Who in the world is calling this late?" I muttered to myself, squinting at the glowing screen. With a hesitant swipe, I picked up the call.
"Hello?" My voice was hoarse, still tangled in the tendrils of sleep.
"Hey." A deep, smooth voice floated through the line. Slavvy.
Why was he calling?
"Slavvy?" I croaked, half-asleep. "Did I wake you?"
His voice carried a strange pull, intoxicating in its calmness. Was he… trying to tempt me?
"No, I was about to sleep," he replied, voice low, almost teasing.
"Mmmm… almost thought you gave me the wrong number," he said, and I could almost hear the smirk curling in his words.
What was happening? Why was I talking to him? I'd known him for barely two days, yet it felt like we'd shared a thousand conversations.
"Mmmm," he hummed softly, amusement threading through the sound.
"But I better sleep; I'm really tired," I murmured, stifling a yawn.
"What were you doing all this time instead of sleeping?" he asked, his curiosity evident.
"I… I was reading the Bible," I said, a spark of pride warming my chest.
"Church girl, huh?" His tone held a hint of playful excitement.
"God's favorite," I giggled, the sound light and airy.
"I see. Before you sleep, you did pack Mrs. Stave's book in your bag, right?" he teased.
"Oh… I forgot about that. I did pack it, but I'll still get in trouble. I didn't write my notes or do my homework or classwork because I forgot my exercise book. Plus, I skipped detention," I rattled off in one breath.
He chuckled, soft and low, and I felt the vibration through the phone.
"That's not funny," I protested, though I felt a little smile tug at my lips.
"Sorry," he murmured, almost shyly.
"Well… if you want, we can catch up tomorrow," he offered, casually, yet there was a strange warmth in his tone.
"Uh… you sure?" I asked, curiosity lacing my words.
"Yeah, definitely. Mrs. Stave won't be at school tomorrow," he said confidently.
"How do you know? Is she your mom?" I teased, a playful smirk forming on my lips.
"Ewww, gross, no. I just know. That's it," he replied, dismissing it.
"Mmmm," I responded, and we both laughed softly. Our giggles filled the empty space between us, stretching the hours into a moment that felt timeless.
"Uh… I'm really sleepy," I whispered, yawning again.
I glanced at the clock. Three o'clock in the morning. My eyes widened. Three hours had passed? How? I checked the call duration—it had indeed been three hours.
"Uh… it's three o'clock in the morning; I should sleep before I oversleep for class," I murmured.
"Okay, mama. Goodnight." His voice rumbled deep when he called me "mama," and my stomach fluttered like a thousand butterflies. No, no, no—Heaven's fire! What was this boy doing to me?
"Night," I whispered, pressing the end call button and letting the phone fall onto my bed.
---
"I hope you all heard me loud and clear," Mr. Freeman's voice cut through my lingering sleepiness, and I barely registered the words.
"Yes," the class responded.
"Great. I'm going to group you randomly, not according to friendship. Otherwise, you'll do rubbish," he explained, moving with authority as everyone scrambled to their assigned partners.
"Miley, you're with Isaac; Ananda with Sasha; Thando and Mike; Lilly and Chase."
"And here, I'll have Slavvy and… let me see… oh yes, Slavvy, you're with Testimony, the new girl," he concluded.
I froze as my name was called. Confusion washed over me.
"What? No, sir!" a girl's voice erupted in protest.
"I make the rules, Sky. You're with Omega," he replied, calm but firm.
"The nerd? This isn't fair!" she argued.
"Life isn't fair, sweetie. Chop-chop," he clapped, ending the discussion.
"Hey, you, why are you sleeping in my class?" the teacher asked, and I slowly woke from my drowsy haze.
"What's your name?" he continued, patient but strict.
"Uh… Testimony," I muttered, voice groggy.
"Well, Testimony, what were you doing up all night while the rest of us were sleeping?" he asked, and the class erupted in laughter.
"Probably messing up the whole night," Sky commented, and giggles spread through the room.
"Go sit with Slavvy; he'll fill you in," the teacher instructed.
I collected my bag and walked to his desk, feeling my heartbeat quicken as I slid into the seat next to him.
When the bell rang for free period, I decided to retreat to the library—my sanctuary. Nothing compared to the comfort of books, where I could escape reality. One day, I vowed, I'd write my own novels, mostly romance. Love stories fascinated me, though I was terrified of falling for someone. I'd seen the heartbreak my dad left behind, the tears, the anxieties my mom endured, and I didn't want that for myself.
I wandered to the young adult romance section, picking up a book titled Broken Hearts. Two broken souls falling in love. I skimmed a few pages, but the language was harsh—too aggressive. I set it back.
I strolled further, still searching for the perfect escape.
"What are you looking for?" Slavvy's voice startled me. I turned slowly, letting my gaze travel from his feet to his dark brown eyes, which seemed to hold the sparkle of the universe itself.
"Uh… a book I can read," I said softly.
A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"How about this one?" he asked, pulling a book from the shelf. I noticed he wasn't in uniform. Why?
He handed it to me, and as our eyes locked, heat ran through me, making me drop my gaze to read the title.
---