{Leos POV}

I could write this entire story as an essay but I’m certain the teacher would call me up. Force me to sit through a long lecture on ‘why I shouldn’t think this way’ and ‘how I should trust God who will show me the right path.’ After this supposed guidance session, I’d be forced to write some mainstream essay.

I would probably call this essay, ‘My High School Life’ and write about ‘what high school has taught me’ and ‘how much I love high school and friends.’ I’d probably cap it off with a section on ‘how I never want to leave this lifestyle.’ Yup, sounds like a mainstream ‘A grader’ if I think about it. It tells the teachers exactly what they want to hear.

Instead of all that crap, I’m going to bite the bullet and write this essay in the first place. That masterpiece will be stored safely in my mind, maybe it’ll end up in a book someday 😉.

Some might be wondering who I am. I am the loner from the essay, the lurker in the shadows.

Let’s start with my name. I’m Leo, I’ve been on this earth for 17 years. I’m in my second year of high school and I don’t have any friends. Right now, I’m eating a sandwich by myself, just the way I like it. I’m single too by the way. It’s not a big detail in my life, just figured I’d self-advertise. Anyway, moving on…

If you’re wondering ‘what kind of fourth-wall-breaking shenanigans is this and I didn’t sign up for this’ then just know, this is me. I have a habit of talking to someone who is ‘you’ in my mind. Try not to ‘MIND’ it too much… sorry, couldn’t help myself, won’t do it again.😁😁

Right now, I’m at school and it’s our lunch break (or the long break for some of you.) I’m in front of a place that can only be described as loner heaven. This spot in front of the window where you could feel the gentle breeze caress your skin uninterrupted. The singing of birds which could de-stress even the most pent-up of people. This uninhabited hallway didn’t have a single soul around other than me. Being alone, well, it’s a requirement for a loner, and I feel at peace here.

*Bell ringing sound*

Oh, it's the first warning bell but not to worry there are a few more coming and then the lunch break is over so no problem I still have a few moments to enjoy what is left of my lunch break.

“Ex-Ex-Ex-cus-e me”

Did someone just talk to me? Maybe it was a bird, a breeze, or perhaps even a ghost. And there is this sweet aroma in the room it’s almost as if I’m eating fruit instead of a sandwich.

“Ex-Excuse--”

Someone is behind me! So much for being uninhabited. Believe me, this is a rare occurrence. I should find out who it is I guess.

“Heyy-”

The moment I turned around, chills went through my whole body. Every hair on my body was standing on end, like a cat on high alert. I think I saw something I shouldn’t have.

This girl was standing right behind me, I’m going to need you to expand your imagination a bit as I describe her.

She was well-sculpted and thin as a twig. As her waist tapered, it drew my attention to her concealed curves. Her neck reminded me of a fine vase, carefully crafted by its creator, one who valued perfection above all. Complemented by an ebony black skirt, she somehow found a way to bring meaning from a mere piece of dark cloth.

The turquoise coloured cardigan flattered her bosom, they weren’t too big but at the same time, they weren’t small either. She seemed to be made up of this perfect mixture which was nothing but a marvel.

The day outside was reaching its peak, the sun gave her complexion a burnished illusionary look. I wasn’t sure if she was there in front of me or if I had imagined her.

Her skin was as white as the moon which was tributed by her midnight black hair which created this phantasmagoria of a full moon in a dark sky.

Finally, her sapphire eyes found me. At first glance, they seemed so beautiful and mesmerizing. As soon as I started looking closer, I noticed a glimmer of something distinctly troublesome.

If you don’t think she’s beautiful by my description, I won’t judge. For those of you who agree with me, we are definitely like-minded. (You’re going to love how this story will develop.)

She seems frustrated and her behaviour is kind of meek. It almost seems like she had this grand plan set in her mind that never quite saw the light of day. Whatever her plan was, it had failed and now she doesn’t seem to know what to do. There is a clear expression of distraught all over her face and her eyes are everywhere, she is finding something to come up with. But seems to be giving her a really hard time. Well, let's just observe her more before drawing any conclusions.

Looking closely, if you are a keen observer, you’d see she was stuttering when she first called to me. The question is, does she stutter naturally or only when panicked?

Staring into those wonderful deep blue eyes, I found myself wandering around and round finding new information in the depth of her gaze. There was something new there, a trait I haven’t seen before lurking just beneath the surface. Shit, I looked into her eyes again…

Where was I? Oh yeah, stuttering. It’s very simple, you just have to look into their eyes and… ok, never mind, don’t look at their eyes. Observe their behaviour and if they seem to be a bit exasperated they’re not a natural stutter. If their eyes are calm they aren’t aware of their behaviour and thus are natural.

A natural wouldn’t be aware of the stutter until someone pointed it out. This happens because they’ve been stuttering so long they don’t even know they’re doing it. That’s how I ‘guess’ a natural stutter, anyway.

“Can-Can I he-lp y-ou?”

Eh, what was that, did she just fluff it? I want to laugh so hard right now. It reminds me of all those memes. But here is where Leo's superpower as a loner comes into play.

"Yes, you need help??" I said it without showing any expression of laughter on my face. This made the girl in front of me confused and then recollect her thoughts.

"Yes, Umm... I wa-wa- to go - Princi-pal off-ice"

As she said it there was a hint of relaxation in her tone, obviously, the stuttering wasn't gone but she looked less tense than before.

I nodded at her reply and asked her to follow me to the office.

She quietly followed me and here is where yours truly will show you the greatness of talking to a meek and tensed person. 

So start with yes or no as well as an obvious question,

"You don't look like you are from this school??" Leo said with a mild and friendly tone.

"No," The girl said with a now a bit more confident tone as her posture started to straighten up and she started coming a bit closer to me.

Now that I have provoked to her to talk to me. I'll wait for her to ask me something...

*Time passes by as Leo reaches close to the office*

What the heck why didn't she ask the question, any sane person will be sure to ask a question like, 'is this your break time' or 'did I disturb you while you were eating' or any freaking thing... damn girl is making a fool out me in front of you. 

Well, I'm not some shitty mc from anime who would just shy away, I'm Leo and I will make you talk. The office is just around the corner and I have to make her speak... what's the best option here think Leo think...

Got it,

"So you here to enrol in this high school??"

Yup, that's my question... wait before you start laughing that it's gonna fail miserably and she will just ignore it. Just hear her reply

"No-"

What no, no, no this cannot be happening I calculated it as it was a guaranteed reply as she didn't wear any highschool uniform and she was here at lunchbreak and she even wanted to meet the principal so  this was perfect--

"bu-t th-is i-s an option" 

Wait what she said... Oh no I mean see haha... I was right. Thank god for helping or it would have been embarrassing. So she has more than one option huh?? Well, you saved my pride as a loner genius so I'd give you a piece of advice too.

"I understand these decisions are hard, but all I can say is *Listen to your brain but not the heart*," I said this with a smile on my face as I knew not everyone could understand the sentence you know.

Well, this might even be the last piece of advice given by Leo Moore and if you could interpret it then your life will be very easy is all I can say... 

Oh, the office just came.

"Here is the office," said Leo pointing at the office.

"Thank you," The girl said bowing to me, she even added "See you"

Her sentence made me blush pretty hard and all I could think was, ' what a crazy encounter.' 

To be continued...