Attempt

The evening sun cast long shadows across Principal O'Gassery's cozy suburban home. The trio sat in the living room, their backpacks discarded near the door. The hum of the air conditioner was the only sound for a moment as they exchanged uneasy glances. It had been a long day, and their encounter with Changra lingered heavily in their minds.

Principal O'Gassery entered the room, wiping his hands on a dishtowel. "Dinner's almost ready," he said with his usual warm smile. "You three settling in alright?"

Jane straightened up, her auburn hair catching the golden light streaming through the window. "Yes, sir. Thank you for letting us stay here."

O'Gassery waved her gratitude off. "It's no trouble at all. I'm happy to help you adjust."

Aria leaned forward slightly, her dark hair framing her face. Her tone was calm but probing. "Principal O'Gassery… do you know a student named Changra Leville?"

O'Gassery paused, his smile faltering for just a moment before he leaned back against the doorway. "Changra Leville? Of course, I know him." His tone carried a mix of curiosity and concern. "Why do you ask?"

Thorne, sitting on the edge of the couch, interjected. "We… see him at school. Want to know more."

O'Gassery chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Changra's a bit of a mystery, even to me. But his aunt—now she's something else." His eyes twinkled as he spoke. "Evelyn Leville is one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen. Graceful, sharp-witted, and carries herself like royalty. She's a regular at school meetings, always polite, but there's an air about her that makes you sit up straighter."

Jane exchanged a glance with Aria, her brow furrowing slightly. "And Changra? What's he like?"

O'Gassery's expression shifted, his smile dimming as he folded his arms. "Changra's… complicated. He's a bright boy—very intelligent. But he's also quiet, withdrawn. Keeps to himself most of the time. I don't think he's ever had many friends, and there's a heaviness about him, you know? Like he's carrying something too big for a kid his age."

Aria's voice was steady but laced with curiosity. "Why do you think that is?"

O'Gassery sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's hard to say. There are rumors, of course. Kids can be cruel, and Changra's never been one to defend himself against their whispers. Some say he's troubled, maybe even dangerous. Others think he's just… different." He hesitated, his eyes narrowing slightly as if recalling a distant memory. "But Evelyn—she's fiercely protective of him. She's shut down more than one parent who tried to complain about his behavior, not that there's been much to complain about. He keeps his head down, does his work. He's… quiet."

Jane's hands tightened in her lap. "So, he's never… caused any trouble?"

"Not directly," O'Gassery admitted. "But there's something about him that makes people uneasy. Maybe it's the way he looks at you, like he's seeing right through you. Or maybe it's just the fact that he doesn't fit the mold of what people expect. I don't know. I've tried reaching out to him a few times, but he doesn't say much. He's polite, though—always respectful."

Thorne leaned forward, his brows furrowed. "What about… family? Just aunt?"

"From what I understand, yes," O'Gassery said, nodding. "His parents passed away when he was young, and Evelyn took him in. She's done a good job, all things considered. But even she can't seem to pull him out of his shell."

Jane exchanged another glance with Aria, a silent conversation passing between them. "Thank you," she said finally, her voice quiet but firm. "We just… wanted to know more."

O'Gassery smiled faintly, pushing off the doorway. "I get it. He's an interesting kid, no doubt about that. But tread carefully. Changra's not the kind of boy you can push too hard, and I'd hate to see you get hurt trying to help him."

With that, he disappeared into the kitchen, leaving the trio alone. The room fell silent again, the weight of O'Gassery's words hanging in the air.

Aria broke the silence first. "So, he's not just withdrawn. He's… isolated. By choice or by circumstance."

Jane nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "But he's still Changra. We can't give up on him."

Thorne leaned back, his gaze fixed on the ceiling. "Not easy. But… we keep trying."

November 14th

The crisp November air nipped at their cheeks as Jane, Aria, and Thorne walked purposefully across the school courtyard. Leaves in shades of gold and amber swirled around them, carried by the chilly breeze. It was lunchtime, and the group had decided that today would be their first attempt to get through to Changra. They'd agreed on something simple: invite him to eat with them.

Jane clutched a small tray of cookies they'd picked up from the cafeteria, hoping a gesture of kindness would open the door—if only just a crack. She glanced at Aria, who gave her a small, encouraging nod. Thorne, carrying his own tray of food, seemed unusually quiet, his eyes scanning the courtyard.

Across the way, Changra sat alone at a weathered picnic table near the edge of the school grounds, his back to the brick wall. His notebook lay open in front of him, and he was writing intently, seemingly oblivious to the world around him. A half-eaten sandwich sat untouched beside him, the apple next to it still shiny and whole.

"He's alone again," Jane whispered, her voice tinged with a mix of concern and hope.

"Perfect time," Thorne muttered. "We… go now."

Aria rolled her eyes but followed as Jane took the lead. The three approached cautiously, their footsteps crunching softly on the gravel. Changra didn't look up, his pen moving across the page in smooth, deliberate strokes. Jane cleared her throat gently, but he didn't respond.

Finally, she spoke, her voice warm but tentative. "Hi, Changra."

His pen paused mid-stroke, and his faded blue eyes flicked upward. He stared at them for a moment, his expression blank but guarded. "What do you want?"

Jane smiled, holding out the tray of cookies. "We thought you might want some company. And… maybe a cookie?"

Changra's gaze dropped to the tray, then back to her face. His eyes narrowed slightly, suspicion creeping into his expression. "Why?"

Jane blinked, caught off guard by the blunt question. "Why… what?"

"Why are you talking to me? Why are you here?" His tone was flat, but there was an edge to it, like he was waiting for the catch.

Aria stepped forward, her voice calm but direct. "Because we want to get to know you. There's nothing wrong with that."

Changra's gaze shifted to her, and for a moment, something flickered in his eyes—something unreadable. But then he shook his head, closing his notebook with a deliberate motion. "I don't need friends," he said simply, his voice cold but not unkind. "And I don't need pity."

Jane's smile faltered, but she pressed on. "It's not pity. We just… thought you might like someone to sit with."

Changra's lips pressed into a thin line. He stood, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "I'm fine on my own."

He stepped away from the table, his movements quick but not rushed. The trio watched in silence as he disappeared into the building, leaving his half-eaten lunch behind.

Thorne let out a long sigh, scratching the back of his head. "Well. That… not work."

Aria crossed her arms, her expression unreadable. "He's not going to make this easy."

Jane stared at the empty spot where Changra had been, her chest tightening with frustration. "We'll try again. He needs time."

Aria's gaze softened slightly, and she nodded. "Then we'll give him time. But we won't stop."

Novemeber 28th

The late-November chill filled the air as the trio waited outside the school, their breaths visible in the crisp afternoon light. The school day had ended, and the courtyard was bustling with students heading home or lingering to chat with friends. Jane pulled her jacket tighter around herself, watching as Thorne shifted restlessly from foot to foot.

"You're sure this will work?" Aria asked, her dark eyes fixed on Changra, who stood near the bike racks adjusting his bag. He was alone as usual, his expression distant as he stared at the fading sunlight.

Thorne grinned, his usual energy returning. "It work. Everyone like bowling. Fun."

Jane sighed, handing him the flyer they'd picked up from the local bowling alley. "Just… try not to scare him off, okay? He doesn't trust us yet."

Thorne waved her off, his confidence undeterred. "I be… careful. Trust me."

He strode toward Changra, the flyer clutched in his hand. Jane and Aria stayed a few steps back, ready to intervene if necessary but allowing Thorne to take the lead. As he approached, Changra glanced up, his faded blue eyes narrowing slightly as they landed on him.

"What do you want this time?" Changra asked, his tone flat but not hostile.

Thorne stopped a few feet away, holding out the flyer with an awkward grin. "Bowling. You come with us."

Changra blinked, staring at the flyer as if it were a foreign object. He didn't take it. "Bowling?" he repeated, his voice tinged with confusion.

Thorne nodded eagerly. "Yes. Good game. Fun. We go… together. You come too."

Changra's gaze flicked to Thorne's face, then to the flyer, then back again. "Why would I want to do that?"

"Why not?" Thorne countered, his grin widening. "Good time. Laugh. Relax."

Changra tilted his head slightly, studying Thorne with an expression that was impossible to read. For a moment, he seemed to consider the offer, but then his shoulders stiffened, and his gaze hardened.

"I don't do… things like that," Changra said finally, his voice quiet but firm. "I don't… hang out."

Thorne's grin faltered slightly, but he pressed on. "Not about hanging out. Just fun. No pressure."

Changra shook his head, his faded eyes darting to the flyer again before returning to Thorne's face. "I said no. I'm not going."

Thorne hesitated, clearly at a loss for how to respond. Behind him, Jane and Aria exchanged worried glances. Jane took a small step forward, but Aria placed a hand on her arm, stopping her.

"It's okay," Changra added, his tone softer but still distant. "I just… don't do that kind of thing. You should go without me."

Before Thorne could say anything else, Changra adjusted the strap of his bag and turned away, heading toward the street. He didn't look back.

Thorne stood there for a moment, the flyer still in his hand, before letting out a frustrated sigh. "He not even try," he muttered, turning back to the others.

Jane's expression was sympathetic as she stepped closer. "He's scared, Thorne. It's not about the bowling."

Aria nodded, her arms crossed tightly. "He's protecting himself. He doesn't trust us, and he doesn't think he needs to."

Thorne crumpled the flyer slightly in his hand, his shoulders slumping. "I just want… him smile. Even a little."

Jane placed a hand on his shoulder, her voice gentle. "We all do. We'll keep trying."

December 5th

The sun had dipped below the horizon, leaving the school courtyard bathed in the soft glow of streetlights. A faint chill hung in the air, signaling the approach of winter. Jane, Aria, and Thorne waited near the front steps, their breaths visible in the cold evening air. Tonight, they had a new plan: inviting Changra to join them for dinner at a local diner.

Thorne adjusted his jacket and glanced at the restaurant flyer in his hand. "Alright, this time… we just ask simple. Dinner is easy. No pressure."

Jane gave him an encouraging smile. "You're sounding more confident. That's good."

Aria crossed her arms, her expression unreadable as her gaze followed Changra's familiar silhouette emerging from the building. He walked alone as usual, his bag slung over one shoulder and his head slightly down.

"Let's just hope he doesn't bolt this time," Aria muttered.

Thorne stepped forward, his voice loud enough to catch Changra's attention but not aggressive. "Hey, Changra!"

Changra stopped mid-step, his faded blue eyes lifting to meet Thorne's. For a moment, he hesitated, his expression guarded. "What now?" he asked, his tone weary.

Thorne held up the flyer, his posture more relaxed this time. "Dinner. With us. Tonight."

Changra's brow furrowed, his gaze shifting to the flyer. "Dinner?" he echoed, his tone skeptical. "Why?"

"Why not?" Thorne replied, shrugging slightly. "Food is good. Better with company. We want you to come."

Changra stared at him, his expression unreadable. He glanced past Thorne at Jane and Aria, who stayed back but offered small, encouraging smiles. His gaze returned to Thorne, narrowing slightly. "Why do you keep asking me to do things? I told you before—I'm fine on my own."

Jane stepped forward now, her tone gentle but firm. "We're asking because we think you deserve more than being alone. It's just dinner. No pressure, no expectations. Just… eat with us."

Changra's lips pressed into a thin line, and he adjusted the strap of his bag. "I don't think that's a good idea."

"Why not?" Thorne asked, his voice softer now. "It's just food. We're not asking for anything else."

Changra hesitated, his gaze dropping to the ground. For a moment, it seemed like he might agree, but then he shook his head, his voice quiet. "I'm not good at… things like this. I don't want to ruin your night."

"You won't ruin anything," Jane said quickly, taking another step closer. "You don't have to say much. Just come, eat, and that's it."

Changra's shoulders tensed, and he took a small step back. "No," he said firmly, his faded eyes meeting Jane's for a brief moment. "I… I can't. I have to go."

Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away, his steps brisk and purposeful. The trio watched him disappear into the distance, the cold air between them heavy with unspoken frustration.

Thorne sighed, folding the flyer in half and tucking it into his pocket. "He didn't even think about it."

"He did," Jane said quietly, her gaze fixed on the direction Changra had gone. "He hesitated. He's just scared."

Aria let out a slow breath, crossing her arms tightly. "How long are we supposed to keep this up? He keeps shutting us out."

"As long as it takes," Jane replied, her voice steady but soft. "He's worth it."

Thorne nodded, his voice more resolute. "Next time… maybe he says yes."

December 12th

The library was quiet that afternoon, its warm glow a welcome refuge from the biting December chill outside. Rows of bookshelves stretched into the distance, and the faint hum of the heater filled the air. Jane, Thorne, and Aria sat at a table near the back, their notebooks and textbooks spread out before them. Today, it was Aria's turn to take the lead.

She glanced toward the entrance, her dark hair falling slightly into her face. "He's here," she whispered, her voice steady. "Just walked in."

Jane looked up, spotting Changra moving between the shelves. His usual faded blue hoodie hung loosely on him, and his bag was slung over one shoulder. He looked as withdrawn as ever, his movements quiet and deliberate as he scanned the shelves for something.

Thorne leaned back in his chair, keeping his voice low. "You sure about this, Aria?"

Aria gave him a pointed look. "Yes. Studying is neutral. It's practical. No pressure, no socializing—just work."

Jane nodded in agreement. "If anything has a chance, it's this."

Aria stood, straightening her posture. "Stay here. Let me handle it."

She walked toward Changra, her steps measured and calm. As she approached, he pulled a book from the shelf and turned, nearly bumping into her. He froze for a moment, his faded blue eyes meeting hers.

"Changra," Aria said, her voice soft but firm. "Hi."

He blinked, clearly caught off guard. "Hi," he said cautiously, stepping back slightly. "What… do you want?"

Aria gestured toward the table where Jane and Thorne sat, their heads lowered to give the appearance of being focused on their work. "We were studying and thought you might want to join us."

Changra frowned slightly, his gaze flicking to the table and back to her. "Why?"

"Because it's easier to study with other people," Aria said simply, her tone matter-of-fact. "We've all got finals coming up, and you seem like the kind of person who's good at this stuff."

He tilted his head, clearly skeptical. "You don't even know me."

"I don't have to know you to see that you're smart," Aria replied, her tone calm but direct. "And we could use the help. It's a win-win."

Changra hesitated, his grip tightening on the book in his hand. He glanced toward the table again, his lips pressing into a thin line. For a moment, it looked like he might actually say yes. His gaze softened slightly, the guarded look in his eyes flickering into something more uncertain.

"I…" He faltered, his voice quieter now. "I don't know."

Aria stepped closer, her expression patient. "It's just studying, Changra. No strings, no expectations. You don't even have to talk if you don't want to. Just sit with us."

Changra's shoulders tensed, and he looked away, his jaw tightening. "I can't," he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper.

Aria's brow furrowed. "Why not?"

He shook his head, his faded eyes meeting hers briefly before darting away. "Because it's better if I don't. I'm… not good at being around people."

"You don't have to be," Aria said gently. "We're not asking for anything more than your presence."

Changra hesitated again, the book still clutched tightly in his hand. He opened his mouth as if to speak, then closed it, shaking his head. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice flat but tinged with something Aria couldn't quite place. "I have to go."

Before she could respond, he stepped past her, walking briskly toward the far corner of the library. Aria stood there for a moment, her hands clenched at her sides, before returning to the table.

Thorne looked up as she sat down, his expression disappointed but unsurprised. "Still no?"

Aria sighed, rubbing her temples. "He almost said yes. I could see it. But something stopped him."

Jane nodded, her voice quiet. "He's scared. He doesn't know how to let people in."

Thorne leaned forward, his tone resolute. "Then we keep trying. He'll say yes… someday."

Aria glanced toward the corner where Changra had disappeared, her jaw tightening. "I hope you're right."

December 18th

The classroom buzzed with chatter as students shuffled into their seats, preparing for the day's group project. Desks were arranged in clusters of four, with papers and markers scattered across them. Changra sat at the far edge of the room, his desk pulled slightly away from the others. His faded blue hoodie hung loosely on him, his expression unreadable as he tapped a pencil idly against his notebook.

Jane, Aria, and Thorne stood near the door, watching him. This was their last chance before the holiday break. Their plan was simple: invite him to join their group for the project. Nothing more, nothing less.

"You sure this is the right way to go?" Thorne asked, his voice low but more confident than before.

Aria nodded firmly. "It's practical. He needs a group for this. We're offering him something he can't say no to."

Jane glanced at the clock, her brow furrowing. "Alright. Let's do this before someone else does."

They approached Changra's desk cautiously, not wanting to spook him. He looked up as they neared, his faded blue eyes narrowing slightly. "What now?" he asked, his tone wary but not as cold as before.

Aria stepped forward, her voice steady and calm. "We need a fourth person for our group. For the project."

Changra blinked, clearly caught off guard. "And you're asking me? Why?"

Jane offered a small smile, her tone gentle. "Because you're smart, and we think you'd be a great addition to our group."

Changra glanced around the room, his gaze landing on the other clusters of students. Most were already forming groups, chatting animatedly and laughing as they pushed desks together. His shoulders tensed slightly as he realized no one had approached him.

Thorne chimed in, his voice lighter than usual. "It's just one project. Not… big deal. We work, finish, that's it."

Changra stared at them for a moment, his pencil still tapping against his notebook. "Why me?" he asked again, his voice quieter now. "You could have asked anyone else."

Aria shrugged, her expression calm but insistent. "Maybe we could have, but we didn't. We asked you. That's all that matters."

He hesitated, his gaze dropping to his notebook. His fingers tightened around the pencil, and for a moment, it looked like he might refuse. Then, with a small sigh, he looked back up at them.

"Fine," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'll join your group. I needed one anyway, and no one else has asked."

Jane's face lit up with relief, and Thorne grinned broadly. Aria simply nodded, her expression steady but satisfied.

"Great," Jane said, pulling a chair closer to their table. "Let's get started."