Refraction

School days have been different. Well, they start the same- they just end differently. The same old classroom, the same old question of Sam's whereabouts, the same old mundane school day. After the school day, we meet up for the Photography Club and then split up or travel together for the day, and after that, we head home.

Well now, I no longer go home straight away. I head back to the pier and take a seat by one of the docks and have a chat with someone who is hopefully already there. Today he doesn't seem to be. Probably didn't want to stay out in the cold, or maybe he was late, or perhaps he went to another dock. I wonder if I can find him. I scan the nearby docks but don't see him there. Maybe he's sitting in that one fish and chips shop that everyone eats from but no one knows the name of. I took a quick photo of the sea and then started walking back up the pier. I get to the shop and don't see anyone there. I scan with my camera to be sure, nada. Well, may as well get me some food for my effort.

Okay, a fish and chips shop on the pier probably doesn't give the best impression of quality, and as far as the location goes it isn't the greatest. But the food is something else. They get their fish from the source, sometimes themselves I've heard. I don't know where the potatoes are from but they are just as good if not better, which is just as well because I have neither the mood nor the budget for the fish today. I don't drink coffee much, my teenager's choice of poison is grease. It just tastes better, you know what I mean?

I've been waiting here for 15 minutes, I don't think Sam is coming today. It's okay though- sometimes I stand him up, and sometimes he stands me up. I think sometimes we stand each other up at the same time. We need to come up with a proper system for when we meet up.

I wonder if there is anywhere I can go to take more pictures before going home... Hmmm, nothing comes to mind, home it is then.

Usually, there's a route I'll take that goes by a convenience store, but I already have food so forget about that. Sometimes it surprises me how silent this town is, you have to genuinely try to find something happening here. The roads are pretty small and not suited for vehicles, so it's not like there is a bustling in the background.

"Maya?"
Naturally, when someone thinks about something, Life tends to address it.
"Hmm?" I looked around at who had called out to me. "Oh, hey Dan. what brings you to this side of town?"
"Oh, I'm on my way back home," he replied. He had a weird look on his face. "What brings you to this side of town?" he asked back.
"I was looking for someone, but they didn't show up."
"Oh, too bad?"
"Yeah, it's fine they're getting an earful from me later,"
"Who was it? If you don't mind me asking..."
"Yeah, don't worry about it..."
"Oh, mmkay..."

We stood there in silence for a couple of seconds, unsure how to either continue the conversation or excuse ourselves.

Dan finally broke the silence. "Say, random question..."
"Uh... Shoot," I replied.
"If someone you think you know started acting weird, and they don't want to talk about it, what would you do?"
"What would I do? Nothing."
"... Nothing?"
"Nothing. If they don't want to talk about it, then it's not something I need to worry about,"
"Even if I think there's a problem?"
"Who are you worried about?" I asked.
"I... You know what, yeah I shouldn't worry about it too much..."
"Why were you worried in the first place?" I've never known Dan to be particularly worried for someone, so if he is I imagine he has good reasons to be.
"Nah, it's probably nothing. I'm probably just overthinking it..."
"... If you say so,"

A couple more seconds pass by.

"You live nowhere near here, do you?" Dan said again breaking the silence.
"Umm, no I don't," I replied.
"It's getting late, you should hurry back home,"
"Yeah, I probably should."
"See you around, yeah?"
"Yup, see you."

Dan readjusted his bag onto his shoulders, gave me a small smile, and walked on past me. I hurried along on my way as well.

That was an odd interaction. I wonder who he was worried about. It couldn't be Manas, Dan doesn't care for Manas being overworked. I doubt it was Sam. It could be, but he has left it way too late to start feeling bad. I can't think of anyone else he cares about enough unless it is someone from the photography club. Could it be Melinda? I mean, I heard she was joining the editorial committee, but I have never seen those two talk to each other. Besides, Melinda is always on top of her game, invincible even. Why would she need anyone worrying about her?