“Um…excuse me?” Dorian opened his eyes and was met with the sight of an upside-down girl who was looking at him nervously. Her curious and confused expression brought a smile to his face as he flipped back upright and jumped from the branch he’d been dangling from. “Uh…what were you doing up there?”
“Just thinking,” he answered, looking over his shoulder at her and patting down his uniform. Looking her over to see that she didn’t have her uniform’s blazer on, Dorian’s gaze was drawn to the clipboard she clutched to her chest. “I assume you’ve got something you want me to look at?” Almost timidly, after a moment or two of hesitation, she handed over the clipboard which had a single sheet of paper which was blank save for two words in exceptionally neat handwriting. “Gamer’s Lounge…?”
“Yeah,” she said, rubbing the back of her leg with her foot. “I’m hoping to start a little club or community here….” She shuffled on her feet and looked at the ground. “When I went to get permission I was told that I needed at least eight people, myself included, to get this started so I’ve been going around…well…trying to, at least.” Dorian looked up at her and it didn’t take much effort to figure out why the page was still blank.
“So this is, what, a gaming community?” he asked, trying to make things less awkward.
“Well,” she began, “I’m planning on making it not just about gaming and just going for other nerdy stuff. I couldn’t think of a better name and most people will probably be gamers in one way or another anyway….” Dorian nodded in understanding before reaching into an inside pocket of his blazer and signing his name. “You’re really going to join?”
“I don’t really see why not,” Dorian admitted, offering her a smile. “Might be fun and it might give me the chance to make some more friends….”
“And how’re you planning on doing that?” Dorian’s hands fumbled in surprise, the clipboard almost flying out of his hands before he caught it. Reina had somehow come up behind him without him noticing her creeping up. “A bit jumpy today, are we Dorian?”
“When someone sneaks up behind you, yes I suppose I am,” Dorian snapped, breathing heavily. “Is this what it feels like? I’m usually the one sneaking up on people even if it’s on accident….” Pulling himself back into composure, he offered her the clipboard. Reina’s eyes widened a bit as she smiled at the paper before turning to the girl.
“You serious?” The girl gave a small yet confident nod. Dorian didn’t have the chance to say anything or even blink as Reina snatched the pen from his relaxed grip and scribbled her own name. “Hope you get enough people to start this. I’m Reina, by the way. If you couldn’t figure it out tall, dark and brooding over here is Dorian.”
“I’m Analisse,” the girl offered, clutching the clipboard back to her chest. “Thanks for signing….” With that, she turned around and walked back the way she’d come. Dorian and Reina watched her disappear back inside before either of them said anything.
“She wasn’t wearing a blazer,” Dorian noted.
“Like I told you, Sacred Heart’s not to picky about our uniforms,” Reina reminded him. “Not everyone likes the blazer, but she’s really cute with how she’s chosen to wear her uniform….” Dorian had reached into his pocket for a sucker but stopped before putting it in his mouth to look over at her. “What? What’s that look for?”
“Just how you said that,” he answered. “Are you…?” Reina folded her arms across her chest with a bit of a smirk.
“Dorian Croxton,” she began. “Are you telling me that I can’t acknowledge a girl looking good without you making assumptions about my private life?” Dorian offered a smile and held up his hands in surrender.
“Fair enough,” he offered. “Don’t really have much room to talk myself….” Reina’s smile fell a little as she looked at him. There was some concern in her eyes that made him fidget a little. “I suppose now it’s my turn to ask what that look’s for?”
“Something’s been bugging you all week,” she said. It wasn’t a question and the way she said it left no room for argument. “Did something happen over the weekend? Something not going right?”
“You could say that,” he mumbled, looking away from her. “I wasn’t meaning for it to get to me, but I suppose I can’t really help myself….” He moved the sucker stick around while he waited for Reina to say anything.
“You need to talk about it?” Dorian was neither surprised nor confused by the question, having watched Reina being kind to others than just her friends.
“Not need to, no,” he assured her. “Just…need to get my head on straight again….” Reina seemed to want to give him his space, at least for now but her expression changed as she looked passed him. If he were to describe it, Dorian would’ve called it a hard focus. “See someone you don’t like?” Without a word, she grabbed a hold of his shoulders, spun him around with surprising ease, and pointed at a girl with light brown hair held back with a hairband.
“That’s Adelaide,” she told him. She rolled her eyes as Dorian looked back at her over his shoulder. “The girl who sent you the confession letter?”
“Ah, right,” Dorian nodded, having honestly forgotten. “Quite a shame I’m not really looking for a date. She’s pretty cute….” While he had expected the slap to the back his head, it still caught him a touch off guard. “Okay, okay…geez. I know what you’re getting at, but I was serious about what I said….”
“Then you’d best get on with it and tell her,” Reina ordered, flatly. Dorian made to walk over to her, faltering a little when some of her friends moved over to talk to Adelaide. Steeling himself, he pushed on and walked right up to her. “Go get ‘em, tiger.”
“‘Scuse me.” All three of the girls looked at him with mixtures of shock and curiosity. “You’re Adelaide, right?”
“Yeah, that’s me,” Adelaide replied, batting her eyelashes and smiling sweetly. “Can I help you, Dorian?” He swallowed before replying.
“Can I talk to you?” he asked, only looking at her. “Alone…?” She gave him a gesture to lead on while her friends started talking in hushed tones. He led her away from people before either of them said anything.
“I’m guessing you saw my letter?”
“I did,” he admitted, smiling. “It was incredibly sweet and flattering…and I don’t have to tell you that’s what I want to talk about.” Adelaide smiled before Dorian took a deep breath. “I can’t accept….”
“What?” she exclaimed. Dorian had never been more thankful to be out of earshot of people. “What d’you mean?”
“I mean that I’m not looking for a girlfriend right now,” he explained. “It’s nothing to do with you, I can promise you that. I’ve heard that you’re really nice and I do think you’re cute, it’s just….”
“It’s Reian, isn’t it?” Her question stopped his train of thought.
“Beg your pardon?” She looked down at her feet, gently kicking a small rock away.
“You’ve got your eyes set on Reina,” she said. “Should’ve guessed I couldn’t compete with her with how much time you two spend together…. Especially the way you look at her and she looks at you….” Dorian’s confusion grew to the point where he had to say something.
“I’m not sure I get what you’re saying,” he admitted. Adelaide looked up at him, tears pooling in her eyes a little. “Reina and I are just friends…I don’t know what looks we’re giving each other, but there’s nothing between us. Even if I was trying to get her to go out with me, I don’t think I’d be doing it now….” Now it was Adelaide’s turn to confused. “I just…my last relationship didn’t end well, and it’s only been a few months since things turned sour and I’m just…I’m just not sure, you know?”
He smiled and wiped a tear from her eye. “I’d suggest you not unless you feel like your makeup running….”
“But…I don’t get it,” she mumbled, carefully wiping her face. “You and her are almost always together, and the way you two talk to each other….”
“Trust me, we’re just friends,” Dorian stated. “Besides, what hope do I have of dating the school beauty, eh?” He chuckled which got him a smile from Adelaide. “Anyway, I just wanted to tell you in person rather than ghosting you or sending you something in return…you gonna be alright?” She nodded and Dorian offered her a sucker. “Here…a little something for the trouble….” He watched as she walked away, but some things she said made him wonder.
If she thought him and Reina were pining for each other…how many other people did. And what was that about the looks Reina’d been giving him?
