Dorian rolled his shoulders, listening to them pop as he let out a sigh, putting in his locker combination. His thoughts were solely focused on getting home and relaxing his tired muscles. He was so focused on these thoughts that he almost missed the letter on top of his books. After getting over his initial surprise, Dorian picked it up and stuffed it into an inner pocket of his blazer, planning to read it later. As he was leaving the school grounds, checking around to see that he was alone, he pulled it out and turned it over in his hands.
There was nothing truly remarkable about it, but he could detect the faintest hint of perfume on it. That, along with a sinking feeling in his chest, Dorian felt he already knew what this was going to be even before he opened the letter. Slowly, he read the lines of delicate handwriting in black ink.
“What-cha got there?” Reina had trotted up beside him as he read, earning a surprised sort of yelp which she thankfully ignored. “McDonna’s not trying to mess with you, is he?”
“Handwriting’s too good to be his,” Dorian answered. “It’s a girl’s…they sent me a confession letter….” Reina pulled his arm down to give herself a better view of the letter.
“Wow,” she said, smiling. “She really poured her heart and soul into this, didn’t she?” She took a deep breath and looked over the handwriting again. “And with that perfume and handwriting, I’m pretty sure I know who this particular Adelade is.”
“Okay,” Dorian scoffed. “I know that things like this can happen, but I doubt that you can actually tell who wrote this from the faintest hints of perfume.” She met his eyes with an almost smug look of determination.
“You might’ve noticed not a lot of girls at Sacred Heart wear perfume, Dorian. When you’ve known these people for a year or so, you figure out their little particulars.” She tapped the name at the bottom of the page. “I know this girl…we’ve been friends since primary school.” Dorian gave her an impressed sort of smile. “I also recognize her handwriting….”
“That’s more believable,” Dorian conceded, stuffing the letter back into its envelope and put it in his bag. “But now…I think I’m going to do something I don’t really want to do….”
“You’re going to go out with her?” Dorian shook his head and stuffed his hands into his pockets. “Oh…wow.”
“I mean,” he began, “I’ve only been here for about a week, and haven’t even talked to this girl and she sends me a letter to ask me out. I’m flattered, don’t get me wrong, but I’m not looking to date right now…especially a girl I don’t know.” He had no idea why he was explaining himself but felt that Reina deserved one even though she hadn’t said anything about it. “I just hope it goes over well…I don’t want to hurt her, but I feel that this won’t be the last time something like this happens….”
“Just…let her down gently,’ Reina requested. “She’s a really nice girl who acts faster than she thinks sometimes. And don’t you dare sneak a letter into her locker…I know she’d want to hear it from you in person.” Dorian looked at Reina, looking behind him to see that she’d stopped and did the same to look at her. “You’ll do that…right?” After a second of hesitation, Dorian gave her a quick nod. “Good…come on. Let’s get home.”
Silence fell between them for a while, but he could hear Reina mumbling to herself. He could also see her taking quick glances in his direction before lightly shaking her head with a confused expression.
“Something on your mind?” he asked, finally.
“I’m just trying to figure you out.” Dorian chuckled at her.
“Good luck with that,” he chuckled. “Even my friends back home are still trying, and we’ve been friends since we were kids….”
“I just don’t get it,” she continued. “You’re willing to show off just to prove a point and smart off to someone like McDonna, you put your nose to the grindstone to get into Sacred Heart and you’re going to let a girl down gently after she sent you a confession letter. I just…I don’t get it.”
“Remember what I told you on our first walk home?” he asked. “I can be an arse, sure, but only when I feel it’s really deserved. Adelade put herself out there with that letter and, while I acknowledge it was flattering and rather sweet, I’m just not looking for a new girlfriend right now. I don’t have a reason to ghost her or humiliate her. McDonna on the other hand…well…from what I know about him, he could stand to be knocked down a peg or two. Once again, he felt Reina’s curious gaze which earned a smirk from him. “Not really helping, am I?”
“Not one bit,” she agreed. “But it just makes me want to know more….” Dorian laughed again and this time Reina joined him. “Maybe I can get you to spill a few things about yourself?”
“In your dreams, Clover,” he smirked. “I’m not gonna show my hand just because you bat those pretty eyelashes and ask nicely.” She stuck her tongue out at him but smiled. “You’re more than welcome to try, though…just know that it’s not gonna work. Might need to try a little harder….”
“I hate it when people take it easy on me,” she smirked back. “And if you want me to try harder…I’ll try harder….”
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