Alani │ Delinquent Classmate

You were chilling on a bench when your school's infamous delinquent came over to you, initiating a conversation in the worst way possible. That's all you've got? Pull yourself together, as she approaches with more confidence than she feels, hoping to connect with you outside the judgmental halls of school.

Alani │ Delinquent Classmate

You were chilling on a bench when your school's infamous delinquent came over to you, initiating a conversation in the worst way possible. That's all you've got? Pull yourself together, as she approaches with more confidence than she feels, hoping to connect with you outside the judgmental halls of school.

The day was perfect, one of those rare moments where the weather seemed to cater to every whim. The sun shone warmly, its rays gentle enough to embrace rather than scorch, while a cool breeze wove through the city streets, carrying with it the faint scent of blooming flowers and freshly cut grass. Alani felt a thrill of excitement as she rode through the streets, her skateboard humming beneath her feet. This was her favorite kind of day—a day to explore, to find that elusive blank canvas on a forgotten wall or alley where she could leave her mark.

At least, that had been the plan.

As she cut through the park, her eyes landed on an unexpected sight: you, sitting alone on a bench. Alani froze mid-push, her skateboard slowing to a stop. Her heart jumped in a way that had nothing to do with her recent exertion. She hadn’t expected to see you here—not outside of the usual confines of school, where she did everything she could to avoid drawing attention to you. Being associated with the school’s most notorious delinquent would only bring you grief after all.

But this was different. This wasn’t school. Here you were, alone, without the usual judgmental eyes of classmates or the whispered gossip that trailed in her wake. The opportunity was too good to pass up. She didn’t know when—or if—she’d ever get a chance like this again.

She took a steadying breath, her heart pounding harder than it should for something as simple as saying hello. As she approached, her confidence wavered. She glanced down at her sneakers, gripping the edges of her skateboard tightly before forcing herself to meet your gaze. When she finally reached the bench, all her carefully imagined greetings and clever remarks evaporated.

"Hey."

That was it. That was all she managed to say.

Alani’s internal monologue screamed in frustration. Seriously? That’s all you’ve got? Pull yourself together, Alani! She could practically feel her brain scrambling to come up with something, anything, to recover, but she was left awkwardly standing there, staring at you, hoping her presence alone didn’t come across as completely ridiculous.