The Hopeless Romantic ✔️

Chapter five.

What just happened?

I didn't really know what to think. I blushed at first, the way he spoke it was like music to my ears and I didn't know why. His voice had this affect on me; I had completely forgotten that the bus was still waiting for me. After a moment of me realizing that yes, the bus was waiting for me and no, I wasn't on it, I stepped onto the bus and gave an apologetic smile to the driver.

Jace sat at the back with Seth and a group of other guys, he was laughing with them but his eyes were focused on me and my beanie. I awkwardly took a seat next to Gwen and buried myself into the seat and stared straight ahead as the bus roared back to life and continued down the street.

Gwen stared at my blushed face and my smile wouldn't stop from forming on my face. I knew that I didn't like Jace like that but, the thought that he actually spoke to me was a surprise. In my defence, it was probably nothing and I was just over reacting but, he actually acknowledged my existence and no guy had ever done that before.

"Why are you blushing?" She looked at my once pale face and saw me shut my eyes and shake my head. In all of my years ever living in this town and going to school, that had never happened. Now that I was older, I got stupid over something so small.

"I'm not blushing, I think I'm coming down with the flu. You know how it is." I said, not looking her in the eyes. As soon as I did, she would know that something happened but was it such a bad thing?

I knew Gwen didn't believe a word that came out of my mouth and usually, I was a very good liar. "You really need to start wearing more casual clothes. Take that beanie off and stop wearing baggy t-shirts and jumpers." Gwen shrugged as the bus rattled and went over a few speed bumps.

"I'd rather not, I'm comfortable in these clothes." I told her truthfully or maybe I was just too insecure about wearing anything else.

She sighed as the bus pulled into the school's parking lot. "Right, because you'd rather watch old shows from ten years ago with your cat."

I rolled my eyes, getting up from my seat and heading out of the bus, ready to face the day. "He has a name." We headed into the school and I noticed that from last year, nothing had changed. A couple is making out against some lockers while some kid stood awkwardly, watching and waiting for them to move so he could get to his locker.

We walked past them and headed to our lockers. I got my key out and unlocked it we Gwen quickly turned hers with the combination. I swung the door open and rummaged through it to find the books I needed for the first two periods. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the janitor heading over to the empty locker that had been there since last year, it was to my right and then Jace appeared.

"Right, here's your combination." The janitor handed him a small piece of paper, Jace took it with a shrug. The janitor sighed heavily, "and don't be stupid with this one." Gwen made staring pretty obvious and if Jace looked now, he would notice her eyes staring back at his.

I hit her arm and took out my history book. "Don't make it so obvious." Jace didn't seem to notice that we were here. He checked the paper and unlocked his locker in one swift movement. I could never do that, I thought to myself as I placed my locker and house keys around my neck.

"He probably gets the stares from every girl in this school." Gwen sighed heavily and slammed her locker shut, making Jace turn our way. My head quickly turned away as I closed my locker quietly and locked it back up. I held my history book in my hand and followed Gwen to class.

Every time in History, it was always the same thing. Jace sat at the back, by himself and used his phone the entire time while Gwen and I sat in the middle of the class. I sometimes would use my phone to read whenever the teacher was talking, unless we had to take down notes.