The Secrets We Keep

The Fifth Chapter

Hayden

After a particularly shitty morning, I doubted the day could get any worse. But I was wrong. As I head into Chemistry, the teacher starts off our lesson by asking someone to hand out the results for our pop quiz on Friday. 

I groan as I see the papers getting passed around. I wasn't prepared that day to have a test so soon and I just know I didn't do my best. 

I wait in anticipation as a tall boy with light brown hair starts to hand my paper to me. But before he does, his brow scrunches together. 

"Is this yours?" He asks as he hands me the paper. I take it from him, spying my name scrawled across the top, and then the ninety-eight that stares up at me in red ink. 

The relief I feel is palpable and for the first time that day, I smile. At least one thing is going right in my life. "Yes," I tell the boy, although he looks too mature to be defined like that. "It's mine." 

He nods, his attention going back to his own paper. I see his mouth twist into a frown but I'm too focused on my own mini-success to pay him too much attention. 

"So, you're like really good at this kind of thing, then?" 

I look back at him, finding his brown eyes on me. I shrug, not really knowing how to answer that. "I guess. It's just chemicals and formulas," I murmur, aware of the teacher starting to write something on the board. 

"Well, to some of us, it's a little more complicated than that," he tells me, his eyes lightening as he leans further back in his chair to talk to me. 

"I'm sorry, Christopher, are we getting in the way of your conversation?" The teacher demands and we both look up to see him staring directly at us. I flush and I know my face must be as red as my hair right now. 

"No, sir. Just congratulating her on her mark," The guy- Christopher announces, turning to sit properly at his desk. 

"Alright," the teacher says sarcastically, eyeing him warily. "Now that that's over with, can you all turn to page 35 of your textbooks?" 

I pull out my chem textbook and start paging through it. But I can't help but notice Christopher peer back at me as he does the same thing. He smirks when he catches my eye again and I shake my head as I look down at the page. I hate that I find myself enjoying his attention. But hey, he's cute and tall. There are worse people to be flirted with. 

-

Once the lesson is over, I start shoving my books back into my bag. When I stand up, I find Christopher leaning against his desk. 

"Are you waiting for me?" I ask, fighting the smile I can feel crawling up my lips. 

"Maybe," he says and I like how his voice sounds. It has a musical quality to it. "What's your next class?" 

"English, why?" I ask, slinging my backpack over my shoulders as we join the queue to get out of the classroom. 

"I'll walk you and it'll give us a chance to get to know each other," he explains. 

"And why do you want to get to know me?" I ask.

"Because I thought I knew all the pretty girls here but I see that I was wrong." His grin is contagious.

"Oh, no, you're a charmer," I say, trying not to let him see that I'm enjoying it. "And what do you expect to get with all this flattery?" I ask once we're back in the bustling hallway. 

"Well, I was going to ease into that, but since you mentioned it right away, what can I do to convince you to tutor me?" 

I'm only a little bit disappointed that he's only interested in me for educational reasons. But what did I think was going to happen? He saw me, it was love at first sight and he would ask me out? I start shaking my head, embarrassed at myself.