New Beginnings

"I take thee at thy word: Call me but love, and I'll be new baptiz'd; Henceforth I never will be Romeo."

Yvann made a face. He slammed the script against the desk in front of him and placed his hands over his face.

A soft knock came by the door of the classroom they used for English class.

It was wide open. He left it open on purpose.

Szeina smiled at him from the front door.

"Hi,"

Yvann smiled back.

"Hey," he watched her walk and slowly approached him. Taking the closest seat to his right, she rummaged through her bag and pulled out her own copy of the script.

"I didn't think I'd see you today."

"Even if I want to skip school, Gran would never allow it."

"Your grandmother?"

Szeina chuckled, shaking her head. It amuses her that the moment she mentions Granola's name, people instantly think that she lives with an old woman.

"She did dye her hair grey once, but no, she's far from being an old fellow. Gran is a shortcut for Granola. Sorry for laughing, it wasn't your fault."

"You're blabbering." Yvann noted.

Szeina let out a sigh.

"I'm… sorry about yesterday."

"Why are you apologizing? We said some things. Things we don't usually talk about with other people. If you're worried about me saying anything to others, I'm not like that."

Locking gaze with Yvann, Szeina could imagine looking right into a storm. But underlying that storm, there was sunshine.

"Likewise. I'm a secret keeper."

"That's good to know."

"Indeed. You know what, why don't we start anew?" Szeina extended her right hand towards Yvann. "Hi, I'm Szeina, the newbie. Nice to meet you."

Yvann found it a little ridiculous, but in the end, he accepted her outstretched hand.

"I'm Yvann, football team captain. The pleasure is all mine."

"That wasn't so bad."

"Right. Well, things happen."

"They do. Anyway, what do you say if we change our venue? You were struggling to master your lines earlier. Would having some ice cream help?"

Yvann felt a little embarrassed. He could feel his cheeks burning a little at Szeina's comment.

Yet it was nothing but the truth.

He wasn't set for acting and though he was used to the language, his tongue gets tied around the words.

"Shameful as it is, yes. I think that would help better my pronunciation."

Szeina chuckled, getting on her feet.

"Come on, I know of a decent ice cream place nearby."

Following her lead, Yvann joined Szeina as they made it out in the hallway.

"Funny, I should be the one offering to take you to an ice cream shop around here. I'm the resident."

Szeina glanced Yvann's way and grinned.

"You're right. You should be. So, that settles it then. You're taking me."

"Sure. By the time we're done in there, you'll probably beg me to take you every day. Their ice cream flavors are to die for. My younger brother fell in love with that place as soon as he had his first scoop."

"Interesting. How old is your younger brother?"

"Six. He turns seven next month."

"He sounds cute."

"Believe me, when you meet him, you'd want to take him home. He's the only other person inside our house whom I can have fun around."

Szeina gave him a sympathetic look.

Clack, clack, clack.

Szeina recognized the sound of that. She was no longer surprised when the mean girls were suddenly blocking their path, cocky princess eyeing her up and down.

Arms crossing over her chest, she positioned herself in the middle of her minions, the two flanking her from behind.

"So, I guess the rumors were true."

Yvann stepped forward, his eyes narrowing at the trio.

"Whatever game you're brewing, Violet, leave Szeina out of it."

"Oh, you're already on a first name basis, huh? That's cute." Violet, the cocky princess, let her gaze fall on Szeina.

"Don't get your hopes up, Yvann will grow bored with you soon enough and, just like he always does, he'll leave you just at the time when things get too serious. Take that as me trying to be nice."

Violet then turned to Yvann, smiling sweetly at him, mocking him outright.

Szeina sensed that whatever happened between Yvann and this Violet, it didn't turn out so well. She concluded that the mean girl has yet to move on from Yvann breaking her heart. If it was what really happened.

Either way, she still hated her. She hated people like her who think they can be a bitch and not pay for it.

Coming to Yvann's side, Szeina slipped her hands in his. The act took Yvann by surprise, but instead of pulling away, he held on to her, sending a smile her way.

Szeina smiled back at him before facing Violet.

"I don't care about what happened between you and him. Likewise, what's going on between us is none of your business. Whether he and I worked out or not, in the end, that will be our problem, not yours. You're nothing but a speck in his past. If you can't move on from that, at least grow up."

Tugging at their intertwined hands, Szeina gently pulled Yvann and walked past Violet and her minions.

"You!" Violet bellowed, her voice echoing in the hallway. "We are so not done! This isn't the last of this, you hear me?!"

Szeina burst out laughing. She had enough of Violet's dramatics; she didn't care what she tries to do next.

When they made it out of the campus building and reached the parking lot heading towards Yvann's blue sports car, Szeina turned to him and asked.

"What did you even saw in her?"

Yvann shook his head, getting his car key out, clicking the button to turn off the alarm.

"Don't get the wrong idea. She was the one who chased after me. I thought she was alright."

Szeina rolled her eyes.

"Boys and clichés. Just admit it, she's too pretty to pass up."

Yvann refused to answer. He opened the passenger door for Szeina and scratched his head.

"I won't even defend myself."

His response sent Szeina on another laughing spree.

She watched him make his round and settled on the driver's seat.

"Piece of advice," she began. "Don't be deceived by a pretty face. They can appear like an angel, but if you remove the mask they're wearing, you'll see how far they have fallen."