(Got carried away with this one but Reed was based on Thursday)

Reed sat, tired in his desk. He had been studying for the test tomorrow for 3 hours now. Already taking one today, he had immediately planned his afternoon over a large cup of coffee. He was so close to graduating, he just had to make it through these next few weeks. He was about to just collapse in the library and give up when his friend Madison texted that she needed help studying. He smiled at her request, thinking the next few hours might be bearable. When she arrived, hair wet from a shower, sweatpants and tight shirt, he couldn’t help but blush. He’d had a crush on her since they met during freshman year. She had been his ride or die, staying up late with him to get him through Algebra 2. He couldn’t count how many times she had sacrificed her sleep for his GPA. She was the smart one. The one who was in advanced classes and was naturally good at school. He wasn’t to say the least. That’s why on the rare occasion she wanted help going over something or on the almost impossible occasion where she didn’t understand something that he did understand, he was always ecstatic at the prospect of helping her like she always did for him.

She had a coffee in hand and a book bag slung over her shoulder. Sitting down she let out a groan and proceeded to take out her books.

“Hey.” She sighed through a yawn, leaning her head back in the cutest way possible.

“Hey.” He replied, a small smile on his lips.

She allowed herself one more second of tiredness before she sat up straight and proceeded to explain everything they needed to go over as well as the areas she didn’t understand.

He said “Ok.” To everything while focusing on her darting eyes in an amused sort of way.

She took a sip of coffee and suddenly got up, pausing her explanation momentarily. She walked away without a word, Reed sitting there waiting for her return. He knew she wouldn’t be long.

Five minutes later, she returned with another coffee in hand and set it down next to Reed.

“Thought you might want this.” She said, not looking at him, not smiling. Just, shuffling through her notes as she looked for the right papers with one hand and manned her computer, searching for assignments with the other.

They worked like that for 3 hours. Him softy explaining things to her and her talking quick, to fit in every detail she could think of. Every once in a while she would slow down to look over his shoulder while he was writing a passage, a smile of approval on her face. I think I like making her smile like that he thought to himself. Every once in a while they’re hands would accidentally brush and she wouldnt’ acknowledge it. To avoid confusion or embarrassment, he wasn’t sure. Despite this, he followed her lead and didn’t mention it, least she made sure it didn’t happen again.

Once they started working on their independent essays, she put on background music. The Neighborhood, sombr, and MICO. This was her style and while it definitely wasn’t his, he liked listening, knowing she had listened to the same songs. As she worked, she hunched over the computer and notes, brows furrowed in concentration. Every once in a while she would hum the tune or even sing, depending on what stage she was in her process. He loved that about her. He loved how driven she could be about a simple essay. The grade being enough motivation to work hard. It wasn’t like that with him. He needed the prospect of a better GPA, and maybe the potential to impress others for him to actually be motivated. She however, made sure he always got everything done.

When she finished the first draft, she sighed a big sigh in relief and stood up to stretch and use the restroom before she edited it.

“I’ll be right back.” She whispered joyfully as she lifted her arms in the air, tensing and releasing. Reed was about halfway done with his essay when she got up. Deciding he was due for a break too, he got up and decided to roam around the library. When he got back, he found Madison sitting down, back from her stretch. He started to walk towards her with a smile. Suddenly, he saw Kason walking towards her, a stupid smug grin on his face as he approached her.

Reed, seeing he was engaging in a conversation, started walking towards her faster.

“Oh yeah I remember that, I started it last night,” Kason remarked, probably on the essay, “Do you mind if I sit with you to finish it?”

“Uhh,” Madison faltered, not sure what Reed would think.

“Hey, I’m back.” Reed has reached them and was now planning on taking all the attention from Kason.

Madison smiled up at him.

“Hey. Yeah, you can sit with us.” Madison told Kason, misinterpreting Reed’s warm smile.

“Amazing.” Kason sat down next to Madison, proceeding to interrupt her work every 5 minutes.

Reed could tell she was starting to get annoyed but liked the attention. No, not the attention. She hated that. She liked that someone was appreciating her hard work. Something Reed, forgot to do most times. Despite this fact, he could tell she was about to get really annoyed. She wasn’t the only one. Reed had been rolling his eyes every time Kason made a remark, his eyes were about to fall out of their sockets.

Kason had just whispered something else to Madison, not loud enough for Reed to hear. At this point, Reed needed Madison’s help with editing and turned to ask. However, when he turned he was face to face with the thing that he had been scared about for at least a full year. Something that was in his nightmares. Something that’s mere possibility clawed at his mind.

Kason stepped back. His smug smile now wider than ever. Madison was standing there, unmoving, staring at him. Kason, nodded a goodbye to Madison, and gave Reed a look he never wanted to see from Kason. Ever. See, I won. I got the prize. His smile seemed to say.

Madison didn’t say anything. Taking her silence, her lack of resistance, as a sign, he gathered his stuff quickly and walked out. He made sure to leave the coffee she got him.

Madison called his name and tried to catch up but was weighed down by her bag. Reed also had a motivation he never had before. A want, no a need, to get as far away from the scene as possible. He never wanted to see Kason again. He wasn’t so sure about Madison. Actually, he did want to see Kason again. He wanted to smack every ounce of smugness from him and ring him out like a towel. His phone started buzzing, texts from Madison, Kason? He ignored them all. He was just trying to get home. Then the calls came in. Definitely Madison.

His eyes blurred with tears he didn’t know had started. Everything hurt. His hand and wrist hurt from the typing, his back hurt from his bookbag, his head hurt from the thinking, his heart hurt from what he just saw. The kiss replayed in his mind, despite his efforts. He wanted to block it out, burn it up, forget about it. But everytime he closed his eyes, he saw it. Kason’s face on hers. Her not moving. His smile. Her not resisting. His strut away. Her not explaining. Finally, the calls stopped coming in.

Didn’t she know? Didn’t she know? Didn’t she know?

Didn’t she know how he stayed up late thinking about her. How he always asked her for help despite having so many friends. How he watched her for way to long when she explained something. How he always had a small smile on his face whenever someone mentioned her. How he hated Kason.

Did she see it? Did she see it? Did she see it?

Did she see how he stayed up late studying just to impress her. How he always wanted to talk. How he suggested the library so they couldn’t be interrupted. How he would always stand a little closer when they were walking side by side.

He wanted to forgive her. He wanted her to call just one more time. He would pick up. He would tell her he loved her and she would say it was all one big misunderstanding. He would run back and it would start to rain. He would be soaked as he picked her up and spun her around. They would kiss, not like the one Kason had forced upon her. This one would be sweet, intentional, happy. And after that…Stop. None of that is happening. She stopped trying to get to you. She didn’t run after you. Kason didn’t force that kiss. It wasn’t a mistake. Nothing about that is gonna happen. He felt a raindrop on his head. Looking up, he saw the dark clouds in the sky. Except for the rain. He finished.