Sparks

Chapter One

'I hate Mondays'. The first thing in my head as I groggily sat up in my bed, running a hand through my knotted brown hair. Glancing at the clock, I sigh, wondering if I could just sleep for another 5 minutes...
My eyes shoot open and I sit up hurriedly, cursing as I see the time. "Shouldn't have done that, shouldn't have done that, REALLY shouldn't have done that, Riley, you're an idiot" I mutter, pulling on my school uniform and running out of my bedroom door. Luckily I lived just down the road from my school. A very prestigious school, with half a dozen rules and zero tolerance for lateness...

Aaaand I was late... As I walked in the classroom, everyone turned to look, some smirking and giggling; no surprise there, I wasn't exactly popular. I kept my head down and shuffled over to my desk, feeling my teacher's glare practically burning into my head. The moment I sat down she immediately started a lecture on the importance of being on time, bringing in some comments about 'the real world' and how we wouldn't find jobs if we were late, threat after threat. We all knew that all the school really wanted was sparking results to boast about, but no one was actually brave enough to speak up abou-

"Seems like bullshit."

A few gasps echo through the classroom, everyone turning round in their seats to look at the back of the room, where a girl was leaning against the open door frame. My eyes widened; she was pretty. Very pretty... As I looked at her, I felt nervous, my heart suddenly beating faster. Scared? Jealous? I tried pinpointing the feeling, all the while everyone was just watching the girl as she practically sauntered up to the teacher's desk, where the teacher seemed to be lost for words for once.

The girl just smirked and turned away, now facing the class. " Harper Ashley". The teacher seemed to suddenly snap out of her shock "Ah yes... Miss Ashley...as its your first day, and you may not yet be accustomed to the rules around here, I'll let this slide, but you should know that from now on, behaviour such as that will not be tolerated..." The class broke out into a chatter; never before had the teacher let anyone off, new or not. "SILENCE! Miss Ashley, please go and sit next to Miss Blackthorne" No no no... I guess I shouldn't be so surprised, my lack of friends left me sitting at the front of the class, the only one sitting on a double desk alone.

Harper sat down next to me, leaning back in her chair. I looked down at my book, immediately feeling awkward from the new presence. "Got a pen?" I froze, looking up and glancing over to where Harper was looking straight at me. Her eyes were a dark green, her wavy brown hair framing her face. She really was pretty... "Uhhhh.....sure! Yeah, pen, I have a pen, just a sec..." I fumbled with my pencil case before eventually getting the zipper open and I handed the pen to her. "Thanks Blackthorne."

"You're welcome Ashley..." She paused for a moment, looking me up and down. I immediately felt self conscious, looking down to check my uniform was all in place. "Harper." she put her hand out to me. I looked up at her, and she motioned to her hand with her head. Oh, she wanted me to shake her hand... I quickly shook her hand, and then turned back to my work, away from the awkwardness I had created.

"Well, don't you have a name?" She was still talking to me? I looked over once more. Sure enough, she was still sitting sideways on her seat, her whole body turned towards me. "R-Riley..." She smiled, nodding her head and turning back to face the desk, like she somehow approved of my name.

"Nice to meet you Riley."

The class bell rang, and everyone stood up. I gathered up my things, putting them inside my satchel before making my way to the door. As I got through the corridor, I heard someone yell "Riley!" I carried on walking, there were several other Rileys in my year. After spending four years in this school, I was accustomed to it not being me. "Riley Blackthorne!" I froze, turning slowly.

BAM

Next thing I knew, I was flat on my back, my satchel skidding away from me, the contents flying out. I look up, seeing two big green eyes looking into mine. A breathless Harper was holding herself above me, her forearms next to my ears. "Um, well I guess I caught up to you" she lifted herself up, offering me a hand. I took it and she pulled me up. "Sure...well how can I help you?" I asked, wincing slightly at the pain now going up and down my spine. "You forgot your pen, and I want to spend lunch with you."

"But....its second lesson now, right...?"

She looked at me with a blank expression before bursting into laughter. I just stood there awkwardly as she wiped small tears from her eyes. "I know that dumbass, I meant later."

"Ohh, sure..." I replied, a small smile on my face. "But you do realise we have next lesson together as well, we all stay in the same class they gave us at the beginning of the year..." She gave me a blank expression before pulling a pouty face "Well damn, I just did unnecessary exerciseee...."

I felt heat rise to my face, wow that pouty face looked cute... Realising what I just thought, my face now felt like it was burning up... "Hey, are you alright? You look like a tomato."

Geez, this girl was blunt. "O-Oh, yeah, just fine, I'm good, all good here" I said quickly. The corridor was now completely clear.

Wait...crap, the corridor was completely clear... "We're gonna be late!" I exclaimed, rushing over to where my satchel had gone and scooping up all the fallen contents, stuffing them in. I glanced up at Harper. "Wait a second, where's your bag?" She was just standing there, her hands in her Blazer pockets, smirking down at me. "Didn't bring one." I remembered that she had to ask for a pen. "So... no stationary either...?" She shook her head, still smirking. "The teachers are gonna kill you..." I told her. "I've forgotten my pencil case a few times, and well...good luck to you..." She was now grinning like the Cheshire cat, making me feel like there was something I'd missed. "Why are you smiling...?" Suddenly, she grabbed my hand, walking down the corridor and pulling me along with her. "Wait, no, class is the other way, we're already going to b-" The bell went once more, signalling that we should be in class. "Be late? Ah well, that ship has already sailed" Even though she wasn't even facing me, I knew she had that signature smirk on her face.

Why wasn't I just pulling away? She wasn't holding my hand tightly, I didn't have to go with her. But for some reason, I just couldn't pull away... her hand felt so soft and warm in mine, and it just...fit. Like two pieces of a jigsaw. There was something about Harper. I didn't know what it was, but it just felt that she was something special...

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Soooo, thats chapter one. Please tell me what you thought in the comments!

Thanks for reading :)

-Jay x