A Book and its Cover

So here I am, stuck between two wrongs and a half-right. I say half because the student council room IS my destination after all, but without proper investigation I have no idea if I’m walking into a room full of people or worse, Tsuki Nora herself. Why does romance have to be so hard??

As I clung to the wall, searching for a way out, I could hear the teachers’ voices growing louder. Time was ticking and I neeed to make a decision quick. My sweaty hand made a grab for the door as I stood there, my back against it. My vision went blurry as I scanned the hall for the hundredth time before taking a deep breath and-

Just at that moment, the student council room opened. I whirled around. Out came a tall girl with blonde hair tied up in two pony tails. It was the student council’s president: Tsuki Nora.

“I-“

Before she could say another word my body moved on its own, placing my hand on her mouth I pushed her back inside the student council room and shut the door behind me. She was too stunned to speak. So was I.

The sound of teachers’ voices passing by got louder as I heard them pass by. We stood there in silence, my back pressed against the door one hand on the handle and the other over her mouth. It felt like an eternity.

As I looked up slowly, still not totally thinking straight I saw Tsuki’s eyes staring down at me. They were full of anger and confusion, but as I looked up at her they slowly lost their fire, widening a little as a result.

The teachers finally passed, leaving us in silence. Tsuki slowly raised her hand up to her mouth and removed my hand that was still covering it. Trembling, I let her. I still couldn’t think straight, but I was in for the biggest scolding of my life. I swallowed, bracing myself for something big only to hear

“Are you okay?”

What?

I looked up at her again. Her one hand was covering her mouth in shock and the other, I noticed, was still holding mine. Wait how did I not notice that? Everything’s just so blury…

“I…look I was just-“

“Treyson, you look terrified whats wrong?” she asked in a sympathetic tone I never associated with her before. What’s wrong? Now that is a very good question. Definitely not not like I was just running for my life or anything a minute ago…

“Look at me I’m i-in a school full of t-teachers and-“ I stuttered, swallowing as I tried to control my shaky voice. Wow I guess the whole experience was pretty nerve-wracking through I didn’t think it shook me up this badly. I need a breather.

As if reading my thoughts exactly, Tsuki started to walk towards the water dispenser in the corner of the room, taking me by the hand as she did so.

“You don’t owe me an explanation just yet. Drink some water you’re sweating like the black plague,” she said in a motherly tone, another voice I had never associated with her until now.

“I’m fine I just need to…” I started. A surging pain in my head cut me short, forcing me to clutch my neck and groan in pain a little.

“Here,” said Tsuki in a near whisper as she handed me a paper cup filled with water. I accepted the cup and gulped down the contents all at once. I never knew I needed that so badly. That’s another reminder to stay hydrated everyone!

Gasping for air, I handed the cup back to her, trying to say, “Please can I have some more,” but I think it came out more like, “Pease ca I ‘ave summ oree,” which is why she laughed before taking the cup from me and refilling it. Still making people laugh while near death, what can I say.

This time I sipped the water slowly, savouring it as I caught my breath and tried to comprehend the situation a little better. As I did so, I felt the touch of a towel swiping across my hand. I looked up from my cup to see Tsuki, sitting on the table, legs crossed with a towel in hand that she was dabbing onto my hand.

Okay now that I’ve officially caught my breath…why is she being so nice??

Before I could voice my thoughts she leaned in, moved the hair from my forehead and gently dabbed at it as well. I closed my eyes, trying to avoid the towel from hitting them and also in order to wake up from whatever crazy dream I was stuck in.

“Am I dead?” I murmured, as she dabbed the back of my neck and face too.

“Hm?”

“Did the teachers kill me? Is this heaven?” I asked, half-seriously. I mean what else explains this.

She giggled as she, rolled her sleeves up and went wet the towel under some water before placing it on the back of my neck.

“Better?” she asked softly.

“Mmhm,” I groaned a little as I squinted my eyes closed. Where did this headache come from?

As if hearing my thoughts, Tsuki answered, “You’re under a lot of stress Treyson, just take it easy okay? Breathe for me.”

I took a few deep breaths before opening my eyes again and looking at her. She was smiling at me with her head tilted to the side. Suddenly she broke into a frown as she brought her hand up to my jaw, squeezing it,

“Relax your jaw you’re clenching,” she scolded me.

“Okay okay cut it out!” I protested, waving her affection away. She brought her hand up to her mouth again and giggled.

“Okay Mr Tough-guy. Now that you’re clearly feeling better do you mind telling me what on earth you’re doing here?” she said, a hint of her old commanding self in the gentle, soft voice I was beginning to grow used to.

I closed my eyes trying to remember why I was here again Oh right the list!

I spied it on the table that Tsuki was sitting on. Pointing to it I explained, “See, I really need the list over there. Remember yesterday you-“

“Here,” she said, handing me the list.

Wait, what? Oh come on, don’t tell it was this easy!

“Wait why are you-“

“I just have one question,” she said, as I took the list from her in disbelief.

“Yeah?” I said, scanning the names before looking back up at her.

“Why go through all this trouble…just for that list?”

I sighed. That’s a good question.

Swallowing, I scratched the back of my head, blushing a little. “Well you see there’s this girl-“

Tsuki burst out laughing and clapped her hands as she rocked on the table.

“Oh come on! Look, I know it sounds dumb bu-“

“Shh! I’m not laughing at you,” she said, wiping tears from her eyes as she held a finger up to my face while catching her breath. “It’s cute, it’s really cute. A little dumb but cute.”

Sliding off the table, she stood up and placed a hand on my shoulder.

“I understand,” she said softly.

As annoyed as I was with her laughing…I believed her.

Walking towards the door she went on, “but what you did today was extremely reckless, I hope you know that.”

“I know I know, I just wanna find her okay?”

I said, putting the list in my pocket and slumping a little.

Tsuki looked back and smiled, “Well that much is obvious, but next time don’t be afraid to just ask for help.”

“Well you were the one who snatched it in the first place!” I snapped.

She looked down a little before turning back to me,

“Um, about that,” she said slowly, “I looked into your claim about Mr J Saunders and it turns out you were right…he is the owner of our school, I was wrong…”

I looked at her in disbelief, “So…that’s why you were so nice all of a sudde-“

“No!” she shouted, shocking both me and her. “No,” she repeated a little softly before continuing,

“Before, I thought you were the average annoying, obnoxious, wannabe-comedian kid that constantly gets on everyone's nerves…but after seeing you so fragile yet…determined,” she sighed. “I don't know, you just…

She looked away.

“You reminded me of a little girl I know who wasn’t so different once…”

I stared at her, too stunned to speak. She looked at the ground sadly, reminiscing about the past perhaps.

“Look Lina’s short so I get where the fragile bit fits, but I wouldn’t necessarily call her determined,” I said.

“Wait what-“ she said, looking up suddenly, “No, I was talking about-“

“I know,” I said, smiling up at her.

“Oh…” she said, giggling a little before sighing. “Thank you.”

“And thank you…for everything.”

The school bell echoed through the school, causing us to snap back to reality.

“You better be going,” I said.

“Yeah…Oh my gosh so should you! Wait how are you gonna get ba-“

“Relax, relax,” I laughed. Who knew Tsuki was such a worrier? 

“I’ll slip out when everyone is in class,” I explained.

“Just don’t get caught this time,” she said with a raised eyebrow. “Oh wait, how are you gonna get home? I guessed someone dropped you off so assuming they think you’re at school, wouldn’t leaving early-“

“I walked, don’t worry I’ll just hang out till school ends and then go home.”

“You walked??? Treyson, that’s dangerous!” she exclaimed with a gasp.

“Tsuki, I always walk, I'll be fine,” I said, rolling my eyes as I adjusted my back straps and walked towards the door. “Seriously, you worry too much.”

“No I think I worry just the right amount necessary for you,” she scolded as she pulled out a small piece of paper from a paper holder on a desk and scribbled down something before handing it to me.

“What’s this?” I asked as I accepted it curiously,

“What does it look like, it’s a phone number dummy.”

“Oh…but why?”

“Text me when you get home, I wanna make sure you’re safe,” she said in that authoritative tone…or is it a big sister tone?

“Okay geez I’ll be fine,” I said, opening the door cautiously before stepping outside.

“Mhm time will tell…oh and keep me posted about the whole girl thing,” she said, nudging me as she followed me through the doorway. Yip, definitely a big sister tone!

“Okay okay cut it out and don’t say it so loud!” I said, pushing her away.

“Uh huh, sorry for almost blowing your cover Mr Bond,” she mocked as she looked at me one last time for a second too long.

“What is it?” I asked, looking up at her.

“Nothing,” she said, a little…sadly. She looked down for a second at me, with a smile on her face this time. “Good luck, Treyson Baller.”

“Thanks…Tsuki No-“

“That’s Miss Nora to you too,” she said, and with a flick of her hair she was off.

What a peculiar character. To think only yesterday she was the most annoying person I didn’t know but now that I had somewhat gotten a glimpse into her real self…oh who am I kidding, she was still really annoying! But now…there was something different about her, something…so comfortingly normal.

I couldn’t help but chuckle as I watched her go. After she disappeared with her eagerly awaiting friends, I turned away and began to walk the silent trip home. As I made my way out of the corridor and onto the school grounds only one thing was on my mind: finding my Malva-…hold on, WHERE THE HECK IS ZACK??

_______________________________________________________________

I have no idea, but find out next time on Eh Malva Girl?…Chapter 7!

You aren’t gonna give a title this time?

We’ll leave it as a surprise.

Just seems like you haven’t written it yet to me.