Sempiternal Mate - Book One

Three

Why is he staring at me? Annoyed wasn't the correct word to describe how I felt at that very moment. I casually rolled my eyes but forced my gaze forward. Throughout the class period, I felt his eyes constantly hovering over me, examining me from afar. From the moment he saw me, Daniel's behavior was shy from abnormal. Even so, I couldn't explain the sensation which lingered in my stomach. Right before entering class, Daniel had pulled away from me, and that small action left me with a peculiar feeling which only filled me with questions.

From the corner of my eye, I glanced over to the other side of the lab. Mike and Daniel were sharing the same black lab table, their attention strictly on the lecture. As if he could sense me watching him, Daniel turned to stare directly into my eyes, his face clear of emotion. My gaze snapped forward in a matter of seconds, my face burning with embarrassment. Daniel had caught me staring, and I probably wouldn't hear the end of it.

By the time the school bell ran and signaled the end of first period, I was physically and mentally drained. I remained planted in my seat, my thoughts sheepishly pushing aside the lecture. Physics turned out to be a complete bore, and I was certain I would most likely need a tutor to pass the course. With a small sigh, I slowly picked myself together and trotted out of the classroom. I pulled out my schedule and map, attempting to pinpoint where my next class would be held. For such a small town and school, I felt that I would have a difficult time figuring out where to go.

"Do you need any help finding your next class?" I practically jumped at the sound of his voice, not expecting him to be standing so close. I had been so lost in my schedule that I hadn't noticed Daniel waiting outside the classroom for me.

Now that he was up close, I took the opportunity to study him. I took in his gray shirt, the black jeans that snug his hips, and the black converses he wore to top off his outfit. His dark hair fell before his forehead in curls, and his icy gaze lingered over me, patiently waiting for a response. I wanted to scold myself for the devious thoughts that were entering my mind, but I had to be honest and admit that he was simply delicious. I turned my back on him, a frown appearing over my lips as I quickly pushed my thoughts away and focused on Bryan. Daniel was turning out to be quite dangerous, and it would be best if I pushed him away.

"I think I'll be okay. I don't need any help right now."

Glancing over my shoulder, my stomach sank as a scowl formed over Daniel's lips. He ran a hand through his hair, pushing his curls aside as he gave me a wary look. "I don't understand you at all, Aria. I'm trying to be nice to you, especially since I walked into you and ruined your shirt. I knew this would be a waste of time."

His words cut right through me. With my back turned to him, I hid the hurt that was clearly etched on my face. I slowly walked away from Daniel without another word and made my way toward the stairwell. His eyes burned into my back, but I didn't look back. I didn't want him to see how hurt I truly was. My body was on autopilot as I searched for second period.

My first day at Cold Lake High School wasn't going well, and I just wanted to go home. I walked into my English class seconds before the bell rang. My gaze scanned the classroom and my eyes quickly locked on Mike; even though I was still a bit bitter at the fact that he had left me earlier, I needed a friend at the moment. I quickly made my way down an aisle of desks and took the empty seat beside him.

"Hey, did you find this class all on your own, or did you have some help?" Mike whispered as a small chuckle escaped past his lips. My gaze was focused on the professor's back as the balding old man began writing the day's lesson across the blackboard, but I slowly leaned over so only Mike could hear what I had to say.

"What, like it's hard?" I smiled at him, quoting one of my favorite movies of all time. Legally Blonde was just an iconic film. I pulled out a notebook from my bag and began to copy down the professor's notes. Apparently, the class was in the middle of reading The Great Gatsby, and I had a lot to catch up on. From the corner of my eye, I watched Mike choke on his laughter as he began to copy the day's notes as well.