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I am currently running to the rooftop, after finally finding out Michelle’s location because of Adam. I truly wish I had looked for Adam in the first place, I feel out of breath after running through those classrooms and all of those places in the school(maybe I should have taken P.E more seriously). I even texted Michelle, why wouldn’t she answer?
-
I am running towards Michelle’s classroom, hoping that I can find her. I can see it now. I open the door, hoping to find Michelle.
“Mi- Oh, Adam!” Instead I am looking at Adam. It’s not Michelle, but at least I can probably ask him where she is.
“Hey Toby, is something wrong?” He asks me.
“No, nothing is wrong. I just wanted to know where Michelle is.”
“Oh, Michelle?”
“Yes, please. I want to talk with her but she hasn’t answered my texts.”
“She’s probably at the rooftop Toby, but if she’s not, come back to this classroom and I’ll help you.”
“Thanks Adam.” I leave the classroom in a hurry.
-
“Michelle! Finally, I found you!” I shouted while opening the door of the rooftop and running towards her.
“H-huh? Toby? What are you doing here…?”
“To look for you, I couldn’t get a hold of you when I texted you. I wouldn’t know where you were if it wasn’t for Adam.”
“You talked with Adam?”
“Yes, I visited your class to see if you were there, but I found Adam, so I asked him where you were.”
“O-oh… y-you went to my class?”
“I did, and…”
“I’m so sorry for yesterday! I shouldn’t have ditched you like that and you were worried because I was acting this way, but I’m ok now, I was in a bad mood and-”
“That’s in the past. It bothers me a bit, but I want to talk to you for another reason…”
“Talk to me about-” Michelle’s expression changes from a worried happy one to a shocked one, leaving us in a silence.
“So, Michelle… is something bothering you?” I ask her. After all, I just want to know what is wrong and what is making her feel down.
“Oh… ha ha, it’s nothing, really! What’s been happening later is making me more tired, that’s all!” Her expression is back to the worried happy one.
“Please don’t lie to me. You can trust me, I promise.”
“You know, my sleep schedule doesn’t help a lot, and it makes me feel a lot more tired…”
“Michelle, did I do something wrong? I’m genuinely asking.”
“W-what? Toby, of course you didn’t do something wrong!”
“I’ll be more straightforward then… ever since we went on the trip with Ben, your expression has been… off. And I hoped you’d talk to me about it.”
“There’s n-nothing wrong! With my expression! And if there was truly something off with it, I wouldn’t be as energetic as I am or… it doesn’t have anything to do with you!”
“You’re wrong… it affects me. Even if you think it has nothing to do with me. If Ben felt down, you wanted to help him right?” Michelle nods as an answer.
“This is the exact same. It’s normal for me to want to help a friend in need. After the trip, I just went on google to search for advice…”
“And… what was the advice?”
“‘Sometimes, talking can make things worse.’... and if that’s what you’re dealing with, Michelle , I don’t mind. You don’t have to tell me if you’re uncomfortable or you’re not able to right now.”
“T-Toby…”
“J-just know I won’t give up, I can’t bear to see that look in your face. I want to help you in any way I can… so please.”
“Please what, Toby?”
“Tell me when you’re ready to. Not when you’re not confident about telling me about what’s happening, but when you feel truly ready. I will be waiting for you to tell me until you’re ready to talk to me about it, as long as you need.” The same silence from before starts to linger again.
Was I too straightforward? Shouldn’t I have been kinder, like I am with the teachers? Shouldn’t I be able to know what to say, if I am a valedictorian? I should probably ask that.
“Michelle? Was I-”
“It could be a very long time… you know? Are you still going to wait for me in case it’s a very long time?” Oh. Is she worried that I won’t be waiting for her?
“I’ll still be waiting, by your side.”
“By my side…? Until then…? Oh Toby, there’s no way you’ll be waiting for… oh.” I hope she realizes I am 100% serious. But why is she quiet out of nowhere? I really should practice socializing with Sam at this point, that’s why I keep getting in those awkward situations! The least I can do is ask if Michelle is ok again.
“Michelle?”
“Thanks, Toby… thank you so much. I feel a lot better now. I’m not ready to tell you now, but when I feel ready… will you please hear me out? Does this work for you?”
“Ok, I understand that, and I will hear you out. This works for me, as long as you promise me you’ll let me when you’re ready.”
“I will…”
“Good… wait… I have to-!” No! I forgot that today I’m doing that simulated test to study for that test!
“What? You have to what Toby?”
“Ah! How could I have forgotten about the simulated test?!”
“You’re so nerdy Toby, and you put in a lot of effort in your grades. No wonder you're the valedictorian of our class… I don’t think you should worry, you’ll be fine! It’s only this time you’re late anyways, and you have passed this entire year at this point.” Is she talking to herself? Wait, she's complimenting me?
“Where did I leave my stuff!? And how could I have forgotten about such a thing?” I start desperately looking for my stuff, and I start running through the rooftop, searching for my things. Thankfully, my things were near the entrance to the rooftop. Before I go I should say bye to Michelle:
“M-Michelle? Bye! See you later tonight!”
“O-oh! Yeah! Bye Toby, see you!” I run down the stairs as fast as my body can take me, I barely have any stamina in my body at this point.
“I’m sorry, Toby.”