Flag 5

- Amber Hills -

A new message appears on my screen.

Hayden: hey.

Amber: hello again.

Hayden: can i ask you something?

Amber: go for it.

Hayden: can i drive you home tomorrow?

Before I give him a proper response. Another message pops up and it's from Jess. Jesse Garder, my classmate and seatmate, also a close friend of both Lizzie and I.

Jesse: ok, so are you and Hayden a thing or what? There are rumors about you guys.

Amber: what? no, we just hang out.

Jesse: well that's basically where everything starts tho.

Amber: relax, Jess. we're not a thing.

Amber: I don't even see him in that way.

A new message from Hayden appears.

Hayden: Amber? you there?

Amber: yeah, i'm here, hold on let me think about it.

Hayden: you talking to someone else?

What a weird question. Does it even matter if I talk to someone else? Ok, this is weird.

Amber: i mean yeah, i have other friends.

I relay this whole thing to Jess and see what she thinks about it.

Jesse: wait what?!?! THE Hayden Burrows is offering to drive you home?!?!

Jesse: ok, this is huge.

Jesse: you have to let him drive you like i wanna know where this is heading.

Amber: ok, guess i will.

But before I tell Hayden, I need to talk to Lizzie. I decide to just call her on the phone because one, I want to hear the sound of her voice and two, it's easier this way.

"Hey Amber, what's up?"

"Yeah, hi. Kinda just wanted to like tell you that I got somethi--I mean Hayden offered to drive me home tomorrow so yeah."

"Oh--um--yeah. I--it--it's fine. I can take a taxi."

"Ok cool," I reply before ending the call.

My heartrate feels rather normal. It used to feel like my heart would pump out of my chest in any minute just by hearing the sound of her voice but this feels different. I seem to be all cool and collected but I can't deny that I miss the touch of her skin. That moment our hands were intertwined on the way to her home was something I wish could've lasted longer. She held my hand tighter and looked at me. Her eyes spoke to me as if they craved for closeness but I could sense hesitation. I could sense that they fear to take the risk but I can't blame them for my eyes fear the same.

Hayden: so can i?

Amber: sure.

- Elizabeth Andrews -

My heart still beats quick as I can't help but rewind that specific moment in my head. Our hands found their way to touch again like they always do and it still lingers at the tip of my fingers. I stare at the ceiling doing nothing but think of her. It has come pretty clear that I'm starting to catch feelings for the auburn-eyed brunette as well as beginning to fall deeper and deeper but I felt my heart break a little upon hearing the name of someone who potentially wants her too slipping off of her mouth striking not my ears alone, but also every inch of anger, sadness and frustration inside of me. To think that now that my feelings are gradually turning into something serious and real, a disturbing force appears to be pulling her away from me and I don't want that. I want her.

I want her and only her.

The next morning at school, I step into the classroom building and immediately see her once again next to Hayden by the lockers. It's like they've been inseparable for weeks now.

I gaze at the beauty waiting for her eyes to meet mine. The glow of her auburn eyes complements the rays of the sun as they lay a perfect blend of golden brown caramel. Those eyes are my favorite color. They mesmerize me in the light of day, when beams of sunlight exposes hidden details of her pupils and in the night, when it turns dark and they blend in with the dimness of the sky but even so, I feel as though they see right through me.

Her hands brush through her hair, flicking it off her face. She turns and smiles at me. My heart thumps in that moment and sudden heat touches my cheeks, painting them into a soft pink but I manage to bring myself to send a warm smile back at her.

But, my face falls only in a matter of seconds, at the sight of her facing back at the dark-eyed athlete with curls, dyed crushed garnet.

I look away from them and proceed upstairs to my classroom. I hear pacing footsteps catching up to me. I feel a tap on my shoulder.

"Hey, you ok?"

I turn to face a worried Arvi and give him a short reply, "I'm fine," I fake a smile as we walk to our classroom together.

- Amber Hills -

"We should probably head upstairs now," I say as I motion myself to the stairs leading to the classrooms. "Oh, right," Hayden says as he walks beside me, matching the pace of my footsteps. I don't hate talking to him or anything but sometimes, I wish he'd give me some time to hang out with my friends or at least enough time for me to greet them without having to cut him off from his series of conversation-starters. I honestly wish he'd done that this morning. I wanted to talk to Lizzie and Arvi but I unfortunately, couldn't find a way to put a pause to his discussion and I didn't want to come off as rude.

I arrive at my class and proceed to my seat next to Jess. I exhale a deep breath of air that felt as if it was trapped in my lungs for hours, the moment I take a seat and lay my head on my desk. Lectures didn't even start yet but I already feel exhausted maybe because Hayden brought up tons of topics and near-endless conversations and human interaction massively drains me. I guess it was just too much for my body.

"I am so tired."

"Tired of what?" Jess asks.

"Hayden really knows how to make conversations last really really long and it wears me out," I reply.

"Aw, there, there," she says, patting my head teasingly.

The bell rings and our first teacher arrives. I sit myself up and attempt to listen intently with the remains of my working braincells.

- Elizabeth Andrews -

The bell rings for breaktime.

"Wanna grab something to eat?" asks Arvi. I give him a short nod, "Sure," as I take out my wallet. We walk out of the classroom. Passing by Amber's classroom, I take a quick glance expecting to meet her eyes again but I see her dozing off to a short nap. My eyes meet with Jess and we exchange smiles and a wave of hello's. Arvi greets her as well.

We proceed downstairs to the school's convenience store. I grab a pack of oreos and a juice box and Arvi grabs a bag of potato chips and a bottle of soda. After sometime, we head back to the classroom building as we munch on our snacks.

He starts off a conversation with "So, thoughts on Amber and Hayd--" but is cut off when we see a familiar group of boys from the school's basketball team, Hayden included, walking towards us. We hear them teasing Hayden about Amber.

"Amber's a total babe, like I'd totally hit on her too," says the tallest guy of the group.

"I mean we all had a bit of a go, but I think the pretty brunette has fallen for Hayden here," a guy I hardly recognize says with a smirk on his face as he puts an arm around the smiling Hayden.

"And I'm pretty sure Hayden feels the same," says the boy in front of him and laughter begins to fill the air.

"Ok guys, break it up," Hayden says in attempt to calm the group down. The boys position themselves in a circle surrounding Hayden.

The guy who had his arm around Hayden starts off a countdown. Arvi and I move to the side and watch them as we are curious to what this is about.

"Alright boys, 3...2...1!"

We see them reach out their hands in sync and their hands appear to have 20 bucks.

"Congrats! dude, you won the bet," says one of the boys.

"Yikes," a comment from Arvi. We look at each other in shock.

Hayden lets out a laugh, "Thanks," and they continue walking towards the convenience store as both Arvi and I head back to our classroom.