Magnetism

7 - evaporated fear

Ivy eventually led me out of the classroom towards the office. Everyone was in their classes but I felt eyes on me - watching. Nausea washed over my body as I slowly followed Ivy down the corridor, the joy had been sucked out of me and my shadow now walked in my footsteps.

Thousands of feelings went over my head attempting to fit whatever I was thinking. I wasn't nervous nor was I scared. Happiness certainly wasn't even in the realm of possibility for obvious reasons however I wasn't sad either. I was twitching with something, something powerful and deep and more than anything it was complexed.

I remember the moment before we walked in through the office door. The floor drew my attention, the plasticy wood was slightly short and I could see the beige carpet leaking through the bottom of door. Peering closely I could see small stains on the flooring: smudged peaces of ink and dirt permanently tarnishing it. Marks that linger no matter how much they made fade, there is no getting rid of them.

A hand on my shoulder broke the moment and yet again my gaze looked upon the wretched door. The same hand, Ivy's hand, opened it and unleashed hell.

The familiar scent of burnt toast hit my nostrils first, it was stuffy and a humidity hung in there the more that you breathed in but overall the comforting smell of burnt toast overwhelmed the sweat and the mild moldy smell of the room. A window directly opposite me sent a blaring beam of sunlight into my eye. For a while I blinked and saw spot but when the spots cleared I saw...him.

Once again our eyes locked neither one of us backing down. His were filled with a coldness like no other, a blizzard was trapped in the blue pool that I glared into. A smirk tugged at the corners of his lip momentarily as he noted the tear stains down my cheek.

My body naturally flinched away from him. Anger swelled from with in me and I couldn't help but grit my teeth as I walked further in the room.

A large squishy red sofa was positioned directly opposite from...him and with a lot of encouragement from Ivy I sat down on the edge. The sofa dipped as she scooted to the back of the sofa, instead of following her lead I stayed still, bolt upright and watching him.

His eyes were large almost as if they had been holding back tears, he mouth was contorted as if he were in pain and his body doubled over. To anyone looking this was a guy in pain. However I wasn't stupid, yes I hurt him but his act was purely and utterly for the sympathy.

When I caught his eye, there was no pain just a glint or a spark of something unrecognisable

Staring at him made me realise that I must have seen him before. I knew that he was familiar to me but despite racking my brain I could not put my finger on it.

On the whole he was a reasonably attractive male, his face wasn't even close to ugly. Glaring... noticeable eyes, a sharp jaw, painfully dark eyebrows and hair - definitely not unattractive. He was clearly in shape as well; my fist was sore from his stomach that I punched and I could see that his jacket was tight from the muscles in his arms.

Why did I recognise him?

I felt my gaze lowering. Staring at my tatty converse was not amusing but still I focused on the splotches of grass stain on my white shoes. My head darted it's focus on one subject to another, it was almost as if I could stop and slow down. Nothing felt normal.

My chest was heavy as I sat there, staring downward with my arms firmly crossed and my knee bouncing rhythmically. Ivy was still sat next to me close enough that I could hear her breathing.

Suddenly she sat up, her doe eyes staring upward. I cocked my head and looked at her an expression of bewilderment painted across my face. My eyes were just on her and slowly I tilted my head to follow her gaze.