It was soft and wet…

The class had finally ended.

Alex walked, silently, through the small pavement covering the campus. An autumn breeze swept the fallen maple leaves off the ground – a slight remembrance of the seasonal changing; the trees disposed of their leaves to survive the winter, to bloom again during spring.

It was middle October and the city was tinged with the sunset colours. – red, yellow and orange. It was one of the few days the rain had stopped pouring and people actually could see the sun and sky. The other students took the opportunity to sit on the grass and talk with each other; some listened to music with their earbud while reading quietly.

Alex waited in a small line to get coffee; she wasn’t so fond of the drink, but the caffeine prevented her from sleeping during classes, particularly, when she didn’t find them interesting. She walked as the line moved forward, without taking her eyes out of the Switch; her headphone hanging on her neck. – she was trying to avoid using it much. But she felt uncomfortable with the mixtures of different sounds she could hear now. Birds chirping. Students laughing. Someone throwing a can on a metallic trash. The muffled sound of constant footsteps. It was like her mind was playing ping pong. Her concentration being constantly pulled from one thing to another.

At the end of the line, some students commented about their projects, and Alex found herself thinking of Hayley. She must be tired. Didn’t she say something about having a bad dream? Alex remembered the girl’s face when they were eating together. She chuckled, alone.

– Excuse me, have you decided?

Alex looked up to find the barista staring at her. She noticed it was already her turn to order.

– Uh, yes. Two cappuccinos, please. – she said.

– Coming right up.

After taking the drinks, Alex headed toward the medicine building. Or tried to. She was completely lost on that part of the college, and her memory from Hayley’s explanation seemed fuzzy; it also didn’t help that she wasn’t very good with directions. From one of the buildings, she watched as the other students were leaving, some of them still wearing a lab coat on. Alex went in that direction, searching for Hayley amidst them.

A light poke on her shoulders made Alex turn her head to her left, but there was no one there. A giggle. Alex turned back to the right. Hayley waved at her, smiling devilishly.

– Got you. – she said and winked.

Alex couldn’t avoid smiling back at her. – Yeah, you did. And because of that you deserve a reward.

Hayley blinked, surprised. – A reward?

Alex nodded and offered the coffee to Hayley.

The girl made an indecipherable expression. – You bought me coffee?

Alex got awkwardly aware of her actions. Was it too much? She couldn’t decide. Normally, she would do things without giving too much thought to them, but for some reason, when it came down to Hayley, Alex felt insecure and uneasy. Wasn’t this friendly? Her mind struggled to give an answer.

But Hayley didn’t wait for her response.

– Thank you, Alex. – she murmured, slowly, holding Alex’s hand lightly. A small glint on her eyes. – This was really sweet.

She could feel the girl’s delicate skin brushing her own, as Hayley sipped from the coffee, eyes closed. Her cheeks coloured a bit, sighing.

– I really needed this today. – she said. – Do you read minds or what?

Alex shrugged. – I just thought you’d be tired.

Hayley gave her a wry smile. – Was it too obvious?

– No. But I guessed that no one can wake up that early without getting tired by now.

– What about you? – Hayley scanned through her face. – Tired? You barely seem, though.

– Eh, more bored, I’d say. – she answered.

– Bored? Why so?

Without realizing, they had started to walk. Hayley was still holding her hand.

– Uhm. – she struggled to concentrate. – I don’t like the classes.

– Why are you majoring in software, then?

It’s not like I can to do anything else.

– I guess I’m good at it – she said.

Hayley’s spring green eyes observed Alex attentively. She shook her head, comprehensively. They walked a bit more, before stopping at one of the light wood benches at the campus. The ground was covered with orange leaves colouring the pavement; the place seemed much like a secluded grove, surround by maple and oak trees.

The girl broke the silence. – I made an account on Discord, but I have no clue how to find you there.

– Oh, it’s because you need to add me.

Hayley frowned. – How do I add you? – she asked, showing her cellphone to Alex.

She quickly entered the app. – You click on this icon and place my tag. Just a minute.

Alex opened the Discord on her cellphone, clicking on her profile. She heard Hayley’s laugh.

– What? – Alex asked.

– Why do you use this picture in everything?

– I found it funny and I’m not good with photos of myself.

– Aww, it can’t be that bad.

Alex shook her head. – It is. I can’t smile on photos.

Hayley smiled. A playful glint on her eyes. – Smile for me then.

– No, I’m really bad at it.

Hayley batted her eyes, arching her brows delicately. – Please?

Alex sighed in defeat. – Ok, but just once.

The girl nodded eagerly. Alex closed her eyes, and did her best to control the muscles around her cheeks to form a smile, but she could feel herself failing. It was like her mind couldn’t solve a puzzle and connect the pieces correctly. Alex felt awkward and weird as she exposed her teeth.

Hayley chuckled.

Alex turned her head away. – I told you I was bad at it.

Hayley pulled her chin back, making Alex stare at her. – You looked adorable. I was laughing because it was cute.

Alex could feel her ears burning.

– It’s embarrassing – she pouted. – I knew you liked bullying me.

Hayley smiled; her face so close. – It’s just teasing.

Alex could smell Hayley’s sweet breath, coffee with mint and berries. Sweet wild berries. She felt herself being tempted to get closer, but she dared not to move.

Swallowing with difficulty, she said. – Let me give you the tag.

Hayley moved away. – Oh, yes, please do. – she agreed, but her eyes weren’t with the playful glint again.

Was she sad? Why?

Alex added Hayley on the app and they went back to a light chat, everything was normal again, Hayley was smiling, and playing, but Alex couldn’t shake the annoying feeling clustering in her chest. What the hell is happening to me? Why I’m also feeling frustrated?

After a while, they went back again to silence and Alex felt the weight and warmth of Hayley’s head resting on her shoulder. Her eyes were closed and Alex could see small dark circles on the girl’s face. She’s more tired that she let out, huh? A fringe fell on Hayley’s rosy-coloured lips, Alex watched as her hands moved automatically to take it out of the way, brushing her fingers lightly on her face. The girl moaned, softly. Alex pushed her hand back, afraid of waking her up. But Hayley continued to sleep.

They stayed like that for several minutes. She felt trapped and uncomfortable as the memories from her past rushed in front of her. Is it okay for us to stay like this? It’s a mistake, she could see herself saying, but Alex couldn’t move the girl away, she didn’t move to take her Switch either, cautious of the noise it would make; she only had the trees to stare as the wind howled through the branches. It was peaceful, like hearing a lullaby before sleeping. Her cellphone trembled with a notification from one of the artists she liked. It had been a long time since she saw them make a post, but probably, even longer because Alex… used to not look at notifications.

She clicked on the image, and was contemplated by a pretty dark elf with white hair, bashfully smiling at the picture.

– It’s pretty. – she heard Hayley’s hoarse voice. – Who’s that?

– It’s just a picture of an artist I like. Dabdab. – Alex answered. – Sorry, did I wake you up? I was trying not to.

She rubbed her eyes. – No, and also you should have waked me up. Sorry for using your shoulder like that.

Alex shook her head. – You were tired, don’t worry about it.

Hayley nodded. – Thanks, but I need to go.

– Are you sure? – she asked, concerned. – You should take the day off to rest.

Hayley grimaced. – As much as I’d like that, I need to work later, so I can’t.

Alex turned her eyes away. She wanted to do something, but there wasn’t anything she could do. She heard a light movement to her side, then Alex felt soft, wet lips on her cheek.

– Thank you for the coffee.

She watched Hayley moving away; unable to speak or move.