The Dark Hallway ii

I woke up before my alarm.

It wasn't even six yet, but the sky outside my window was already beginning to lighten. For a moment, I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, wondering why I felt so... alive. Then I remembered- him.

The memory flared sharp and vivid: the corner of the school building, the faint curl of smoke that he exhaled. The way he hasn't flinched when I caught him. The way he moved- smooth, slow, dangerously calm- as he stepped closer. The heat of his body when he pinned my wrists against the wall, not hurting me, just holding me there. Testing. Teasing. His voice low and mocking.

"People love to pretend they're not snitches... Until it's convenient."

That look. His breath smelling like mint and smoke and trouble.

And me- heart in my throat, unable to speak.

I slid out of bed, feet touching the cold floor, and padded to the bathroom. By the time I was dressed and downstairs, Mom was still in her robe, holding a cup of coffee like it was the only thing keeping her alive.

She blinked at me.

"Ark...? It's not even thirty minutes past seven. Are you okay?"

I grabbed a piece of toast and smiled.

"Yeah. Just felt like starting early."

She stared, like she was trying to find a fever on my face without touching me. Then, slowly, her mouth curved into a smile. Not the teasing one. The soft, mother- proud one.

"Well, look at you. Maybe miracles do happen."

I grinned.

"But too bad for you, you have to wait for me to finish first so I can drop you off," mom said going upstairs.

With that being said, I had to wait for her to finish.

@

The school ball rang, I was already seated at my desk, ready to learn- books already on the table, spine straight,

Hands still.

Head down.

Scarf high.

I blended in with the furniture if I could.

The chair next to the red-haired guy was already occupied. Yesterday, it hadn't been. He sat alone. And to think of how he shoved the seat. And because of that I had to take the two chairs joined together- the one no one wanted, at the back. Quiet, invisible.

Today, only one seat was left.

Besides me.

My eyes darted towards the door- drawn there like distinct. Someone was standing in the doorway.

Jade.

He wore a black hoodie, like always. The sleeves slightly rolled, the hood still intact over his head. His hands in his pocket. His face unreadable. He stood there like he had nothing to prove and nowhere to be.

Then he walked in.

Like he owned the silence.

His hoodie slipped halfway off his shoulder as he moved, slow and casual. His headphone still hung over his ears- still on, still intact. He didn't look around, didn't scan the room or hesitate like everyone else. He just walked over and dropped into the seat next to me like it had been waiting for him all along.

Just before he passed the first row-

"OH MY GOD."

A shrill voice pierced the quiet.

Tasha.

"Oh my. Hey TJ you look hotter than usual today."

Tasha hissed, her voice half scream, half giggle. Even Charlote was drooling, her eyes on him.

They both scrambled in their seats like fangirls on cafeeine, one bumping into her desk, the other knocking her own water bottle over.

Embarrassing.

But not to them.

Jade didn't blink.

Didn't look at them.

Didn't even pause.

He just kept walking.

Their squels fizzled into an awkward silence when he dropped into the seat besides me.

I caught Tasha visibly rolling her eyes.

I didn't flinch.

I didn't breathe.

He didn't even look at me.

At first.

Then- maybe because he felt my eyes on him or maybe just by accident- he turned his head slightly. His gaze dropped to mine. His brows creased. Just slightly. His voice came out low, rough, nearly a whisper meant for no one to hear but me.

"... What the hell. Why are you sitting here?"

I didn't flinch.

"It's my seat."

He leaned in just enough for me to feel the heat of his breathe against my scarf.

"And why are you in this class?"

I turned my eyes towards him, careful not to move my head.

"Why wouldn't I be?"

He scoffed quietly. A single breath of judgement. His eyes flicked to my scarf for half a second, then straight ahead.

"As if this day couldn't get any worse," he said into himself in a whisper, his voice low and cold but it was loud enough for me to hear what he said.

What's that suppose to mean? After that he didn't say anything else. Neither did I.

But my pulse wouldn't stop pounding in my ears- not from fear. Not exactly. It was something else. Something like electricity.

The air between us felt too full. Like silence had weight. Like my body was tuned to every twitch of his shoulder, every breathe he took besides me.

Through the rest of the period he didn't speak. He didnt start a conversation, not like I expected him to. He didn't glance in my direction again. It was weird. Too quiet. Like the silence had teeth.