6 Oct 2023, 17:11
A New Friend
Setting: Some late Sunday afternoon in October
Leaf had been feeling strangely in a good mood these last few days. They'd made maybe one friend so far who really understood that alone time was their oxygen- they could not live without it. Seeing the pure comedy of the older years stressing around about examinations was enough to make anyone laugh, or at least grin. On the outside, Leaf had acted like their normal self: a lonely, boring person. But the whole time their insides had been breaking down with laughter.
Undoubtedly, their favourite place here so far had to be the Grounds. Not the lawn- there were too many people there. But the woods. Maybe alone time felt like their oxygen, but trees were quite literally their oxygen, as Leaf had learnt in a Year 6 Science lesson.
It was getting noticeably colder as the autumn pressed on, and they wore their homemade fleece-coat much more often now. Whilst keeping them warm, it also provided a pocket sewn to the inside that was perfect size for a book or sketchpad- highly convenient.
The entire woods swayed in unison along to the soft breeze that brought with it a slight chill and a few stray leaves that fell prematurely.
Leaf's favourite tree in the woods was the grand oak with twisting branches. It was perfect for climbing. They grabbed the lowest branch and pulled themselves up so they were neatly perched on it. Relatively quickly, they were up as far as they could go without falling or dropping their book- honestly, the second of those would be worse, they thought.
Leaf took out the novel- after their request, their father had sent over more books- and turned to the first page. The sunlight was dim and the sky a little cloudy. What a lovely day.
Leaf had been feeling strangely in a good mood these last few days. They'd made maybe one friend so far who really understood that alone time was their oxygen- they could not live without it. Seeing the pure comedy of the older years stressing around about examinations was enough to make anyone laugh, or at least grin. On the outside, Leaf had acted like their normal self: a lonely, boring person. But the whole time their insides had been breaking down with laughter.
Undoubtedly, their favourite place here so far had to be the Grounds. Not the lawn- there were too many people there. But the woods. Maybe alone time felt like their oxygen, but trees were quite literally their oxygen, as Leaf had learnt in a Year 6 Science lesson.
It was getting noticeably colder as the autumn pressed on, and they wore their homemade fleece-coat much more often now. Whilst keeping them warm, it also provided a pocket sewn to the inside that was perfect size for a book or sketchpad- highly convenient.
The entire woods swayed in unison along to the soft breeze that brought with it a slight chill and a few stray leaves that fell prematurely.
Leaf's favourite tree in the woods was the grand oak with twisting branches. It was perfect for climbing. They grabbed the lowest branch and pulled themselves up so they were neatly perched on it. Relatively quickly, they were up as far as they could go without falling or dropping their book- honestly, the second of those would be worse, they thought.
Leaf took out the novel- after their request, their father had sent over more books- and turned to the first page. The sunlight was dim and the sky a little cloudy. What a lovely day.
6 Oct 2023, 17:38
A New Friend
Maya walked outside, looking for a place to relax and chill. They searched through the whole school and did find two rooms...that wasn't really enough; the library, it just seemed to have too many people that even though nobody really said anything, it still felt crowded. They tried the second room, the rehearsal room which, on the first day, Maya really enjoyed, but now people started discovering it and that became crowded too, so there was no other place but outside.
They strolled through the field, notebook in their left hand and quill and ink pot in the other. It was quite hard holding all of those and as they were walking, they suddenly tripped on a rock sticking out. The book and ink pot slipped out of their hand, and they fell with a thud.
"Oh no." Maya looked down at their notebook that was now smeared with ink. "Great" they sighed. They picked up the notebook and now empty ink pot, quill still in hand and grumpily kept walking, towards a grand oak tree with twisting branches. That was a wonderful tree, perfect to climb. Surely there's no one climbing this one...right? They thought.
They looked up once they arrived at the tree. Up there was a person. A person with short black curly hair, reading a book. Maya wondered if they should talk to them or do something...but felt a bit to shy; since they arrived, they hadn't really talked to anyone. The person seemed quiet so they just sat near the tree, leaning against it. They started reading some of the old stories they wrote a few years ago.
Hours passed and the sky turned darker. Maya got near the end of her notebook (yes, it's a big notebook) and saw their old songs. They started singing some of them softly. They didn't realise that the person up the tree stopped reading and looked down from their book. The person climbed down from the tree and sat down near them. When Maya finished, they noticed the curly-haired person.
"H-hi." Maya whispered, startled.
They strolled through the field, notebook in their left hand and quill and ink pot in the other. It was quite hard holding all of those and as they were walking, they suddenly tripped on a rock sticking out. The book and ink pot slipped out of their hand, and they fell with a thud.
"Oh no." Maya looked down at their notebook that was now smeared with ink. "Great" they sighed. They picked up the notebook and now empty ink pot, quill still in hand and grumpily kept walking, towards a grand oak tree with twisting branches. That was a wonderful tree, perfect to climb. Surely there's no one climbing this one...right? They thought.
They looked up once they arrived at the tree. Up there was a person. A person with short black curly hair, reading a book. Maya wondered if they should talk to them or do something...but felt a bit to shy; since they arrived, they hadn't really talked to anyone. The person seemed quiet so they just sat near the tree, leaning against it. They started reading some of the old stories they wrote a few years ago.
Hours passed and the sky turned darker. Maya got near the end of her notebook (yes, it's a big notebook) and saw their old songs. They started singing some of them softly. They didn't realise that the person up the tree stopped reading and looked down from their book. The person climbed down from the tree and sat down near them. When Maya finished, they noticed the curly-haired person.
"H-hi." Maya whispered, startled.
Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until they speak.
6 Oct 2023, 20:24
A New Friend
Merely around half an hour into their reading time, Leaf had spotted another person heading in their direction.Please walk away. They just wanted a few hours of peace. Don't come any closer... As they got closer, Leaf could see that they were carrying a notebook with ink smeared all over it, and they were obviously very bothered about it.
The unwelcome visitor to Leaf's quiet spot had icy, cold eyes and beautiful dark blue hair- dyed, they knew. When they were younger, Leaf had tried dying their hair, and had managed to create a gradient effect from black to white, a look that they still wore today.
The visitor came right up to the tree. Do not dare climb it. But they just sat at the base, which was a good thing. As they were settling down, they glanced up the tree and laid eyes on Leaf, who had already returned to reading the novel- no more distractions. But the person was singing... and their voice was so lovely... Leaf was too curious. Normally, they would leave people alone, but this person had such a nice voice and was reading from a notebook- this kind of person was someone they needed in their life.
Slowly and silently, they dropped down from branch to branch, until they were hanging from the lowest and could see the contents of the notebook clearly. Songs. Handwritten, original songs.
The person turned around abruptly, and Leaf jumped, nearly falling off the tree.
"H...Hi."
Oh. They're talking to me.
"Umhellomynameisleafwhatisyourname?" It all came out as one long word with no breaths in between. They'll laugh at me.
The unwelcome visitor to Leaf's quiet spot had icy, cold eyes and beautiful dark blue hair- dyed, they knew. When they were younger, Leaf had tried dying their hair, and had managed to create a gradient effect from black to white, a look that they still wore today.
The visitor came right up to the tree. Do not dare climb it. But they just sat at the base, which was a good thing. As they were settling down, they glanced up the tree and laid eyes on Leaf, who had already returned to reading the novel- no more distractions. But the person was singing... and their voice was so lovely... Leaf was too curious. Normally, they would leave people alone, but this person had such a nice voice and was reading from a notebook- this kind of person was someone they needed in their life.
Slowly and silently, they dropped down from branch to branch, until they were hanging from the lowest and could see the contents of the notebook clearly. Songs. Handwritten, original songs.
The person turned around abruptly, and Leaf jumped, nearly falling off the tree.
"H...Hi."
Oh. They're talking to me.
"Umhellomynameisleafwhatisyourname?" It all came out as one long word with no breaths in between. They'll laugh at me.
7 Oct 2023, 13:30
A New Friend
"H hi" Maya whispered, startled. This was the first time they had actually said anything to anyone in this school.
The person took a long pause, closed their eyes, took a deep breath and said:
"Umhellomynameisleafwhatisyourname?"
Maya looked at them, questioningly. How did they manage to just say all that in one breath?! Luckily, they managed to understand what the strange person said and replied, calmly, trying not to stammer:
"I-I'm Maya." They said, quite shyly. "Nice to meet you Leaf." They managed a soft smile. Leaf seemed more relaxed and so did Maya.
"Nice to meet you too" Leaf said, in such a quiet voice that Maya could barely hear.
After that super short conversation, there was an awkward silence that Maya yearned to break. What do I say, what do I say?! They looked around trying to find something to break the painful stillness. Eventually, they figured a topic Leaf might like. "What book are you reading?"
Leaf looked up and then down at their book. "It's a book/novel my father sent me, from the Muggle world."
Maya gazed at the cover. 'Six of Crows' it read. "Wow. " They saw it was a fantasy book. "You like fantasy-adventure books too?" They both smiled.
The person took a long pause, closed their eyes, took a deep breath and said:
"Umhellomynameisleafwhatisyourname?"
Maya looked at them, questioningly. How did they manage to just say all that in one breath?! Luckily, they managed to understand what the strange person said and replied, calmly, trying not to stammer:
"I-I'm Maya." They said, quite shyly. "Nice to meet you Leaf." They managed a soft smile. Leaf seemed more relaxed and so did Maya.
"Nice to meet you too" Leaf said, in such a quiet voice that Maya could barely hear.
After that super short conversation, there was an awkward silence that Maya yearned to break. What do I say, what do I say?! They looked around trying to find something to break the painful stillness. Eventually, they figured a topic Leaf might like. "What book are you reading?"
Leaf looked up and then down at their book. "It's a book/novel my father sent me, from the Muggle world."
Maya gazed at the cover. 'Six of Crows' it read. "Wow. " They saw it was a fantasy book. "You like fantasy-adventure books too?" They both smiled.
Last edited by Maya Lavinia on 11 Oct 2023, 15:43, edited 1 time in total.
Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until they speak.
7 Oct 2023, 16:46
A New Friend
How glad Leaf was that Maya- that was their name- didn't laugh or make fun of them at all for messing up on introductions as usual. Instead, Maya just looked at the cover of their book. Six of Crows. As of today, their favourite book of all time.
"Wow." They said, "You like fantasy-adventure books too?" Maya smiled and Leaf returned that smile as best as they could. It felt weird to be smiling; They didn't do it often.
An awkward pause. "...Yes. I like fantasy-adventure books." Their quiet voice they were used to, but now they realised just how quiet it really was. Barely audible. Leaf clutched their book tighter and landed not-so-gracefully on the ground below. A shock of pain ran through their lower leg. "Ow." They said it so without emotion that Maya looked at them quizzically, as if not sure whether Leaf had felt any pain whatsoever. "I...I think it was just the impact of landing. I should have bent my knees."
Maya seemed to understand.
Leaf glanced again at the notebook and at the lyrics written in neat handwriting in jet-black ink. "I heard you singing."
Still smiling, Maya turned the page. "This is my favourite."
"Wow." They said, "You like fantasy-adventure books too?" Maya smiled and Leaf returned that smile as best as they could. It felt weird to be smiling; They didn't do it often.
An awkward pause. "...Yes. I like fantasy-adventure books." Their quiet voice they were used to, but now they realised just how quiet it really was. Barely audible. Leaf clutched their book tighter and landed not-so-gracefully on the ground below. A shock of pain ran through their lower leg. "Ow." They said it so without emotion that Maya looked at them quizzically, as if not sure whether Leaf had felt any pain whatsoever. "I...I think it was just the impact of landing. I should have bent my knees."
Maya seemed to understand.
Leaf glanced again at the notebook and at the lyrics written in neat handwriting in jet-black ink. "I heard you singing."
Still smiling, Maya turned the page. "This is my favourite."
Last edited by Leaf Shard on 9 Oct 2023, 16:32, edited 1 time in total.
7 Oct 2023, 17:58
A New Friend
There was an awkward pause until Leaf replied:
"...yes. I like fantasy-adventure books."
Maya smiled, glad they had at least one thing on common. Leaf jumped down from the branch she was sitting on, clutching her book. Maya heard a little "Ow." from them as they landed, but it sounded so strangely emotionless, as if they didn't actually hurt themselves so Maya gave them a quizzical look.
"I...I think it was just the impact of landing. I should have bent my knees." Leaf explains.
Maya giggled a little. They understood how that little pain felt. They caught Leaf glancing at their notebook, looking at the page they kept it open on and said: "I heard you singing."
They still smiled and Maya turned the page. They turned it to one that was written in, not black ink, but blue ink, and the title read 'Come Home'. "This is my favourite." Their smile seemed to turn from a happy one, to a sadder one. "It's about my mother...I wrote it when I was 6. It brings back happier memories" They still smiled yet a tear rolled down their face and Leaf's smile faded slowly. "I wrote it the day my mother died."
"...yes. I like fantasy-adventure books."
Maya smiled, glad they had at least one thing on common. Leaf jumped down from the branch she was sitting on, clutching her book. Maya heard a little "Ow." from them as they landed, but it sounded so strangely emotionless, as if they didn't actually hurt themselves so Maya gave them a quizzical look.
"I...I think it was just the impact of landing. I should have bent my knees." Leaf explains.
Maya giggled a little. They understood how that little pain felt. They caught Leaf glancing at their notebook, looking at the page they kept it open on and said: "I heard you singing."
They still smiled and Maya turned the page. They turned it to one that was written in, not black ink, but blue ink, and the title read 'Come Home'. "This is my favourite." Their smile seemed to turn from a happy one, to a sadder one. "It's about my mother...I wrote it when I was 6. It brings back happier memories" They still smiled yet a tear rolled down their face and Leaf's smile faded slowly. "I wrote it the day my mother died."
Last edited by Maya Lavinia on 11 Oct 2023, 15:46, edited 1 time in total.
Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until they speak.
7 Oct 2023, 18:19
A New Friend
Staring down at the page, Leaf saw the title 'Come Home'. The writing was messier on this one, more of a scrawl than legible. But it was clear enough to read. And Leaf tried to imagine what the song would sound like when it was sung, and decided there might be a sad tune.
"It's about my mother... I wrote it when I was 6." Wow. Leaf thought, Maya was a talented songwriter. "It brings back happier memories." Leaf considered that statement for a brief moment, before understanding that this song had a much deeper meaning to Maya than they had anticipated- and their smile faded, because they could sense that there was a sad story behind the lyrics. Then Maya wiped a tear from their face. "I wrote it the day my mother died."
Then they were crying and their eyes glistened with tears. In the moment, Leaf didn't know how to react, but decided to give Maya a hug. This does not feel normal. The last person they had hugged was their father- and he was the only one they had hugged in years. But Maya needs one. Leaf put their arm around Maya's back.
"I also lost my mother a while back." Leaf began, "I was 5. I don't remember much about her, only that she loved diving and gave great hugs." They sighed at the memory of when their mother had taken them to a lake in Wales. She'd told Leaf the water wouldn't hurt them, but they weren't so sure. It was a simple memory- but it was the best Leaf had.
"It's about my mother... I wrote it when I was 6." Wow. Leaf thought, Maya was a talented songwriter. "It brings back happier memories." Leaf considered that statement for a brief moment, before understanding that this song had a much deeper meaning to Maya than they had anticipated- and their smile faded, because they could sense that there was a sad story behind the lyrics. Then Maya wiped a tear from their face. "I wrote it the day my mother died."
Then they were crying and their eyes glistened with tears. In the moment, Leaf didn't know how to react, but decided to give Maya a hug. This does not feel normal. The last person they had hugged was their father- and he was the only one they had hugged in years. But Maya needs one. Leaf put their arm around Maya's back.
"I also lost my mother a while back." Leaf began, "I was 5. I don't remember much about her, only that she loved diving and gave great hugs." They sighed at the memory of when their mother had taken them to a lake in Wales. She'd told Leaf the water wouldn't hurt them, but they weren't so sure. It was a simple memory- but it was the best Leaf had.
Last edited by Leaf Shard on 9 Oct 2023, 16:33, edited 1 time in total.
8 Oct 2023, 17:50
A New Friend
Tears flowed from their eyes and they felt so stupid, so weak that they broke down in front of a person they've just met. Just then, Maya felt warmth embrace them and their tears stopped. Leaf was hugging them. Wow. They thought. I haven't had such a warm hug since my mother passed. They remembered how nice their mother's hugs were and how they always relaxed them whenever they were stressed or something bad had happened.
"I also lost my mother a while back." Leaf started. Awh. "I was 5. I don't remember much about her, only that she loved diving and gave great hugs." They sighed. 2 things we have in common...And I wish we didn't have the second one.
"Wow." Maya looked down. Not really knowing what to say. "Well, from what you told me, I can imagine the resemblance." Leaf looked up with a questioning look. "You give great hugs too!" Maya attempted to hug them but realised that their hugs aren't as good as Leaf's were. "See, giving good hugs is like a gift...that it seems I don't have." They both laughed, Maya wiping her tears away. Finally, a person I can have a laugh with here.
"I also lost my mother a while back." Leaf started. Awh. "I was 5. I don't remember much about her, only that she loved diving and gave great hugs." They sighed. 2 things we have in common...And I wish we didn't have the second one.
"Wow." Maya looked down. Not really knowing what to say. "Well, from what you told me, I can imagine the resemblance." Leaf looked up with a questioning look. "You give great hugs too!" Maya attempted to hug them but realised that their hugs aren't as good as Leaf's were. "See, giving good hugs is like a gift...that it seems I don't have." They both laughed, Maya wiping her tears away. Finally, a person I can have a laugh with here.
Last edited by Maya Lavinia on 11 Oct 2023, 15:54, edited 1 time in total.
Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until they speak.
8 Oct 2023, 21:12
A New Friend
"Well, I can imagine the resemblance." Oh, okay. They gave Maya a quizzical look and put their hands back down. What were they going to say next? As if it was obvious, Maya exclaimed, "You give great hugs too!" No one had ever said that before- not even Leaf's Dad. And it had been the last thing they had expected Maya to say. But then Maya leant in, paused, and continued to speak. "See, giving hugs is like a gift... That I don't have."
Suddenly, Maya began to laugh and cry at the same time, and for some reason, Leaf was also laughing. And somehow, laughing over a very odd statement seemed funnier than watching other students stressing out.
Eventually- but not for a while- Leaf stopped laughing, and so did Maya. And as both had grown accustomed to, there was an awkward pause. Seriously. This has to stop happening.
"Anyways..." Leaf took a deep breath. "We may have hugged already, but I barely know you. And I really hope you don't know much about me... Because, well... That may imply you've been stalking me... And that... That would be weird." Really, Leaf. An interesting way to start a conversation.
Suddenly, Maya began to laugh and cry at the same time, and for some reason, Leaf was also laughing. And somehow, laughing over a very odd statement seemed funnier than watching other students stressing out.
Eventually- but not for a while- Leaf stopped laughing, and so did Maya. And as both had grown accustomed to, there was an awkward pause. Seriously. This has to stop happening.
"Anyways..." Leaf took a deep breath. "We may have hugged already, but I barely know you. And I really hope you don't know much about me... Because, well... That may imply you've been stalking me... And that... That would be weird." Really, Leaf. An interesting way to start a conversation.
11 Oct 2023, 16:28
A New Friend
After a pleasant minute of laughing, they both slowly stopped and entered the normal usual awkward silence. Why? Just why?! Maya looked up and saw dark clouds gathering above them. They sighed. I hope the rain starts. They thought. That would easily break this agonizing silence we're always in.
"Anyways..." Yes! Thank you Leaf! "We may have hugged already, but I barely know you." Maya had a feeling of what Leaf may say next and hoped they wouldn't say what Maya thought they'd say. " And I really hope you don't know much about me... Because, well... That may imply you've been stalking me... And that... That would be weird."
Maya blinked twice, looking quite bewildered. They stood like that for a while.How would I know them? I don't think I have ever even seen them around until now. They tried thinking of how they could reply.
"No, of course not." Maya eventually replied. "I don't think I've even seen you around school...Probably at the Sorting Ceremony once, but other than that, I don't think so." Leaf stared nervously, as if thinking they had said something wrong. "And don't worry, I haven't been stalking you either!" Maya smiled. That seemed to relax Leaf a little.
"Anyways..." Yes! Thank you Leaf! "We may have hugged already, but I barely know you." Maya had a feeling of what Leaf may say next and hoped they wouldn't say what Maya thought they'd say. " And I really hope you don't know much about me... Because, well... That may imply you've been stalking me... And that... That would be weird."
Maya blinked twice, looking quite bewildered. They stood like that for a while.How would I know them? I don't think I have ever even seen them around until now. They tried thinking of how they could reply.
"No, of course not." Maya eventually replied. "I don't think I've even seen you around school...Probably at the Sorting Ceremony once, but other than that, I don't think so." Leaf stared nervously, as if thinking they had said something wrong. "And don't worry, I haven't been stalking you either!" Maya smiled. That seemed to relax Leaf a little.
Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until they speak.