The twinkle in her eyes is gone whenever she smiles. I saw it a couple days ago, just vanish.

Poof.

She was talking with a friend of hers. Her friend said something funny, but all she could manage was a small smile.

Her eyes were glossy, I think, and she constantly stared at the floor. She was thinking about something and hardly listening to her friend.

Then Mark went up to her, gave her his swoon-worthy grin and hugged her.

Her arms barely touched him when she wrapped them around him. Her smile was thin, forced. And just like that, when she blinked, her irises looked dull, lifeless.

Her friend didn't see it. Mark didn't see it. I'm not even sure if I saw it.

I wish I didn't see it. I don't want to think about it. I don't want to think about her.

But I never get what I want the most, do I?

She started looking more alert and restless. People would try talking to her, but she would ignore them. They would tap her on the shoulder, and she would stay completely still. They eventually left her alone.

But she would always smile around her friends. She would always talk with her friends. She would always laugh with her friends. She would always be with her friends at school. But on the bus, she was alone. It was just her and her music.

They were talking about the upcoming Homecoming dance on the bus, today. I didn't really pay attention to their conversation. But then Mark invited her over to sit next to him.

Which meant she'd sit right in front of me.

She stiffened—just slightly—when Mark called her name. She ignored him. Mark motioned for the guy sitting behind her to tap her shoulder, get her attention.

She turned around, acting surprised, and looked over at Mark when the guy pointed towards him.

She forced a smile as she took out her earbuds, and said, "Yeah?"

"C'mere." I could tell he was grinning before he spared me a quick glance.

She sighed, keeping her smile, and got up, leaving her stuff behind, when the bus halted at a stop sign.

She glanced at me for a split second before sitting next to him.

"Yeah?" she questioned him, her tone light.

"Guess what's coming up," he said.

"Hmm," she mumbled, tapping her chin with her pointer-finger as if she were pondering the question. "I have absolutely no idea."

He chuckled before reaching out to play with a strand of her hair. The action sent a pang in my chest, I don't know why.

"The Homecoming dance," he told her. "You should go."

Something flashed in her eyes for a quick second. "I should . . . but I don't have a date."

"Really?" He acted surprised, but I knew it was just for show. Everyone knew that she was his, and if they dared asked her before him, they would see the bad side of Mark. "That's funny. I don't have a date, either."

She let out a short chuckle. "Maybe we should go together then?"

His face lit up. "Great idea!"

She laughed and Mark grinned. She exhaled more when she laughed, putting more effort than needed. She probably didn't really want to go.

"Oh," he said suddenly. "You've met my friend, right?"

I looked up from my phone and saw them both looking at me.

"No, I don't think so," she said, forcing another smile. "Hi."

I nodded towards her in salute, bringing my eyes off the blank screen of my phone.

Mark looked down and exhaled shortly. "He isn't much of a talker."

"I see," she mumbled, bringing her gaze back to Mark before looking out the foggy window. "Oh. It's my stop. Bye, Mark." She looked back at me for a second to give me a small smile and wave. "Bye, Mark's friend."

"Bye. See you tomorrow," he said, seeing her off the bus. Most of the guys got off with her. I saw her start walking up the hill of her neighborhood. She turned the volume of her music up louder than it should be. He looked back to me and said, "Hey. I'm sorry."

I shrugged, not looking at him, still thinking about "Mark's friend."

"I just figured you should get to know more people, y'know."

I shrugged.

"What do you think of her?"

I shrugged.

"I think she's cute."

The corners of my mouth spread a little, and Mark's face lit up. He's been saying that over and over again since she started coming to our school.

"Whoa! You're smiling," he whisper-shouted, teasing.

I glared at him, ruffling my hair.

He chuckled. "I'm sorry. Master of Silence never smiles."

I nodded, motioning he was right about that, and he shook his head, grinning.

He talked to me about other things, but I was barely listening to him. I kept my attention focused on the window. It was pouring outside, like normal.

When I was younger, I would pick two raindrops that were at about the same height, and pretend that they were racing down the window. The one I thought would win almost never did.

~*~ 

Song: Halsey - Sorry

Thanks, lovelies,
Nuela <3