When people change to become terrible.
It doesn't always mean that the person receiving it is at fault.
Sometimes it is just everyone looking on.
In yesterday's incident, the classroom buzzed with almost double the volume.
It was not due to anything major that occurred, but people had begun to reminisce about their own experiences.
This would happen even more so in a high school setting.
As Loid entered the room.
Noah made a comment about how Loid has become a genius overnight.
Loid shrugged off that comment by saying it was just one question.
Ethan made a comment about how he explained that one question like a teacher.
Jay then commented on whether he had raised Loid or not.
Loid stated that Jay didn't raise him at all.
Then Jay said he provided Loid with emotional support.
Loid sat down in his chair, thinking that everything felt different from how it once did.
Not in a bad way, just in a way that he had never experienced before.
He noticed that people were now speaking to him in a more natural manner.
Not all at one time like he was suddenly popular.
Just that there was now some type of invisible barrier or wall that was beginning to breakdown around him.
And other people were also beginning to recognize this.
Including someone he would never have thought possible.
Loid heard someone say, "Loid?"
He did not know who it was.
He looked up.
In front of him stood a girl.
She had long dark auburn hair pulled back loosely behind her shoulders.
She had very sharp features and was very relaxed in front of him.
This girl was Aria Whitmore.
He knew her by name but they had never actually spoken to one another.
But everyone knew her.
She was confident.
She was intelligent.
She possessed the ability to naturally walk into any conversation.
"Sure," Loid replied.
Aria tilted her head just a bit.
"That explanation you gave yesterday was good."
Straight up.
No jabbing.
No phony courtesy.
Simply sincere.
Loid blinked once. "Thanks."
Jay's eyes got really big next to him.
"Oh?"
Loid ignored him immediately.
Aria chuckled lightly.
"You're more reserved than I was thinking."
Loid frowned a little. "Thinking?"
"You've been discussed a lot recently."
That hit harder than it probably should have.
Not because it's bold.
Because it's hard to believe.
Discussed?
Him?
Jay sat back confidently.
"Told ya the comeback is starting!"
"NO ONE SAYS THAT," Loid mumbled.
Aria grinned again.
Then—without a moment of delay—
grabbed the chair next to her and sat without reservation.
"So," she started out, "what has changed?"
Loid took a moment.
"What do you mean?"
"You."
Plain and clear.
Loid didn't respond quickly.
Because if he were honest—he could not give a definite answer on how to express that.
"I just..." He hesitated at first "...got bored with being the same."
Aria checked him out for a moment.
Then nodded her head slowly.
"Hmm."
No fake motivation.
No overreacting.
Just understanding.
Somehow…that helped.
"You know," Aria said, most people talk about bettering themselves.
She looked at him calmly.
Very few follow through with what they say.
Loid averted his eyes.
…I'm not any different.
You're different, Aria said immediately.
The conviction in her voice caught him off guard.
Jay looked to be getting way too much enjoyment out of this.
Across the room Charlotte noticed.
Without even trying to.
Just naturally.
Because Aria Whitmore never sat with people at random.
Especially not males.
…Interesting, Ava mumbled quietly to herself beside Charlotte.
Charlotte turned away from it.
But not before seeing something out of the ordinary.
Loid appeared to be...
at home.
More so than normal.
Less so than normal.
And Aria ....
was smiling.
The class started not long after this.
But Charlotte's attention would be off track more so this day than on any other.
Not because of Aria though.
Because of Loid.
Lately, each time Charlotte looked at him, there was something else to see.
During lunch break Jay dramatically leaned over the table to Loid.
"Congratulations".
Loid frowned at Jay, "...For what?"
"You survived a conversation with Aria Whitmore", Jay replied.
Loid sighed, "She was just talking".
"And that is exactly why it is scary", Jay responded.
Julian's eyes flickered from his novel momentarily.
"Boring people don't get to speak with her."
Loid's eyes widened.
"What do you mean by that?"
"It means, according to Julian's cool expression, that you have become interesting."
Loid's eyes went blank for a moment as he stared at Julian.
Then, he turned away and looked down at his hands.
Interesting.
That was a stranger term to him than 'noticed.'
He has been plain for most of his life—
average—
vanishing behind others.
He was experiencing a change;
Slowly—
but without question.
Charlotte looked over towards Loid again from across the cafeteria.
Jay had laughed at something Loid had said.
It wasn't loud, but it was genuine.
She noticed that she was looking at Loid longer than necessary.
Just then, Shaw Donovan sat in the empty seat next to Charlotte.
"You've been looking over there a lot lately."
Charlotte's response was immediate, blinking rapidly.
"I wasn't."
A slight grin developed across Shaw's face.
"Mhm."
Charlotte's gaze was diverted from him.
But in her head, she had a feeling of discomfort.
Because perhaps—
just perhaps—
Loid Ainsworth was not someone she could ignore any longer.