Can't Handle The Heat

The rhythmic tapping of a pencil against the desk echoed about in the room as everyone was silently reading their assigned literature for the day. The room was dim and many had lost focus on the task at hand due to the lack luster book infront of them. Many hid their phones in the book or between their crotch as an escape from their responsibility and to engage in some brain numbing simulation only a phone can give. A handful of students had dozed off and barely anyone sparred them a glance. The sub sat behind the teachers desk and scrolled through their phone without a care about the students they were supposed to be supervising.

You haven't been focused at all enough to care about what the words on the page were infront of you as you found yourself staring at the same page for five minutes. Your mind wondered to the approaching date and worry crossed your brows. Two days till the day, the event, the incident. You dreaded the gaping hole in your chest as you continued to be swallowed by its anxiety.

Will you go to school on Friday? You didn't know if you could, whether it be because your father wouldn't let you or be because you physically couldn't put up with it that day. Stress was eating away at you as you continued to get lost in thought. Your pen tapped lightly on the surface below and you barely made a flinch when it slipped from your hand and onto the floor. Your nails were nawed and raw as you continued to chew and you barely heard the hushed whisper next to you. A hum was all you could muster in response, not having enough focus to understand what the whisper was saying. It was a moment of so before you felt a light nudge against your shoulder. At first you didn't feel it, it was so slight and gentle. That was until the nudge became more noticable as it shook one side of your body and grabbed your attention with the sudden interruption of your spiral.

Tao met your eyes as his hand remained resting on your shoulder. Your pen found itself on the desk again as the boy settled it down with his free hand. The tapping that echoed in the classroom became softer and slower in pace as you held eye contact with Tao. As you looked into his lavender hues you noticed something strange, he looked worried. Normally not much emotion passed his eyes or any other body language as he usually sat like a toy soldier, yet in this moment he actually reacted to.. something. You didn't know what but whatever it was it caught the both of you off guard.

'Snap.' The tapping pencil snapped in half as you two started to talk.

"What?" You whispered as his hand slowly slipped from your shoulder.

"You dropped your pen," He whispered back, pointing to the stupid thing that was now on the desk. "I picked it up because it seemed like you were... preoccupied."

Wow this is new. This probably the longest he's ever talked to you let alone express any emotion...what's the catch? You couldn't help but wonder before shaking that thought off.

'Yeah...it's not going to rain cats and dogs. It's more likely he was replaced by a lizard person.'

Whatever the change was ended too quickly as he just turned back to focus on his own work like he wasn't talking to you a moment prior. Weird....well it's a nice change, even if it was for a moment. It definitely kept you distracted long enough to forget about that day, even if it was only for five seconds.

_________________________

"Y/N!" Ronnie shouted from down the hall. His body tumbled out of the classroom as he tried to maintain balance with the amount of books he was carrying in his bag. "Are you ready?" His smile was wide and giddy, like a kid on Christmas.

Part of you felt terrible all of the sudden. "Excited for what?" You watched as Ronnie's face fell into sorrow at your words, making you instantly regret saying anything.

"Culinary is today... don't you remember? I-I thought you would have remembered-but, I mean, it's fine really!" Ronnie put his hands up defensively.

Shit, now you felt terrible.

"Ah! Oh no Ronnie! I'm so sorry! I-I didn't mean it like that-!" Now it was your turn to fumble. Your words were ramble leaving your mouth as you tried to scramble up an excuse.

"N-No! I-It really is fine!" Ronnie tired comforting you, which only made you feel shittier. What made things worse was you were already on your way to the bus loop after leaving PE. Sweat barely clung to you because you barely did enough to pay attention to the intense kickball game. The two of you decide to change course as you turn to leave towards the culinary room. It was located near the schools kitchen.

The walk there was a boy awkward as the two of you remained quiet for most of the trip. Another thing making tension was how time to time your hands would brush against one another. This accidental physical contact sent your chest a flutter for a moment for you could feel how warm they were based off of the heat they radiated. Part of you wanted to take hold of his hand or hug him, you yourself not fully understanding the sudden craving for another person touch. Maybe it was because you were stress and felt so isolated, or maybe because you wanted to date Ronnie. Maybe it was a mixture of both. Your thoughts began to romanticize a moment where the two of you were alone and you breaking down and leaning on him for support. You could almost feel how warm his embrace would be, how welcoming and excepting. Part of you wanted to be comforted by a guy you liked but you still feared the possibility of rejection and isolation from him.

The club was surprisingly popular as many filled the room. White vinyl floors covered the room in a clean fashion as stained-grey cabinets laid over and under the marble counter space. A large stainless steel refrigerator sat near the entrance of the room while a stale looking plant incubation container sat next to it. The back of the classroom held stoves, ovens, tables and chairs, and a pantry for dry ingredients. Most were patiently waiting for the club leader to walk in and begin the activity planned out for the day while others where already picking at unused goods found in the fridge. You and Ronnie stood in the back side by side while others had conversations around you.

"Hello everyone, thank you for coming to our first official club meeting of the year!" A short carrot-top guy shouted over the chatter with a needlessly chipper tone. He stood in the front of the class with his hands clasp together as a taller, lavender haired girl stood behind him with a stack of papers in hand. "If some of you don't know I'm the club leader, Max. The girl standing behind me is my assistant, Clare." Clare gave a nod of acknowledgement while Max's forest green irises trailed about the room. "Today I thought it would be fun to bake something simple banana bread. Clare will pass out the recipe we printed dout for everyone while I pass out the the ingredients. Everyone also needs to keep their belongings on the corner table to we don't have people tripping on bags left on the floor."

Ronnie looked at me with a smile while going to set his bag to the side. "I'm so excited y/n, this is going to be so fun!" He giggled while unzipping his bag and pulling out two brand new aprons. "I-I came prepared for today, I thought it would be nice to have matching aprons." Ronnie handed me one shyly before stepping back a few paces to put his on. I looked down at the yellow apron in my hands while feeling my heart rate pick up a few beats. I quickly slung the white straps over my head and started tying the back excitedly. I look over to Ronnie who now wears the same apron as me, feeling slight panic on how happy this small thing was making me.

"Alright y/n, a-are you ready?" Ronnie and I now stood near our claimed spot on the counter. Both of us looked over the wet and dry ingredients carefully that we had mixed in separate bowls. We were now ready to mix the wet and dry together and pour the batter into the bread pan. "I'll stur the mix together while you pour it in slowly, okay?" Ronnie looked real serious now. His apron had remained clean and tidy while he kept his hair back in a net. His hands stirred the mix carefully as I poured in the wet ingredients. The smell of sweet mashed banana fills my nose while my heart fluttered at the sight of Ronnie's expression.

"Okay, remember to keep it slow. If we pour it to fast-" right as Ronnie was talking about being careful the group next to us poured their dries into the wets, which sent a cloud of flour into the air which made a nice snow clouded head for myself. I turned around to see the pair were hit by the worst of it and gave me a shy smile.

"Oops..sorry girl, I-I didn't mean for that to happen." They giggle at one another after apologizing and fixing to clean their mess. With some butter annoyance I turned around to Ronnie, whom, was trying to hold back a strand of laughter.

"Pfft...y/n...you got something.." Ronnie began a weak gesture to my hair. "In your hair...pfft-!"

"Oh really?" I searched the back of my head and made sure my palm was covered in flour. "Did I get it?" I asked jokingly. Ronnie shook his head side to side.

"N-No...you still have some..."

"Oh, well, could you help get it for me..?" I giggled awkwardly at his goofy expression.

"I..uh..." Ronnie looked stunned for a moment. In his off guard state I pat his head gently.

"Oh no, Ronnie! You have something in you hair too!" I fake panic as Ronnie frantically tired to clean his now dirty hair.

'I'm sorry soft locks, the sacrifice needed to be made.'

"Y/N!"Ronnie whined lightly. "That's not funny!"

I laughed and he laughed. For once I had forgotten about my anxiety for a moment as I looked at his warm smile.