Tali lay on the cold hard roof of the school, oblivious to the fact that classes were in session. The quietness gave her a sense of peace, and welcome, as she lay there. Her legs were stretched out in front of her, one foot on top of the other. Her hands were lazily clasped behind her head, with her school bag cushioning her hands. Eyes closed, she sighed before her lips slightly turned into a smile.

“You can come out now.”

She said softly, not moving an inch as a figure of a girl came from behind the wall.

“How is it that you always know I’m there?”

The girl said, walking towards Tali. She had wavy long hair flowing down her back. Her black pleated skirt danced softly at her knees as her slim figure drew near to Tali. School bag in one hand, she scratched her head in utter amazement with the other. Tali’s smile grew as she heard her friend sit next to her.

Silence.

“Sam, stop looking at me.” said Tali, her smile fading.

“You’re so weird.” replied Sam as if protesting, all the while continuing to look at Tali. She saw the features that made Tali feminine that a lot of people didn’t notice, even though to her they were most obvious. The sun gently caressed the natural makeup on Tali’s soft complexion. Her layered milk chocolate hair spread carelessly around her, enveloping the soft curve of her shoulders. Her bangs were slightly unevenly cut over her forehead, revealing her perfectly arched eyebrows here and there. These eyebrows have never seen tweezers, Sam thought as she remembered how Tali has never cared about her appearance, not since she has been her friend in grade one. No, Tali would never change herself to be in fashion like the rest of the female population.

Sam couldn’t help but smile when Tali popped open an eyelid revealing a sky blue eye and long lashes.

“Didn’t I tell you not to stare at me?” grumbled Tali halfheartedly, lazily closing her eye again.

“Yes.”

The oddest thing about Tali had always been her eyes. The right which she had opened was the most beautiful blue she had ever seen, while the left one was a rich milk chocolate like her hair. Well, the oddest feature beside the fact that Tali was the only girl at school that wears a boys’ uniform, though, Sam thought with a touch of pride, the black pants and white top looked much better on her than on any of the guys. Her thoughts were interrupted and she almost burst out laughing as she remembered Tali in the girls’ uniform on the first day of high school.

“And you’re still staring.”

“Yes.”

She watched Tali open her eyes and stare back at her, before shrugging her shoulders in helplessness and getting up. Brushing off the dirt that had clung to her pants, with her back facing Sam, she asked quickly as if annoyed.

“What is it?”

“Teacher was wondering if you were going to attend class today.”

Sam looked at Talis back, and thought, that girl had gone through more than anyone needed at her age. She could see the exhaustion from Tali’s mien. It was of no surprise when Tali buried her hands in her front pockets and congenially answered, “Yes, I will.”.

That was before she turned her head around and smiled mischievously at Sam.

“Eventually.”