POISONED BLOOD

Chapter 6

"What are you doing here?" I shriek way too high pitched for my liking. He can't be here. He's not supposed to be here. I'm dreaming. Yes, I'm dreaming! I close my eyes and breathe deeply. I open them and a dumbstruck Eddy is staring at me with his mouth halfway open.

"What?" I ask in defense. Why can't I wake up? His eyes are cold with their icy blue, but they are the cold that soothes a burn. My heart is bouncing off of my lungs and trying to stop me from breathing. I take a few steps back to put more space between us. He raises his hand to his neck, rubbing it as if he needs a massage, knowing him he probably does from fighting. His light pink lips press together hard.

"They let me come back early. I've been doing good and not getting in trouble. My grades are up. I'm just here to start fresh." Yeah, okay. It could be true for the most part, but Eddy is very good at lying and I don't want to be here when he lets the truth out.

"Right. Well, I have to get to class. Bye." I begin walking away from the biggest breathing mistake of my life, but I'm halted by a large hand on my shoulder. I turn around and as I look into Eddy's eyes, I push his touch off. He shrugs as if he couldn't care less, but a shadow hovers above his sharp-edged features. It's gone just as quickly as it came. I study him more than I did a minute ago. He cut his hair nearly to his scalp, and by the looks of it with his own hands. I use to hate when he cut his hair. It was soft and... His jaw is spread over with tiny prickly hairs that he must have just shaved, more than likely this past weekend. It's Monday, so I'm going to guess Saturday. The v-neck t-shirt is tan, but not enough to hide his skin's sunny glow. My eyes are not under my control as I follow the line of his collarbone to his wide shoulders.I know his shoes are worn from running, playing football, and skateboarding without having to go that far. His shorts shock me out of it because they are the exact same color as his eyes. I meet them to realize Eddy has been watching the whole time. There's an emotion on his face that I don't recognize. He's not smiling, void of anger, but I see no sadness either. He just stares at me and I'm trapped in his gaze.

"Whose class are you going to?" He grins now and I shake my head to clear it.

"Mrs. Edine's, why?" His eyes shine and it unhinges me. I cross my arms, waiting.

"Me, too" He laughs and I gape at him. You've got to be kidding me. This is just some sick joke that he's playing.

"No, you're not!" He's still cackling as he hands me his schedule. I scan it, running my finger down the list to his last class. Man! Scowling, I shove it back to him.

"Oh, don't be that way. You know you wanna see me." He takes the paper, folding it as we walk down the vacant hall. This day could not get any worse.

"How was your summer?" I nearly laugh out loud at his question. It's been months since school started back. You haven't talked to him, remember? For once, my conscience isn't judging me or trying to ridicule. It is just layered with sympathy, regret, and a longing for the comfort he gave me when I let him in. That was before he lost my trust.

"It was alright, I guess." I shrug. My summer was a fallout for me. He doesn't need to know that; he has no right to, or does he? It's nothing to him either way.

"That sounds boring. My was great, lots of parties!" I bitterly think of why I didn't know that. I shove a smile on my face as I walk into Mrs. Edine's class. Where's Daisy? I am not about to get stuck with this on my own! The room is hot and stuffy. I take a look around at who's here. Nia is gone, too. She's another friend of mine. She moved here from Maca, not long after Daisy arrived. They both have the same last name and everyone asks if they're related, but it's more than likely to annoy them. Nia has pretty brown skin and Daisy's is a tan white. I see Mrs. Edine behind her desk, bending down to get something from the floor and I go straight to her.