Beneath The Crimson Gaze

Monday morning arrived with the usual chaos of school. Alishia strolled through the buzzing hallways, her thoughts lingering on the weekend. The memory of Arthur standing in her kitchen, laughing at her jokes, was impossible to shake. It had been so unexpected yet so... nice.

As she approached her locker, her best friend, Emma, popped up beside her, her auburn ponytail bouncing with energy.

"Alright, spill it," Emma demanded, leaning against the lockers with a mischievous grin.

"Spill what?" Alishia asked, feigning ignorance as she fiddled with her lock.

Emma narrowed her green eyes. "Don't play coy. You've got that dreamy look in your eyes. Did something happen this weekend?"

Alishia hesitated, debating how much to reveal. "It's nothing, really. Just... I spent some time with Arthur."

"Arthur Virelith?" Emma's voice shot up an octave, drawing the attention of a few nearby students. "The quiet guy? Are we talking about the same person?"

Alishia rolled her eyes. "Yes, him. And he's not what you think."

Emma crossed her arms, her curiosity piqued. "Oh, do tell."

Before Alishia could respond, the morning bell rang, cutting their conversation short. She breathed a sigh of relief, grateful for the distraction. "We'll talk later."

Emma groaned but let her go. "Fine. But I want details later!"

Arthur sat in his usual spot at the back of the classroom, his crimson eyes scanning a worn paperback novel. He'd perfected the art of going unnoticed, blending into the background like a shadow. But today, something was different. He could feel eyes on him.

Glancing up, his gaze locked with Alishia's. She sat across the room, her chin resting on her hand, a soft smile playing on her lips. Arthur's heart skipped a beat, but he quickly looked away, pretending to focus on his book.

Luke, his childhood best friend, leaned over from the desk beside him, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Alright, what's going on with you?"

Arthur shot him a warning look. "What are you talking about?"

Luke raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Don't play dumb. You've got that look. The one you used to get when we played hide-and-seek, and you thought you were about to win."

Arthur sighed, closing his book with a snap. "It's nothing."

"Uh-huh," Luke drawled, not buying it. "Does 'nothing' have anything to do with Alishia White staring at you like you're the main character in a romance novel?"

Arthur stiffened. "She's not—"

"She totally is," Luke interrupted, grinning. "Man, you've got to teach me how to pull off this whole 'mysterious loner' thing. Apparently, it works."

"Drop it, Luke," Arthur muttered, but his friend only laughed, the sound drawing a few curious glances from nearby students.

By lunchtime, Alishia found herself scanning the cafeteria for Arthur. She spotted him at a corner table, Luke animatedly talking while Arthur ate in silence, his expression unreadable.

Taking a deep breath, Alishia grabbed her tray and made her way over. She ignored the surprised looks from her usual group of friends as she walked past their table.

"Mind if I join you?" she asked, her voice steady despite the fluttering in her chest.

Arthur looked up, startled, while Luke leaned back in his chair with an exaggerated grin. "By all means," Luke said before Arthur could respond. "Take a seat."

Alishia sat down across from Arthur, her heart racing. "Hey."

"Hey," Arthur replied, his voice soft. There was a flicker of something in his crimson eyes—nervousness? Or was it surprise?

Luke, sensing the tension, decided to stir the pot. "So, Alishia, how do you know our resident phantom?"

Arthur shot him a glare, but Alishia smiled. "We're neighbors," she said simply. "And Max likes him."

"Ah, the dog connection," Luke said, nodding sagely. "That explains everything."

Arthur groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Ignore him."

Alishia giggled, feeling more at ease. "It's fine. I think Max has good taste."

Arthur looked at her then, a small, genuine smile tugging at his lips. "Does he now?"

"Definitely," she said, meeting his gaze. For a moment, the rest of the cafeteria seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of them in their own little world.

Luke, ever the opportunist, broke the silence. "Well, I'm glad to see you're making friends, Arthur. It's about time."

Arthur sighed, shaking his head, but there was a faint blush on his cheeks.

Later that day, Alishia found herself walking home alongside Arthur. The late afternoon sun bathed the street in golden light, casting long shadows across the pavement. Max trotted ahead of them, his tail wagging happily.

"Thanks for letting me sit with you," Alishia said, breaking the comfortable silence.

"You didn't have to ask," Arthur replied, his voice calm. "Luke would've pulled up a chair for you if you hadn't."

Alishia laughed. "He's... interesting."

"That's one word for him," Arthur said, a hint of amusement in his tone.

They reached their apartment building, and Arthur hesitated at the entrance. "Alishia?"

"Yeah?" she asked, turning to face him.

He seemed to struggle with his words for a moment before settling on, "Thanks."

"For what?"

"For being... you," he said, his crimson eyes meeting hers. "It's rare."

Alishia felt her cheeks warm. "You're welcome."

As he turned to head to his apartment, Alishia watched him go, her heart fluttering. Arthur Virelith was a mystery, but she was beginning to understand him, piece by piece. And the more she learned, the more she wanted to know.