Heart Ache

Chapter One: The New Boy

Chapter One: The New Boy

"Hey, um, hey?"

I froze in sync with the rest of me.  That voice...was it really him?  I hadn't heard that voice in three weeks!  From it's frozen state, my heart promptly began to beat a million miles a minute and for the first time in those same three weeks, I actually felt a glimmer of hope. 

When I turned around, I was met with a pair of all-too-familiar dark brown eyes.  All-too-familiar, because I'd fallen in love with those eyes two years and three months ago.  My first instinct was to run into his arms before hitting him over the head for leaving me like that, until his entire face and body came into focus and my heart sunk.

It wasn't Ty.  Actually, aside from the eyes and the voice, this guy looked almost nothing like Ty.  He was taller, by several inches, and bigger.  Not fat, but more muscle.  His hair, unlike Ty's was short and brown.  Ty's was longer and blond.  Not to mention this guy was much more handsome.

"Yeah?" I murmured, my voice cracking.  Tears made my eyes blurry, but I held them back.  There would be time for that at home...and other things.  My wrists suddenly felt itchy and I tugged on my long sleeves.

"I'm new here and was wondering if you could help me find one of the classrooms." His eyes sparkled as he flashed me a small smile.  "Oh, and I'm Josh."

I swallowed.  He even talked like Ty.  "I, um, yeah.  Which classroom you looking for?" Then I remembered he told me his name and said, "I'm Roselina.  Or Rose."

Josh peered at the paper in his hands I hadn't realized he was holding.  "Room two-twenty."

"Oh.  You have Mr. Woods' this period?" I asked.

"No.  Last period."

My heart clenched together and I blinked back more tears.  There was a time---a time about three weeks ago---that I cringed away at the idea of class-skipping.  Now, I seldom saw Mr. Woods' even once a week.  His history class was the only class I'd had with Ty, apart from lunch, and everything about that room reminded me of him; in the left corner was the desk he sat in, on Mr. Woods' desk was the cup that held the pencils I'd borrow just to chuck at him and Jackson, and then there was Elena's desk, which I'd linger by just to stay a little longer since Ty never got out of class on time.

I stared at the new boy and had the sudden urge to run away, curl up in a ball in the corner, cry, and die.  He was Ty...but he wasn't Ty.  Who was he?  Who was the boy?

"I..." My throat went dry.  I couldn't speak.  My tongue and my lips felt swollen.  The world spun.  My knees shook.  Instead of saying anything, I walked away.

Stuffing my hands in the single pocket on my hoodie, I sniffled and tried to fight back the coming tears and keep my breathing at an even pace.  This shouldn't be happening to me.  What did I do to deserve this?  Where are you, Ty?  Why'd you leave me?

I'm only sixteen.  Love isn't supposed to hurt so bad at this age.  It's not supposed to make you want to wither up and die.  Like somebody has shoved a hot knife into your heart, twisting it and twisting it, almost pulling it out, just to push it back in harder.

I wandered around, though staying clear of the new boy.  I caught a glimpse of the happenings at my old breakfast table, where my friends sat.  Elena was holding hands with her boyfriend, Dave.  There was Katherine, Hannah, and Lizz, playing a game on their Nintendos.  Alyssa and Daniel were talking animatedly to each other.

If anything, it was Elena and Dave that hurt me the worst.  Elena was one of my best friends, but seeing her so happy with her boyfriend...it stung.  That should be Ty and me.  We should be happy, just like them.

I averted my gaze quickly when I saw Lizz glance my way and scurried away, almost running into Glenn.  We were close friends and I'd met her just last year.  While I'd tucked myself into a shell when Ty moved and pushed everyone away, Glenn continued to come back.  I hadn't fully accepted her, but sometimes a friend was what I needed.

"Hey," I murmured, backing off a bit.

"Hey."

I tried walking away, thinking she'd follow me, but instead she didn't.  I looked back at her, but she was beckoning to me.  I turned around and gave her a questioning look.

"You're friends sent me to find you," Glenn informed me.  I could see worry in her hazel eyes, worry that gave me a little warm feeling inside.  Somebody cared.  "Daniel did."

I nodded and proceeded back to the lunchroom.  Unlike when I'd first caught a glance at them, all my friends were looking at the entrance and followed me with their eyes as I approached them.  I noticed their eyes sparkle.

"What?" I asked in a hollow, quiet voice.  I used to be the loudest person you could know, but now you could barely hear me.

"We've got a plan," Lizz said.  While she was the nerd-geek at our table, she was also the caring, protective, friendly one. 

I gave her a small, plastered smile.  "What kind of plan, Lizzy?"

Lizz bit her lip and looked around at the table before continuing.  She was the spokesperson.  "We know you've been...depressed the last few weeks.  You haven't been talking to any of us."

"I know."

"And...um, Jackson told us why."

Of course.  I wasn't entirely sure how he knew, maybe the same way that Ty found out, but Jackson knew I had a huge crush on Ty.  A lot of people did, actually, it just wasn't usually mentioned.  Plus, it wouldn't be that hard to put the pieces together. 

"Okay," I said.

"We've decided to try something." Lizz bit her lip again.  It was a Lizzy habit.  "There's a new boy, Josh.  He's from North Dakota.  He's in my English class."

"I know who he is," I said simply, and even though my voice was emotionless, my heart had already begun to race again.

"Oh.  Well, anyway, Josh and I partnered up and I talked to him about you.  I told him that you're a little depressed and need some...company.  He said he'll try talking to you."

Lizz set that up?  That was why the random handsome new boy talked to me?  It made sense.  After all, I was the crazy rebel girl that nobody really cared about, who was called ugly because she dressed herself in flares and sweaters.  Dark colors, especially since Ty moved.  What cute boy would want to talk to me?

I sighed.  "Nice try, Lizz.  He talked to me, but...I just...it didn't work out.  Just don't worry about me.  I'll be fine." I gave her a fake, though convincing, I was hoping, smile.

Lizz's face fell, but she painted on a small smile.  "Oh.  I'm sorry."

"It's fine."

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Song: Drive By by Train

Hey people reading this.  Josh is cool, right??  What do you think of Rose's friends??  Think she'll warm up to Josh and ever get over Ty??

~Love Lucy~