Alarmed

"Sebastian!" The dark-haired girl yelled as she waved her hand in the air so that he would notice it among the students who entered the school. It seemed that she did not mind staying between the cold and the snow to wait for him.

When getting out of the car in which he had arrived, he walked quickly towards the young woman, who began to attract the attention of everyone. Some students looked at both members of the student council, believing that they were in a relationship. It would not be the first time he had heard that when passing through the corridors. However, he had known Jade since they were both in diapers. He couldn't see her with other intentions than brotherhood, since they grew up together –relatively–. Although the young woman was quite beautiful, she was not the type of person he would date.

When he got to where the girl was, he greeted her. The black-haired girl mimicked his action, giving him a warm smile. Her hair was tied up in a high ponytail, making her look more mature than she really was.

"What are you doing here so early, Jade?" he asked, inviting the young woman to enter the school, him walking next to her. He couldn't leave her any longer with the cold wind hitting her face. "You never get here this early".

"I knew that you would arrive at this time", she responded while passing behind her ear a small strand that was left loose. "Usually, when something embarrassing happens to you at school, the next day you arrive too early to avoid seeing everyone. I think it was intuition".

He huffed, earning a slight laugh from the young woman. How did they know him that well?

"Yesterday, Hirsch asked for you", Jade continued. "He seemed too anxious to find you. Is everything okay?"

"I hope it was", he sighed, stroking the back of his neck.

"If you don't want to talk about it, that's fine", she stopped at his locker to put his things away. Sebastian stood next to her looking inside the metal booth. It was then that he realized the girl's obsession with purple was quite something. "I don't mean to force you to speak. However, you should spend time on those problems you've had. Running away from them won't solve anything, right?"

"I'm too coward to face them", he sighed, leaning back on the locker next to the girl's one.

"You are not", Jade looked at him, finishing putting away her belongings. "You are the bravest person I know". The boy giggled.

The rest of the way to the major's locker was in silence. The conversation had ended minutes before, but the silence was not uncomfortable. It felt good to walk together with the girl, who from time to time greeted one of her colleagues or acquaintances. How, a person like him, could be friends with a person as positive as her? Because, since he had known her, he did not remember that she had any problem.

They finally reached the hallway where the guy's locker was located. He put his things away, looking for a moment at the photo that was stuck to the back of the metal cabin. Hirsch was grinning widely as he leaned against Sebastian's back. They were both looking to their right, not exactly at the camera. It was one of his most beloved photographs of all.

He remembered very well that day the photo was taken. It had been on their first student trip together. His best friend had been so excited about the trip that he had "packed" all his things since a month before. Similarly, he forced the older one to do the same. That was something he loved about Hirsch: his organization and cleanliness. It didn't matter if they'd only be out of town for a week, the boy had been prepared for a long time.

"When I get married, I'll be a great husband", was what his friend said at that time while helping him close the suitcases. Sebastian was sitting on top of them and Hirsch was in charge of pulling the clasp.

"If I was a girl, I would marry you", he commented while laughing.

The redhead blinked flirtatiously a few times before throwing himself into the older guy's arms to hug him. "So why don't you marry me right now, Sebas?"

He slammed the locker shut, making the younger girl wince at the thunderous sound. He had completely forgotten about the girl next to him.

"Do you want me to lead you to your class?" Sebastian questioned, unable to leave his gentleman side for a moment.

"Of course I do!" The slight blush on the girl's cheeks and the happiness with which she responded made, again, many students turn to see them.

They both advanced between the corridors and stairs to class. Their classrooms were not that far from each other. Since Jade belonged to the second class and Sebastian to the third class. Only one wall separated them. And at times like this he wishes she could be in the same class as him, he had no spirits to bear the apologies of the silver haired boy and repeat a lot of times that Hirsch regretted yelling at him. He knew perfectly that! Sebastian didn't have to hear it from him.

They passed the first class, corresponding to Hirsch and Yoram. As he passed through the door, he leaned out to see if his best friend was already inside. There were already too many students inside, most of them concentrated in the opposite corner to the door. Because there were so many students in that part, he couldn't see what all of them were observing. However, he could not see Hirsch's special feature hair anywhere. The second class was next. When everyone noticed that Jade had arrived, all the students quickly sat down in their places. He was able to realize that she had all her classmates under control.

"Thanks for joining me", she smiled at him, staying in the doorway.

"You're welcome. I was just passing through, anyway", he shrugged, dismissing it. He gripped the loop of his backpack to continue his way, leaving the young woman standing where she was.

When he entered in the classroom, his classmates looked at him and continued their talks that they had moments before. However, they left him with the feeling that everyone was talking about what happened the day before. Just thinking about that, his cheeks turned pink with embarrassment. Of course, they would be talking about him, probably making fun of the situation he had found himself in. He was betting that, by that time, the entire school knew what had happened.

He took a seat in one of the chairs in front near the door, because there he felt somehow safe. From his backpack he took out a pen, constantly pressing the button on the pen that brought out the tip at the other end. He bit the nails on his other hand as he watched the students pass through the hallways. Many were unaware of his presence in that place, but others, like the tall, tanned boy, greeted him.

"Sebas..."