Chapter 7

Freya

I arrived early in the morning to class so I settled at my usual table and while I waited for the class to begin, I thought I would go through some of my notes once more.

I was so absorbed by my reading that I didn't hear someone walking in and sitting in front of me until their face was inches from mine. I gasped and jerked back to see Micah's twinkling eyes staring back at me.

-Bugger. That wasn't the reaction I was hoping for. He said with a fake pout, but the amusement in his eyes betrayed him.

-You scared me. I whispered trying to catch my breath -What are you doing here? I asked looking around to see the room still empty and the door closed.

-Nothing. Just wanted to see you. He said, his face serious.

I blushed as I remembered how close he was just a moment ago. His face was so near that I could feel his breath tingling my skin.

-That's what I was hoping for. He smirked, gesturing with his finger at my face.

I felt my blush deepen so I looked away, avoiding his gaze, feeling humiliated.

-I just crossed paths with your boyfriend. He didn't seem to be too happy to see me.

-He's not. . . I started to protest when I got interrupted by the flood of students walking into the room.

-You should rectify the situation with. He might think I'm into you or something. Tell him he's got nothing to worry about. He said with a wink as he readjusted chair back to its place before he walked toward his seat.

I felt something stabbing me all of a sudden. I put a hand on my chest rubbing gently at the spot to soothe the ache I felt inside. It was like every word he said had scratched my heart and I was left behind to nurse my wounds.

I just met the guy, but somehow along the way, I let my guards down for him to get through. And now I was paying the consequences.

Looking down at my notes, I saw tear drop spots all over the paper. Quickly, I reached up to my cheeks to dry the dampness with my sleeves as I fought back the more tears that were threatening to stream down.

During the whole class, I had kept quiet, ducking my head down to make myself the least visible I could until I got saved by the bell. I shoved my notebook into my bag as quickly as possible then rushed toward the door, feeling a set of eyes following me.

Hilda

I was sitting in the lunch room with the guys but my mind couldn't be farther away from where my body was. I kept scrolling down the pictures of my old friends, with a bitter smile on my lips as I imagined myself with them.

-Hey. I felt Danny say as he nudged my elbow -Are you alright?

I blinked several times to chase the tingling tears away as I performed one of my best fake smiles to him and replied:

-I'm fine. What's up?

He hesitated for a moment, giving me a long suspicious look before he shrugged it off and said:

-I was wondering if you wanted to go out this weekend.

-Sure. What did you guys have in mind?

He gave me a sheepish smile before he winced and said:

-I was thinking we could hang out just the two of us this time.

-Oh. I replied; my eyes wide as it hit me all of a sudden -Like on a date?

-Maybe? He said making it sound like a question, looking uncomfortable -I mean, if you want to. But if not, I totally understand. I mean, maybe you have someone back in the states waiting for you. . .

-No, no, it's nothing like that. I interrupted him when he started babbling -I just. My mind was racing trying to find a reason why I should reject him but came up with none. I bit my lip thoughtfully as his hopeful eyes stared at me expectantly -I mean, sure. Why not. I finally said with a shrug.

He rewarded me with one of his bright grins before he bent down and kissed my cheek. It was brief, as soon as his lips touched my skin they were gone. But it managed to take me off guard once again. He didn't seem to mind the narrow eyes I gave him as he shrugged, his eyes turning a different shade of blue as the sky after the rain. Unconsciously, I let his happiness get to me and found my mouth mirroring his smile.

Satisfied, he looked away, joining the others into whatever conversation they were having. I diverted my eyes away only for them to land on Mr. Hardwin, standing with a teacher a few feet away from our table. He was nodding at whatever she was saying but his focus was on me. I felt something twitch inside me the moment our eyes met. An unfamiliar feeling that left me unsettled.

Next period was PE and to say that sports weren't my favorite would be an understatement. I loathed sweating and fighting for a ball. I just couldn't see the point of it when God had blessed you with a fast metabolism.

I sat on the bleachers watching as the others organized themselves in teams after changing into some yellow and blue workout uniform. I was waiting for the teacher as I tried to come up with an excuse to get out of there when I saw Mr. Hardwin walk in, wearing a skin tight white T-shirt and a pair of gray sweat pants. He had a hat on even though we were inside the gym and had a ball tucked under his left arm. He whistled for everybody to gather in before he assigned the members of each team and laid down the rules of the game. He threw the ball and watched as everybody chased after it. Apparently, the first team to catch the ball is the first to play.

I tensed when he turned and started to walk toward me. Every excuse I had made up in my mind in the last couple minutes vanishing.

-Miss Morgan. He called, stopping when he reached the bleachers. Why aren't you in your gym outfit? He asked putting his hands on his hips.

-The colors don't suit me. I replied, opting for the sarcasm as my best mechanism of defense.

-I disagrees. I think yellow and blue are definitely your colors. He said reaching for his hat to take it off and flip his hair.

I didn't respond. I just watched him run his hand through his hair then scratch at the back of his neck, my eyes traveling down his body where his biceps flexed and his shirt lifted a little to bare the V shape on his lower half, teasingly, giving a sneak peek but leaving too much to the imagination. And mine went wild.

Meeting my gaze, he caught me staring and let his arm fall back to his side. I licked my lips and looked away, acting as casual as I could so not to give away how awkward I felt for getting caught ogling my teacher.

-Changed your mind yet? He asked with a knowing smirk.

I sighed dramatically as I stood up and started to jump down the bleachers.

-Sorry. Maybe next time. I said walking past him and toward the exit door.

Freya

After the last class I had a free period before I had to go to work so I took advantage of that to catch up with a few of the classes I was falling behind. I changed my bag in my dorm room then went to the library. At the back and in the corner, there was a free table, small and quiet, away from everybody. I settled in and pulled my notebooks out then my phone as I plugged the earphones on, ready to get lost into a world of mathematics and forget everything else.

I was in the middle of solving one of the hardest equations I have ever seen when I was startled by a set of books slammed on the table. I jerked back and tilted my head up to see Micah standing in front of me waiting for me to get my headphones off so he could talk.

-This is my spot. He said falling on the seat next to me.

-I didn't know there were names on the tables.

-There aren't. But everyone knows their places in this school. And this is mine. He replied without looking at me as he started to open his books.

-Well I didn't. And there aren't any seats left elsewhere.

-What about the kitchen? He asked glancing at me from the corner of his eye.

I huffed at how rude that sounded, not believing that he had actually used that against me. The same feeling from earlier that morning came back adding another scratch mark on my heart. I shoved my books into my bag and stood up, ready to leave before the tears would start streaming down my face uncontrollably once again, when he grabbed my wrist.

-I didn't mean it like that. He muttered. I tried to pull away from his grip but he held a little too tightly that it started to hurt -Don't go. Please. He said, this time lifting his eyes to meet mine -Stay.

It took me a moment to look away, so he wouldn't see right through me and see how his words were cutting like a knife inside me.

-I can't. I replied snatching my wrist from his grip as I walked out the door without looking back.

His words played in my head over and over again as I made my way toward the kitchen.

And as much as I hated to admit it, he was right. People knew their places in this school, and I had to know mine.