Chapter 3 #3
I walked into first-period chemistry, my stomach an anxious, tight ball of knots.
I was early this time, sliding into my seat two rows from the back, even before the teacher got here.
I slowly and methodically took out my notes, flipping my iPad open as I pulled up the digital textbook Sara-Kate had helped load for me yesterday.
I was so busy looking back over the last chapter I didn’t notice when a tall figure slipped into the seat next to me.
“Very studious, I see,” a deep, rumbling voice whispered, startling me so that my pen skidded to the side, causing a giant ink spot on my notes.
“You scared me,” I accused, not looking up as I remained focused on taking notes before class started. “I’m trying to focus.”
He was quiet for a moment, so I thought he had lost interest. Instead, I heard him shuffling through his bag before pulling out a xeroxed copy of his handwritten notes; his handwriting neat and clean as opposed to my sloppy chicken scratch.
I was taken aback for a moment, surprised that Alaric had actually made a copy of his notes.
The paper was thick; the notes dated back to the first day of the term.
“Oh, wow,” I finally looked up, my eyes meeting his dark green pools. “I didn’t think you were serious about the notes.”
“How else am I supposed to tutor you if you don’t have what you need? We’re meeting at 2:30 in the library. Same spot you and Sara-Kate were at yesterday,” he replied easily, before turning his attention back to the front of the room as Mr. Phillips waltzed in and began shouting instructions.
I opened and then closed my mouth, unsure of what to say, and instead turned to flip through the pages of notes that would now make my catching up that much easier.
It felt like a lot of effort to go through for some random new girl, but since we were lab partners, it made sense he wouldn’t want me dragging his grade down due to incompetence.
I did my best to follow along with the lecture, but found myself glancing over at the dark-haired boy next to me. He was handsome, for sure; dark hair pulled back, a few strands falling into his dark green eyes as he diligently wrote his notes.
But it was his hands that stood out to me the most. His hands were broad and large, yet delicately held his pen as he wrote.
It made me wonder how soft or rough his hands were, how they would feel against my face.
He had three rings on each hand, gold and silver mixed.
On his right thumb, there was a family crest ring, a dark coat of arms that I couldn’t quite make out.
I finally tore my eyes away from him long enough to get back to my notes.
Towards the end of class, I dropped my pen, and we bumped heads, both trying to reach for it.
“Thanks,” I mumbled in response as I reached for the pen.
He nodded, smiling gently, as his fingers brushed mine while handing my pen to me.
There was another bolt of electricity that passed through us, warming my hand instantly.
My cheeks flushed as I stole my attention back to the front of the room and to my own notes that I was doing a miserable job at taking.
Maybe having Alaric as my lab partner was not a good thing after all.
Especially if I were going to be so distracted all the time.
The bell rang, and I gathered my things quickly, sprinting out of the room before Alaric could stop me. My heart didn’t slow down until I was across the school, seated in my next class. But I could still feel his phantom touch from where he handed me my pen.
I sat at the same picnic table as the day before, but this time the clouds had parted for some much-needed sunshine.
I sat up, my eyes closed, with my face turned up towards the sky, taking in the rays as if I were a sunflower.
I craved the warmth that I was so accustomed to back in Georgia, that any small glimpse of it was treasured.
I heard Sara-Kate before she sat down, her melodic voice sing-songing as she made her entrance.
“Good morning, my southern belle! How are we today?” She slid into the seat in front of me, taking a huge bite of her sandwich as soon as the tray hit the table.
“Fine. Still feeling lost in pre-calc, but not so overwhelmed as I was yesterday,” I replied easily, already feeling more comfortable around Sara-Kate as I peeled my orange. “Thanks for taking the time to explain everything yesterday. You’re a lifesaver.”
She shrugged. “Don’t mention it. It’s what friends do.”
I smiled in response to that, about to reply when a bloodcurdling scream screeched across the courtyard.
All chatter ceased as every eye turned to a young girl, probably my age, who was screaming as she held her hands tightly over her ears, as if she were hearing something the rest of us couldn’t.
Her gaze kept jumping from one side of the courtyard to the next.
“Stay the hell away from me!” She batted her arms at an invisible force, screaming as she fell to her knees in sobs. Her dark black hair fell over her face, shielding her from view.
My history teacher, Dr. Meeks, ran over to the student, putting her jacket over her shoulders, trying to console her quietly and help her stand. The school’s counselor, Ms. Timmons, jogged up behind, taking the young girl by her right arm and helping her up.
Slowly, students started laughing and conversing again, seemingly ignoring the quietly sobbing student as she was being led away.
I could still hear her mumbling at the shadows to leave her alone.
As she walked by, a faint glimmer of a golden spiraling sigil began just below the skin under her right ear and branched out into what looked like several different tree roots, dipping below her uniform jacket collar.
“What the hell was that about?” Sara-Kate mumbled under her breath, watching the girl get dragged away. “That’s not like Ashe at all.”
“You know her?” I asked, as I tugged at my Nana’s amulet, feeling a strange sort of comfort to have it so close.
“Yeah, sort of. We’re in drama club together, but she’s been MIA at the last few meetings. Odd, since she’s the president and all . . .” Sara-Kate explained, finally turning her attention back to her food. “I hope she’s okay.”
“Yeah, I hope so too,” I agreed, looking to change the subject. “But that was a cool tattoo she had on her neck. I’m surprised they let students have body art at a school like this.”
Sara-Kate hooked one eyebrow up in confusion. “What are you talking about?”
“That tattoo,” I explained, miming with my hands on my neck to show her what I meant. “She had this golden tattoo that started just below her neck and disappeared down to her shoulder.”
“Huh.” Sara-Kate swallowed and shrugged. “Didn’t notice that. Must be new.”
“Yeah, I guess.” I turned in my seat, hoping to catch one more glimpse of Ashe to prove I wasn’t crazy. But Ashe was already gone, and standing in the shadows of the courtyard staring directly at me was Alaric Gaines, his dark green eyes narrowed in confusion and what seemed like anger.