Here is my first update for fixing the writing! I already like this one a lot more so here it is:
‘Snake.’ This is what they called her. She was never sure how that name came to be; it's not like they knew hers anyway. No one bothered to ask. In all honesty, she kinda liked the name. She had started writing ‘Snake’ on her notebooks in case she left them somewhere people would actually know who to return it to. By the looks of it, that system worked.
She had just noticed her sketchbook had gone missing when she heard someone approach her from behind, a male voice rang out from behind her, calling the name, “Snake!” She turned around looking up at him. Oh. It was Xander. He was a tall guy, conventionally attractive, who had short black hair, with smoky gray eyes, and tanned skin. By all means he had an impressive figure, and was like the typical popular kid.
“Hey…” She looked him up and down, her eyes finally landing on the sketchbook. “…oh, thanks.” Her voice was quiet, it wasn’t one of those naturally soft voices, however. It was trained. She had taught herself to keep her voice calm and quiet, and she had to; to keep herself perfectly ignored. She stood up from the floor, reaching out her hand to take it from him in a non confrontational way, the way she moved, acted, and glanced nervously about the room all gave off the feeling of ‘I’m not threatening. Please don’t hurt me’. It was all so… learned.
“Yeah, sure.” He shrugged, narrowing eyes at her demeanor. She was paranoid that he would hurt her, for some reason. “I didn’t know you actually went by ‘Snake’.” He stated, conversationally. He extended his arm, giving her the sketchbook.
She took the book hesitantly. “Oh- uh- yeah. I don’t really, I just wrote it so people would know who to return it to.” She said she felt so uncomfortable under his gaze. She just wanted to fade into the background. She wanted to go back to being completely ignored, instead of being forced into an awkward conversation.
“Hm.” He made a thoughtful noise. “I guess you’re right, I don’t think anyone knows your actual name besides the teachers.” Xander studied her face carefully, growing curiosity in his expression. “What is your name?”
“…uhh, it’s Skye.” She admitted quietly, there was nothing wrong with that name, it was perfectly forgettable in every way. She tugged on her baggy sleeve absentmindedly.
“Skye…” He murmured, his voice was quieter, pondering the new information. His thoughtful expression eventually faded into a more decided look as he finally remarked, “I like that.”
“I really don’t mind much about what people call me.” She assured, shifting in her spot.
His eyes narrowed even further, a studious expression on his face. “You’re weird.” He observed.
“I know.” Skye said, her voice even quieter than usual, but her words still got caught in the air. Her silent voice echoing through the empty halls. It was after school. She had stayed after to study, and she had finished so she had been waiting for the time to pass before she would need to head to her job. Her view shifted over to the clock.
Shit. At this rate she was going to be late.
“What’s wrong?” He asked, curiosity shining in his tone, as he moved back a bit, giving her space if needed.
“I’m going to be late for my job…” She explained, making eye contact with him for a split second before immediately looking away again, taking a slight step around him.
Xander looked completely flabbergasted, he opened his mouth and closed it over again, caught completely off guard. “Job…?” He repeated, bewildered.
“Yes, job.” She confirmed, exasperatedly. She moved down the hall.
He watched her walk away frozen in shock, eventually he got a grip on himself and called out, “Hey! Wait, I'll drive you.” Why did he want to help? He had been completely ignoring her existence before, like everyone did.
She stopped moving and accepted, she didn’t want to cause trouble, in hopes that if she did the sooner he would go back to leaving her alone. She got into his car, sitting in the passenger seat as she buckled her seat belt in an uncomfortable silence. Snake looked out the window as he drove, on occasion she would tell him to turn or any other important details such as landmarks of where to go in her regular, near silent, voice.
It wasn’t long before they arrived, typically she would bike to her job, so this was incredibly helpful, especially because now she wouldn’t be late. She thanked him, and without another word she got out of the car. She stared up at the looming building in front of her. She took a deep breath to try and calm herself (it did not help) and she finally entered the imposing building.
He sighed as he watched her enter. ‘What is that girl's deal?’ He wondered to himself. He adjusted how he sat before he started the car and drove away. He contemplated their interaction in his mind as he turned down the winding streets. He arrived home, parking the car in the driveway.
However, he didn’t exit his car yet. He was too deep in thought.
‘Snake.’ This is what they called her. She was never sure how that name came to be; it's not like they knew hers anyway. No one bothered to ask. In all honesty, she kinda liked the name. She had started writing ‘Snake’ on her notebooks in case she left them somewhere people would actually know who to return it to. By the looks of it, that system worked.
She had just noticed her sketchbook had gone missing when she heard someone approach her from behind, a male voice rang out from behind her, calling the name, “Snake!” She turned around looking up at him. Oh. It was Xander. He was a tall guy, conventionally attractive, who had short black hair, with smoky gray eyes, and tanned skin. By all means he had an impressive figure, and was like the typical popular kid.
“Hey…” She looked him up and down, her eyes finally landing on the sketchbook. “…oh, thanks.” Her voice was quiet, it wasn’t one of those naturally soft voices, however. It was trained. She had taught herself to keep her voice calm and quiet, and she had to; to keep herself perfectly ignored. She stood up from the floor, reaching out her hand to take it from him in a non confrontational way, the way she moved, acted, and glanced nervously about the room all gave off the feeling of ‘I’m not threatening. Please don’t hurt me’. It was all so… learned.
“Yeah, sure.” He shrugged, narrowing eyes at her demeanor. She was paranoid that he would hurt her, for some reason. “I didn’t know you actually went by ‘Snake’.” He stated, conversationally. He extended his arm, giving her the sketchbook.
She took the book hesitantly. “Oh- uh- yeah. I don’t really, I just wrote it so people would know who to return it to.” She said she felt so uncomfortable under his gaze. She just wanted to fade into the background. She wanted to go back to being completely ignored, instead of being forced into an awkward conversation.
“Hm.” He made a thoughtful noise. “I guess you’re right, I don’t think anyone knows your actual name besides the teachers.” Xander studied her face carefully, growing curiosity in his expression. “What is your name?”
“…uhh, it’s Skye.” She admitted quietly, there was nothing wrong with that name, it was perfectly forgettable in every way. She tugged on her baggy sleeve absentmindedly.
“Skye…” He murmured, his voice was quieter, pondering the new information. His thoughtful expression eventually faded into a more decided look as he finally remarked, “I like that.”
“I really don’t mind much about what people call me.” She assured, shifting in her spot.
His eyes narrowed even further, a studious expression on his face. “You’re weird.” He observed.
“I know.” Skye said, her voice even quieter than usual, but her words still got caught in the air. Her silent voice echoing through the empty halls. It was after school. She had stayed after to study, and she had finished so she had been waiting for the time to pass before she would need to head to her job. Her view shifted over to the clock.
Shit. At this rate she was going to be late.
“What’s wrong?” He asked, curiosity shining in his tone, as he moved back a bit, giving her space if needed.
“I’m going to be late for my job…” She explained, making eye contact with him for a split second before immediately looking away again, taking a slight step around him.
Xander looked completely flabbergasted, he opened his mouth and closed it over again, caught completely off guard. “Job…?” He repeated, bewildered.
“Yes, job.” She confirmed, exasperatedly. She moved down the hall.
He watched her walk away frozen in shock, eventually he got a grip on himself and called out, “Hey! Wait, I'll drive you.” Why did he want to help? He had been completely ignoring her existence before, like everyone did.
She stopped moving and accepted, she didn’t want to cause trouble, in hopes that if she did the sooner he would go back to leaving her alone. She got into his car, sitting in the passenger seat as she buckled her seat belt in an uncomfortable silence. Snake looked out the window as he drove, on occasion she would tell him to turn or any other important details such as landmarks of where to go in her regular, near silent, voice.
It wasn’t long before they arrived, typically she would bike to her job, so this was incredibly helpful, especially because now she wouldn’t be late. She thanked him, and without another word she got out of the car. She stared up at the looming building in front of her. She took a deep breath to try and calm herself (it did not help) and she finally entered the imposing building.
He sighed as he watched her enter. ‘What is that girl's deal?’ He wondered to himself. He adjusted how he sat before he started the car and drove away. He contemplated their interaction in his mind as he turned down the winding streets. He arrived home, parking the car in the driveway.
However, he didn’t exit his car yet. He was too deep in thought.
But like I said I like this a lot more and I feel like Snake/Skye feels more like the way I imagined her, especially with the dialogue!
