Broken [l.p.]

Chapter 2

My heart pounded rapidly when I saw Kirsten walking past me in the hallway in the first week of July. The electricity rushed over me when her arm grazed against mine and her vanilla scent flew into my nose. My eyes didn't blink while staring at her for a few seconds. It felt like ages I hadn't seen her and she was still mesmerized.

Happiness sneaked into my heart and a smile bloomed on my face when she ceased in front of her locker, just five lockers away from me. I'd never loved Monday as much as today before. But it was weird because I didn't see her friends around her. I noticed the smile that had always been on her beaming face was gone and the glow in her eyes dimmed. All of a sudden, I heard people in the hallway murmuring while glancing at Kirsten. The smile on my face disappeared as I furrowed my brows.

"I know she wasn't home again last night." I overheard a boy talking beside me. I turned my head and saw my football team mate, Jake.

"Bet she sleeps with that rich guy every night," Dan, my other team mate who was standing alongside him, replied.

"Not sure she only sleeps with one guy or not," Jake responded as he shrugged.

As I heard their bad words about Kirsten, I felt angry. They shouldn't have said those words about her. They shouldn't have believed in those stupid rumours. There wasn't any evidence she was that type of girl. The one who spread those terrible things should be getting some lectures about manners. They didn't know how much words could hurt someone's feelings.

"Stop it," I said, interrupting them.

Jake and Dan stopped talking and turned to me. I saw their brows crinkle.

"Sorry?" Dan raised his one eyebrow.

"I said stop it," I repeated. "You shouldn't have said that. That's not true."

"But my friend once saw her walking into a night club," Jake explained.

"Does your friend have an evidence?" I asked.

Jake and Dan exchanged a look for seconds without saying anything.

Jake cleared his throat. "Well, he doesn't but—"

"Then you shouldn't judge her like that."

"Why are you so sure it's not true, anyway?"

I paused when I heard Dan's question. I actually didn't know why. But every time I thought about Kirsten, remembering her smile and her eyes, I believed she wasn't like what people thought about her.

"I'll prove it that you're wrong."

I threw them a quick smile then walked away as I noticed Kirsten was already gone. I looked around and my eyes caught her turning at the corner. Approaching her, I followed her pace. Then, I stopped my steps when I saw her sitting on the bench by herself.

I suddenly couldn't let my feet move. I hated how it always happened every time I was going to talk to Kirsten. That was why I'd never done it. I always ended up standing a few steps away from her, just staring without saying anything. If only the trees could talk, I bet they must be laughing and making fun of me right now because all I could do was just silent with no actions. Honestly, I really wanted to curse myself for being so weak whenever she was in front of me. But, I don't know, there was something about her that got me motionlessly nervous so easily.

But then, I realised I'd postponed some chances to say something to her for like million times and I needed to make the first move or nothing ever happened between us until we graduated and our dreams separated us from each other and I would regret everything. Ultimately, I convinced myself that today was the best day for a new step ahead.