#human!avatar

"don't look too deep in thought, you'll get wrinkles" she heard a light laugh beside her, causing her eyes to shoot up and be met with Tsireya's dark ones.

"girl don't scare me like that" she laughed, while returning the hug that Tsireya happily gave.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to I swear. May I ask what you were thinking so hard about?" She asked with a head tilt as they fell into step.

"it's nothing really, I was just thinking over some of the stuff Ari told me about Spider...and his dad...it makes me think of my own family life I suppose" she shrugged.

"you never talk much about your family life, is it a lot like Spider's?"

"I suppose just the absent father part"

"Perhaps when the time comes, that is something you two may bond over"

"Ah yes shared trauma does bring people together" Lizzie laughed, causing Tsireya to giggle as well as they stopped outside of Lizzie's first class.

"Oh! You did bring the cookies for lunch right? My brother hasn't shut up about them since you posted that this morning" she smiled... Ao'nung hadn't stopped talking about them? Lizzie tried to push down the blush and slow her heart as the butterflies took off again.

"Y-Yeah I brought them" she nodded, hating how she stuttered, especially with the look Tsireya was giving her for it.

"ok, good, cause I would have to kill him if he didn't shut up I swear" she laughed again, before the warning bell rang.

"oh I better get going! See you at lunch!" She called out, already running to her class. Lizzie took a moment to take a deep breath, he mind racing and yelling at her to stop getting her hopes up, but she couldn't help replaying Tsireya's words, and Ao'nung's comment this morning about someone wifing her up. She quickly made her way into her class and looked around..huh...Spider wasn't here yet? Taking her seat she grabbed her book and notebook before watching the door, she hoped he wouldn't be too late, Mr.Mclanie hated when people were late.

Quickly tucking her phone back into her bag, Lizzie turned her attention to Mr.Mclanie who had turned to begin his lesson, when suddenly the door burst open, causing all eyes to fall on the slightly panting boy who walked into the room, the final bell ringing just as the door closed behind him.

"I take it you are Mr.Socorro" Mr.Mclanie scowled.

"Yes sir, sorry about that, don't know my way around yet" he apologized, before looking around the classroom, quickly spotting Lizzie and giving her a smile.

"Well I trust that you now know your way to the class, so do not be late again!" He dismissed Spider, and Lizzie watched as he cringed at the man's loud tone, before turning and making his way to her.

"Hi" he smiled, sitting next to her.

"Hi, don't worry about Mr.Mclanie, he's always like that"

"Great guy"

"Yeah I'm pretty sure if he had a colonoscopy they would find a stick that's been lodged up there for years" She told him, watching with a smile as he quickly tried to hide his laugh. After that they fell into a comfortable silence, something Lizzie was thankful for. She was honestly nervous about meeting him, she didn't do well with meeting new people, her anxiety was always on high around strangers and she didn't want to come across as the panicked weirdo to someone who had known the group far longer than she had. But Spider had a very chill aura to him, and it helped calm her nerves instantly. As the lesson dragged on the two shared a few more hushed jokes and quips, quickly hiding their smiles from Mr.Mclanie who kept eyeing them until the end of the class.

"so what is your next class?" Spider asked while holding the door for her.

"sadly, Math" she groaned, hating even speaking of the subject.

"ugh, I don't know which is worse, having the class early or later. Like early you get it done and over with, but it's also still too early to comprehend that crap"

"Exactly! Like my brain has not had enough coffee for this" she laughed.

"Now you sound like Kiri"

"coffee is something we in fact bonded over...so what is your next class?"

"History, at least Neteyam is in that class with me"

"there you go, Rotxo is in my math class"

"be sure to bug him for me" he laughed as the pair walked.

"Don't tempt me, he is fun to bug" she laughed back as they stopped in front of another hallway.

"well, this is where we part ways"

"until lunch" she nodded.

"yes! The cookies I almost forgot" he smiled.

"yup" she laughed while patting her bag, causing his eyes to look down at it, before looking up at her with a look that was both questioning and pleading.

"the others are going to kill you if they find out" she laughed, but reached into the bag and container and grabbed a cookie, handing it to him.

"they will never know, promise" he smiled happily biting the cookie, and stopping for a moment, looking at the cookie, then at her.

"are they bad or something?" She asked, suddenly worried, the tester one had tasted fine. She watched him smile just as the warning bell rang and he began to back down the hall.

"No, you definitely need to listen to Ao'nung though, the whole, watch it or someone is gonna wife you up" he laughed, quickly eating the rest of the cookie with a smile. Lizzie could only shake her head with a laugh as the boy quickly disappeared into the classroom, and she turned to make her way to her own.

Sitting down next to Rotxo, Lizzie could only shake her head at Ari's text.

"uh oh, that looks says that was Ari" Rotxo whispered, gesturing towards the phone.

"it was" Lizzie laughed.

"what about?"

"just wanting to know what I thought about Spider" she replied,deciding to leave out the other question so that Rotxo didn't get the wrong idea.

"so what is the verdict girlie?"

"he's really nice, and chill, I think he and I are gonna get along really well" she smiled at him.

"good, definitely don't want any rough waves in the group"

"No definitely not. So how was your weekend?" She asked, acting as if she knew nothing.

"Oh! Y-Yeah it was great, got to hang out at the beach with Lo'ak, Neteyam, Ari, and Kiri" he smiled at the memory.

"Ari wasn't too much of a handful was she?" She laughed.

"Na, course not, Lo'ak and Neteyam kept her occupied of course"

"more like she kept them occupied" they both chuckled before they turned their attention back to the teacher.

The rest of the classes went by fairly slowly, but at least she had a friend in every class. Ari pretty much interrogated her as soon as she stepped into their shared science class. Wanting to know why she hadn't answered her, and when Lizzie replied that the teacher had, in fact, walked in, Ari proceeded to ask her until Lizzie finally conceded and admitted that yes, Spider was a cutie.

"Now can we drop it?" Lizzie pleaded.

"Ok ok...Just wanting to know if there could possibly be a budding romance-"

"Ari"

"Listen, I know you like Ao'nung but-"

"Hello class!" Mr.Spellman entered the room, effectively cutting off their conversation. Mr.Spellman kept them busy throughout the whole class, between mixing chemicals that almost blew up a kid who definitely was not paying attention, to explaining WHY you had to do it perfectly, the conversation had all but died between the two girls. And as soon as the bell rang Ari was out, but Mr.Spellman kept Lizzie back.

"Ms.Mills I was wondering if we could talk for a moment"

"of course Mr.Spellman, what's up?"

"I know you and Mrs.Williams work very well as a two person team. But as you know every table here has at least three people on it"

"Yes sir"

"I'm going to be adding someone else to this class, I know this is an advanced class and it's the middle of the year but we have a spot open and he would do well here. I just wanted to let you know before I spung him on your table" he finished with a laugh.

"well thank you for the heads up" she laughed.

"may I ask who it is?" She added.

"Of course, Miles Soccoro, I've actually known him since he was a child. I worked with his mother and father for awhile, and also the family that pretty much adopted him in"

"The Sully's"

"You know them?"

"I'm friends with Lo'ak, Neteyam, and Kiri, I actually just met Spi-Er-Miles today" she smiled.

"Oh! Great! So no problems then?"

"None at all, can't wait to have him in the class"

"Good good, well hurry off to lunch, I'm sure Mrs.Williams is waiting on you" he laughed, causing the girl to laugh as well, it was more like Lo'ak waiting on the cookies.

"have a nice day Mr.Spellman!"

"You too Ms.Mills"

Sure enough, a little ways down the hall was Ari, leaned against the wall typing away on her phone.

"ok I'm here. He just wanted to let me know that Spider will be joining the class as our third at the table" she smiled.

"REALLY?" Ari grinned, quickly putter he phone away.

"yup, he'll be joining us tomorrow. Guess for now they had him in a different class until they could move him" Lizzie shrugged.

"I can't wait! But let's head to lunch, Lo'ak is getting antsy"

"I fuckin knew it" Lizzie laughed. As soon as the two entered the lunchroom it wasn't hard to spot their group, and as soon as Ari laid eyes on Spider.

"MY SPIDER!!!" She all but screamed before running at the boy and practically launching herself, wrapping her arms around his neck and legs around his waist. Luckily he was able to catch her, but that didn't stop him from stumbling a bit due to the force.

"It's good to see you too Ari" he laughed, placing her down and then giving her a tight hug back.

"Don't ever move away again! You're not allowed to!" She pouted.

"Yes ma'am" he smiled at her, before looking up as Lizzie approached.

"Hey" he nodded.

"Hello again, found the rest of your classes easier I hope?" she asked.

"I wouldn't say easier but, luckily I wasn't late to them" he laughed.

"That's always a good thing" she laughed back as they sat down, Lizzie sitting on the end with Spider and Kiri beside her, while Ari sat in between Lo'ak and Neteyam, who had seemingly brought her some McDonald's chicken nuggets and a Carmel ribbon crunch frappe.

"Ok mama" Lo'ak spoke, rubbing his hands together.

"You are insatiable when it comes to these" Lizzie laughed while pulling the container out of her bag and placing it in the middle of the table.

"That is for everyone" she stated as Lo'ak opened it, already grabbing four cookies.

"yeah yeah" he nodded.

"thank you" Neteyam smiled while grabbing a few.

"You spoil them" Kiri laughed while taking one.

"If this is how she spoils the group I'm really glad I came back" Spider laughed while grabbing a couple.

"You have another man to cook for now" Ari laughed.

"So many men and yet single. I call bs on that whole " a way to a man's heart is through his stomach" talk" she sighed.

"and here I thought it was through his third and fourth rib" Kiri shrugged, making Spider and Neteyam choke on their cookies.

"This is why I love you Kiri" Lizzie laughed.

"so where is Rotxo, Tsireya, and Fishlips?" Lo'ak asked, looking around.

"Rotxo said his and Tesirya's swim coach called them in for something" Kiri shrugged.

"Probably going over last minute things since the competition is coming up" Ari nodded, grabbing a cookie.

"probably, man the pressure they are under" Lizzie sighed

"it's tough, I couldn't do it that's for sure" Spider shook his head before digging into his lunch.

"I definitely give all y'all props that are on a team. I just could never" Lizzie said, looking over at Neteyam and Lo'ak since they were two of the school's best on the basketball team.

"You get used to it" Neteyam shrugged.

"No you get used to it when you have this complex that makes you wanna be the best" Lo'ak added, side-eyeing his brother.

"Do you want to be the best Neteyam? The very best?" Lizzie asked.

"Like no one ever was" Spider added, causing Lizzie to look over at him with wide eyes.

"what?"

"Oh my God shut up I didn't think anyone would get that reference" she laughed.

"how could I not?" He asked, laughing as well.

"Oh my fu-Now there are two nerds at this table" Lo'ak sighed, but you could see the smirk playing on his lips.

"hush, I think it's cute" Ari smiled.

"What's cute?" Another voice spoke up, as an arm reached between Spider and Lizzie to grab a few cookies.

"Spider and Lizzie are referencing Pokemon" Kiri stated.

"God I haven't watched that show in years" Ao'nung shook his head with a laugh.

"Will always be a classic though" Lizzie shrugged, looking up at Ao'nung, who hadn't sat down yet.

"definitely" he smiled.

"Are you gonna sit down or are you gonna stand there and look stupid?" Lo'ak asked, watching as Ao'nung flipped him off.

"as much as I would love to, I'd rather not waste Lizzie's cookies by upchucking cause of your face...beside I can't" he said while looking out towards the door.

"whatever dickhead" Lo'ak scoffed, reaching for another cookie.

"and why not?" Ari asked, looking at Ao'nung with a brow raised, a look that said she knew something, and the way the Ao'nung looked at her then away said she did.

"I just can't, but.." he started, reaching for another cookie, despite Lo'ak's protests.

"Thank you for these, delicious as always" he smiled at Lizzie, giving her a wink before heading off. Lizzie could feel her face warm at the action, sure Ao'nung was always the flirty type but there was something about that look, almost as if something was changing, changing between them perhaps...was he finally perhaps seeing her as a possibility, as something other than a friend?

"who's that?" Neteyam asked.

"I don't know" Kiri answered, and Lizzie found herself looking up at all of her friends, their eyes cast in the same direction, as she followed their gaze she felt her stomach drop, because there, clinging to Ao'nung's arm, was a beautiful girl, smiling sweetly at him. And Lizzie watched as he nodded before they both walked out of the lunch room. She wasn't sure how long she stated at the door, but when she turned back, all of her friends looked at her.

"fucking idiot" Lo'ak spoke, arms crossed as he leaned back in his chair.

"Lizzie" Neteyam started but the girl was already standing.

"I'm um...gonna get some air" she nodded, quickly making her way out of the lunch room and to the only place she knew she could hide... Mrs. Alkebulan's art class. The relationship she had with the teacher was parental in a way. Mrs.Alkebulan was like that with all her students, taking on the living mother role, even more so to any souls she thought needed help or comfort. From her dress that displayed not only her bubbly personality, but also her culture. To the way her words would ring out in her East African accent, wise words that always seemed to make you feel as if you were speaking with the universe itself. Right now, Lizzie needed that comfort.

"what is it dear?" Mrs.Alkebulan asked, as the girl stepped in, she knew it was lunchtime and she should be with her friends.

"I'm sorry to barge in...I just needed someplace away" Lizzie apologized, but the woman simply held up her ringed hand, bangles jingling as she moved.

"nonsense, I have told you many times, my class is your safe space, so come, tell me what is troubling you" she gestures towards the chair she pulled next to her. Lizzie nodded and sat down, confessing how she felt stupid for even thinking a boy she liked could like her back, how she should have known that he would always see her as a friend, but it didn't make it hurt any less, and how she wondered if she ever would find anyone.

"The heart is a complex thing my child, and I fear you are only tasting a pinch of it. You are not stupid for letting your heart feel, but we must not let our hearts run off unless we know they will be safe. The soul and heart are very similar in that way, our soul is us, our hearts are ours to give, but we must give it wisely. You can love with all you have my child, and I encourage you to do so, as often as you can. And when the time comes, which it will, they will be someone, who will protect your heart, who will treat it like the most precious jewel in the world, and in turn you must do the same for them. Then, you will find your true mate" she smiled.

"A true mate" Lizzie mused, she liked the thought of that, that somewhere out there was someone who was perfectly made for her...or at least would protect what was most precious to her"

"they are a once in a lifetime find indeed" the woman smiled before handing the girl some food.

"oh I don't want to take away your lunch" Lizzie protested.

"it's extra, I had a feeling today I would have company, so I wanted to be prepared" she replied with a kind smile, pushing the container towards her...Mrs.Alkebulan always did make the best food.

"So where is she?" Spider asked as he watched Ari sat down her phone.

"Art class"

"I had a feeling she would go there" Kiri nodded as Rotxo came to sit beside her, Tsireya taking Lizzie's spot beside Spider.

"Why art class?" Spider asked.

"Mrs.Alkebulan is kinda like a mother to all of us" Neteyam replied.

"I tried to tell her in Science but Mr.Spellman interrupted" Ari sighed.

"tell her what?" Rotxo asked, stealing some fruit from Kiri's lunch.

"On no" Tsireya gasped.

"Ao'nung was here wasn't he?"

"yeah and his little toy" Lo'ak scoffed.

"oh...Oh" Rotxo replied, everything suddenly clicking.

"So how long has she had a thing for him?" Spider asked.

"we're not really sure" Ari shrugged.

"Lizzie doesn't really talk about her feelings a lot" Neteyam added.

"She is frustrating in that way" Kiri added.

"As if you're one to talk" Lo'ak rolled his eyes, earning a grape being thrown at him.

"unrequited crushes suck though, especially if they've been going on for awhile" Spider nodded, reaching for another cookie, catching Neteyam and Lo'ak's eye, before he quickly looked away, he knew they knew he was speaking from experience.

"I just hope she'll be ok" Tsireya sighed

"Lizzie is a strong one, but the heart takes time to heal" Rotxo replied.

--

Lizzie was already scribbling away as she sat at her desk when she heard the other students begin to file in. Her mind replayed Mrs.Alkebulan's words as she sketched out ideas for a piece. But she soon felt arms around her neck and knew right away that it was Ari.

"I'm fine" she laughed, patting the girl's arms and feeling her let go before taking her seat beside her. She heard the chair on her other side move and turned to see Spider, Kiri sitting next to him and completing their little circle of desks.

"Hello" she smiled at them.

"I'm fine...really" she told Kiri when she caught the look she was giving her.

"what's that?" Spider asked, trying to change the subject for Lizzie's sake.

"Just some doodles hoping to maybe find one I like and turn it into a painting" she told him.

"can't wait to see it" he smiled at her, causing her to smile back.

"Ok class" Mrs.Alkebulan started

"Today's project is going to require you to look deep within" she started, looking around the room.

"You have heard the expression "Go to your happy place" yes?" She asked, looking around as everyone nodded.

"I want you to show me what that place looks like, and why it is your happy place" she smiled.

"You can use any sort of medium for this project, and don't worry if you don't finish it today, we can work on it tomorrow as well" and with that she gestured to everything and made her way back to her desk.

"Shall I get some paint for the table?" Kiri asked

"Yes please!" Ari smiled

"Sure" Lizzie nodded

"I can help" Spider said as he began to get up, but Ari beat him to the punch.

"I'll help, you sit!" And with that she and Kiri walked over to the paints.

"Demanding as always" he chuckled.

"That's Ari" Lizzie smiled, both of them turning at the sound of Kiri's phone vibrating on the table, the screen lighting up with a message, a message that the both of them were able to read before the screen went dark again.

"Hey, I really enjoyed the other day and was wondering if you maybe wanted to do it again sometime? Like this Friday? Dinner and a movie?-Rotxo"

Lizzie turned to look at Kiri who was still at the paints with Ari, but noticed that Spider was still staring at the phone, with a look that she recognized all too well at that moment.

'Oh no'

"Hey, are you o-"

"So when did that happen?" He laughed lightly, but Lizzie could tell it was a forced laugh.

"I'm not sure if anyone is supposed to know...I'm not sure if you can call it a thing honestly" Lizzie started, and was going to end it there, but when Spider's eyes met her she knew what he was feeling, so she continued.

"They hung out this past weekend and ended up going to dinner, that's all" She shrugged, but could still see the far away look in his eyes, and before she could stop herself, she reached out and grabbed his hand, giving it a light squeeze, and a slight smile when his eyes met hers. An unspoken conversation between them, one of knowing exactly how the other was feeling.

"ok, here is the paints" Ari stated as she and Kiri placed the pants on the table, Lizzie letting go of Spider's hand, but not before Ari caught it, but decided not to say anything.

"Ok, our happy place" Ari nodded, looking at the canvas in front of her.

"Happy place" Lizzie nodded, looking over at Spider, both of them now hidden behind the canvas that sat upon the small easels on their desks. Both of their shoulders slumped, the heaviness of their hearts painted across their faces as they looked at each other, and she watched as he mouthed something, and she knew exactly how he felt.

"Easier said than done"

Taglist @arianamhm