Expecting as much

"Oops" Thomas said while bending down to pick up the rolling pen that had come to land next to his feet. "There you go" he gave it back to the owner. It was only then he finally noticed the beautiful girl sitting next to him.

Adrianne fixed her hair behind her ear and mumbled some shy 'thanks' before grabbing the pen.

"No problem" he said smiling "catching rebellious pens is my specialty."

Adrianne giggled softly but avoiding his gaze, which Thomas found a bit charming. He observed her from his desk.

Long honey-brown hair that fell parsimoniously following her body shape to her waist, like some fine cloth. A pair of cold grey eyes hidden under some long, very long, brown eyelashes that curved their way up. Almond-color skin that seems made out of marble; with a light, natural pink blush in both cheeks. And a smile so beautiful it was breath-taking even for a guy like him.

She was the perfect candidate to be what Thomas takes as the school goddess. After all, every school has one.

His smile faded and was replaced by bitterness. A yukky feeling climbing his throat.

"Then I think I can finally stop worrying about losing my pens, hm?" Adrianne peeked at him from behind her bangs. "Thanks to your unique abilities"

Thomas hurried to smile back again, not letting his eyes show how sad he suddenly felt. "Anytime."

Then the conversation died.

Adrianne was beautiful indeed, from every angle you see her. But Thomas has never cared about those things. Girls like that are all the same. Vain, conceited. Always thinking their life is settled. Always thinking they can do whatever they want because everyone is so determined to please them. Always choosing the external beauty to set their relationships, because that's all they care about.

Nasty memories from his past got back to him. He used to be surrounded by those odious persons. He used to know a girl just like that.

But then again, Adrianne didn't even put an eye on him. She was peacefully writing her notes and definitively not caring about the man next to her, nor for the rest of the guys from the class throwing quick love glances at her from time to time. Thomas hopped he had read her wrong.

He went back to his notes…or at least to the place where his notes should be. He hasn't really done anything since he arrived to class and he wasn't really planning on doing something anytime soon. It's not like it mattered, he was going to take those after-class lectures with this dude anyway.

He smiled while finishing his ugly-Moore doodle.

He couldn't wait for it.

ﮪﮫﮬﮭ ﮪﮫﮬﮭ ﮪﮫﮬﮭ ﮪﮫﮬﮭ ﮪﮫﮬﮭ ﮪﮫﮬﮭ ﮪﮫﮬﮭ

"Because-they-are-fucKING CURLED. Means they crunch in your mouth like a damn yummy-munchy-crunchy heaven."

"Makes no sense. The curler, the less flavored."

Back to class 4, Moore and Tobey were having a heated conversation about which fries were better.

"How does that have anything to do with anything?"

"It's simple! Curly fries are more fried than French fries. All the flavor is lost by the oil."

"But they are more fun to eat."

"It's about the quality, boss."

"And you dare talk about sense? That makes even less sense!"

"Does not."

"Does yes."

"Now that doesn't make sense. I'm not American, and even I can tell how seriously grammar-mistaken y'are."

"Grammar-mistaken doesn't even exist."

"Your sense of good taste neither."

Moore gawked exaggeratedly offended.

"Oh, you did not just say that!" he scoffed. "But honestly, why would I even listen to the culinary opinion of someone who serves the milk before the cereal, in the first place?"

"What'ya mean? That's just the right way to do it."

"It's not."

"It's yes."

"Hey! You can't steal my phrases, take that back immediately." Moore pointed his finger towards the desk, like in remarking his seriousness.

"Never" Tobey crossed his arms and looked away, indignant.

Even though his point of view about curly delicacies and un-correct wording syntax was very important for Moore to defend, he couldn't help himself from feeling slightly uncomfortable by the filthy glances and whispers his classmates were throwing at him. Ever since news were spread, people hadn't stopped talking and moping over their phones and over Moore, calling him names like 'scavenger' and other weird appellatives. Moore threw death glances back at them as much as he could, making them shut up the moment they meet his gaze. But in times of fresh gossip, he needed more than heavy looks to stop them from murmuring back again as soon as he turned.

Still, he put up his best act to look all cool and fresh like a lettuce the moment the bell rang again, standing from his seat to pack his books. It was midday break, which meant they had to change classes after 40 minutes of freedom; Moore and Tobey often chose to spend them eating at the football field stands.

Today, though, a raging storm was still pouring its hell outside, so the football field stands picnic was not a possibility.

They opted to strike at the cafeteria, which Moore soon regretted. The very moment he stepped foot, he could feel a massive wave of glances looking at him. If the tension inside his classroom was already unbearable, you can only imagine how suffocating it was for him to be there. But he could not let it show.

Steady and cool, Moorie, steady and cool.

"What?" He stopped to glance at everyone, one by one "Anybody got a problem with me?" His voice sounded firm and strong, and it made the whole crowd's attention officially fall over him, together with the heavy cape of silence that came next. "Good. Seems like not."

Making his way to the waiting line, Moore walked with his chin proudly up, not allowing himself to look affected by anything around him. Remember I said he was a good actor? People moved sideways, making way for him to pass. He was already feeling the +respect aura the herd was beginning to show again, scared to upset him, as most of them diverted their gazes to avoid his. He was sure he was looking super awesome, like Tom Cruise in one of those action scenes with a super cool soundtrack backing him up and all.

Tobey, as usual, was following him while searching through the depth of his wallet for cafeteria coupons.

Then a random girl appeared from somewhere in the multitude and approached them, stopping right in front of Moore. She had a hurt look and was pouting.

"Uhm, can I help you?" Moore said with a hint of confusion.

The girl slapped him on the face. Very hard. Moore didn't saw that coming, so he fell to the floor due to inertia.

"I thought we had something special!" she blurted out before Moore could manage to say anything. "You! Little…Salamander!"

"Sala-what?" he rubbed his cheek, and when he tried to meet the girl's eyes, she was already leaving, chanting her ass on the way.

That was not what he had in mind.

"Well, that was…really not what I had in mind." He glanced up to Tobey, who just stared at him in return. "What are you looking at!?" he frowned. "Come here and help me."

"Oh" Tobey hurried to grab both Moore's arms and pulled him back with big effort, kicking his little legs against the floor. –"Who's that, anyway?"- He asked the moment Moore was back on his feet. –"One of your hookies?"

"Dunno…never seen her before." He gestured strongly to ease the pain in his cheek. "but, oh man, what an arm!" He fixed his hair and bent down to pick up his backpack, noticing everybody was still looking at him with a mix of confusion and joy on their faces. "Are you done staring or what?" he spat. "Show's over, so go back to your life now."

And so, everybody returned to their own activities as if nothing had happened.

"Guess that'll be on the media soon, too." Tobey laughed as they began to walk again. "Can't blame them, that was hilarious!"

"Ugh no, luckily nobody even got the chance to take photos."

"What'ya mean boss? Even I took photos"

"Tobey!"

Moore was ready to squeeze poor Tobey's neck when a sudden gasp arose from the multitude again. Whispers and giggles soon began to fill the cafeteria ambiance and Moore's bottle of patience.

"Now what!?" he looked up, ready to spill another of his poisonous speeches when he realized, this time, people weren't looking at him. All gazes were fixed somewhere on the entrance.

He turned to see what was it that seemed more important than him, just to find himself as impressed as everyone else.

Arriving from the cafeteria entrance, Adrianne and Thomas were walking together, chatting, joking, and laughing as if they were lifetime friends. And they were heading towards Moore.