The smile stays stuck to Stacey's face like the worse type of glue. Even so, that also means the glue is strong, and so Stacey keeps it plastered on her face to showcase what she wishes she had.
Ryan and Adam smirk as they pass the hall, "oh look how it is" calls behind her. She gives them a simple nod. A girl stops her and complements her dress. Stacey praises her makeup style and wishes her luck on her test, her rigid smile etching into her soul.
"Hey Stacey"
"Hey Iria, what are we feeling today"
"Oh gosh! I'm so nervous. I have a date today. My first date!"
"Oh my god, I'm so happy for you! Don't forget how strong you are for starting over."
"Thank you so much Stacey. Thank you for helping me. After than last relationship, I never thought I'd try again."
Iria looks at Stacey, really looks at her, like they can sense each other's souls. Her eyes are misty, but her heart remains warm and strong.
"Thank you for giving me something I thought I'd lost forever"
They remain like that for some time. Staring and silent, though nothing seems awkward. It would be with any other person, any number of people who regularly stop her in the halls. It feels like they're connecting in some way, like there's always a string attaching you to random people in this world that can never be cut. A girl she met mere months ago feels as close to her as any single human has the potential to be to another. She thinks about her parents, or the lack thereof, is this how intimate their relationship is? Is this how connected humans can be?
The moment quickly dissipates when the noon bell rings, bringing about a flurry of movement and noise from the surrounding students. Stacey glances back at Iria, and smiles one last time before turning around, the brightness in her eyes undeniable, her grin no longer coerced.
She walks, she glances, she replies, she touches, she smiles her way through the campus, the quality of interaction she gives to each person no different than another. One turn, one grab, and one masked person later, Stacey stumps on the floor cloth to mouth, eyes watering, with a gun to her head, in plain daylight, and nobody says a word.