Half-Hearted

Chapter 1: Adam

The blazing rays of sun heated up the town of Riverdall and everyone had been feeling their skin warming up, like they were getting baked in an oven.  Jacqueline and her friend, Thomas, were eating in the food court at the mall, sharing a pizza. Just then, a group of loud guys come barging in, disrupting the peace and quiet. Thomas leaned over to Jacqueline and said, "Boy, those guys are so loud. And rude!" Jacqueline just giggled and very playfully punched Thomas on the arm because they both knew that they were the guys from the football team at her school. He acted like it hurt and they shared a laugh. One of the guys, the leader of the group, had made eye contact with Jacqueline and instantly fell in love with her. But he had thought that Thomas was her boyfriend, so didn't go talk to her. "J? Hey, J? Are you even listening?" Jacqueline was awoken from her trance by the sound of Thomas' voice and him shaking her arm gently. "What? Oh, no. You can have the last piece. I'm full."

The next day, Jacqueline had been working late at school to finish her project that was due next week. Just as she was walking out of the art room, someone bumped into her. It was that guy that she had held eye contact with yesterday! "Oh, I'm so sorry! Are you okay?", he asked. "I'm Adam, by the way."

"Hey Adam. I'm Jacqueline." Adam has a soft voice. He seems to be shy though. Find out his interests before you start judging him. "Why are you here so late?"

"Oh, that. I had a football practice, a soccer practice, and a basketball practice. How 'bout you?" 

"Me? Oh, just finishing a charcoal art project that's due next week. Needed a male model but since I had none, I had to find an image on the computer, which didn't turn out too well." Let's see if this will get him to stay so we can talk more. I'm starting to get to know him better and my parents certainly don't want me at home right now, not after last night.

"Well, I could help you. Since I'm here and all. Where do you want me to stand?" Jacqueline giggled and said, "I need you to sit down right here and look this way. Bit more to the right. Now gaze off into the distance and tilt your head just a tiny bit. Okay, perfect. Do not move a muscle!" 

"Can't I smile? No? Okay, fine. I'll look really mad then."

"Come on! I'm serious!"

"Okay, okay." After about 3 hours, she was done.

"Beautiful. You are such a good artist." Jacqueline had felt her cheeks get hot and tried not to blush. "Thanks. You're a good model too. So, how old are you?"

"Turned 17 on February 6th. You?"

"Still 16. Turning 17 on October 13th."

"Cool. What grade are you in?"

"11. And I'm guessing you're the same."

"You guessed right. Hey, what time is it?"

"It is, wow. 10:50. You wanna stay and talk for a bit longer? Just to get to know each other?" 

"Sure. So, about yesterday. Was that guy you were sitting with your boyfriend, or not?"

"Tommy? No, he's just a really good friend. I've known him practically my whole life. Do you have a girlfriend?" Adam just looked at the ground and spoke in no more than a whisper,

"No. You'd think that all the girls would be after me, but no."

"You wanna know a secret Adam?"

"Sure. What?

"I think that all those girls made a mistake chasing after those other boys, when really, they should have been ch-" Adam cut Jacqueline off by pressing his lips into hers. "What was that for?"

"Well, you don't have a boyfriend, and I don't have a girlfriend. Well, not at 11:44. But what about at 11:45?" Jacqueline answered his question with another kiss and Adam didn't pull away. He just deepened it by slipping his arm around her waist, which sent a shiver up Jacqueline's spine. She smiled against his lips and kissed him even more.