Monday mornings. Always the loneliest.
She wasn't invisible, not exactly. At Agora High School, Keera Mendoza, with her curves and a laugh that could wake the dead, was hard to miss. But invisible when it came to the kind of attention she craved. The hand-holding-in-the-hallway, stolen-glance-across-the-cafeteria kind.
A sigh escaped her lips, fogging up the combination lock. Maybe it was the oversized graphic tee clinging to her stomach, or the floral skirt that whispered "frumpy" instead of "fun." Maybe it was just her. A question mark of a girl in a world obsessed with exclamation points.
"Lost in existential dread again, Mendoza?"
The voice startled her. She whipped around. There stood a boy from her English class, leaning against his locker, a curious look in his eyes.
He wasn't exactly popular, not in the stereotypical way. He wasn't a jock, a cheerleader, or part of any clique. He was quiet, with a worn backpack and a gaze that seemed to hold a hidden world behind it. He was also undeniably handsome, with a shock of unruly hair and eyes that held a kindness Keera couldn't quite define.
She managed a retort, "Just contemplating the mysteries of the universe," trying for nonchalance. He raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering in his eyes.
They fell into a comfortable silence, a rarity for Keera in these halls. Maybe it was him, the way he didn't seem to flinch at her size, the way her clothes strained against the seams. Maybe it was just the way his presence, unexpected as it was, felt...different.
"You know," he began, pushing himself off the locker, "sometimes the universe throws you curveballs."
His words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken meaning. Before Keera could ask what he meant, the shrill of the first-period bell shattered the quiet.
"Later, Keera," he said, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Maybe the universe will offer some answers in English class."
He walked away, leaving Keera staring after him, a knot of confusion blooming in her stomach. Was he flirting? Was it even possible? Could a boy like him, someone who seemed to exist on a different plane than the rest, ever see past the reflection staring back at her from the dented locker door?
The bell's shrill shriek ripped Keera from her thoughts.
"Later, Keera," his voice echoed, and she realized she didn't even know his name.
"Wait!" she blurted, the word tumbling out before she could stop it.
He turned, his head tilted like a curious puppy, a single lock of hair falling across his forehead. "Yeah?"
"I, uh," Keera stammered, cheeks burning. "What's your name?"
A slow smile spread across his face, crinkling the corners of his eyes in a way that made her breath hitch. "Joshua," he said, the name rolling off his tongue like warm honey. "Joshua Parker."
Before she could stammer out a reply, a gaggle of cheerleaders, all perfectly manicured smiles and impossibly short skirts, swarmed him. They shrieked his name, their laughter laced with a saccharine sweetness that made Keera want to gag.
Joshua, for his part, looked faintly uncomfortable, his smile strained at the edges. He managed a mumbled response, his eyes flicking towards Keera before he was swept away by the pink tide.
Keera stood there, feeling even more invisible than before. So, Joshua wasn't some quiet outcast after all. He was on the fringes, sure, but still managed to garner the attention of the most popular girls in school. The knot of confusion in her stomach tightened. Had she imagined the way his eyes had lingered on her? The unexpected comfort in his presence?
People moved aside when Keera walked towards the water fountain. The whispers grew louder when everything else went silent. She touched the tap, its chilliness was very different from her warm skin. She saw herself in the shiny metal, but the image was twisted because of the round shape. Could she even navigate the social landscape of Agora High when she couldn't escape the reality of her own body?
As she walked to English class, her oversized graphic tee suddenly felt heavier, the floral skirt more mocking than ever. Joshua's words, "Sometimes the universe throws you curveballs," echoed in her head. Was this her curveball? A fleeting moment of connection shattered by the harsh reality of high school hierarchy?
Pushing open the classroom door, she scanned the room. Joshua was already seated, a book propped open in front of him. But as their eyes met, a ghost of a smile reappeared on his lips. It was a small thing, barely there, but in that moment, beneath the fluorescent lights and indifferent gaze of their classmates, Keera felt a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, the universe hadn't thrown her a curveball after all. Maybe it had thrown them both one.
The English class droned on, but Keera found herself barely registering a word of Shakespeare's sonnets. Her mind was caught in a replay of the hallway encounter, dissecting every detail with the intensity of a detective. The way Joshua's gaze had lingered on her, defying her invisibility cloak. The unexpected comfort in his presence was a stark contrast to the loneliness that usually clung to her like a second skin.
Then came the dismissal bell, its shrill ring a welcome interruption. Keera lingered behind, pretending to gather her notes, stealing glances at the door. When Joshua finally emerged, a book clutched under his arm, their eyes met again. This time, a hesitant smile played on his lips.
"Hey," he said, his voice a low rumble. "About earlier..."
"Yeah?" Keera's heart hammered in her chest. Had she imagined the whole thing?
"Well," he scratched the back of his neck, a blush creeping up his neck. "The cheerleaders, they tend to...swarm."
Relief washed over Keera. So, he hadn't meant to ignore her. "Yeah, I noticed," she managed, trying to sound casual.
"They're...not really my scene," he confessed, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "I actually prefer books to pep rallies."
A laugh bubbled up from Keera's chest, genuine and unrestrained. Maybe, just maybe, they weren't so different after all. "So, Joshua Parker, what kind of books are you into?" she asked, a newfound confidence blooming within her.
His smile widened, revealing a dimple on his cheek. "Sci-fi, mostly. Ever heard of A Fire Upon the Deep?"
Keera's eyes widened. "Are you kidding? It's my favorite!"
The conversation flowed easily after that. They talked about alien civilizations, the ethics of artificial intelligence, and the mind-blowing concept of parallel universes. As they walked out of the schoolyard, the setting sun casting long shadows, Keera realized for the first time in a long time, she didn't feel invisible.
Suddenly, Joshua stopped. "Hey," he said, a touch of seriousness in his voice. "About this morning..."
He fumbled with his words for a moment, then blurted out, "I meant what I said about the universe throwing curveballs. Maybe...maybe yours just met mine."
Keera's breath hitched. Was this a date invitation? A flutter of excitement danced in her stomach. Before she could respond, a voice cut through the air.
"Joshua! There you are!"
A tall blonde girl with a dazzling smile approached, her eyes fixed on Joshua. Keera's heart sank. Here it comes again, the swarm.
"Oh, hey Sarah," Joshua said, his smile faltering slightly. "This is Keera."
"Hey," Sarah chirped, her gaze flicking at Keera with a hint of disdain. "So, are you ready for the movie night?"
Joshua hesitated, glancing back at Keera. "Actually, I..."
The internal battle raged on his face. Before he could finish his sentence, Keera stepped forward.
"He has plans with me tonight," she said, surprising even herself.
Sarah's eyes widened in surprise. Joshua looked at Keera, a flicker of gratitude mixed with apprehension in his gaze. But before either of them could speak further, Keera continued, her voice gaining strength with every word. "Actually, we're going to have a sci-fi movie marathon. You wouldn't understand."
A beat of stunned silence followed. Then, a slow smile spread across Joshua's face. Sarah, however, scoffed and stormed off, muttering something about "freaks and weirdos."
Keera held her breath, waiting for Joshua's reaction. But instead of being scared off, he threw his head back and laughed. It was a genuine, carefree laugh that warmed Keera from the inside out.
"Well, then," he said, his eyes twinkling, "get ready for the best movie night of your life, Mendoza."
Keera couldn't help but smile back. Perhaps, this unexpected curveball from the universe wasn't so bad after all.