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Mark packed his notebooks and textbooks into his backpack, trying not to lift his head. It felt as if everyone around him was expecting something, though it was probably just his imagination. The stares, the whispers—all of it blended into a strange mix of everything he wanted to leave behind as soon as possible: the classroom, the school, and the entire surrounding world.
He quickly headed for the door, sparing only a brief glance at Miss Hendricks on his way out. However, he’d barely made it a few steps down the hallway when a familiar voice called out behind him:
— Hey, Emma! — Jessica, wearing her usual wide grin, was quickly catching up. — In a hurry to see your sweetheart?
Mark sighed and slowed his pace, feeling irritation rise in his chest. She could at least tone it down a little; he was already at his limit after this stupid day.
— Jess, seriously, — Emma snapped, giving her a brief glance. — Can you just skip the jokes, for once?
Jessica only snorted, shrugging. Her casual attitude made Mark even angrier.
— Oh, come on! — she said cheerfully, matching his pace effortlessly. — You know I’m kidding. But admit it, you’re nervous, right? — Her eyes sparkled mischievously as she leaned closer, peering into his face. — What’s on your mind?
— Thinking about how to avoid running into you before classes tomorrow, — Emma muttered, tugging her backpack higher onto her shoulder. Mark tried to appear calm, but a trace of irritation in his voice didn’t escape Jessica.
— You’re so adorable when you’re trying to act tough, — she replied, laughing. — Just pure charm, really.
Mark gritted his teeth but stayed silent.
— Don’t worry, it’s normal, — Jessica continued as if she hadn’t noticed his mood. — Everyone gets shy before a date. Especially a first one.
Her voice was so light and carefree that for a second, he faltered. But then he stopped abruptly, turning to her with such sharpness that she raised an eyebrow in surprise.
— It’s not a date, — Emma blurted out, staring straight into her eyes. Her voice came out too loud, too tense. She quickly lowered her tone, adding irritably, — And it’s not happening, anyway.
Jessica raised her eyebrows and smirked, as though finding the situation amusing.
— Okay, okay, whatever you say, — she said, but the sly glint in her eyes remained.
Mark pretended not to notice her smirk and strode quickly toward the exit. The schoolyard was already filling with students whose classes had ended. The hum of voices, occasional laughter, and the creak of bike wheels blended into a noisy but familiar backdrop.
“Damn it, no way am I going,” he told himself as he approached the gates. Inside, he was churning with irritation and confusion. The thought of meeting Dan seemed both absurd and terrifying, and the closer he got, the tighter the knot in his chest grew. He tried to convince himself it didn’t matter, that he would just show up, say a few words, and leave. But his thoughts felt like a tangled mess.
As he stepped out of the school grounds, his eyes immediately landed on a familiar figure. Dan, as expected, was standing a bit away from the main crowd—relaxed, with his usual confident smile. But he wasn’t alone.
Next to him was Casey. Mark knew her—she was part of Dan’s group, one of those who always hung around him. Normally, Mark didn’t care about her; her cool demeanor and sarcastic attitude didn’t bother him, just felt like part of their clique. But now, for some reason, she caught his attention. Her short dark hair glinted in the sunlight, and her aloof gaze swept over the crowd of students as she said something to Dan. She held a small pack of candy in her hand, and just as Mark noticed her, she offered one to Dan, laughing at something he’d said.
Dan accepted the candy with a light smile, popped it into his mouth, and responded with something that made Casey laugh again. Her laughter was soft, almost like a purr, but annoyingly effortless.
Mark froze, feeling an involuntary tightness in his chest. The scene seemed innocent, even mundane to an outsider, but to him, it felt like a personal blow. She was standing too close. Her hand brushed his shoulder, supposedly to flick away an invisible speck of dust.
“So that’s how it is,” Mark thought, feeling irritation bubbling up inside.
For a moment, he considered just turning around and heading home, especially if things were going to be this “interesting.” But at that moment, Casey turned and noticed him. Her gaze—calm yet appraising, with a slight smile that seemed to say, “Go on, run along, little coward” hit him like a slap.
Mark felt his face flush. He couldn’t explain why her look got to him so much. “What, did you change your mind?” her silent voice seemed to mock him. For several moments, Mark stood frozen, staring at them. A strange mix of irritation and a sting of resentment bubbled inside. “Change my mind about what? I never wanted to! And why should I care? Let he stand there with Casey… But why did he invite me if she’s already here? What’s the deal with that?!” The thought stung, making his heart pound faster.