"Arya! Hi!"

"Hey, Liv!" Her smile is just as vibrant as it always is. I don't understand how she can come off so happy and put-together with all the heavy courses she's packed her schedule with. I know I have a hard enough time with English alone.

At the precise moment that Arya sits down, Emma and I both open our mouths to speak at the same time. For a second, Arya doesn't know where to look, exchanging quick glances with both of us, until my quieter voice is overpowered by Emma's more firm, confident one, and I falter away slightly, with a developing glare taking over my once content expression. 

From there, it seems that Arya and Emma are in a conversation of their own. I look down at my blank sheet of notebook paper bitterly. This outline assignment is not getting started this fine lunch period, as I realize.

I hear bits and pieces of the exchange going on next to me. 

"What classes are you taking?"

"Do you think we'll get the same ones?"

"I mean, we'd better. This year's been a little quiet, if you know what I mean."

The words go in one ear and out the other, until I sense a break in speech between them. I turn towards Arya in a flash. "Hey, you know how Mrs. Grey has this whole outline assign-"

Emma jumps in before my sentence can be finished. The end of it disappears in the abyss, never to be spoken as long as Emma has Arya's attention once more. I let out a heavy sigh that I don't care whether or not they notice it.

The exchange between them continues. I know it's not Arya's fault. Emma has always had a habit of being annoyingly loud and attention-seeking; at least among our lunch table. I look at the others, Riley and the couple of girls that sit next to them. Riley is reading a book and the girls are chatting amongst themselves. Why must they be so content? Meanwhile, I'm sitting here not able to grab the attention of the one I need to talk to the most. Once upon a time, though, this was an issue that I was completely unaware of. 

As in, I'd never experienced it. 

Because I had my person.

And now I don't.

These negative thoughts start to return to me as I sit there, quiet. I try to push them away when they come. 

Because I know I've moved on. At least I've told myself I have. So these silly thoughts should not be returning to plague me.

Suddenly, the sound of someone's questioning tone drags me out of my head. I turn towards the owner of this voice.

"Liv!" Arya is looking right at me.

"Yeah?" I answer stupidly.

"Are you taking college classes next year?"