Unseen Connections

It was an ordinary Tuesday, and the classroom was buzzing with the usual energy. St. Lucia High's English Literature class had just begun, and the usual characters were already in their places.

Ava Silva sat at the front of the class, casually flipping through the pages of Pride and Prejudice, her thick lashes casting shadows on her face as she focused on the book. She was seated next to her best friend, Chanel, who was texting furiously under the desk, as usual. Ava was the teacher’s favorite, and everyone in the class knew it. The way Ms. Anderson would smile at her whenever she answered a question was almost too much to handle. Ava was smart, funny, and had that effortless charm that made her the perfect student in the eyes of every teacher.

“You know, Ava, you might just be Ms. Anderson’s favorite student,” Chanel remarked, grinning at her as she finally put her phone down.

“Only because I answered her question on Jane Austen correctly,” Ava replied, giving a half-smile. “But I’m sure you’re her favorite too, Chanel. You’ve got the whole ‘being too cool for school’ vibe going on.” She nudged Chanel with her elbow, a playful twinkle in her eyes.

Chanel laughed, flicking her hair back dramatically. “Please, I’m just here for the social experience. You know, to keep people entertained.”

At that moment, Yasmine, one of the quieter girls in class, whispered to the group of girls sitting in front of Ava, clearly trying to get her attention. “I heard JC’s been trying to talk to you lately, Ava,” Yasmine said, her eyes wide as she spoke in a hushed tone.

Ava’s eyes widened, feigning surprise. “JC?” She leaned back in her chair, dramatically twirling a lock of her hair. “Is he now? Well, I’m flattered, I guess. But I’ve got so many things to focus on right now, you know, like my academic future and... making sure Chanel doesn’t start a fashion disaster.” She shot Chanel a look, smirking.

“Excuse me,” Chanel said with a wink. “I’m an icon, darling. They only wish they could keep up.”

The class erupted in soft giggles, the spotlight on Ava, Chanel, and their usual banter. Even Ms. Anderson couldn’t help but smile as she walked past them. Ava was just too good at this—charming, funny, effortlessly smart. But Beatrice, seated in the back of the room, rolled her eyes and looked down at her notebook, pretending not to care.

While the group of Ava’s friends basked in the attention, Beatrice kept to herself, content in her seat in the back corner of the room. She had never been the type to jump into the limelight, much less engage in the ongoing drama of high school popularity. Instead, she let the rest of the class take center stage, knowing that no one was really paying attention to her.

And that was just how she liked it.

The class went on, with Ms. Anderson once again calling on Ava to answer a question. “Ava, can you tell us what the significance of Elizabeth Bennet’s decision to reject Mr. Collins is in the context of the novel?”

Ava raised her hand with a grin that would have melted anyone’s heart. “Well, Ms. Anderson, I think Elizabeth’s rejection of Mr. Collins is about more than just him being pompous. It’s about her rejecting the societal expectations placed on women to marry for status and security. She wants to marry for love and respect. And also, Mr. Collins is a total bore.”

Chanel snickered, and a few others around them chuckled, including some of the boys in the back. Even Ms. Anderson couldn’t help but smile. “Well said, Ava. You’ve captured the essence of Elizabeth perfectly. Always a pleasure to have you participate.”

The class was all smiles, but as Ms. Anderson turned to write something on the board, Beatrice muttered under her breath, “Yeah, Mr. Collins is a total bore... but I’d take him over that attention-grabbing circus any day.”

Her friend Lilith, seated next to her, couldn’t help but laugh quietly. “You have a way with words, Bea. You should’ve been a stand-up comic.”

Beatrice shot her a sideways glance and smirked. “No one would get my humor. I’m too real for them.”

As Beatrice looked back up at the board, she felt a tap on her shoulder. “Hey, Beatrice,” a voice called out. She turned to see Michael Salvius, a rich kid who had been one of Ava’s admirers for as long as she could remember, leaning over the back of her chair. “I don’t suppose you’re into Pride and Prejudice?”

Beatrice raised an eyebrow, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. “You know, Michael, I’m a huge fan of books, but only the ones where the characters don’t constantly overanalyze their every move. But thanks for asking.”

Michael blinked, looking a little taken aback. He wasn’t used to being so casually dismissed. “Right, well, if you’re ever looking for someone to, I don’t know, study with or chat about the book with—”

“I’ll pass,” Beatrice said, cutting him off gently, her tone playful but firm. “But I’m sure Ava’s available for your intellectual musings.”

Michael’s face faltered slightly, and he quickly turned away. Beatrice suppressed a grin. Michael wasn’t a bad guy, but he was about as subtle as a bull in a china shop. And he wasn’t exactly her type.

Back at the front, Ava was now engaged in a conversation with JC, one of her admirers who had just managed to find his way into the seat next to her. He was trying to be funny, but his jokes only seemed to amuse the people in their immediate vicinity. “So, Ava,” JC began, his voice a little too loud, “how about you and I get together for a study session sometime? You know, just us… to get some real work done.”

Chanel, who had been half-listening, interjected without missing a beat. “Oh, JC, you’ve got to be kidding. You two are going to study together? Please. Ava’s only studying how to charm every single person within a five-foot radius.”

Ava giggled, giving Chanel a playful shove. “She’s not wrong. But JC, you know I’ve got so much on my plate right now. Between keeping up with Chanel’s constant need for attention and my rigorous academic schedule, I just don’t know how I’d fit in time for a study session.”

JC chuckled, clearly not discouraged. “I get it, I get it. Just thought I’d ask.”

Beatrice watched this entire interaction from her seat, leaning back and taking it all in. She couldn’t help but find it slightly amusing. The way everyone worked so hard to stay in Ava’s orbit, to catch her attention, to keep her laughing and interested, it was all so... predictable.

Lilith leaned over to Beatrice, whispering, “I’m not sure who’s more predictable, them or the people who try to be their friends.”

Beatrice snorted. “At least the people who try to get her attention have a reason for it. She’s like a walking magnet. Who wouldn’t want to bask in that spotlight?”

Lilith grinned. “Right, but I’ll pass. I’m perfectly content not being in the limelight.”

Beatrice raised her eyebrow. “I didn’t know you were capable of passing on attention. That’s a new one.”

“Oh, I’ve mastered the art of avoidance,” Lilith said, winking at Beatrice.

The class continued in its usual rhythm: Ava, the center of attention, her friends basking in the glow, the boys vying for her attention, while Beatrice remained the calm observer, quietly making her notes, keeping her distance.

In the end, it was the same old story. Ava’s world was full of noise and bright lights, while Beatrice’s was calm, steady, and refreshingly lowkey.