I love him, I love him not...

I love him, I love him not...(Ghost story) - Part 3

Dear Diary

Keith was so weird yesterday. I shouldn't be thinking about it but I can't help it. He was so...sweet. Yeah, it was probably an act and Emma's probably laughing her ass off at this. But I wish he'd come talk to me anyway. He seemed so sincere. I know, laughable. But

"Belinda Godfrey, would you be so kind as to read the next paragraph?"

Belinda cursed silently before looking at her book with almost open panic. She didn't have a clue where they were. She looked down blushing before mumbling that she couldn't.

"Speak up Miss Godfrey. I can't hear you like that."

"I said I don't know where we are. Sorry."

"That's what I thought. Pay more attention to the lesson and stop writing in whatever it is you are."

Belinda sat down, the blush deepening. She knew that Mrs Pagin didn't want to embarrass her. She honestly wanted her to pay attention and learn but Belinda couldn't help feeling ashamed and angry. She'd already read the material and Mrs Pagin knew that.

Belinda glanced sideways at Andrew and caught him watching her carefully. She grinned, trying to let him know she was okay but then her eyes slid past him to another pair of eyes that were watching her intently. The blue eyes caught her off guard again and she blushed even deeper before jerking her head and staring straight down at her book. But she couldn't see the words. They kept blurring as she slid out of focus, thinking.

Why was Keith staring at her? What did he want? She glanced again, trying not to get caught. Maybe he thought she was an idiot for not paying attention. Yeah, that was it, she thought, calm again. And she managed to look at him again, raising a quizzical eyebrow. He gave her the satisfaction of him turning away first, looking a little confused. She looked again at Andrew in time to watch him look quickly away from Keith, his beautiful eyes narrow.

Belinda barely heard the instructions from Mrs Pagin. She knew she was meant to be doing work. She knew it and yet...her mind was whizzing. Was Andrew jealous? Of her looking at Keith? She felt a wash of ecstasy before she turned, grinning like a fool, toward her work sheets. She loved the idea that Andrew was jealous, even though he had no reason to be. Maybe that's why it's so sweet, she thought to herself dazedly.

Keith's eyes flashed again at Andrew, the solid blue electrifying the air. He had to do something. He could see the dopey look on Belinda's face and he rolled his eyes. Loners were so easy to impress. Still, he knew he couldn't let Andrew...well. He looked away again, trying to appear disinterested. She would have to take it however she wanted but he had to make her think he was interested in her. And he had to admit that she was intriguing him. Why was she so intent on not falling for him? It was insane to think that she didn't want to talk to him. He knew he was good looking and he wasn't above using it to get her attention. So why wasn't it working, he thought. His gaze flicked over her burgundy hair and fastened onto those sparking green eyes.

The blue of his eyes brought Belinda back to Earth. He grounded her, all the fluffy airheaded thoughts running from her like water from a faucet. She could see the rings of blue in his eyes and she felt like she was drowning in their depths. I've never been a great swimmer, she thought distractedly before trying to concentrate on her work. It took so much to pull herself away from the sea his eyes had become. She was breathing heavily and she thought she could feel a film of sweat cover her face. Weird. She wanted to run out of the room, anything to escape his stare.

She couldn't think straight, her head several steps behind her. Which was why when she looked around she was already out of the classroom. She was looking in the bathroom mirror, her eyes wild and her hair loose around her. She looked mad, even as she tried to calm herself enough to take the walk of shame that would bring her back to her classroom. Before she made it into the hall though, she felt herself gag, barely managing to fling herself into a toilet stall before she vomited.

"Belinda?"

The sickly sweet voice reached her and she groaned, her head spinning more vigorously than she thought possible. She would give anything to be imagining that voice. Please let me be imagining that voice, she thought desperately, her eyes growing wide and wild once more.

"You'd better come out Bellikins," came Emma's voice again, a hard edge clinging to it. "Everybody's so worried. At least Mrs Pagin is."

Belinda was out of the stall before she realised it, her face green and pale. She saw Emma blanch before running from the room. Belinda smiled grimly, wondering how far she would run before she stopped. But Belinda could hear the sound of Emma, hysterical and the soothing voice of...no, he couldn't! Why was he here?

"Belinda?" Keith called smoothly, his velvety voice freezing her where she stood. "Can I come in Belinda? Are you alright?"

As his voice came closer, Belinda looked around desperately, wishing Andrew were with her. Andrew always made her feel calm, made her free to speak how she wanted. She stared at Keith as he came in, something like desperation making her seem even more ill. He gasped and caught her as she fell forward, the world spinning around her.

"I-I'm okay," she whispered, trying to push him back. The last thing she needed was Emma to walk in on this, making her own stupid assumptions. He seemed to know that's what she was worried about. She felt his chuckle vibrate through her and he swung her up, holding her gently.

"Emma's gone to tell Mrs Pagin what's wrong with you," he said, his eyes twinkling again. "She's not going to do anything, don't worry. You scared me for a second there. I thought maybe you saw something you didn't like."

And then Belinda fainted. Keith felt the sudden deadened weight and saw her head loll back. He sighed. He had been worried but he figured that Andrew must have done his thing and now...he would need to sort out this before he got dragged in any further, he decided grimly. Soon...