The Art of Falling

"Well played Rivers"

ℰ𝓁𝒶𝒾𝓃ℯ 💚🌷🧸

I looked to the cute boy in front of me. I couldn't deny I was attracted to him, and maybe that's why I felt the need to move so close to him. A part of me was looking for a distraction after the heartbreak from Jamie. I soon realized what I was doing and came back to my senses.'No high school boys remember El.' I scolded myself moving away from him.

"Boy. What do you want really?" I asked him, my brows quirked up. Why was he suddenly talking to me. I watched as he flickered his eyes open, though they were slightly hooded with an emotion I couldn't decipher. "Nothing." He answered back, voice slightly hoarse. "Ok then, you best be on your way if there's nothing you want." I replied playfully. He clears his throat, shakes his head slightly, his hair falling over his left eye."I just want to be friends, I mean... I hope that's ok." He answered with the sweetest little smile on his face. He had me internally cooing. I began feeling slightly bad for having wanted to use him earlier.

Deciding to start afresh I grabbed his arm and looped mine in his. "Ok then, we better hurry, I don't want to be late for class again." I shouted as I attempted to drag him along with me. "Whoa whoa whoa princess, slow down." He said chuckling softly while looking down to me. "Why are you calling me princess?" I ask him, scrunching my face up.

"Why...don't you like it?" He asks back, clearly amused. "No, it's way to cliche!" I exclaim as I push my way through the crowded hallways. He notices my struggle and steps up in front of me, making the hallway part slightly at his presence. I roll my eyes at this. "What, you aren't you impressed?" He asks with the same laughter in his voice. "No, still too cliche." I say, genuinely serious. He breaks out into the most cutest laugh I'd ever seen.

I decide then that I really like the way he looks at me, when he's laughing like that. If only I knew why he was laughing, then I'd always keep him laughing like that.

We reach my next class and after waving goodbye I make a turn into the classroom. I'm soon being pulled back by my waist. "Not so fast." He whispers bringing me closer to him. Red flags start waving in my head. 'Fudge!I really just want to be friends.' I think, trying to resist how good it feels in his arms. I try to subtly move away from him, but he only smiles wider while dragging me back closer. "Lend me you number, will yeah." He says, clearly trying to tempt me with the dimples and low, slightly hoarse voice.

I hesitate and just as I'm about to speak, the warning bell rings and quickly I squeal; "I gotta go!" Before darting into the safety of my physics classroom. "Phew, I dodged that bullet." I sigh, making sure I don't look back. I hope I didn't hurt his feelings though.

...

Soon my Physics lesson ends and I'm making my way to AP mathematics and then after, it's finally lunch break. I make my way to the cafeteria before joining the queue. Some rowdy blonde cuts the line from behind me rudely forcing the lanky kid who was previously behind me back.

"Hey beautiful." He greets. Definitely unamused, I choose to ignore him. "Hey, what's wrong beautiful." He says feigning concern. "I don't associate myself with bullies." I say still with my back to him. "Oh no sweat heart, he doesn't mind. Right Kid? You don't mind do you?" "N-n-n-no, of cause not." The poor kid stutters.

"Umm, I'm pretty sure he minds. Are you alright kid?" A new, yet familiar voice says from behind me. The guy I ran away from before steps up beside me. "Leave him alone Ben." He says pulling the tiny kid, who's small frame was currently in between the big burly Ben's arm. "Are you ok princess." He says now turning towards me.

"Yeah, I'm ok, I just didn't like the way he was treating him." I say. "Don't worry, I'm here now." He replies, lowering his voice to a more loving tone and placing his arm around my shoulders. Ben sneers in his direction. "Well played Rivers." He says before walking away from us. "I got you food, let's go." 'Rivers, is that his name?' I realize that I hadn't yet found out his name.
He starts dragging me towards the direction of the athletes table. I don't know much about the kids at school. I usually keep to myself, but I was certain that the kids at that table participate in some form of athletic sport.

As a kid my big brother was my best friend so his friends sort of became mine, hence why I became mostly closer to the older kids. My brother is 2 years older than me and sooner than I'd wished they had already left school for college. Of cause I have friends my age as well but I just don't know much about the kids my age.

Speaking of friends, after I get out of my thoughts I realize that we've stopped moving and in front of us is Marcus. He stands with his stance protective, eyeing the hand Rivers has on the small of my back.

To be continued