[Well, dang. He’s gonna actually have to talk to a girl right now, huh?
Barry tries to summon the courage to approach, to get close enough that she’ll see him, but no such luck. Lup is completely ignoring him in favor of her phone screen. How do people do this?? When he’s sitting at his keyboard, it’s different. It doesn’t feel like he’s talking to a real person then, he just punches words into a window and words come back at him. He feels more in control then. Like the inherently unpredictable nature of humans doesn’t play a factor at all. But now that she’s standing right there, flesh and blood and clacking nails, Barry stiffens. He’s almost close enough to smell her now.
He chokes. Can’t do it. Impossible. Can’t go through with it. He’ll just go back to class and pretend he never spoke to her and finish their chem project and that’s it, that’s it, he’ll never have to speak to her ever again, they will graduate and he’ll move to a big city and go to university and get his degree and the memory of the cute but scary girl who made Barry feel so so small will become distant and fleeting, ]
E-Excuse me?
[Fuck. He must be a glutton for punishment. Stepping forward, Barry taps the girl on her shoulder, giving a nervous little wave once she looks up at him.]
[For how difficult it was for Barry to work up the courage so approach and call out to her, Lup turns to him with the kind of ease it takes years to learn, her phone stuffed down the front of her shirt and her headphones pulled down around her neck.]
What took you so long? Stay behind the kiss Mrs. Mars' ass?
[But she smiles wide, like it's a harmless tease, before she's reaching over to shove his shoulder. Not as hard as she might if she was shoving him into a locker, just enough to jostle him.]
So what are we doin'? Headin' to your place? Can we grab a snack there?
Oh, u-uh— i-it’s Mr. Mars, but uh— no, I left as soon as th’bell rang... Took a while t’find ya, heh...
[Lord above, strike him dead. He’s so awkward.This crazy hot girl is actually talking to him like he’s an equal, teasing him, touching him, and Barry looks like he’s going to sink into the ground with shame. Is it hard to believe he’s the same boy she’s been talking to online? Maybe.]
Y-Yeah, I think that’s— yeah. My house is closer than th’mall. [Barry doesn’t like malls anyway.] Mom’s probably out with some old work friends, so we can hang out... W-We have ice cream in th’fridge if y’want.
[Hands wringing nervously around the strap of his book bag, the boy hesitated before speaking again.]
Do y’have a sneaky shortcut outta th’school grounds, or..?
[That is definitely going to be what she focuses on after everything he's just said. What a total weirdo.]
Duh, I know all the best ways off the property without getting caught. C'mon, thug. Just follow me.
[Before she gets seen from across the field and dragged back to the detention she's been avoiding for at least two weeks now. Lup spins in place, her long hair fanning out behind her and whacking the young man, before she's striding away with her usual confidence, expecting Barry to follow. Her 'secret' way off of campus isn't that secret - a whole in the fence beyond the track field, just out of sight because of the bleachers. When they arrive, she just ducks through it without waiting, like she's been using it consistently for the last four years.
On the other side, she turns and taps her foot, waiting.]
no subject
Barry tries to summon the courage to approach, to get close enough that she’ll see him, but no such luck. Lup is completely ignoring him in favor of her phone screen. How do people do this?? When he’s sitting at his keyboard, it’s different. It doesn’t feel like he’s talking to a real person then, he just punches words into a window and words come back at him. He feels more in control then. Like the inherently unpredictable nature of humans doesn’t play a factor at all. But now that she’s standing right there, flesh and blood and clacking nails, Barry stiffens. He’s almost close enough to smell her now.
He chokes. Can’t do it. Impossible. Can’t go through with it. He’ll just go back to class and pretend he never spoke to her and finish their chem project and that’s it, that’s it, he’ll never have to speak to her ever again, they will graduate and he’ll move to a big city and go to university and get his degree and the memory of the cute but scary girl who made Barry feel so so small will become distant and fleeting, ]
E-Excuse me?
[Fuck. He must be a glutton for punishment. Stepping forward, Barry taps the girl on her shoulder, giving a nervous little wave once she looks up at him.]
I uh— I’m here.
no subject
[For how difficult it was for Barry to work up the courage so approach and call out to her, Lup turns to him with the kind of ease it takes years to learn, her phone stuffed down the front of her shirt and her headphones pulled down around her neck.]
What took you so long? Stay behind the kiss Mrs. Mars' ass?
[But she smiles wide, like it's a harmless tease, before she's reaching over to shove his shoulder. Not as hard as she might if she was shoving him into a locker, just enough to jostle him.]
So what are we doin'? Headin' to your place? Can we grab a snack there?
no subject
[Lord above, strike him dead. He’s so awkward.This crazy hot girl is actually talking to him like he’s an equal, teasing him, touching him, and Barry looks like he’s going to sink into the ground with shame. Is it hard to believe he’s the same boy she’s been talking to online? Maybe.]
Y-Yeah, I think that’s— yeah. My house is closer than th’mall. [Barry doesn’t like malls anyway.] Mom’s probably out with some old work friends, so we can hang out... W-We have ice cream in th’fridge if y’want.
[Hands wringing nervously around the strap of his book bag, the boy hesitated before speaking again.]
Do y’have a sneaky shortcut outta th’school grounds, or..?
no subject
[That is definitely going to be what she focuses on after everything he's just said. What a total weirdo.]
Duh, I know all the best ways off the property without getting caught. C'mon, thug. Just follow me.
[Before she gets seen from across the field and dragged back to the detention she's been avoiding for at least two weeks now. Lup spins in place, her long hair fanning out behind her and whacking the young man, before she's striding away with her usual confidence, expecting Barry to follow. Her 'secret' way off of campus isn't that secret - a whole in the fence beyond the track field, just out of sight because of the bleachers. When they arrive, she just ducks through it without waiting, like she's been using it consistently for the last four years.
On the other side, she turns and taps her foot, waiting.]
Freedom's just on the other side, my guy.