Scaramouche

Today was the perfect day for a nap. The midday sun was bright and warm on your face, and a light breeze would brush by occasionally to tousle your hair. Inside the school, students were focused on their studies, diligently taking notes while they tried to resist the temptation of a passed note from a friend. The idyllic atmosphere stirred up the drowsiness of some students, and they fought against the lull of sleep to keep their eyes from slipping shut as the teacher continued the lecture.

You yawned, eagerly giving into the lazy atmosphere as you followed the slow movement of clouds above you. You relaxed further into the sun-warmed concrete of the school’s rooftop, stretching out fully while your eyes shut.

Soon, you would be asleep.

A drifting cloud covered the sun overhead, providing some shade before you could get too hot. You hummed, patiently waiting for the cloud to drift away, comfortable in your position and unwilling to move. The moment turned into three, then five, and then seemingly forever. Your skin, which had been pleasantly warm, began to chill, and the urge to soothe the goosebumps creeping up your skin with your hands surfaced.

You bit your lip, willing the cloud to move. Five more minutes passed, and when the cloud remained where it was, you finally opened your eyes.

Scaramouche watched as your eyes fluttered open. His displeasure, which had been building since the beginning of his search for you, was evident from his tightly pursed lips and furrowed brow. He had ample time to prepare a stern lecture for you, but it wouldn’t be unleashed until much later, when you were more awake and inside the building.

You, seemingly oblivious to his frustrations and relaxed where others would be cowering, sneezed and sat up, rubbing at your arms with your hands to warm yourself.

Scaramouche’s right eye twitched.

“Will this become a habit?” He ground out, foot beginning to tap impatiently against the concrete as he waited for your answer.

As the current student council president, Scaramouche was busy. Not only was he in charge of planning school-wide events and coordinating club budgets, he also had the additional responsibility of dealing with the matters of the school’s administration that should’ve never been of his concern. Even though he was handling everything on his plate and still remaining on top of his class’s grades, Scaramouche wasn’t looking to add another responsibility on top of everything else.

A troublemaker like you is exactly the thing he wanted to avoid.

You shifted out of Scaramouche’s shadow, scooting along the roof before finding another place to lay down in the sun. Sensing that you were more concerned with getting yourself comfortable than answering him and returning to class, Scaramouche snapped. Walking in front of you to block the sun again, he leaned down until he was eye level with you.

Scaramouche flicked his fingers dismissively towards the exit of the rooftop.

“I have much better things to do than wait for you to wake up that slow brain of yours. I suggest you bring yourself back to class and save me the hassle of escorting you back this instant. I’d rather not waste anymore of my time here.”