The Fate of Our Hearts

Chapter 11 - Cool Beans

It's been five long days since I've seen Gio in person, though he's been living in my head constantly these last two weeks. My exuberance to see him drives me to arrive extra early to Study Hall and deliberate on where I should sit. I briefly toy with the idea of sitting right next to his table, then immediately change my mind—I can't look too desperately eager. I take a seat, one table closer to his than my usual spot.

When, at last, I see him push through the doors, wearing his usual black sweatshirt and black ball cap, we immediately lock eyes, and then a bashful smile forms on both of our lips. He sits down at the end of his group, facing me, but a little closer this time, too. A rush runs through me, but I keep my face indifferent, focusing on my paperwork.

Of course, I'm anything but involved with doing my homework—drawing the initials of his name in the margins of my notebook with little hearts—GR + LB. But after only eight minutes, I can't keep my game up any longer—I glance up at him, and there he is, looking at me, too, the cutest smile creeping across his face, and I instinctively mirror it before coquettishly flicking my eyes back to my notebook.

For the rest of class, I keep catching his eye out of the corner of mine. Playful smiles are volleyed back and forth between us, though he makes no indication he's going to come over to me. When the bell rings, I see him say bye to his friends, and they exit without him. My heartbeat picks up.

At first, he stays put, watching them go, but when the door shuts behind them, he turns to me and smiles, and I smile brightly back. Elated with our flirtatious interactions so far, I nod my head to the side for him to come over, though I think he's about to, anyway.

"Hi Ren," he grins with that new sexy twinkle in his eyes—the bill of his black hat darkens them a little in the best way. It tickles me that he just called me by my nickname. He sits down backward on the bench right next to me, facing the windows.

He looks so good. The afternoon light coming in the large windows brightens him against the otherwise beige backdrop of the cafeteria. The sleeves of his sweatshirt are pushed up, and the olive-tone skin of his forearm is practically glowing. I want to touch his skin so badly, but I don't have the nerve to do it.

"Hi, Gio," I reply cooly with only a hint of a smile in my eyes, directly opposite to the giddy feelings I hide inside.

He clears his throat. "Um, you look really nice today," he says low, looking shyly down. Then he slowly brings his gaze up to meet my eyes.

Did he just say that to me?

My brain breaks for a second—it can't find its way out of his eyes.

"Thanks," I finally reply, and the moment just hangs there, so we look away from each other, and I feel suddenly awkward again.

Shit! Should I say he looks good, too? Is this something just guys say to girls?

The moment to say it passes, so I try to think of something else. "Um, what's your other elective this semester?"

"Oh, um, Auto Shop," he shrugs, looking down at his hands.

That's a boring question, Ren. I want him to smile that way at me again—say something witty.

"Why am I not surprised?" I smile with a glint in my eye.

"Hey, I gotta learn how to work on my car once I get it," he defends with a sweet grin. "And it's pretty easy and fun—for me."

I see that wonderful twinkle in his eye, and I'm pretty proud of myself for pulling it off.

He pokes my side. "What's your other elective?"