three.

Yellow(I don't know why but it's the color of home)

~••~

            Hannah woke up with a start and an eyebag, a smile already beaming in her face. The birds were singing, her art projects and commissions were finished even before it was 3 o'clock! She managed to get a 2 hour sleep—indeed it was a sign.

Despite the gray world for today, the sun felt very bright. She showered quickly and changed to her uniform. Downstairs, Thomas flipped perfect, circular pancakes as Sabrina videod it and posted it on Tiktok.

Hannah messed his neat, slicked back hair as she greeted them jovially, “Good morning!”

Thomas grumbled, smartly as he shoved her hand away and flicked his hair back. “Go away, you are ruining my Tiktok.”

Hannah rolled her eyes as she made her way to the coffee maker and grabbed her mug.

Sabrina cutted in, excitement bubbling in her little figure, “Tommie, someone made the heart heart thing and commented.”

She shoved the phone to the equally excited boy as they both read out the comments. “‘Sick flip’ oh yeah!” And they high-fived. “‘How did you do that??? 7 pancakes stacked VERTICALLY?’”

Thomas smartly hollered. “Precise calculations!”

“Wait, someone said that it was an edit and green screen and that you are a,” Sabrina furrowed her eyebrows. “Fraud. He said.” She perked her head to Thomas. “What's a greenscreen and fraud, Tommie.”

“Who?” Thomas snarled, smartly and darkly as he snatched the phone in haste. “I shall dox him.”

The eldest sibling—who was somehow sipping coffee and eating at the same time—spluttered out bits of pancakes and coffee as she choked. “What the fuck? Don't.”

Sabrina looked at Hannah. Then at Thomas who smartly admonished his older sister. “Tommie, what's fuck?”

“Okay, yeah no.” Hannah looked for an immediate distraction. “Since you wanna be viral, why don't we look for the trending videos right now and copy it?”

“That's just plagiarism.”

“You almost doxxed a stranger online.”

For the first time, Thomas huffed smartly in defeat. So, for five minutes Hannah slurped the pancakes as the three hunched on the phone. It was fun and all until Hannah recognized a face.

“Rue has a TikTok? Didn't she say it's an exploitation of entertainment or something like that?” It was so unlike her but it was her. Even with the grayed vision Hannah would recognize those sharp, pretty features marred by soft, wavy hair. “She has 2 million subscribers?!”

Thomas scowled smartly at that. “I do not even understand. She simply stared at the camera and did some weird faces. It's very popular. Then, the next was like some strawberries with chocolates but like really, really close.”

Hannah wrinkled her nose as she began to process some of the comments.  “‘Please I can fit in your empty shoulder bag’? What on earth. Stalker much? How on earth did they know? ‘i wish my girl looked like you.’” She raised her eyebrows. “Yikes my dude. That's fucked up.”

Thomas' phone was ceremonially grabbed by his owner who smartly suggested to Sabrina that they should try to post something again. Hannah, grabbed her phone from her back pocket and began to furiously smash her fingers to her phone, as she followed Rue's account. She then switched to her Messenger.

:U have a tiktok?? A thirst trap of all things

saltyscrub
its quick money:

:‘Oh noo the exploitation of media!!!!’

:FOLLOW ME BACK. ASAP. Did you install insta as well plsplss

saltyscrub

no :

:Also does this mean free coffee l8er?

saltyscrub
fuck no.:

no offense but ur macchiato caramel: something something yada uada concuctionewill NOT be touched by my money

also:

ur gonna be late. do u really care that much about my stupid thirst trap videos:

Hannah rolled her eyes as she turned off her phone and pocketed it. She grabbed her bag and flung it on her shoulder. She glanced at her siblings who were now in a very serious discussion—flashcards and all (she could very much see something scribbled 'World Domination').“I'm going now. Don't do something stupid and help Mom when she wakes up.”

Thomas waved her off smartly.

Hannah shutted the door. She hauled the bike out of the garage and hurriedly pedaled like a madman to the school. Once she was in the vicinity, she padlocked it and rushed to the bustling school hall.

Panting but relieved, she had made it.

The bell rang.

Hannah quickly strode for her locker, cursing when it doesn't open. She tried twice and thrice before she banged her fist repeatedly against the metal.

“Hi.”

Hannah outright snarled as she whipped her head around. “What.”

Xavier blinked, smiling goodnaturedly. He was in full color, a strike contrast to the greyness of the world. “Hello.”

Hannah's mind stuttered for three seconds. She thought of banging her head in the lockers. “Hi,” she said, awkwardly. “I’m sorry I didn't mean to— this stupid lockers are kind of..”

Xavier's right hand grabbed the handle of the locker and burst it open, beaming.

Hannah gaped at him.

He gaped back at her. It took him atleast three seconds.

“I mean, ow, ow! The lockers got me good.” He caressed his left hand, wincing. Then, he stared at the gaping hole as if just realizing the consequences. “I’ll, um, fix it later. Just get your stuff, dude.”

Hannah blushed as she took out her book. “Thanks.”

The blond smiled warmly. “So, I was hoping to talk to you today. Maybe later?”

“You were?”  Dark blue eyes shone in hope, her voice a pitch higher. She cleared her throat. “Why?”

Xavier fiddled with his hands. “Well, I wanted to apologize for the flowers.” He's adorable. This was what Hannah like so much about him. “And I want to ask you something important.”

Hannah’s two remaining brain cells were already racing for overthinkingness. She could feel her heart stop before thudding so loudly and fast, shaking against her ribcage. “Yeah, yeah sure, what is it?”

Before he could reply, the bell rang again. Xavier looked at her sheepishly. “Later? Recess?”

Hannah nodded because she knew if she spoke she'd squeak. Books still in her hands, she made a run for her class.

Xavier looked around for a minute or two before welding the hole with quick laser eyes and walked away with a whistle.

Hannah was bustling with manic energy at her class and she hadn't even had the two of her daily cup of coffees yet. She sat next to Rue not even bothering to spare their professor a glance, ready to tattle all the delusional hypotheses about the earlier interaction.

“Fake dating for his ex.”

“He doesn't have an ex.”

“Lead me to a magical world.”

“Well... He is an alien.”

“Mafia gang wars.”

“Hannah.”

“Take me to his home planet.”

“Plausible.”

“Propose and get twelve cats as children.”

“Hannah.” Rue sighed. “You’re overthinking and over going. He's probably just gonna ask you out.”

Hannah slumped to her seat. “You really think so?”

She smiled forlornly as she took notes for the both of them. “Hannah, seriously. You're talented, artistic, genuine and passionate. Nice too. Funny. And so pretty.” Rue murmured quietly as her eyes flicked up to meet Hannah's. It's so odd to see them so gray. “You're so pretty.”

Hannah looked away as she felt heat clawing through her cheeks. “Aw, shucks thanks.”

“I just mean that you're a catch.”

“He’s my soulmate.” Hannah blurted out, suddenly. “He’s the only one in color.”

“I'm happy for you.” Rue's eyes were nailed back to the notebook, warm and sincere tinged with something else unreadable. “Why are you so worried, then?”

Hannah briefly thought of an empty chair in a table. “It just seemed too good to be true.”

~••~

             Hannah almost jumped when the bell rang. Rue snickered albeit strained but still good-naturedly, whispering her good luck as they traipsed out of the class.

Xavier was already waiting for her in the hall, sipping chocolate milk. His skin was fair and smooth, eyes bright blue. He waved excitedly at them. Rue squeezed her shoulder briefly before walking away. And now they're alone. The two sat at an isolated table of the cafeteria. The tall boy nervously handed her chocolate milk as well.

“Sorry, I wasn't sure of your go to preferences. Hope you like chocolate. Wait, you aren't allergic to chocolate, right?” he asked, worriedly.

“No, no, I’m not. Thanks.” God, it's really happening. Best day of my life. Hannah tucked her hair to her ear. “So, what did you want to ask?”

Xavier inhaled and exhaled. “Okay, wait. So, firstly. I wanna apologize again about the flowers fiasco. And secondly.” He bashfully scratched the back of his neck. “You see, my sixteenth birthday was a month ago. But I've been building up the courage to talk.”

Oh. This is really it.

Hannah is palpitating.

Her excited, “Yes,” was mingled with this.

“Will you help me ask out your friend Rue?”

~••~