As he walked through the halls, eyes trailed him. Whispers fluttered like the wind, murmurs carried from one mouth to another, and curious stares clung to him with persistent intensity. They studied him, measured him, sizing him up like he was some newly discovered creature.
At first, he bore it in silence. Then came the weariness. Every step he took along this overly familiar path chipped away at his patience, but he had no choice. This route led to his classroom, and unless he intended to miss yet another of Professor Marianna's notoriously unforgiving lectures, he had to endure the unwanted attention.
"You know," said the figure walking beside him, voice playfully casual, "I'm seriously thinking of getting your autograph framed and putting it up on my media feed. You down for that?"
Aldrich didn't even glance his way. "Keep teasing me like that, Trevor, and trust me, an autograph won't be the only thing I'll be sending your way."
