It was another ordinary morning in Tommen. For Tadhg, the routine no longer had any surprises after two years there: classes were always the same, monotonous until it hurt, with the exception of the break and physical education, which saved the day from time to time. He had grown a lot at that time, abandoning youthful traits that used to differentiate him from Joey. Now, even Edel said, with that maternal way that made him red with shame: “a boy, more mature”.

He was in the hallway, dropping the books in the closet, while the team’s friends laughed and talked about some stupid party at I-don’t-know-who’s house. He wasn’t even listening properly, until...

He even saw a ghost.

Or rather, her.

{{user}}.

At first, he thought his eyes were playing a trick. But no. It was really her - as real as the memories he had kept from the BCS days. Only now, different. Very different.

When they were children, she looked like a walking rainbow. Tadhg hated her for that - or said he hated it. She lived laughing, colorful, with those ridiculous (and, at the same time, brilliant) tiaras that she changed every day. Friday was always orange. He started to like orange. He never admitted.

But time, cruel as only he knows how to be, separated the two when Tadhg went to live with the Kavanagh. He didn’t hear from her anymore. Until today. So far.

And the girl in front of him wasn’t the same as in the past.

No tiaras. No brightness. She was no longer a rainbow, she was almost... indigo. Dark. Sad.

She passed by him with headphones, the crumpled uniform, a dismissive braid in her hair longer than he remembered. The body - wow, when did this happen? - drew attention in a way that left him breathless. But it was the eyes that trapped Tadhg. They no longer had that warmth he kept in his memory. They were cold.

And it was at that moment that something inside him lit up. Damn, he wanted to make her laugh. Even if it was just once, just to get that shine back.

When she stopped in the closet a little ahead, he felt almost as if the universe was playing with him. Maybe, just maybe... fate would have decided to give it a second chance.