Old soul

COMPLICATIONS

Everyone watched as they walked together to their table at the back of the History classroom. Natalia noticed that Jasper no longer sat the chair as far away from her as he was able to. Instead, he sat quite close beside her, their arms almost touching.

Mr Robinson backed into the room then - what spectacular timing the man had - pulling a tall metal frame on wheels that held a heavy looking, very outdated TV and VCR. A movie day - the lift in the class atmosphere was almost tangible. The man shoved the tape into the reluctant VCR and walked to the wall to turn off the lights.

And then, the room went black. Natalia was suddenly hyper-aware that Jasper was sitting about and inch away from her. She was stunned by the unexpected electricity that flowed through her, amazed that it was possible to be more aware of him than she already was. A crazy impulse to reach over and touch him, to stroke his perfect face just once in the darkness, nearly overwhelmed her. Natalia crossed her arms loosely against her chest as she sat back in her chair comfortably - well, as comfortable as she could get in that moment.

The opening credits began, lighting the room by a token amount. Natalia's eyes, of their own accord, flickered to him. She smiled sheepishly as she realised his posture was identical to hers, arms crossed and slouching possision right down to his eyes, peering sideways at her. Jasper grinned back, his eyes somehow managing to smolder, even in the dark. Natalia looked away before she could start hyperventilating. It was absolutely ridiculous that she should feel dizzy.

The hour seemed very long. Natalia couldn't concentrate on the movie - she only knew it was a modern movie based on Amercia all those years ago. She tried to unsuccessfully relax, but the electric current that seemed to be originating from somewhere in his body never slackened. Occasionally Natalia would permit herself a quick glance in his direction, but he never seemed to relax, either. The overpowering craving to touch him refused to fade, and Natalia huffed as she uncrossed her arms, to sit her hands in her lap and mess around with the bottom of her sleeves.

Natalia breathed a sigh of relief when Mr Robinson flicked the lights back on at the end of the class, and she relaxed her shoulders. Jasper chuckled beside her, "Well that was...interesting." his voice was soft, but his eyes were cautious.

"Something like that." Was all she could think to say in response.

"Shall we?" he asked, rising fluidly.

Natalia could have cried, it was time for Chemistry - Tyler Crowley was in this class, he didn't sit next to her, but his appearance still bothered Talia. The only good thing about Chemistry at the moment was that Jasper and Rosalie were in the class, Noah was too but she was yet to meet him.

Jasper waited for Natalia to stand and place her bag over her shoulder before leading the way out of the classroom. They were a few paces down when Natalia gently took hold of his hand, trying her best not to blush as he looked down at her at the feeling. He sent her a smile, before looking up and continuing the way to the Science block.

Entering the classroom is what made people stare, the teacher was not yet there, but a few students were. Jasper walked Natalia right up to her seat in the fourth row from the front of the room. The girl took her seat, placing her bag down on the floor under the desk and looked back up at him, "You can sit down, Jazz. You haven't got to stand here."

"I want to."

Jasper kept hold of her hand, sending a few glares over to Tyler as he waited for his brother to come and sit beside the girl. Noah walked in a few minutes later, seeing the pair at his table. The boy walked straight over, sending a look to his brother and a smile to Natalia as he took the seat next to her. From across the room, Tyler watched the three, huffing and turning around when Natalia looked over at him, a glare set firmly across her face. It was only then that Jasper let go of Talia's hand, sending her a lopsided smile as he moved to sit at his own desk on the other side of the room.