Cupid's Soldier

Chapter 4

As I walk into the doors of my boring school, something is different, people are looking at me strangely. They're either smiling mockingly, looking at me in pity, or walking away hurriedly. Gosh even the teachers look concerned!

I keep my head held high as I walk down the hallway to my locker, my posture is relaxed and poised. Every single step I make echoes in the considerably quieter hallway, and as I finally make my way to my locker. I gasp. There, on my locker, are four words that make my blood run cold. Anybody who saw these words would just think that it must be a prank or a joke. Anybody who saw them would think that it must've just been some punk kid who did this. Of course, the person who's sending this message probably hired some kid to do it for real but there's no one in this school who cares about me enough to do something like this out of a grudge. I'm just not that important here. What does matter, though, is the color of the words: black and red, the colors of my dad's gang.

"Isn't it ironic, slut?"

Those four words painted in bold red and black, make me shiver in fear. Anyone who's laughing at me right now, doesn't understand the gravity of this situation. This was meant to scare me, and it did. This was meant to send me a message, and it did. My dad is back in town, and he wants me to know. I could be wrong but honestly there's not really anything else it could possibly mean.

Whether he meant my blog or my sudden amazing grades. Everything is definitely ironic. Now as I look at my dad's handiwork, I'm scared for my life. A single tear trails down my cheeks as I stare horrified at my locker. Slowly, I bring my hand up to my lock and shakily twist in my combination, grabbing my books, and slamming the locker door shut. Looking around, I realize a couple of people watching me with sad eyes, including Austen's twin sister, and I run past them as I make my way to class.

*~~~~~*

We're supposed to write down two things that you like about your partner and two things that you don't, which is pretty easy... if you have a partner. Sadly, no one wants to be my partner. I'm just a girl who people would partner with if it benefits them, and I guess right now no one needs or wants my help. It's the start of the semester so teacher's try to find fun games to do to ease us into the hard work. This teacher is known for doing a lot of stupid and annoying assignments like this but it's even more frustrating when people avoid you like you're the damn plague.

Austen walks up to the chair next to me and plops his butt on it. He looks me in the eyes, those brown eyes of his are judging me silently. He's searching through my hazel eyes like he's trying to find something, and he won't, not after what happened earlier.

"It seems we're going to be partners."

The way that he's staring at me is scary; it's like he's trying to figure me out. He's looking at me like I'm a puzzle, a puzzle that he's just dying to put back together. But, if I'm a puzzle, I'm a puzzle not worth solving so maybe he should quit it.

"It seems so." I say, staring at him suspiciously. He's stepping onto unsafe territory, and he needs to know that. I grab my notebook, flip it open, and start writing.

Positives: (1) He wants the best for his sister, it's admirable.

(2) He's different from everyone around him, he never conforms to society and he doesn't allow anyone to hurt him.

Negatives: (1) He refuses to call me by my name.

(2) He hurts people, sometimes people might deserve it but it's not really a good look.

I see Austen writing as well, and it's slightly terrifying. Sure it's for an assignment, in English class, but, I'm also nervous to know what he thinks about me.

He scoots his chair closer to mine, our knees brushing together underneath the desk, but I don't move my legs. Sparks travel up from my legs to my head, and make me feel dizzy. I don't understand why I like this. He's barely even touching me, and, yet, it feels so intimate.

He leans a bit too close to me. His lips brushed against my ear, causing shivers to quake down my spine. Every breath he makes feels heavy against me.

"Having trouble coming up with negatives about me?" He whispers against my ear. I take a quick shaky breath and shake my head no. I'm beginning to understand why he's so admired by girls, he's very charming. Just for good sport, I took my pencil out and added an additional negative.

(3) He's way too arrogant.

"Okay, time to share your answers with your partner," Mr. Reynolds chirps. I bite my lip nervously, and turn around to look at Austen. He stares at me strangely, and then closes his eyes.

"Ummm, I guess I'll go first," he says quietly, almost nervously. "I like that you're quiet and smart. I like your hazel eyes, they're gorgeous and..." he coughs. "I don't like that you're determined to hide yourself from everyone, including me. And I don't like that you hate me." He says, a small smile on his face. His smile isn't smug or mean, it's vulnerable. My face warms under his expectant stare, and I smile.

"Well, I like how you're so loyal to your sister, it's admirable, and I like how you are always yourself no matter what society thinks of you." He chuckles and his smile grows.

"Can I ask you something before you talk about what you don't like about me?" He asks, and I simply nod. "I don't mean to be rude; it's not like I'm making fun of it or anything and I never would anyway, I think it's adorable, but, I was just wondering why you're always so formal with me when you talk?"

"I guess it's sort of a way to distance myself from other people. With you, though, it's different..." A blush spreads across my cheeks as I look into his deep brown eyes. With everyone else, if I start acting casual around them they'll try to be my friend. Which isn't usually bad, but with my father around, I don't think it's safe. But, with Austen, if I act casual around him, I have a feeling that I'll get used to having him around. He leans closer to me, his eyes twinkling with something unknown, something that I can't read.

"You can tell me the rest now, if you want," he chuckles, his eyes gazing into mine.

"Ummm, I don't like the fact that you hurt people sometimes. I hate your refusal to call me by my name, and your arrogance can be very unlikable as well."

Austen sighs and leans away from me and he closes his eyes for a second, looking a bit hurt. As he looks into my eyes, I look away first. I didn't want to hurt him, but I didn't think that I could. I have a feeling that if anyone else had said those things Austen wouldn't have cared, and if he did, he would've shouted profanities at them.

"I thought we were making progress, little Sel," he says, bringing his hands to his face.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you."

I leave it at that. The point of the assignment was stupid like I thought it would be. Apparently, it was to realize that everyone has negative traits and everyone has positive traits. In the book that we're going to read, Mr. Reynolds said that it focuses on a person's imperfections and how people learn to treat this person with respect, despite them. However, I think he just wanted to use this assignment so he wouldn't have to grade papers on the book we're going to have to read just yet.