed the banglesfrom her arms before answering. "It's because I don't like fakes or pretenders and you are one"Archie choked on this and face palmed himself. "Is that your first impression of me?" She shookher head to say no and he laughed. "What was your first impression of me then?" he asked ashe took a bite of cookie. "A curious lone wolf" He chuckled to this. Bianca gulped down theremains of her tea and waited for him to speak."Damn you got that right. What made you think I'm fake though?" She pouted and huffed toelaborate. "You pretend to like everyone and always aimed to please but I see you smirking orgetting annoyed though you try to mask it." This time he snorted and she pouted more."Did it ever cross your mind that I am forced to interact with them? I tried to politely tell them atfirst that I'd prefer to be alone but they still voluntarily invade my space. I tried telling thembluntly but they all just laughed it all off as a joke. I really am not good at saying what I really feelso instead, I just let them be," he expounded."All I wanted was some peace and quiet while I satisfy my curiosity by reading facts. Yet theyare drawn to my looks and charm, but can't be warded off. So yes, it may appear fake but that'sjust me resigning myself to what I can't change or force onto them," he sadly added this whileplacing his cup on the floor."I'm sorry. I guess I never got the whole picture but just random glimpses of frames." He lickedhis lips then smiled. "That's fine. It feels good to at least have someone hear me out." Shesmiled back to him and braved placing her hand on top of his."Hey! I can tell them to buzz off if you want. If your sweet words entice them like moths to aflame, mine can kill them like an insect repellent." He laughed again and this time she joined in."I'd like that. Guess I have to hide behind your back if I want to be left alone" They both cackleduntil they were disrupted by the doorbell.They rushed out of the bedroom and welcomed the delivery guy. Instead of going back toBianca's room they ended up in the kitchen to eat. After a few mouthfuls of Chinese take-away,Archie broke the comfortable silence. "You aren't that hard to figure out I guess. You are simplyyou with Wiccan abilities""Well you also got that right. I am an ordinary girl with a not so ordinary skill set. I guess firstimpressions don't really last do they?" She arched an eyebrow and waited for a reply from him."I guess they don't... So are we friends now?" Bianca held out her pinky finger and he willinglywrapped his around it. "Friends!" She beamed at him.'Hey can I also have the breeze cool me from where I sit?" Archie showed her his most adorablepuppy eyes after saying this. "Don't push it! Befriend the plants first!""Damn! I thought I can get away with it!" Laughter echoed in the kitchen and this was thebeginning of true friendship for them.