peculiar // h.g

chapter 2

sophie

I found my mind wandering off into a foreign state as my teacher spoke about a project. I glanced around the room before setting my eyes on the boy sitting beside me. He fiddled with his fingers as his head was kept down staring at the grey floor. His expression read sadness, in a gentle way. I never understood why.

I stared at this boy as discreetly as possible, saving myself from any embarrassment to come. His head crept up ever so slightly enough for me to see his eyes. There was something about them, his eyes, the nebulous eyes that i could never stop staring at that made me want more. I needed to know more about this boy, or I might find myself going insane. I need to put a smile on those plump lips that I longed to kiss.

"For your assignments you will be paired with the person sitting next to you. I found this way easier so if you have any problems with your partner, please come to me right away considering this project is more than half of your grade. You have from now until the end of this semester, so don't disappoint me children, this better be your best assignment yet." The teacher; Mr. Thompson finished, extenuating the word best.

I analyzed his words a few times over and over in my head, before realizing that i was partnered with Hayes. A spark of joy lit up inside me making my fingertips tingle and bubbles pop in my stomach. I turned towards the more than handsome boy and moved my raggedy chair closer to his desk dragging it along the cold and lifeless floors.

"Hi, I'm Sophie." I said with a small smile plastered on my lips. He took a small hesitating moment before answering ever so quietly.

"I'm Hayes." I giggled lightly at his response, not wanting him to see me as annoying and giddy.

"Well, we can do pur project on anything we want based on chemistry, so what are your interests in chemistry?" I asked him as his head raised up all the way. My breath sped up for a split second when I looked into his eyes, hopeful and gentle.

"Well, I don't really enjoy much, so we can do what you want." He replied rapidly. I searched through my brain for a few seconds before finding my interest in the subject.

"Well, I love experiments, so why don't we create one, and explode it in class?" I asked while my face lit up and light bulbs inside me went off indicating I was getting lots of ideas. He nodded to me slightly and the small and sly smile on his face told me he probably didn't care. I frowned at his actions and decided to get to know the boy a bit better.

"So, what are your general interests?" I ask him as I adjust myself in my chair.

"What do you mean?"

"Sports, hobbies, music. Anything really, I just thought we should get to know each other if we are going to spend the next three months together." I explained, finishing with a smirk.

"Well, I don't really play sports, and i don't really listen to music, but I like to go to a small and run down toddler park and... cry." I had to coke closer to him because his gentle voice faded out almost all the way when he said cry.

"Why do you always go to the park when you feel like crying?"

"Safe haven." The boy said rather briefly ending the conversation right there.

I sat there a bit confused until we were saved by the bell. He grabbed his books quickly and walked gracefully out the door as if nothing happened.