Beneath The Crimson Gaze

The Monday morning bustle was in full swing as Arthur stepped into the school hallway, his usual seat in the back of the classroom suddenly seeming less appealing. After the dance, his name had become a staple in every conversation, and he could no longer blend into the background. Whispers followed him, curious glances trailed after him, and the occasional "Hey, Arthur!" from a passing student left him slightly disoriented.

Alishia, ever his anchor, walked beside him, her confident stride unbothered by the stares. "How are you holding up?" she asked, glancing at him with a teasing smile.

"Barely," Arthur muttered, adjusting the strap of his bag. "I'm not used to... all this."

"You'll get there," she said reassuringly. "Besides, it's not all bad. People want to know you now."

Arthur wasn't so sure. He had spent most of his life carefully avoiding attention, content in his solitude. Now, thanks to one impulsive decision to attend a school dance, he was the topic of every hallway conversation.

As they entered the classroom, the chatter hushed momentarily before resuming with renewed vigor. Arthur felt the weight of the stares but kept his head down, making his way to his seat.

Luke was already there, lounging in his chair with a grin that spelled trouble. "Morning, Casanova," he said, raising an eyebrow.

Arthur sighed, sinking into his seat. "Please don't start."

Luke leaned closer, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "You're officially the most talked-about guy in school. Even the juniors are asking about you. You should embrace it."

"I'd rather not," Arthur said flatly, glancing at Alishia, who was smiling amusedly from her seat.

"Suit yourself," Luke said, leaning back. "But don't say I didn't warn you when you start getting fan mail."

The day dragged on, with Arthur doing his best to avoid unnecessary interactions. By lunchtime, he was exhausted. He found his usual spot in the cafeteria, hoping for a moment of peace. Alishia joined him shortly, setting her tray down with a determined look.

"You can't keep hiding," she said, poking at her salad.

"I'm not hiding," Arthur protested, though even he didn't sound convinced.

Alishia sighed, resting her chin on her hand. "You don't have to do anything dramatic, but you should at least give people a chance to talk to you. They're curious, Arthur. Let them see the person I see."

Arthur hesitated. The thought of opening up to more people was daunting, but he couldn't deny that Alishia's words carried weight. She had been right about the dance, after all.

Luke joined them a few minutes later, his tray loaded with enough food for three people. "What's the serious talk about?" he asked, taking a massive bite of his sandwich.

"Getting Arthur to interact with people," Alishia said, her tone matter-of-fact.

Luke snorted. "Good luck with that."

Arthur glared at him. "You're not helping."

"I'm just saying," Luke said, shrugging. "You're not exactly a social butterfly."

"That's the point," Alishia said, her blue eyes narrowing. "We're trying to change that."

Arthur groaned, resting his head in his hands. "Why is this such a big deal to you?"

"Because you're worth knowing," Alishia said simply, her voice softening.

Arthur looked up, meeting her gaze. The sincerity in her eyes caught him off guard, and for a moment, he didn't know how to respond.

"Fine," he said finally, his voice low. "I'll try."

Alishia's smile lit up her face, and Luke raised an eyebrow, looking impressed. "Wow," he said. "Did she just win an argument with you?"

Arthur ignored him, focusing on his tray. But despite his reluctance, he couldn't help but feel a small flicker of hope.

The rest of the week passed in a blur of cautious interactions and tentative conversations. Arthur found himself talking to classmates he had never spoken to before, answering questions about his interests and even joining in on a group project.

To his surprise, it wasn't as terrible as he had imagined.

By Friday, he had settled into a new routine. He was still far from comfortable with the attention, but he was no longer actively avoiding it.

As he walked home with Alishia that evening, the setting sun casting long shadows across the pavement, he felt a strange sense of accomplishment.

"You did good this week," Alishia said, her voice warm with approval.

"Thanks," Arthur said, a small smile tugging at his lips.

Alishia grinned, nudging him playfully. "See? I told you it wouldn't be so bad."

Arthur chuckled, shaking his head. "You're impossible."

"And you're stubborn," she shot back, laughing.

As they reached their apartment building, Arthur paused, turning to look at Alishia. "Thanks, by the way," he said.

"For what?" she asked, tilting her head.

"For pushing me," he said. "I wouldn't have done any of this without you."

Alishia smiled, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush. "Anytime, Arthur."

As they parted ways for the evening, Arthur couldn't help but feel that he was stepping into uncharted territory. But with Alishia by his side, he was ready to face whatever came next.