unbreakable heaven • awsten knight

1.3 caught up in you

houston, tx
september 2008

It's the first day of school, and Awsten has barely been able to concentrate.

He's in English, his last class before lunch, and his thoughts are drifting further and further away from the present.

All he can think about is Ellie, and the time they'd spent together at that party the other night.

He wants to go back— he wants to ask her so many more questions that he feels like he missed.

He wants to know where she is. He didn't even ask her what school she's starting at, or if she's starting school at all; maybe she's being homeschooled.

Or maybe she's moved away again in the blink of an eye, and he'll never see her again— he hates that thought.

"Mrs Adams," a voice speaks up from the front of the class, following a soft knock on the door, which catches Awsten's attention, and seems to finally bring him back to reality.

It's Mr Johnson, the vice principal; he leans against the door frame, with a casual smile on his face, as he looks at Mrs Adams, Awsten's English teacher.

She looks back at him, matching his expression, and tearing her attention away from the class in front of her, as she gestures for him to come in.

Jawn turns around and shoots Awsten a look, wriggling his eyebrow, as he not-so-subtly nods towards the two teachers at the front of the classroom.

The entire school is convinced that there's something going on between the two of them— despite each of their respective marital statuses. Although it's all just rumours, they hardly help the situation with the way that they interact with each other.

As Mr Johnson enters the classroom, Awsten finds himself sitting up a straighter, when he notices someone familiar stood at his side— Ellie.

"Hey, isn't she that girl from the—?" Jawn whispers, turning around again, only to be cut off by Awsten, who hushes him quickly, when Ellie looks up.

She spots Awsten quickly, and offers him a subtle smile, to which he waves back, trying to play it off, while he twists his pen between his fingers.

Ellie looks away again, though, trying to avoid bringing much attention to herself; but that's proving difficult, since she's stood at the front of the classroom, next to the vice principal.

Awsten doesn't take his eyes off of her, despite the many conversations that begin erupting throughout the class.

She's dressed casually, just in jeans and a t-shirt; it takes Awsten a minute to realise that it's a Paramore shirt.

He can see her better in this light, compared to the dark and dingy party that they were at just a few nights ago; she's still just as pretty as he remembers.

"Everyone!" Mrs Adams snaps her fingers, gaining the attention of the class, and all eyes quickly turn to the new girl at the front of the room.

Mrs Adams looks to Mr Johnson with an almost sickly-sweet smile, signalling for him to introduce Ellie.

"This is our new student, Elizabeth. She'll be joining you for her first lesson today," he begins, his pointy shoes clicking on the hard floor as he shuffles his feet. "So, be nice," he offers a playfully warning look, followed by a subtle laugh.

Mr Johnson puts a hand on Ellie's shoulder, encouraging her further into the room, clearly taking advantage of her small stature.

She tries to hide the way she grimaces at the gesture, as she shrugs his hand off of her.