Where the Moon will Shine

Chapter 4

The rest of the day went by in a blur. Every class could be summed up to three rules: No talking, be respectful, and pay attention.

I wasn't sure why we needed an entire day to go over that nine different times, but whatever.

As I waited outside for my mom to pick me up, I grew suddenly thankful for putting on my cardigan. There was a fresh breeze in the air, and I was becoming chilly.

I grabbed my phone out of my purse to check the weather. It said that it was sixty-nine degrees out, even though it was supposed to be in the high seventies all day.

Where was Mom at? It was nearly three thirty and I was growing colder by the minute. She was supposed to be here by three o'clock! Of course she was late to pick me up on my first day of school.

"Hey," I heard a voice say from behind me. I spun around quickly, startled. "you look cold, here."

It was the boy from writing, the one who gave me a pencil. He took off his jacket and attempted to hand it to me.

"What, the oldest trick in the book? Seriously?" I stood up and leaned against the brick wall. He looked confused for a second, so I continued.

"Oh, please," I propped myself up, and brought my voice down an octave, trying my best to imitate a guy's voice.

"You know, the 'wow you look cold, here take my jacket so you'll be warm.

"I'll brave the cold myself, anything for you. Now that I have given you a token of my heart, I expect you to fall hopelessly in love with me. We can share a passionate night of love together, and then I'll go back to pretending that you don't exist.

"The only thing that'll keep you from falling apart is the memory of the jacket that I once gave to you.' thing. And as I'm saying this, I am deeply regretting it and really hoping that you were actually hitting on me, because if you weren't this would be really awkward. I'm gonna stop talking now."

I saw Oliver staring at me, completely bewildered, and I felt my cheeks going red with embarrassment. Either from that, or how suddenly freezing I felt. After a moment of silence, he broke out laughing.

"Well, no worries, that was insanely accurate. All except for the, one night of passionate love and the forgetting you exist the next day, part." I started laughing myself, and for some reason I didn't feel quite so cold anymore.

"I'm sorry, I'm not used to guys hitting on me very often." I could see his smile soften, and he turned away from me. Shit, what did I do now?

"What's wrong?" I asked, scared that I somehow messed something up. He glanced back at me, and gazed into my eyes.

"Nothing... it's just... I'm surprised, that's all. I mean have you seen yourself?"

I couldn't help but to raise my eyebrows in surprise. He blushed, suddenly looking embarrassed.

"Oh good grief, my apologies. I haven't done this 'hitting on girls thing' in a while. Or like, ever. Perhaps we should start over." I laughed for a moment, then held out my hand.

"Hi, my name is Rachel, but most of my friends call me Rach." I could see a grin grow on his lips. Oh wow, those lips.

"Hi, Rach. My name is Oliver. It is my pleasure to make your acquaintance."

He reached his hand out, meeting mine half way. I felt electricity overcome me. I drew my hand back out of nervousness.

"Now Rachel, you look cold. Why don't you take my jacket to warm yourself up." This time I didn't hesitate.