Fallen

Chapter 10

"Wait, what?" Martin laughed.

"It was so windy! I'm scared to wear dresses now." I laughed along with him.

"One flashing incident and you're ruined forever?" He questioned.

"Yes. It was scarring." Our laughter had diminished to breathy chuckles. I looked over at him and found him staring at me with a curious smile. At these carefree moments, I almost forget that there is something deeper about him. Something sad. Martin hardly ever talks about himself, or his family for that matter. He holds a mystery to him. But all the same, he is comfortable to be around. I wish I knew what happened to him. Why he disappeared. Maybe I could help him.

We were suddenly interrupted by the front door opening. I broke the hypnotizing eye contact I had with Martin to see the source of the noise. My parents walked on either side of Jeremy as he hobbles into the living room on his crutches.

"Welcome home," I smiled at him as he plopped down on the couch.

"Thanks," he sighed. " I didn't know you'd be here." He pointed his index finger towards Martin.

"Hannah needed help with her homework, and I was bored. So here I am." Martin smiled gesturing to himself.

"Oh good thing you're here then. She's dumber than a box of hammers." Jeremy chuckled to himself.

"Jeremy," my father warned. Jeremy rolled his eyes, which granted him a glare from me.

"Martin, will you be staying for dinner? You're more than welcome to," my mom asked.

"No, I have to head home soon actually." He started to stand from the couch.

"I can walk you home." I stood as he did. He smiled at me and turned to Jeremy.

"Good to see you're home. Drive me to school tomorrow?" He questioned.

"I broke my leg, you inconsiderate mooch," Jeremy laughed.

Martin patted my brother on the shoulder and said goodbye to my parents. After we walked out the front door, Martin reached for my hand. I took his in mine as we walked in silence.

"This is where we part," he suddenly turned to me and released my hand.

"We're only halfway to your house. I can walk you the whole way home. Come on." I started to walk down the road when his figure stopped me. He was incredibly close to me. I found myself breathing harder.

"Hannah, I can walk the rest of the way fine. Go home. I'll see you tomorrow." He spoke slowly as to make sure I understood every word. I stared at him but his eyes gave nothing away.

"Okay," I whispered. His shoulders visibly relaxed. I turned around and began to walk back to my house.

"What, no goodbye kiss?" He shouted from behind me. He smirked as I laughed. I walked back to him and placed my arms around his neck, holding him tight. His arms slipped around my waist and held me equally as tight.

"Thanks for helping me," I whispered just below his ear. I felt him smile.

"Anytime." He released me all to soon and placed a kiss in my hair, a gesture I had treasured for some time. I smiled up at him before I turned and walked home deep in thought.

Martin. He became more to me in a short time period than anyone had ever before. There was so much I didn't know about him, but when I was with him, I felt like I knew better than anyone. He had seen me cry and not taken advantage of my weakness. I felt myself becoming attached to him, and it scared me. I had only become attached to one other person, and he broke me.

I walked into a house full of chatter. My brother had always been the vocal one and my parents fed off of it instantly.

"I've already done my assignments. I just need to catch up on my tests when I get back tomorrow." Jeremy told my parents.

"That's great, sweetie. You've always been responsible." My mother replied sweetly. I rolled my eyes before I entered the kitchen. My parents praised my brother for all his overachieving and he had no problem bragging about it. My dad spotted me before everyone else.

"Hey kiddo. How was your walk?" He raised his eyebrows at me as I walked into the kitchen and took a seat on the bar stool.

"It was good. It's getting cold already." I whined. I despised the cold weather. The only good thing was getting to wear cute sweaters and combat boots to school.

My mom made Lemon Chicken with rice and broccoli for dinner. She made us eat healthy at all costs, but I still had a stash of junk food in my room. After dinner I finished my homework and went to bed. I fell asleep deep in thought of Martin, and everything complicated he was.

...................................................................

"Wake up, Hannah!!" I felt hands shaking me. I groggily opened my eyes to find Jeremy standing over me. The weekend had flown by and it was already Monday morning. But I was still in my weekend sleeping habits.

"You have exactly 20 minutes to get your crap together. Let's go!" He swatted my thigh and hobbled out of my room on his obnoxious crutches. I quickly ran from my bed to the shower. I didn't care that I only had 20 minutes. I would go without make up before I went without a shower. Being clean is high priority. I found a cute pair of skinny jeans my cut off tank top and ran out the door holding my combat boots. I looked at the clock as soon as I jumped in the back seat of my mom's minivan.

"With 3 minutes to spare. That's record time." I boasted.

My mom laughed and started the car. Jeremy droned on and on about Shae the whole drive to school. She hardly ever came to our house, but I felt like I knew her whole life story. Jeremy was head over heals for her. I just hoped it didn't turn out like Connor and I. I thought his name and I didn't even feel myself tear up. I can get over this, I know I can.

I helped Jeremy to his first hour where I witnessed Shae jump up and kiss his lips hard. That's a mental image I cannot erase. By the time I got out of their I had to run to my first hour in order to make it to class on time. I ran around the corner and ran straight into a hard chest.

"Hannah, slow down. It's not a race." Martin laughed. He caught me arms to keep me steady. I'm sure my face was red as a tomato. This was not the first time I had run into him.

"Sorry, I'm just late. I have to go...like now. Bye!" I smiled and ran to my first hour, making it just in time before the bell rang.

"Cutting it close, Clark," Aaron smirked at me and turned around in his seat. I felt the butterflies explode in my stomach. He is so beautiful. Everytime he calls me by name, it catches me off guard. Up until a week ago, I thought he didn't know I existed. I smiled to myself and opened my textbook.

I felt my phone buzz in my pocket. I grabbed it and read the text message before the teacher began his long and torturous lecture.

You're gonna bruise me if you keep running into me.
I didn't even get a hello kiss ;)

-Martin

What is with this guy and his hello and goodbye kisses? It was just plain weird. Even so, his text made me smile. I put the phone away and thought of a cheeky reply while the lecture began.

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Hey readers! I feel really super awkward writing these authors notes so I'm gonna keep it short.

If you look at the picture at the beginning of the chapter, you can see who I picture the characters being. I can't figure out this whole cast list crap. So that's what you get. Anyways, I will gradually post more characters as you get to know them. But for now, you get Hannah, Jack, and Martin.

Thanks for reading! Remember to VOTE and COMMENT.

~GracePamela1