Our Little Secret by Alina Sheremeta

«Another terrible day - another terrible pain».

A regular workday reached its end. The last remaining students left the university building with noisy shouts. The students were greeted by the last rays of the golden sun, peeping out from the crowns of the trees surrounding the majestic building. Even though it was mid-spring, and the time was not so late, a pleasant freshness reigned on the street from the after-rain coolness. Small groups of students lingered near the main entrance, discussing something vividly and energetically, showing each other phone screens and laughing.

Abby was one of the last to leave the building, opening the doors of the main entrance to the building offhandedly and with certain aggression, and turned in her direction hastily, accompanying by a cold gaze the students left behind. The golden rays of the sun shone on her well-groomed blonde hair, which was the painful envy of many self-respecting girls in her group. Some believed that she was too preoccupied with her appearance, and sometimes even for classes, she could dress up like a bright New Year tree. However, Abby was not one of those people who took care of other's opinion too much, thanks to which she earned not the best reputation among her group mates. To all comments that require her to dress more modestly, she could respond by showing up even more risqué and made-up to spite everyone around, causing obvious indignation among some teachers from time to time, which they carefully concealed due to the norms of etiquette and decency.

- Hey, wait!

Abby’s hasty walk was stopped by a cheerful and resonant shout that came from behind her. The girl turned around and saw a small silhouette of a guy walking towards her panting, almost running, holding paper glasses in both his hands. Apparently, he was just waiting for her in a nearby café. Abby didn't refuse his request and with a fleeting smile waited until they were close enough so that he didn't have to shout all over the street and confuse passers-by any more.

- Strawberry again? - before she even had time to say hello to him, the boy named Christopher handed her a cool pinkish milkshake, which immediately chilled her hand. On the guy’s other hand, there was a second banana-flavoured drink.

- What? Fed up with it already? I thought you liked a strawberry one, - the guy frowned as if he was about to take offence and snatch the milkshake for himself to drink both.

- No-o-o! - Abby chuckled nervously at her companion's concerns. - I just still can't get over the idea that you're one of the few people who actually remembered my favourite milkshake taste. Everyone orders me a chocolate one, whoever I ask. It seems that they try as much as possible not to listen to me.

Truly, she didn't order milkshakes very often. Only if she had to starve due to short breaks and long lines at cafés. And today was just such a case.

- Bad day again? - Chris looked at her with a sly smile, drinking a milkshake from a straw. He was slightly shorter than Abby, so she didn't have to throw her head back too much to meet his gaze. Despite being approximately the same age, he looked much younger than Abby, both by his appearance and his behaviour.

- As usual, - Abby muttered under her breath until she finally started drinking her milkshake, -1 had to sit and listen to Ratliff’s boring lecture about neurochemistry and endure his annoying gazes again.

- Uh-oh... I do not envy you. He's such a jerk. He always comes in dirty shoes, and then blame us for soiling his tiles.

- And don’t tell me, with that smell he can easily become a new biological weapon.

- Oh no, watch out, here Mr. Skunkliff comes!

- He will poison us all with a cheap fish-scented cologne!

- And will demand money as moral compensation for insulting his tastes!

- And his cologne!

Not even a few harassing lines passed before they both burst into laughter, almost being choked on their cocktails and drawing people's disapproving attention. Luckily, they didn't care, as they were too thrilled for caring about others approval.

- My biggest dream is to put spiders from the biology cabinet under his pillow! - declared Chris proudly before taking another sip.

- Mine too!

- Really? When I told my friends about it, they said I was out of my mind.

- You are, but I support your initiation.

- Oh God, - it seemed for a moment that Chris was almost around to blush, -you're the only one who actually takes me seriously.

- Maybe that's because I’m just a freak like you.

Chris didn't get offended, giggling instead. There's no point in taking offence at the truth, and they both know that.

The couple continued their stroll leisurely along the evening streets, enjoying each other's company. Their loud, sonorous voices merged with the urban noise of the metropolis and other people's conversations. From time to time Abby was catching the eye of random men, some of whom she seemed to remember, and, by the way, she even remembered where she met them. Usually, she took it calmly, because she was quite used to such kind of attention. But now, being next to Chris, she didn't feel so confident as she thought she was, becoming paranoid that anyone staring at her might reveal her dirty secret. Each look of a stranger only increased her awkwardness, constraining her movements. She wanted to feel only Chris' attention, who continued to chat happily with her and sometimes looked at her with a kind and gentle look.

Noticing his naive childish glance on herself, Abby felt that she more and more wanted to disappear off the face of the earth, if only he didn’t accidentally find out about her skeleton in the closet.

This feeling of resentment mixed with nervousness lasted until Chris tried to take her hand. Abby immediately felt his warmth and flinched slightly in surprise. However, she didn't resist. She didn't want to resist. Instead, she let him hold her hand in his one, and a pleasant feeling of warmth and tranquillity filled her. Her heart was pounding, her hand was trembling slightly, but more from excitement than from fear. His grip was weak and gentle, which seemed to protect her tender hand from unwanted touches of others, like a guider, like a protector. Chris continued to look at her with a kind of trepidation, as at an extraterrestrial blonde-haired deity, despite her quite exhausted look. For the first time during a long day, she didn't think about any worries, problems and inappropriate comments from classmates, teachers, and also about the hungry looks of unknown men. He became her universe, not them

- By the way... - the boy suddenly broke the silence hanging over them, - what are you doing on Saturday night?

Her face took on a wary look again. Abby’s head immediately came up with a performance planned for the special night in the strip club, where she is forced again to entertain unfamiliar men and listen to their exclamations of excitement. Anyone except Chris. There's no way she could let him know about it. At such moments, she sincerely thanked the world for the fact that people don't know how to read her thoughts. But then she remembered the price she had to pay in order not to betray her secret, and unpleasant memories took up over her for a while again.

- Um, well... - the girl tried to brush the question off, hiding her nervousness, - the usual routine, you know, homework for example. Maybe I’ll watch some old TV series.

- Okay... Fancy going to the cinema then? I heard that a new romantic comedy just recently came out. I think you'll like it.

This offer completely confused her, as it meant that she had to skip her workday and special performance for VIP clients. Not that it could be simply rescheduled, much less skipped. But the temptation was too great to refuse his offer and perhaps one of the few opportunities to spend time with a loved one. She was silent for a while, trying to maintain firmness on her face, while not forgetting to express genuine interest.

- Ay, why not. I’m in.

- Great! - Chris could not hold back his naive, childish joy while drinking the last drops of his drink, making a loud noise.

They reached a crossroad where their paths diverged. Abby didn’t remember going this way that fast ever.

- See ya then! I'll make sure to ring and tell you when I’m going to put insects under Ratliffs pillow!

Before leaving on her way, Abby received a warm and pleasant kiss from him on her cheek. Abby already forgot about her milkshake, instead of staring at him in the distance with amazement and a strange thrill filling her soul. Abby had no idea how she would get out of this situation, but at that moment she didn't really care. It's definitely worth it.

- Well, maybe this day wasn't so terrible after all.

She smiled, completely relieved, feeling something similar to catharsis. The world seemed a little bit brighter now.