Go Away (#TheWattys2015)

Chapter 15: Feelings

The next day at school was pretty boring. I barely even remembered I was in school half the time.The day just seemed to drag on and on. One thing that caught my attention was in homeroom. We all received forms about after school activities and I remembered Zacks suggestion about art class. The idea seemed stupid to me now since all I could think of were nightmares about the monster stalking me and my poor sister in the hospital with Crystal now joining her. I walked out of homeroom and headed to my first class. Zack caught up with me and I jumped taken completely off guard as he poked me and said "hey." I sighed and he laughed. "Scared you didn't I?" I let out a small laugh and tried to relax for once. "Maybe." "So, you gonna sign up for art club after school?" I rolled my eyes. "Why should I?" I felt a little bad for being so rude but I was in no mood for talking. "You said you'd think about it remember?"
"Oooh. I did,didn't I?" He nodded his head. "Hmm. Well I don't think I should." He let out an exasperated sigh. "Come on Daija. Why not?" The way he said my name send a small spark of joy in my stomach. "Because." He stared at me, his sparkling hazel eyes searched mine for an explanation.
"Because why?"
"Just because."
"Ok I'm not gonna take a 'just because'. I told you why you should go. You have an amazing talent."
"Sure."
"Daija seriously." He thought for a moment and i enjoyed the feeling of him walking beside me. "But I'm joining." I raised an eyebrow at him. "Why?" He shrugged.
"I think art club sounds fun. And I could keep you company."
"Don't bother."
"Come on please."
"No."
"Please?"
"No."
He took my hand making me turn to face him,and made a puppy dog face. As much as I hate them,it looked adorable on him. "Pretty please?" I sighed. "No." I looked down at the ground trying to avoid his eyes. Those gorgeous eyes that could change my mind in a heart beat. "Daija look at me."
"No." I tried to hide the laugh building up in my throat. He giggled. "Come on. You know you want to." I fought down a smile. "No I don't." My lips betrayed me and a corner of my mouth lifted into a small smile. "Is that a smile I see?" Zack gasped. "Nope." He stepped closer to me and I felt my face growing hot. "I think it is."
"I think it's not." I looked at the lockers behind him. He stepped to the right trying to get me to look at him. I stared above his head and he jumped up blocking my view of the wall. So I looked down the hall. He stepped to the left and for a split second our eyes met.
"Ha! Gotcha." I burst out laughing. "Dang it." He laughed with me and some teachers stared in our direction.
"So you'll sign up?"
I sighed.
"Oh what the heck." "Yes!"
"But as soon as I get bored I'm leaving." He nodded.
"Fair enough."
"Ok, well I'll see you in math."
"Alright see ya." He walked back down the hallway to his classroom and I headed toward English with a small smile tugging at my lips.
Tasha waited for me down the hall in front of my English classroom with a wide smile on her face. "What're you smiling about?" I asked. She nodded her head at me. "You know what I'm smiling about." I giggled. "So how've you been?" I asked as we took our seats in the English classroom. She sighed. "Better.You?"
"Better." She smiled. "Prince Charming part of that little grin in your face." I smiled unable to stop myself. "Possibly." She laughed and I turned around to face the teacher. Ready to fight the battle of staying awake in English. The teacher began speaking in his boring nasal voice. "So today in class we're going to talk about..." I yawned and began drifting off. Tasha kicked the back of my chair and I jumped fully awake. I turned around to find her smiling and giving me a thumbs up. I smiled back and rested my head on my hand, staring at the clock, praying for the class to be over.

After signing up for art club I turned to leave but Zack stopped me. "Hey, do you want to go do some homework at the library with me?" I shrugged. "Sure, why not."
When we got to the library we found a table away from everyone else so that we could talk. "Why don't we start with math since we're in the same class."
"Sure."
I took out my math homework and he did the same. I didn't know he was staring at me until I heard: "Psssst, Daija."
"Yeah?"
"What kind of problem is it when you have to find the quotient?"
"Dude seriously? That's like, third grade stuff."
"I know but I forgot."
"It's division."
"Thanks."
"Your welcome."
A few minutes later I heard:
"Psssst, Daija."
"Yes Zack," I said, not looking up from my paper.
"What's twelve times five?"
"Sixty."
"Thanks."
"No problem."
"Um, Daija."
I sighed and looked up at him. "Yes child?"
"What's five times five?"
"Your kidding?"
"Nope."
I laughed and found the librarian giving me an above-the-glasses look. She wore circular glasses, a tight brown skirt that went down just below her knees, a matching blouse, and a frown. Her hair was a wiry mass of grey and white curls.
"Twenty five."I whispered.
"Thanks. Sorry."
"It's ok."
"Um Daija."
"Yeeeees?"
"Why are you whispering?"
"Because we're in a library."I hissed.
"Didn't bother you before," he hissed back. "That's because before Harry Potters grandma over there wasn't giving me The Look." He looked around for the librarian and when his eyes landed on her he nearly burst out laughing. His face turned a light shade of pink as he tried to hold in his laughter.
"Geez it's not even that funny."
"Yes it is!" He took a deep breath and tried to calm down. I slapped my hand over my mouth to stop myself from laughing. His cheeks were turning bright pink and they were puffed up so he looked like a chipmunk with nuts in its mouth. "What?" he whispered. I giggled. "Your face. Here's what you looked like." I puffed up my cheeks and scrunched up my face, looking like a constipated chipmunk. At that moment we both couldn't hold it in. Zack burst out laughing and I followed shortly after. Some people turned to look at us and the librarian walked over. "If you both don't quiet down I'm going to have to ask you to leave. Understood?" I nodded and Zack said: "Yes ma'am." She walked away and Zack smiled at me. I smiled back and went back to doing my homework. At that moment I couldn't think of a time when I was happier.
I finished the first page of my homework and moved on to the second. I stole a glance at Zack. He had his fingers running through his hair and his eyebrows were arched downwards in frustration. His eyes were full of determination. He let out a deep breath and looked up at me. Too late to look away. "You ok?" he asked. I blinked a few times acting as if I was coming out of a trance."Huh? Oh! Yeah, yeah I'm fine." He smiled at me and went back to his homework. He stared at it. He looked a little sad. "Are you ok?"
"Yup." I looked over at his homework to see that he had only finished one problem. "You sure? Looks like your struggling a little over there." He sighed. "Yeah its just that I didn't really get it when the teacher explained it in class today you know." He looked back down at his homework and took a deep breath. "You want some help?" He shook his head. "No I'm fine." "Zack, it's ok to ask for help."
"I'm fine really." He tapped his pencil against his paper. Ugh boys. Always gotta play tough guy. Now it was my turn to sigh. "Alright then. Do one problem for me right now."
He raised his eyebrows and stared at me. "Right now?"
"Yup."
"As in right now, right now?"
"Yup."
"Like, right this second."
I smiled. "Yup."
"Ok, I'll do it."
He put his pencil down on his paper and stared at it as though he expected it to magically write down the answer. Finally he dropped his head on the table.
"I give up," he mumbled. "I need help."
I patted his back. It was warm and it sent a wave of tingles jumping around my fingers. "It's ok." I dragged my chair over to his side of the table and began explaining it step by step. He was a little slow at first and I had to make a lot of examples but eventually he got it. "Wow. Good job." I said as he finished the second page of problems.
"Just keep practicing and you'll be good to go for class tomorrow."
"Ok. Thanks Daija."
"No problem. Besides, playing teacher is kinda fun." He smiled at me and I smiled back. We sat there's smiling at each other like creeps for about fifteen seconds. Then I broke the stare and looked away smiling, the heat rising in my cheeks. I stood up to move my chair back but Zack held onto it. "Could you stay here? You know, in case I need help again." "Sure, I guess." I dragged my stuff over and Zack pulled the chair closer to him this time. When I sat down our shoulders were almost touching. I smiled and felt my face grow hot. He glanced over at me, turned back to his homework, then quickly looked at me again, like he had missed something. "Awwww is someone blushing?" "No." I looked away and smiled. He chuckled and stared back down at his homework. Why was he so cute? We sat there for about two and a half hours just doing homework talking a little every few minutes. We finished math, science, history, and some of English. Zack barely asked for help. It started to get late so we walked outside and got ready to go our separate ways. "Do you want me to walk you home?" Zack asked. "No I'm good."
"You sure?"
"Yeah."
"Positive?"
"Positive." He smiled.
"Are you going to be ok?"
"Think so."
"Pinky promise?"
He held out his pinky and I rolled my eyes. Our pinkies linked together. "Pinky promise," I repeated. Electricity snaked up my arm. When our pinkies fell away from each other, I found myself missing his touch. I shook that thought away. He smiled even wider, if that was even possible.
"Well alright then. See you tomorrow?"
"Yeah, definitely." I turned to walk away but stopped when Zack called my name. "I had a lot of fun. We should do this more often." My heart skipped a beat. I turned to face him. "Sure, sounds nice. I had fun too." He smiled and I smiled back.
"Okay, see ya."
"Bye." I walked away and fought the urge to skip all the way home.
I couldn't help but wonder why the temperature seemed to be dropping the closer I got to home.

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A/N hey guys! This chapter wasn't all that great, I'll admit it. But I thought I would just throw it in there. It gets better so just hang in there. Love you guys!!