Chapter Text
“Can I sit with you?”
Scar looked up, just barely hearing the rushed words through his blaring music on his headphones. He nods and scooches in further to make room. He slightly turns his music down as the girl sighs in relief and hastily sits next to him.
“Oh, thank you,” she chuckles breathlessly. “All the other seats are full.” She turns to him and he pulls his headphones down to his neck, realizing she was going to keep talking. “Can you believe that? I didn’t think there were that many kids on this bus.” She shakes her head. “That’s crazy.”
Scar nods, fiddling with his phone. “Yeah. Some days it’s almost empty and others there’s no seats available.” He smiles.
He likes to think he’s good with people. Good at talking to them. It’s a little hard when they have a reputation. Like one of the most popular girls, Pearl S Moon. Maybe that would be a bit of a difficult conversation. Yet there she is sitting next to him, so.
“Right!?” She throws her head back and Scar traces her jaw line up to her ear where silky brown hair falls, before realizing that’s weird and snapping his eyes away. “The way they do the buses here is honestly stupid.”
“Definitely.” Scar snickers, resting his hands on his bag that sat on his lap.
“Hey, what’s your name?” Pearl asks and Scar resists the urge to frown. “I don’t think I’ve seen you around. Are you new?” She smiles and his stomach drops.
“No.” He answers simply. “My name’s Scar. I’ve been in almost all of your classes since kindergarten.”
Pearl’s cheeks flush and she adverts her eyes, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as her smile falters. “Sorry..” She murmurs. “I’ve never noticed you.” She freezes. “That came out wrong! It’s not that you’re unnoticeable, or ignoreable! I’ve just never seen you! That’s worse- You’ve been in my classes since kindergarten, I’m so sorry!-”
Scar laughs, covering his mouth with his hand and turning his head away slightly. “It’s okay, Pearl. Not many people notice me, no worries.” He drops his hand and smiles.
Pearl lets out a breath. “Still.” She purses her lips, obviously still feeling bad. “Hey, how do you know my name?” She furrows her eyebrows.
“You’re one of the most popular people in the school.” Scar deadpans.
She flushes once again and chuckles in embarrassment. “I wouldn’t say most popular.”
“Everyone knows you, and you know everyone.” Scar counters, tilting his head with a frown.
“Well, I didn’t know you.” She argues, narrowing her eyes, furrowing her eyebrows, and pursing her lips.
Scar pauses before shrugging. “Not many people know me.”
“I want to know you.” She says stubbornly, reaching out and grabbing Scar’s hands.
Scar almost expects her to reel away once realizing what she’s done, but she continues to stare determinedly at him. So, he glances down at their conjoined hands and grins before looking back at her.
“Alright.”