Unsettled Hearts

Two: Aubrey Jones

I really like this new Claire girl. She seems nice. And she's really pretty. Like, really really pretty. Her long blond hair looks like it would be perfect to braid, and her eyes, oh my God those beautiful green eyes, I could just stare into them forever, they're so pretty... oh no. I've seriously fallen in love with her.

"Hey, Claire? Do you want a tour of the school? We start classes on Monday, so there's only a couple days left to get accustomed to the school grounds before school starts." I ask, as Claire, Jack and I are sitting on the floor of the dorm. Khloe has left to go hang out with her popular people friends, so we're free from her and her bitchiness. "Actually, I'd really love that." Claire replies, "I'd honestly be super lost on Monday if you didn't show me around.". "Can I come with?" Jack asked. "Of course!" Claire and I reply in unison. A small, warm smile spreads across Jack's face. "C'mon, let's go." I say, getting up. Jack and Claire follow suit.

"So, that's the science building over there. Are you doing any science subjects?" I ask Claire as we begin our walk. "Yeah, I'm doing Biology." Claire replies. "Oh my God, I'm doing Biology too!" I squeal. Claire smiles. "That means I'll at least have someone in one of my classes to talk to." she says. "I just hope you don't have Khloe in any of your classes." Jack says, cringing slightly as he mentions that bitch, "She was in my Maths class last year, it was absolute hell.". "Yeah, I hope none of us have any classes with her." I reply, as we make our way towards the library and the art room. "And this, this is my favourite place." Jack says as we pass the art room. "I'm sure that's going to be my favourite place." Claire adds, pointing at the large library. Eventually we get to the Performing Arts building, and I squeak, barely able to contain my excitement as I show her around, inside the dance studio and the music rooms, and, the best place, the auditorium. I show her the ins and outs of the auditorium, and then I spend a good 2 or so minutes just laying in the middle of the stage. Claire and Jack both look at me like I'm a little bit strange, but I don't care. 

Soon, we get towards the end of the tour, and just as we're about to head back to the dorm, I remember there's one place we haven't gone yet. "The pool! We forgot to show you the swimming pool!" I exclaim, turning swiftly around and heading in the direction of the swimming pool, a huge thing that sits near the gymnasium and opposite the oval. "This is the pool." I say as we're standing outside the pool gate, "Everyone is required to do mandatory swimming lessons here during the summer.". I look at Jack. He looks worried. "What's wrong?" I ask. He points towards inside the pool gate. That's when I notice the long red hair of one Khloe fucking Bridges, sitting on the side of the pool, gossiping with some other people. "Fuck. Khloe's in there. Run!" I yell, and the three of us make a mad dash back to the dorm.

We get back to the dorm, all three of us panting and out of breath. "I was not dressed for running just now!" Claire says, as she sits down on her bed and takes off her white Birkenstock sandals and adjusts her glasses, which were slightly lopsided on her face. She really wasn't dressed for running: she was wearing a pale pink sundress and sandals, and her blond curls were no longer secured in the plaits she was wearing them in earlier. Jack flops on to his bed and lets out a long sigh. "That was fucking exhausting!" he says, "I feel like I need a nap now!". "You can't sleep now, Jack, we're literally going to go have dinner in like, half an hour." I reply. "I'm still tired though." Jack states indignantly, and I laugh. 

Half an hour later, it's dinner time. I sit next to Claire, and I find myself staring at her a few times. She's so cute and pretty, and I just really want to braid her hair. And that's what I do. After dinner, we're all getting into our pyjamas and doing our bedtime routines, and I decide to ask the question. "Hey, Claire, can I just like... braid your hair? It just looks so good for braiding, and I really like braiding hair." I ask. Claire blushes bright red at the question. "Um... sure? Thanks? How am I supposed to respond?" she asks, nervous. Khloe, who is standing in front of the mirror, turns around and laughs at Claire's awkward response. "Such a loser." I hear her mutter under her breath, before she turns around and looks at herself in the mirror again. Claire must have heard her too, because she looks a bit upset. "Don't listen to her, your response was fine. Now, let me braid your hair. Do you have a hair brush?" I say. Claire nods, before going through her suitcase and pulling out a mint-green coloured hairbrush. She hands it to me, as well as a hair tie, and I begin. I run my fingers through her hair as I brush it. Her soft curls are smooth to the touch and easy to brush, she clearly takes good care of it. It feels even nicer than I was expecting. It's honestly super attractive to me. I carefully section off her hair and begin braiding, weaving long strands of soft blond hair through my fingers and across and around eachother. I think I'm enjoying the sensation of touching her hair more than the actual braiding. I get quite carried away, and then suddenly, the braid is done. "Is it done already?" Claire asks. "Yes." I say, "I enjoyed that.". "Me too." Claire replies, her cheeks still pink. "Your hair is so soft." I tell her. "Thanks." Claire replies, "I need to go take my anti-anxiety medication now.", and she gets up to go take her meds. Jack looks at me and mouths "you have a massive crush on her, don't you?". "Yeah." I mouth back. "That was a good first move." Jack mouths. I giggle and say, "Thanks."

That night, I can't sleep. All I can think about is Claire. God I am so gay for her.