Mary Anne pulled her tucked blouse out of her skirt and then pulled her ponytail into a bun. It was a really hot day and there wasn’t really a breeze. Mary Anne checked her watch again and sighed. She’s been waiting for Fiona for almost ten minutes now. They’re going to the town library together today.

 

“Hey, can I join you?” she suddenly heard a voice.

 

“Yeah. Sure.” Mary Anne scooted over to gove Duncan some space under the the shade of the tree. She peered at his seemingly empty school bag, and then at her own bag and the extra tote bag that she uses to keep library books in.

 

“What are you doing here?” he asked, cheerfully.

 

“I’m just waiting for my friend” she started to pick up the novel on her lap.

 

“Nelly?”

 

“No. It’s not someone you know, from another school.” She said, adjusting her glasses.

 

“A guy or a girl?” he asked. She stared at his cheerfully smiling face.   

 

“Her name’s Fiona.” She replied shortly, almost annoyed at him. Suddenly he laughed, making his frail shoulders shook. The rumbling of his laughter stopped when she gave him a weird stare.

 

“Is she pretty? Can you introduce me to her?” Duncan asked playfully. He pushed his book bag aside and began to lie on the his stomach. His chin was propped up by one hand and ankles crossed swinging up and down behind him.

 

“To the first question, you’ll have to see for yourself. Beauty is subjective you know. And to the second question, you’ll meet her anyway if you stay. You’re starting to get comfortable aren’t you?” she said referring to his current position.

 

“You don’t mind me joining you girls right?” he still does not get the hint. Figures.

 

“You’ll have to ask Fiona. I promised to go to the library with her. I didn’t tell her about any tag alongs.”

 

“How could you!”he pouted. He stopped swinging his legs and made puppy eyes at her. Mary Anne just rolled her eyes and exhaled.

 

“Mary Anne!”

 

Mary Anne waved towards the approaching girl.

 

“Urgh! Finally, I can sit!” said Fiona as she plonked on her butt. “I’m so tired.”

 

“What happened?” Mary Anne asked.

 

“I was just…oh. Hello..” Fiona smiled cheerfully to Duncan.

 

“Hello. I’m Duncan.” He said as he got up and sit on his bottom.

 

“I’m Fiona.” She thrusts a hand. Duncan shook her hands.

 

“Nice meeting you.” Said Duncan. “Sorry girls, I can’t stay. I need to go coz I have practice today. Tata!” with that, he practically skipped back towards the school. “Bye Mary Ann! Bye Fiona!” he waved his hand as he ran. Mary Anne raised one brow.

 

“Who is that?” Fiona asked, equally weirded out by the boy.

 

“He’s one of my crazy classmates. He’s weird like that. Just ignore him.”

 

“Ookay” Fiona said “Are you ready to go?”

 

“Yeah, sure. Let’s go.”