Beneath The Crimson Gaze

The night after the dance felt like a dream to Arthur. He had stepped into a world he never thought he'd be part of, and for once, he had enjoyed himself. His confidence, though still new, was growing with every small step outside his shell.

But the next morning, the reality of high school life loomed, and Arthur wasn't sure how the aftermath of the dance would play out.

As he and Alishia walked to school together, the crisp morning air carried the hum of activity from the nearby town square. She seemed unusually quiet, her head slightly tilted as if deep in thought.

"You're quiet," Arthur noted, adjusting his backpack.

Alishia glanced at him, her blue eyes sparkling mischievously. "I'm just wondering how you're going to handle the attention today."

Arthur groaned, running a hand through his unkempt white hair. "I was hoping people would forget."

"Oh, they won't," she said, laughing softly. "You were the star of the night. People were practically lining up to talk to you."

"That's exactly what I'm afraid of," Arthur muttered.

As they approached the school gates, it became clear that Alishia was right. Students clustered in groups, and every so often, a head would turn in their direction. Whispers followed, accompanied by surprised glances and occasional bold stares.

"Is that really him?"

"He looks so different without the suit."

"I can't believe that was Arthur Virelith at the dance!"

Arthur sighed, feeling the weight of the attention pressing down on him. Alishia placed a reassuring hand on his arm. "Just take it in stride," she said. "It'll blow over eventually."

But as they walked through the hallways, Arthur realized "eventually" might be a long way off.

By lunchtime, the buzz surrounding Arthur hadn't subsided. Students approached him between classes, offering compliments, questions, and even invitations to hang out. For someone who had spent most of his school life blending into the background, it was overwhelming.

"Dude, you're like a celebrity now," Luke said, dropping into the seat across from Arthur in the cafeteria. He grinned, clearly enjoying his friend's discomfort.

"Don't remind me," Arthur muttered, pushing his tray of food around absentmindedly.

Alishia joined them, setting her tray down beside Arthur's. "It's not that bad," she said, smiling. "People just want to get to know you."

Arthur shot her a look. "Easy for you to say. You've been in the spotlight for years."

"True," she admitted, shrugging. "But you'll get used to it."

Luke leaned forward, a wicked grin on his face. "You know, some of the guys were convinced you're secretly a model or something. I might have told them you moonlight as a runway star in your free time."

Arthur groaned. "Please tell me you didn't."

Luke's grin widened. "Relax, I'm kidding. Mostly."

After lunch, Arthur found a moment of peace in the library. He'd retreated there, hoping to escape the curious eyes and whispered comments. The familiar scent of old books and the soft hum of the air conditioning provided a welcome reprieve.

Alishia found him sitting at a corner table, a book open in front of him. "Hiding?" she asked, sliding into the seat across from him.

"Is it that obvious?" he replied, glancing up.

She smiled, resting her chin on her hand. "You'll be fine, you know. People are just curious. It's not every day someone like you steps into the spotlight."

Arthur leaned back in his chair, studying her. "What do you mean, 'someone like me'?"

"Someone who's been hiding their light," she said simply. "You have so much more to offer than you realize, Arthur. Last night proved that."

Her words hung in the air, and for a moment, Arthur wasn't sure how to respond. He wasn't used to compliments, especially not ones that felt so genuine.

"Thanks," he said finally, his voice quiet.

Alishia reached across the table, her hand brushing his. "You don't have to thank me. Just... don't go back to hiding, okay?"

Arthur looked at her, his crimson eyes meeting her sapphire ones. In that moment, he realized how much her support meant to him. She had pushed him out of his comfort zone, but she had also stood by him every step of the way.

"I'll try," he said, a small smile tugging at his lips.

As the school day came to an end, Arthur and Alishia walked home together, the afternoon sun casting golden light over the quiet streets.

"So," Alishia said, breaking the comfortable silence, "are you ready for the next step?"

Arthur raised an eyebrow. "The next step?"

"Yeah," she said, grinning. "Getting you to talk to more people, maybe even join a club or two. You've already conquered the dance floor. What's next?"

Arthur groaned playfully. "You're relentless, you know that?"

"Someone has to be," she said, laughing.

As they approached their apartment building, Arthur realized something: for the first time in years, he didn't dread the idea of standing out. Maybe, just maybe, he could find his place in this world after all.