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Description
"You still have that?"

A small bracelet made contact with the floor as Keagan glanced up in surprise. Sighing in annoyance once he realized who it was, he swiftly picked up the bracelet and placed it onto the desk next to him, relieved that the fall hadn't caused a scratch to the metal token that seemed like an antique. "What are you doing here, Avril?"

Avril pushed herself off from the door frame and entered the classroom, making her way to a desk on the opposite side of the room. "Just getting my notebook. Better question would be to ask yourself what you're doing. It's almost five, and I'm pretty sure that the basketball season is over."

Keagan collected himself off the ground, running a hand through his tuscan red locks as he stared into the low mirror on the teacher's desk and away from Avril's judgmental gaze. Staring at his reflection only made it worse. Freckles dotted his square face and trailed down his neck, shoulders, and arms. Usually, he wouldn't mind them, but in the presence of Avril, they each stuck out like black on white. Suddenly feeling self-conscious, he pulled away from the mirror and challenged Avril's stare.

They had known one another since they were children, but as the years had past, abandonment led to their horrible state of friendship right now; Less than old friends.

"So..." he paused, emitting a small chocking sound as he searched for the right words to say. He knew better than anyone that one wrong word would lead Avril to blow up. "I hear that you got paired up with Caine for your biology project."

She glanced up for a split second before leaning back on the desk. "He's smart. I'm glad I got a good partner, at least."

"Going to leave him to do all your work? You know, take advantage of him?" he replied, venom obviously laced between the words. She knew what he meant. It was obvious that he was referring to her actions since middle school.

Instead of brutally replying- which shocked Keagan- she merely shrugged, eyes glancing out the window. "I wouldn't dare leave a huge project like that to him. My grade's at sake. How bad do you think I am?"

"Well-"

"Don't answer that."

It was strange. This was the first actual conversation that they've had since middle school. Keagan began to relax, slumping himself against the wall opposite of Avril. On the other hand, Avril didn't tear her gaze away from the window and what was beyond it.

Beyond.

"Don't you have somewhere to be?" he finally responded, getting the nerve to look at her. He fiddled with the bracelet, rubbing his fingers across the leather embroidery and token. A tinge of guilt attacked his heart as he remembered what the token was supposed to symbolize.

She turned her head slightly before returning it to the window. "I do, but I kind of like the view right now. I'm not talking about you, by the way." A single finger combed through her hair before letting it fall back over her shoulders. "Spend life rushing, and you'll learn nothing."

There. She lifted up a sleeve slightly, and for a split second, Keagan saw it. Loosely fitted over her wrist was the same bracelet & token that he was currently cradling in his hands. She did that on purpose.

Maybe this was the start of something. Had they... matured over the past year? It definitely seemed like it. A civil conversation between them just a few months ago seemed highly unlikely.

Either way, even if they had matured, they still didn't know anything. He knew it was wrong. He should be holding a grudge and refuse to look at her, let alone talk to me. It should have been impossible to suddenly befriend someone so easily after having a terrible past together.

"Avril."

It should have, but it seemed more possible than before. Either way, it would be a slow process.

"Let me help you and Caine with the project."

She gave him a slow, longing glance as if she was cautious to answer. Caine, Keagan, and her? It would be just like before.

Then again, they were both naive.

"I hope you realize that if I fail, it's on you."

Naive children.

Description
"You still have that?"

A small bracelet made contact with the floor as Keagan glanced up in surprise. Sighing in annoyance once he realized who it was, he swiftly picked up the bracelet and placed it onto the desk next to him, relieved that the fall hadn't caused a scratch to the metal token that seemed like an antique. "What are you doing here, Avril?"

Avril pushed herself off from the door frame and entered the classroom, making her way to a desk on the opposite side of the room. "Just getting my notebook. Better question would be to ask yourself what you're doing. It's almost five, and I'm pretty sure that the basketball season is over."

Keagan collected himself off the ground, running a hand through his tuscan red locks as he stared into the low mirror on the teacher's desk and away from Avril's judgmental gaze. Staring at his reflection only made it worse. Freckles dotted his square face and trailed down his neck, shoulders, and arms. Usually, he wouldn't mind them, but in the presence of Avril, they each stuck out like black on white. Suddenly feeling self-conscious, he pulled away from the mirror and challenged Avril's stare.

They had known one another since they were children, but as the years had past, abandonment led to their horrible state of friendship right now; Less than old friends.

"So..." he paused, emitting a small chocking sound as he searched for the right words to say. He knew better than anyone that one wrong word would lead Avril to blow up. "I hear that you got paired up with Caine for your biology project."

She glanced up for a split second before leaning back on the desk. "He's smart. I'm glad I got a good partner, at least."

"Going to leave him to do all your work? You know, take advantage of him?" he replied, venom obviously laced between the words. She knew what he meant. It was obvious that he was referring to her actions since middle school.

Instead of brutally replying- which shocked Keagan- she merely shrugged, eyes glancing out the window. "I wouldn't dare leave a huge project like that to him. My grade's at sake. How bad do you think I am?"

"Well-"

"Don't answer that."

It was strange. This was the first actual conversation that they've had since middle school. Keagan began to relax, slumping himself against the wall opposite of Avril. On the other hand, Avril didn't tear her gaze away from the window and what was beyond it.

Beyond.

"Don't you have somewhere to be?" he finally responded, getting the nerve to look at her. He fiddled with the bracelet, rubbing his fingers across the leather embroidery and token. A tinge of guilt attacked his heart as he remembered what the token was supposed to symbolize.

She turned her head slightly before returning it to the window. "I do, but I kind of like the view right now. I'm not talking about you, by the way." A single finger combed through her hair before letting it fall back over her shoulders. "Spend life rushing, and you'll learn nothing."

There. She lifted up a sleeve slightly, and for a split second, Keagan saw it. Loosely fitted over her wrist was the same bracelet & token that he was currently cradling in his hands. She did that on purpose.

Maybe this was the start of something. Had they... matured over the past year? It definitely seemed like it. A civil conversation between them just a few months ago seemed highly unlikely.

Either way, even if they had matured, they still didn't know anything. He knew it was wrong. He should be holding a grudge and refuse to look at her, let alone talk to me. It should have been impossible to suddenly befriend someone so easily after having a terrible past together.

"Avril."

It should have, but it seemed more possible than before. Either way, it would be a slow process.

"Let me help you and Caine with the project."

She gave him a slow, longing glance as if she was cautious to answer. Caine, Keagan, and her? It would be just like before.

Then again, they were both naive.

"I hope you realize that if I fail, it's on you."

Naive children.