When it Happens

Chapter 2

My mood was totally different when I walked into History. I made sure to put on a little bit extra Loves Baby Soft perfume and cherry lip gloss. I had a slight fit of panic that he could be one of those kids that were allergic to certain scents. He'd hive up at one whiff of me and never talk to me again.

Guess we'll have to find out.

He walked in right as the bell rang, looking just as perfect as he had the day before. When I went home after school the day before, I thought my assessment of him could have been completely overblown, that he'd come to school the next day actually looking human. I was wrong. He was just as hot as I'd remembered. Ms. Campbell gave him the evil eye. "Why were you late Mr. Remington?"

He chuckled. "With all due respect, Miss, this is a big school, and it's only my second day here."

She nodded in approval and shooed him off. He walked towards me and slugged into his seat.

"Hey, Vivian." The smooth tenor of his voice caught me off guard, as I still wasn't used to it. I started to breathe quicker as I took my eyes off my notebook and turned to face him. It was impossible not to be nervous around this kid.

I bit my bottom lip in fear of saying something dorky again. "Hey. How was your first day here?" Okay, good job Vivian. Not dorky at all. Cool, calm, and collected.

He pursed his lips together in satisfaction and bobs his head up and down. "Pretty good. Everyone I've met here is actually pretty cool. I thought a small town like this would be all farms and old people. You guys have proved me wrong."

That couldn't be farther than the truth about Walden, let alone Massachusetts. We had no farms. I guess that's just the rep that small towns get from city kids. It really wasn't all that bad growing up in one. 

I open my mouth to say something, but he does the honor instead. "That Fryer guy. . . he's one interesting dude."

I tip my head back in laughter, thinking of Fryer. He was stupid as hell, but we loved him. "Oh yeah, he's quite the character. You'll get along with those guys just fine. We're one interesting bunch when you put us in the same room."

That made him chuckle, as Miss Campbell raises her voice to get the class' attention. "Everyone grab a partner, you'll be completing this worksheet on the American Revolution with them for the rest of class."

Nate looks at me as she releases us to work. "Wanna work together?"

I was feeling quite honored that he had asked me to be his partner. Then again, we were already sitting right next to each other. It just made sense. Instead of screaming, "Of course," I thought better than to sound like a desperate whore and shrugged as I said, "Sure," as we rearranged our desks to face each other. Totally killing it at playing it cool.

As we're reading over the instructions, he froze and looked around. "Is that flowers I smell?"

My face turned a bright shade of pink. "I don't know. Why?"

He smiled. "It smells amazing."

***

After school, I had to rush to the bathroom right at the 2:30 bell. The mall was about a mile away, and I figured it was time to be a responsible 17-year-old teenager and get a job. I put on a nice, baby pink dress. Not too slutty, and it showed that sharper, professional side I desperately needed to start getting used to in me.

Yes, before you ask, I do have a car. I just don't ride it very often because I got into a car wreck a couple months ago. That accident and my father's wreck have kinda scarred me. I avoid riding that thing as often as I can. The only downside today is that Shannon drove me to school today, and she also has to leave right after school for her shift down at the farmer's market. So I guess I'm walking.