A/N This chapter's name comes from the song Stop and Stare by OneRepublic. I felt it was fitting since that is essentially what Solas and Elyssa are doing in this chapter. Also, if you have been one of the readers I've had from the beginning I would like to thank you for coming back to read through the edits I felt were necessary for the story. Thank you everyone for giving my story a chance. Until the next chapter, read, review, and enjoy.
Loud, indistinguishable chatter buzzed through the hall as the busybodies of students going to their next class filled it. Solas stood next to his open door, as he and most other teachers did at the change of every class. He was watching the flow of students with little interest when a familiar shade of white caught his eye. She was hugging the wall opposite the side of the hall he stood on. Her jade eyes darted to and from the crowd of bodies, her chest rising and falling with labored breaths, her sketchbook held tightly against her stomach. Solas was so focused on how uncomfortable Elyssa looked amidst the crowd of students that he didn't notice the young brown-haired girl walking too hastily around the corner. The girl's shoulder collided with that of another student's, sending her and her armful of papers haphazardly onto the floor. At first, Solas made no move to help the young human girl, thinking that one of the many students passing her would stop to help. Instead, the crowd of students went smoothly around the fallen girl like ants around a rock on their march to the colony.
Before Solas could make it across the hall to assist the young girl, Elyssa braved her way through the crowd of students, a timid look upon her face. She smiled kindly at the girl, squatting down to help her pick up the papers before they got stepped on. The girl smiled warmly at Elyssa, saying something that Solas couldn't hear that caused Elyssa to smile. Elyssa extended a hand to the girl to help her to her feet. Solas expected Elyssa to retreat to the wall to avoid the crowd of students once she helped the girl. Instead, she stayed by the girl's side, helping her make it through the crowd of students though her discomfort was obvious. Solas cocked his head curiously. He thought despite the mystery behind her artwork, Elyssa's quiet personality was simple. She kept to herself and minded her own business as any high school wallflower would. Yet, here she was going out of her way to help lowerclassmen get through a crowd that bothered her. Why?
A few days later he'd had a matter to discuss with the gym and history teacher, The Iron Bull, that had brought him outside. He saw Elyssa at the football field running the track as was the agenda for today's gym class. He stopped and studied her for a moment. She moved with such fluidity and grace. Though it was a common trait elves had possessed since the age of ancient Arlathan, it was beautiful to admire nonetheless. Especially since there were so few elves left in the world today. Solas watched Elyssa pass the students walking or jogging at slow paces, catching up to the other students such as Krem that took the running assignment seriously. She ran with her eyes focused on the track ahead, not stopping until The Iron Bull called her time, indicating she had completed her mile. Solas shook the elven girl from his mind and continued on his quest to speak with The Iron Bull. He had successfully pushed the girl and the grace in which her long legs moved from his mind until he heard her familiar voice shouting in the near distance.
Both he and The Iron Bull turned their attention to the direction the commotion was coming from, their gazes focusing on the small group of boys that were gathered by the fence along the side of the track near the water fountains at the front of the field. Before them was a dark-haired senior by the name of Samson and a few of his friends. Samson had a reputation among the teachers for starting trouble and bullying. Several times he had been taken both to the guidance counselor Salem's office and then the principal Cassandra's when counseling proved of no use to him. He did not appear to be out of character today as he stood above a fallen Cremisius who was glaring up at him. Both The Iron Bull and Solas began walking in their direction when they heard the stream of transphobic insults spewing from Samson. The Iron Bull was fuming, his face furrowed in anger, hearing them insult his adopted son. Solas pulled out his phone to begin dialing Salem's number, as she would no doubt be needed to calm her husband down, only for both elf and qunari to stop in their tracks. They watched as Elyssa, who had been getting water after her run, stomped over to Samson. Though her voice quivered with fear, she did not hesitate to chastise him for bullying Krem, going so far as to slap him when he continued to insult the boy. It wasn't until she slapped him that Samson noticed the two teachers heading his way. He began demanding something be done about the elven girl. Samson quickly changed his mind when The Iron Bull stated that he could indeed write up Elyssa, but would also have to write up Samson as was the school's policy for bullying.
As Solas continued to watch Elyssa throughout school, trying desperately to figure out the enigma she was proving more and more to be, he couldn't help but be reminded of Mythal, his mother. Of the kindness and compassion as well as her profound sense of justice Solas had always admired in her. He couldn't help but admire it in this young woman as well. Elyssa wasn't the quiet wallflower he had previously believed her to be. She had shown a fiery spirit and a sense of compassion that was all-too-rare in people of today's world, especially those of her tender age. She didn't hesitate to help her fellow students even if it meant doing something that made her so obviously nervous and uncomfortable. More than ever Solas wanted to understand the mystery behind the girl so eager to help others, yet seemed so scared of getting help herself.
Elyssa stood pressed against the wall of the hallway. Usually, she could suffer through the roar of the crowd of student bodies to get from class to class. Today, however, she inched slowly along the wall, praying no one would touch her. She knew why she hated crowds, why she did her best to put distance between her and others both physically and mentally. Most days she could handle it enough to seem somewhat normal, though a little distant. Most days she didn't have that dream again and was on edge from every accidental touch. She knew it was ridiculous to be so frightened by something as simple as a touch from a stranger, after all, it had never been a stranger that hurt her. She knew, but she couldn't help the sweaty palms, racing heart, and rigid body that came with dealing with crowds. They made her feel trapped like she couldn't escape the things that truly scared her.
As she inched along the wall, clutching her sketchbook to her abdomen, she noticed Mr. Wolfe staring at her. His gaze was curious, quizzical from across the small hallway. She must look ridiculous to him, a practically grown woman standing frightened like a child. She turned her head away, not wanting to see the judgment that was undoubtedly there from her favorite teacher. She saw just in time as an underclassman girl rounded the corner too quickly. She watched as the human girl, Marion she believed her name was, collided with someone else. Marion went toppling to the floor, the blonde elven girl she had bumped into paying her no more mind than laughing at Marion's clumsiness before walking away. Marion didn't seem bothered by the elven girl, Sera, nor did she seem bothered by the rest of the students walking around her without so much as an offer of help.
Elyssa shook her head in disbelief. No one seemed to care that this poor girl was struggling to pick up her papers and books. Elyssa looked quickly at the students passing through the hall, looking for a break in the bodies. When she found an opening she made her way quickly to Marion. She helped her pick up her papers, Marion thanking her in earnest. When they had gathered all of her supplies, Elyssa helped Marion to her feet and began walking with her through the hall, her heart pounding a mile a minute. She hated how nervous she was just from walking amidst the other students, but Marion helped keep her somewhat distracted by talking about how Elyssa and Marion's crush, Krem, were both so kind even to people they didn't know. Elyssa was reminded of Mr. Wolfe and how he, too, seemed kind. He never got frustrated when a student didn't quite understand what he was explaining and he never undermined anyone's hard-earned attempts even if their project was less than visually appealing. Even when he had confronted her about her twisted works he had been kind. He was kind, but something in his eyes always seemed sad, especially when he spoke of himself. Elyssa couldn't help but wonder why. She pushed the thought of her art teacher to the back of her mind, as kind as he was he didn't need someone like her obsessing over him.
She had succeeded in pushing the art teacher from her mind until a few days later that she saw Mr. Wolfe again unexpectedly. She was running her mile out on the track for gym, actually managing to keep up a decent pace. She saw Mr. Wolfe walk across the field to where Coach Bull stood with his stopwatch. Mr. Wolfe's blue eyes seemed to trail on her as she completed her last lap. She couldn't imagine why, but she believed she saw what seemed like subtle admiration as she ran. She mentally shook her head, she was imagining things and needed to focus. She was determined to beat her mile time from August. She was in the last quarter of the mile, if she booked it now she might even be able to beat Coach Bull's son, Krem. When Krem glanced back and noticed her quickly approaching he smiled challengingly, picking up his pace. Elyssa chuckled inwardly, now it was a race. Fixing her gaze on the track ahead she pushed through the burning in her calves, using her long legs to her advantage to gain some ground. She pushed harder as she rounded the last corner of the track, Coach Bull's horns and eye patch visible. She passed around any student that was in her way, including Krem, not stopping her full out sprint until Coach Bull called her time. She grinned proudly, she had beat her time and Krem.
Krem caught up to her as she began walking towards the water fountains. He laughed and told her good job on beating him. Elyssa thanked him and told him he ran a good mile as well. She didn't talk to him much, but Krem was friendly enough that she didn't mind when he approached her. She had even considered trying to befriend him but was always too nervous to approach him. Krem parted ways with her, going to retrieve his water bottle from his gym bag by the fence. Elyssa, having not thought to bring a bottle of water with her, went to the water fountain not too far off. Elyssa was enjoying the cool liquid from the metal fountain that was heaven on her burning throat when she heard shouting coming from the direction of the fence. She saw the black hair and greasy face of the well-known bully Samson. How he hadn't been expelled, Elyssa didn't know. What she did know was that he had no right to be calling Krem any of the names he was.
It was common knowledge that though Krem had been born a girl, he didn't identify as one. Most people were respectful to him, after all, what gender he felt comfortable with didn't harm anyone. But a few people, like Samson and his so-called friends, bullied Krem, trying to make him feel as though he wasn't a man. In Elyssa's opinion, Krem was more of a man than people like Samson were. Her blood boiled as she saw Samson shove Krem to the ground, continuing to insult him for being brave enough to be who he was despite social standards. Before she thought through what she was doing, she marched over to Samson. She stood in front of Krem and ridiculed Samson for being a transphobic piece of shit. Samson sneered and continued to insult Krem. Elyssa didn't think before she connected her hand to his face in her anger. Her eyes grew wide with fear when she heard Samson call Coach Bull and demand she be reprimanded for slapping him. She was probably going to get written up for this, yet she couldn't bring herself to regret defending Krem.
Elyssa watched as Coach Bull cleverly told Samson he could write her up but would have to write him up as well for bullying. Samson quickly retreated, not muttering another word about write-ups. Krem stood up and went to his dad, thanking Elyssa for her help as well. Elyssa's cheeks heated up at his praise, but she assured him she was only doing what was right. She caught a glimpse of Mr. Wolfe staring at her, a smile and amazing light in his blue eyes but a furrowed brow of confusion on his face. It was almost as if he couldn't believe she had been so bold with Samson. All things considered, she didn't find it surprising that Mr. Wolfe was shocked that she could be so assertive, she was known to be a wallflower amongst the teachers after all. What she did find surprising was the quiet air of familiar sadness that she saw in Mr. Wolfe. He was looking at her as if she reminded him of someone, someone that made him sad for some reason. Her chest ached at the thought and she wondered again who and what upset her favorite teacher so.