Chapter 6 Weird & chapel 2

The walk to the chapel was awkward. June did all the talking, while Elaine only chipped in occasionally to show she was following. Gwendolyn walked ahead, ignoring June's endless stories.

The hallway was crowded as other students in house wear made their way to the chapel.

"The architecture is wonderful," Elaine replied to something June had said, her eyes drifting over the tall arches and aged walls.

"Right? When I first came here, I was in awe. I felt as though I was living in a fantasy. I also got lost multiple times,bthat's how I met Gwen," June rambled.

"Really?" Elaine asked.

"Yeah. I think I walked into a restricted building and got lost. Gwen helped me find my way back, and we just became friends."

"Which building was that?"

"I don't remember," June answered nonchalantly.

"If Gwen was already in the school with you, how did you two become roommates?" Elaine asked curiously.

"Oh, about that, Gwen's former room ma—"

"Aren't you getting too comfortable with someone you just met this morning?" Gwen cut in, her voice cool. "Don't go around telling all your life experiences."

"I just got a little too excited," June said, smiling sheepishly.

"Don't mind her," June mouthed to Elaine, making her smile.

But Elaine's attention had already shifted.

A group of girls walked nearby, their voices soft but clear enough to catch.

"You think I should tell him?" one of them said, her cheeks flushed as she clutched something close to her chest.

"Of course," her friends urged. "You've had a crush on him since junior days. This is your last chance."

"I don't know...okay… I will, I will confess to him. But I'm scared," she admitted. "He's so handsome… and all the other girls like him too. Do you think he'd say yes?"

Elaine found herself studying the girl, the soft features, the careful beauty. Someone like her being unsure… it made Elaine curious.

Who exactly was he?

A quiet scoff sounded beside her.

Gwen.

Elaine turned slightly. So did the group of girls.

No words were exchanged.

But the message lingered in the air.

Not happening.

------

Soon, they stood before two large wooden doors with colorful glass panels. Soft piano music drifted from within, gentle and haunting.

As they stepped inside, Elaine slowed.

This was her first time in a chapel.

Rows of wooden benches stretched across the room, almost all occupied. Chandeliers cast a warm golden glow that barely touched the early morning darkness. At the far front stood a raised platform, a crucifix mounted against the wall, surrounded by objects she didn't understand.

But none of that held her for long.

Her gaze moved, and stopped.

There he was.

Behind the piano.

The dark-haired, freckle-kissed boy played with quiet intensity, his fingers gliding over the keys as if they belonged there. The dim light above him formed a faint halo, isolating him from everything else, as though the world had softened just for him.

It didn't feel like a performance.

It felt… private.

Like she was seeing something she wasn't meant to.

Her chest tightened with disbelief.

"How could he be here?" she whispered, almost to herself. Her breath faint.

The last time she had seen him was at the beach. Since then, nothing. No trace. Not even the black cat.

And yet here he was.

Real.

Close.

She didn't realize how long she had been staring.

"That's Allan," June whispered suddenly, leaning close.

Elaine flinched, clearly startled

"What?" she asked, her voice uneven.

"Isn't he handsome?" June said, eyes fixed on him, a dreamy look on her face, but it wasn't as intense as the other girls.

"Who?"

"Who else? The one you were just staring at."

"I wasn't staring."

"Lies. You had stars in your eyes," June teased.

"I didn't."

"No need to be embarrassed," June continued lightly. "It's normal here. He's... one of the best things in this school, kind of the reason some of us even come for mass."

Her hand gestured lazily around the chapel, pausing, just briefly, on Gwen.

Elaine noticed.

"Really?" she asked, her voice quieter now. Shocked. From the few minutes she had known Gwendolyn, the girl was a block of ice.

June nodded. "We're all in the same class."

"All of you?"

"Yeah. Allan, Gwen, and me."

"Oh."

Elaine's eyes drifted back to him, then to Gwendolyn and a strange, unfamiliar, foreign feeling settled in her chest.

"What class are you in?" June asked.

"13A."

"Really!?" June half-yelled, quickly covering Elaine's mouth.

"What?" Elaine whispered, startled.

"You won't believe it, that's our class too."

"13A?"

"Yes."

For some reason it made Elaine happy to be in the same class as them. Elaine glanced around again.

Just like June had said, the chapel was filled with girls stealing glances, whispering, watching him. Even the girl from earlier.

But somehow…

it didn't feel like they were seeing the same person she was.

June kept talking, but Elaine only half-listened. Her eyes betrayed her, drawn back to the piano again and again.

-------

"You don't like the mass, do you?" Elaine asked quietly.

"No," June replied without hesitation.

"Oh."

"I just come because Gwen never misses it… and," she added, shrugging slightly, "I don't like staying alone in the dorm. Especially on Sunday mornings."

Elaine turned to her. "Why?"

June hesitated.

"Sometimes… there's this feeling," she said slowly.

"What kind of feeling?"

"I don't know," she admitted. "Just… something off."

When the mass ended, the quiet dissolved into noise. Students stood, voices rising as they began to leave.

"Let's go," June said.

"Okay."

"Gwen!" June called. "We're leaving!"

"You go ahead," Gwen replied, already turning away. "I'll come later."

June didn't argue.

Instead, she turned to Elaine. "Do you mind if I stay in your room?"

Elaine hesitated for half a second. "I… don't mind."

"Good," June said, then raised her voice again. "Gwen! I'll be in Elaine's room!"

The call drew attention.

Including his.

Elaine's breath caught, for a brief moment as their eyes met, but It wasn't long.

But it was enough.

Something in her chest shifted, deeper this time, like a quiet recognition she didn't understand.

And just as quickly, it was gone.

She watched as Gwen walked toward him.

And for reasons she couldn't explain,

she couldn't look away.