You're considered to be one of the biggest delinquents in school, someone who actively breaks the rules of the school and gets into a lot of fights, because of this you have ended up face-to-face with the school's student council president quite a lot as she tends to scold you for every little thing you do wrong.
You're currently chilling on the school rooftop with a cigarette in your mouth, trying to find some peace and quiet from the rest of the school even though you're actually supposed to be in class.
A few minutes pass by and you're just puffing away on your cigarette in peace when you hear the door to the roof open and when you turn to see who it is you see Helen, the student council president standing in the opening with her arms crossed and when she sees you her eyes narrow. "Aren't you supposed to be in class?" She asks, her tone cold but filled with authority as she stands a few feet away from you. "And you're smoking... What a surprise..." She says in a sarcastic tone.
What are you doing here? I asked her, coldly, as if I were treating her like she just did while I took a drag on my cigarette
"I needed to get away from all the stress," she replied curtly, glancing over at you with disdain in her eyes before looking back forward. "I should probably report you for smoking..." Her voice trailed off, leaving the comment open-ended as if daring you to respond.
And wouldn't that cause you more stress? I said mockingly to her as I gave up my chair to her
"Well, it can't get much worse." She sits down in the empty chair you offer her and crosses her legs primly, looking down at her lap with a bored expression on her face as she idly twirls a lock of platinum blonde hair around one of her fingers. "But then again... maybe I'm wrong about that."
Her gaze flicks back up to meet yours and her lips purse into a thin line before she turns away from you again, taking in the view of the school grounds below. The wind picks up suddenly, ruffling her hair and causing her skirt to billow around her legs enticingly as she continues to ignore your presence entirely.
I see you're worried. Is something worrying you? I said calmly to her
"There is," she admits reluctantly, finally looking back over at you with a frown creasing her otherwise perfect features. "The truth is... I'm really stressed out." She pauses for a moment, struggling to find the words to explain how she truly feels. "I thought I could handle it all," she continues softly, "but lately... I just don't know anymore."
Her gaze drops back down to her lap and she sighs heavily, appearing even more exhausted than before as she fingers another loose lock of hair. "Sometimes I wish I hadn't taken on so much," she mutters under her breath.
You're human, no one can handle everything I said with slight concern for her as I approached you need someone to support you, you know?
"That's easy for you to say," she retorts bitterly, not looking up at you as she speaks. "You don't have anyone relying on you. I can't just let things slide because it would make me look weak." Her voice wavers slightly and for a moment it seems like she might break down crying but then she steels herself and squares her shoulders once more, glancing out at the school grounds determinedly. "I need to keep this place in order," she says firmly, more to convince herself than you.
Calm down, you are in a moment of stress I said calmly to her while directing my gaze at the school grounds I offer you my temporary help, just for today, so you can de-stress I said worriedly
She glances at you, her expression softening slightly, but still cold and aloof. "Thank you," she says eventually, her voice low and grudging. "That would be... appreciated." A small smile touches the corners of her lips before it disappears again just as quickly. "But only for today. I can't let people get used to me being this lax with my duties."
She sits up straighter in her chair, pulling her posture back into its usual formal and graceful demeanor. "Now," she says briskly, "I suppose we should focus on what you were doing out here instead of distracting ourselves with useless chatter." Her gaze hardens once more and she crosses her arms over her chest, ready to resume scolding you at any moment.
And why do you need to know? You're just curious I said in a playful tone to her
"You know perfectly well why I'm here," she replies tartly, feeling herself tensing up again in anticipation of having to reprimand you. "The rules don't change just because I'm taking a break myself." Her expression softens slightly, almost unwillingly. "But I appreciate your concern... Jack." She pauses, as if struggling with what she wants to say next before finally continuing more calmly. "Maybe if you put as much effort into following the rules and making my job easier, we could all have a little less stress."
There's an awkward silence between them for several long moments before Helen looks away again, breaking the gaze she'd inadvertently held with you. "So, what do you have to say for yourself?" she asks finally, her voice formal once more as she resumes her role as disciplinarian.
That even though you're taking a break you're still demanding I said with a slight mocking tone as I sat on the floor near her
"I'm not demanding anything," she insists sharply. "It's my duty as student council president to uphold the school rules. And since you are a student at this school, it is your duty to follow them." She pauses, glancing down at her watch before looking back up at you again. "Now, unless you have anything of substance to say for yourself, I suggest we return to class."
There's an almost imperceptible softening in her expression as she speaks, but it's quickly replaced by her usual cold and stern demeanor when their eyes meet once more. "I expect better from you, Jack," she says quietly, emphasizing your name with a disapproving shake of her head. "You're smarter than this."
'It's my duty as student council president.' I've heard that girl say that many times, but this time I want to hear the real you. Take the break you need and be yourself for a moment. I said calmly to her
"Being myself," she echoes softly, glancing away again as if considering your words. After a moment, she looks back at you and smiles faintly, almost sadly. "You have no idea how difficult that can be sometimes." She sighs, running her fingers through her hair before finally pushing herself to her feet. "But I suppose... for just this once, we'll leave it at a warning," she says reluctantly.
Stepping closer, she looks down at you with what appears to be genuine regret in her eyes. "I wish things could be different between us, Jack," she whispers quietly, reaching out to touch your cheek gently before pulling away again almost immediately as if fearing contamination. "You have so much potential..." Her voice trails off and she turns away from you once more, taking a step back as if putting distance between the two of you emotionally as well as phys
Seeing her leave, I got up and chased her and when I reached her I took her hand what did you mean by that I said silly and innocent to her
She looks up at you with surprise in her eyes before blinking and shaking her head as if clearing it. "I-I didn't mean anything," she stammers, quickly withdrawing her hand from yours. "It was just... I don't know, something I wish for." She takes a step back again, regaining some of the distance between you. "Let's just forget about this and return to class, okay?" Her voice is cool once more, as if trying to brush off the awkward moment they've shared.
But even as she says it, there's something in her expression that gives away the lie. For a fleeting moment, you glimpse the hurt and confusion behind her carefully constructed facade. It's enough to make you want to reach out to her again, to somehow bridge the gap between them... but then she turns and starts walking back towards the door, leaving you standing there alone with your thoughts.
When she left, I didn't even move and stayed on the roof of the school while I watched things come and go
After watching Helen leave, you find yourself alone with your thoughts as you stand on the roof of the school building. You can't help but wonder what it would take to make things different between the two of you... to somehow get through to her. In that moment, a strange feeling begins to take root within you: hope. It's a foreign emotion, unfamiliar and unwelcome, but despite your better judgment, you can't help but cling to it like a lifeline.
You find yourself lost in thought for several minutes before eventually realizing that you should probably get back to class as well. As you're about to turn and head towards the door, however, a sudden gust of wind blows across the roof, causing your hair to whip around your face and forcing you to squint against it. In that moment, you notice something: a small piece of paper caught beneath one of the railings along the edge of the building. Curious, you walk over to investigate further.
When you reach down to pick up the folded note, its edge brushes against Helen's name badge which is pinned to your school uniform. The act of reading someone else's mail wasn't quite what you had in mind when trying to be a better person today... but perhaps it would provide some insight into who she truly was beneath her cold and stern exterior?
As you open the folded note, your heart quickens with anticipation. The words on the page are written in neat, feminine script and address someone named 'Jack'. You can't help but wonder if this was meant for you, perhaps some sort of message from Helen in her moment of vulnerability earlier.
Without further thought, you unfold the note and begin to read:
Dear Jack,
I hope this letter finds you well. I've been meaning to write it for quite some time now but never found the courage or the right words until today. You see... I want to apologize. For everything. The way I've treated you, the things I've said... It wasn't fair and it wasn't right.
I know that you may not believe me when I say this, but deep down... I truly do wish that things could be different between us. That we could be friends or something more... but the position I hold makes that impossible. Still, I wanted you to know how I feel.
Please don't think less of me for writing this letter. And please, if there's ever anything you need or want to talk about... anything at all... don't hesitate to come find me. Even if it means sneaking onto the roof during class time, like some sort of delinquent.
I hope one day we can put our differences aside and be able to truly get along. Until then, take care of yourself, Jack. And remember... no matter what anyone says or does, you have a special place in my heart. Always.
Yours sincerely, Helen
Tears stung your eyes as you read the letter, tears forming in them and falling down your cheeks unbidden as you struggled to hold back a sob. You had never imagined that someone like her could feel this way about you... but it made sense now. The note explained so much; her actions, her words, everything fell into place now.
Helen truly was just as lonely and miserable as she'd always seemed. It broke your heart to think that there wasn't anything you could do to change things between them... but at least now you knew the truth. And maybe, just maybe, if you were brave enough, there was still a chance for something more than just friendship...
After that, she and I didn't see each other again for a couple of days
As you pondered over the note, thoughts swirled in your head like leaves in autumn. You knew that things between you and Helen couldn't stay the same; something had to give. And deep down, you hoped that it was her cold and distant demeanor that would finally fade away. Perhaps one day soon, she'd come around and see you for who you really were: someone worth fighting for. Until then, all you could do was wait... and hope.
Days passed, the memory of your encounter on the rooftop fading into the background as life at school continued on its chaotic pace. But inside, you couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed between you and Helen. Each time your eyes met across the room or during a class meeting, there was an unspoken understanding there... a hint of something more beneath their words and actions.
You hoped against hope that one day soon she would find the courage to approach you again; to confide in you about her true feelings and thoughts. And if that day ever came, you knew exactly what your answer would be...