GREENHOUSE
LOBBY

AUTUMN ✧ EARLY EVENING ✧ POURING ✧ OUTFIT

[attr="class","brenpost"]When the door was pulled open, Brendon was greeted by the petite figure of a girl with pink hair. Belatedly, he realized that he recognized her from his classes.

“Hi there! Would you like to come in?” She offered cheerfully, stepping aside to make room for him. Yet, Brendon still hesitated. Despite the heavy downpour, he considered simply continuing on, making his way to the Goldenleaf dorms.

Not that solitude awaited him there, he suddenly thought bitterly. With a mix-up of dorms, he’d been forced to stay on the ground floor with a roommate this year.

“I have a small towel if you need it.” The girl — was her name Verity? He couldn’t remember — gestured toward a light pink towel peeking out of her duffle bag resting on the sofa.

It was only the sudden crack of thunder and the ensuing flash of lightning that caused Brendon to uproot himself, entering the warmth of the greenhouse.

As he stepped inside, his gaze peered upward, observing the sky through the glass walls, as more lightning rippled between the gray clouds.

“Uh,” He murmured, refocusing his attention on the fellow sophomore. “No thanks.”

He didn’t really care if it was odd to refuse a towel or if he was tracking in puddles of water. He wasn’t used to seeing students outside of school hours or out of uniform. She looked almost like a different person in casual attire, but he guessed he probably did as well.

GREENHOUSE
LOBBY

AUTUMN ✧ EARLY EVENING ✧ POURING ✧ OUTFIT

[attr="class","brenpost"]The girl turned to face him, her eyes flicking over him briefly before she offered a casual shrug. “It’s there if you change your mind,” she replied, not pressing the matter as she leaned back against the glass beside the door, one leg crossed over the other. “Seeing as you were wetter than a drowned rat, I’m guessing you did not quite dodge the rain?” She hummed, her Southern accent distinctively heavy. Yeah, her accent had been one of the defining characteristics that had made her stand out in class, Brendon quietly noted. “It had started raining cats and dogs without much notice.”

Brendon took the time to shake off the excess water from his hands, but his sweater was completely drenched, clinging uncomfortably. “I wasn’t… and I didn’t bring an umbrella.” He remarked quietly, the rhythmic hum of the rain against the greenhouse’s glass allowing a more peaceful atmosphere, despite the awkwardness he felt.

“Uh… I’ve seen you in class before.” He pointed out, his gaze briefly eying the pink towel sticking out from her duffel bag, but he adamantly refused it, regardless of being sopping wet. His amber eyes turned back to her. “…Ver…ity?” He questioned, gaze narrowing with uncertainty as he tried to recall if he was remembering her name correctly.

GREENHOUSE
LOBBY

AUTUMN ✧ EARLY EVENING ✧ POURING ✧ OUTFIT

[attr="class","brenpost"]“Yes, Verity Valendeer,” Verity clarified with a nod, her smile somewhat sheepish. However, Brendon found himself momentarily snagged on her last name — by a mixture of interest and envy. The name reminded him of a woodland, frequented by deer, but he chose to ignore the jealousy that suddenly stirred within him.

Wh—What a ridiculous thing to feel jealous over, he thought, redirecting his focus elsewhere.

Verity helped by casually continuing their conversation. “Seems you know more than me than I do about you. Mind letting me in on your name?”

He glanced briefly around the greenhouse’s seating area, finding nothing for him to do. Other than stand, creating a puddle at his feet, while the rain continued to unrelentingly drum against the glass walls.

“We’re in the same grade…,” He remarked, a subtle frown ever present on his features. “Some of the same classes… that’s all…”

Perhaps he was more observant than he realized, in his never-ending strive to stay away from everybody.

“Brendon,” He finally answered, his gaze drifting toward the couch where she’d left her belongings. Had she used the greenhouse as coverage from the rain as well? Or had she just come here for some peace and quiet?

GREENHOUSE
LOBBY

AUTUMN ✧ EARLY EVENING ✧ POURING ✧ OUTFIT

[attr="class","brenpost"]Verity moved to sit on the couch next to her bag. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to seem rude for not knowing your name, Brendon. I’m quite the busy bee, you see.” She let out a soft tsk, crossing her legs as she leaned back. Despite her casual demeanor, there was a hint of unease in her response. “Between practicing my skills at the rink, my part-time work at Stardust, and keeping my grades at straight A’s, I find myself tied up with a lot of responsibilities.”

Brendon stared at her in silence, his expression unmoved, though internally, he was mildly surprised by her sudden defensiveness. It almost felt like she was bragging.

“So I tend not to remember people I’ve never spoken to.” There was a sharpness to her words, hidden under the pretense of friendliness, and Brendon’s gaze narrowed onto her in frustration and annoyance.

When she suddenly stood, he tensed, especially when she came to stand directly in front of him. However, her persistence and clear irritation over the subject began to dawn on him.

“And we’ve never spoken to each other. I’m honestly surprised you even knew my name to begin with.”

He sighed, raising his hands defensively. “Look, I don’t really care if you don’t know who I am?” He retorted, taking a step back. “I’m not really sure what you’re getting at.” His brows furrowed, his frown deepening as he quietly eyed her, uncertain about her sudden shift in mood or what she wanted from him.