The start of a new semester smells better than the end of it. Aris likes this smell. Not because it smells fresh, but because it smells cleaner. Doesn't smell like a monkey house yet. Though it probably will smell like that at the end of the day. These people have no dignity.
She walks into her first-period Chemistry class calmly. Because everyone knows she will come late and won't give a damn about it. They'll just be happy she even came, because in some particular classes with certain teachers, she is the class clown, kind of. Outside of that, she is the most respected senior because of her kindness. So yes, in other words, she is kind of popular because of her kindness and funniness. She likes this reputation of hers. It's easy to maintain and doesn't have a bad side to it. Only the fact that sometimes she takes jokes too far, and she gets in trouble for that. But now she knows where to draw the line, not to cross the limit.
She salutes her teacher the moment he notices her. "Hello, sir. How are you, sir?" she says in a respectful-mocking tone. "Nice timing, Aris. I think you may be a bit too early." Her teacher plays along, a smile on his face. See, he's a cool teacher. Doesn't get mad for this kind of thing.
Aris looks at her watch and says," Huh? Oh yeah. Sorry, my bad. I'll come back two hours later then." She turns to leave the classroom again, still in character. As she walks to the door now, her teacher breaks character and laughs with the rest of the class, who have been watching this in silence and hold back laughter.
See, it's this easy to make people laugh.
She also laughs as she takes her seat recklessly. Of course, she sits at the back with her best friend, Scarlett Sanders.
Scarlett's face is buried in her chemistry book, reading god knows what. As Aris settles in her seat, she notices that Scarlett is wearing earbuds, so she didn't hear any of the commotion that just happened.
Aris gently taps Scarlett on her shoulder. She jumps up as if she had just woken up from a deep sleep. Aris laughs. Only she can truly make her laugh.
" What the hell?" she says as she takes out the earbuds from her ears, " When did you come?"
"Chill, I just came," Aris answers, grinning." No way you're studying that much that you didn't sense my presence. Everyone did."
"Because you made an entrance again?" she asks, eyerolling at her. Aris nods guiltily. Scarlett doesn't really like it when Aris makes a scene. Aris gets her. Nobody would like to be best friends with a girl who causes a scene and wastes people's time. But that's the thing, that's the only thing she has never told Scarlett, why she does it. Why does she make people laugh and smile, and why does she create a distraction for people. The only reason she doesn't tell these to anyone is that no one has ever asked her, and she doesn't want to be asked.
Not everything is meant to be known.
~
The moment the last bell rang, Aris was the first to jump up from her seat, but she always had a habit of waiting for others to leave the classroom before she did. She doesn't know why she does it, but others take it as an act of kindness. So, she learned also to call it an act of kindness, but a part of her thought there was a greater meaning to this. Who knows? Maybe there is. But for now, she really couldn't care less about it. So she just accepts the fact that the reason she waits for people is an act of kindness.
As the last person leaves the room, she hangs a strip of her bag over one shoulder and also turns to leave when a junior comes up to her, grinning. Aris also grins back at her. "No, Amy. Don't actually tell me-" Aris starts. "Yes, I will tell you! You are the one who even told me I should do it!" Amy exclaims. "Yeah, but I didn't actually think you would listen to my advice! Now, tell me then, did or did he not say yes?" " He...DID!" Amy bursts out. "Oh my god, good for you!" "I know, right?! I also thought I heard him wrong. Anyway, I'll talk to you tomorrow. I gotta get going now. Bye." Amy says as she goes off happily. "Okay, bye! Stay safe!" Aris calls after her.
Aris lets off a sigh of relief. Dealing with kids like Amy is kinda tough. Although Amy is an impatient person, she's still Aris's favorite junior, and Aris is apparently her favorite senior. That's normal. Aris is practically every kid's favorite senior. And there are good reasons for that, too. Sometimes she wonders if she were junior, would she like herself? Honest answer: Yeah, obviously. Deep answer: Never. And there are reasons why she answers these questions with these answers, but she doesn't question the reasons. She hates the reasons. So she avoids any contact with her brain to go to these reasons. She hates even thinking about the reasons.