The Purple Paragon: Beyond Between Now

Chapter 8

ALLISHA'S POV

Days went on, meeting Fritz and Ed changed me a lot. The feelings and moments they made me experienced were so incredibly different from what I had back when I studied my elementary in a religious school. I enjoyed every second. I am happy.

" Hey, my bestfriend!" Autumn greeted me while packing up my things after a long tiring day.

" What?" I said without even looking at her.

" I see your having a good time with your new friends. Huh!" She said and help herself down the concrete bench built under the trees with the perfect view of the landscape and and the sky. My favorite spot.

" Yeah! I guess. Opening up to others isn't that bad." I smiled and sat beside her.

" I am happy for you, in fact, you are friendly now as I have observed but you see, not everyone is as innocent as you," she said while staring out at the field.

" What do you mean?" I asked as I look at her intently.

"While you see this as just normal thing. But to others, it's a lot different. I know we all have our own perspectives but..." she hesitated.

" Straight to the point now Autumn," I said in a tone full of irritation.

" They made a fuss about you being an easy girl. Hanging out with boys, especially the Fritz one, he's popular in school, which I doubt you even cared to know," she hurriedly detailed.

" Yeah great! Anything they say isn't true. Fritz and his gang were the ones who pestered me to be friends with them, so just relax. I am not that easy type to just give in to persuasion. I made sure that they worth my friendship. Besides Fritz already mentioned that to me last time and we all just laughed about it." I said almost out of breath. " But, thank you for being a true bestfriend," I said and hugged her.

" Ew! Yuck! Go away! My bestfriend doesn't do hugs!" Autumn shouted in disgust and hit me again like she never had before. Stronger but sweeter. And she started running.

"Come back! I want to hug you again!" I screamed and ran after her.

" No! Disgusting creature."

We ran and chased each other like we used to without even paying attention to anyone.

" Bye Mr. Guard!" We both said as we reached the gate.

" Be careful you two. Again!" He responded in laughter.

I reached home by six o'clock in the evening. I went straight to my room but my mom said something that made me stop.

" So, you got the first spot again. You never mentioned." She said while looking at my certificate.

" Hm.I did but you were busy last time. So, maybe you just forgot," I said as I dropped to sit on the sofa.

" You got lucky again huh!" My mom said then left.

"I guess. But don't worry, I won't let it happen again." I whispered and went to my room.

As expected, she never bothered to reply.

Tears swelled in my eyes as I sat on my bed. I stayed for a minute and changed my uniform afterwards. I am still crying. And once again, I fell asleep crying.

I woke up and looked at my clock. I thought I just took a nap but it was already past two in the morning. I went out and gladly, I found some foods which surely my father left for me.

I ate while I did my homeworks. By four o'clock, I already prepared breakfast and took my time to get ready for school.

I slept throughout the ride and sleepily walked to our room. While on my way, someone stopped and held me on my head.

"Hugh! I wonder how those knowledge fit in this tiny head." Fritz teased. " Good morning!" He greeted and smiled.

" Let me go. Go away! Liar!" I tried to reach his hand but I gave up immediately. He's too tall to make it possible. He enjoyed doing this to me, whenever I am about to reach him, he would switch round until I surrender.

" What did I lied about?" He lowered his gaze to meet my eyes and asked sincerely.

" You never mentioned you are popular," I answered without changing my annoyed expression.

“ What? You really are different. Do I look popular to you?” he asked.

“ Whatever. No! You look crazy.” I said while grinning when I finally reached his hand and removed it.

“ Good. I am who I am based on how a person sees me. I like me just the way you see me. You see me just what I want to be.” He said with all the sincerity in his eyes. He smiled and pulled my bag, which left me no choice but to walk again with him.

It’s our job to clean the room every morning before class and as expected, Fritz, Ed, and their gang, pestered me while cleaning up.

“ You seem very close to the boys,” a girl said while approaching me.

“ Ah yeah,” I answered while tending on my sweat.

“ It doesn’t look good. Those are boys. Why don’t you try getting close to girls?” she said again with all the annoying tone I could perceive from her voice.

“ You want me to be your friend?” I asked without even bothering to tidy my hair after all the mess during the clean up.

“ What?” she beamed.

“ I am asking you, if you want me to be your friend. Look, they approached me first. So I assume, you approaching me means the same way,” I said as I looked at her. “ Wanna try? I have one, she’s more than enough but if you want me to be your friend, I can be.”

“ Ah sure!” she answered then I left to seat on my chair.

“ Hey, you don’t even asked my name,” she said while following me.

“ I do not befriend a person by name,” I said while putting my bag on my chair.

“ Then why ask me to be your friend?” she asked still lost of what’s happening.

“ I asked you, if you would like me to be your friend,”

“ Yeah, but…”

“ Look, the fact that you approached me and bravely tell that instead of backstabbing me is nice. So, I guess you are a good person, why not. Can you leave me now?” I said without hesitation.

“ What?!” she asked in shock.

“ Oooh! What do we have here? Looks like we have a new member,” Fritz said with a grin I already knew. He called Ed and the boys.

“ Welcome newbie!” They shouted while patting her head one by one and they started pestering her.

“ I see you’ve met one of the most unusual person out there. She’s weird right?” Ed told her and winked. " Come on now!"