Scales [ON HOLD]

Chapter Forty-One: Smile

   Jack pushed me backwards onto the floor and attacked my neck with tickles. I bent my head to try and cover my neck, but I couldn't. My hands protected the music book from Jack as I rolled about, laughing. He smiled and pressed into my ribs. I squealed and rolled onto my side.

   "Can I have the book?" He asked me, stopping for a while. I, however, had carried on laughing. I could still feel a strange sensation crawling over my skin. I sat up and tried to catch my breath.

   "N... no." I panted. I could see a grin creep onto his features. I suddenly regretted what I had said. Jack approached me again. I pushed myself away until I was up against the wall.

   "Oh well." He traced a finger down my side, causing me to blush and squeeze my eyes shut. It sent goosebumps ripple on my skin. He carried on until it reached my hips, where he continued down to my ankle. When he got to my foot, he began to untie my laces. I shook my foot and tried to move him away, smiling.

   He grabbed my knee and held it to the floor. With the other hand, he pulled my boot off and tossed it behind him. With a loud crash, I knew it had probably broken someone's instrument. Laughing, he stroked the bottom of my foot.

   "F-Fine!" I gave up, throwing him the book. He caught it in his right hand, not even looking up from my foot. "You can have it!"

   "Aw," He pouted, before smirking and walking over to my boot. "I was enjoying that." He lifted my boot up and inspected it, flipping it back and forth in between his two hands. "So this is the culprit for Bacon's fractured shin."

   I smirked and stood up, steadying myself on the wall. I gently kicked a trumpet case to the side and walked towards Jack. 

   "Yep. Pass me the boot." I asked him. He smirked and held it protectively before stroking it, mocking me. 

   "No." He put on a high pitched voice and turned away from me.

   "I don't even sound like that." I stated, folding my arms and approaching him cautiously. 

   "True." He said. When I was close enough, I grabbed in front of him and tried to snatch the boot away, but he was too fast. He lifted his arm high above his head, making sure I couldn't reach. I jumped as high as I could but he was too tall. I sighed in defeat and pouted a bit.

   "Am I going to have to tickle you now?" I smirked, getting closer to him. He smiled.

   "You can try, but I'm not ticklish." He laughed when he saw my reaction. I stared at him in utter shock.

   "How can someone not be ticklish! You're lying. " I confronted him. He raised his other arm and shrugged.

   "I'm not," He said. His grip on the boot faltered a little bit as his smile drooped. His gaze averted down to the floor as he exhaled. "I just..."

   I could tell he didn't want to say anything, and I didn't want him to feel uncomfortable, and so I changed the subject. When the time was right, I pulled his arm down and yanked the shoe out of his grip. I fist-pumped the air in success.

   Just as I bent down to tie my lace, the bell rang. I groaned in irritation and picked up my bag, slinging it onto my bag. Leaving my laces undone, I stood up and turned to leave when I felt someone grab my wrist.

   "Huh?" I whispered. As I looked down, I saw Jack on the floor tying my lace for me. When he finished, he dusted his hands and stood up, smiling. I thanked his and gave him a quick hug. He hugged back. As I pulled away, I put my hand into my pocket and turned to the door. I opened it and stepped out into the corridor. I ran to my form room.

   "Octavia?" A voice called out. I reached a door and rested on it. I faced the voice to see Jack running towards me. When he reached me, he put a hand on my shoulder and caught his breath. "I'll meet you in the quad after form, okay?" He told me. I nodded and patted his head.

   "Yeah, sure. See ya!" I hurried off to form.

   As I opened the door, I saw everyone sitting down. Most people were on their phones, but a few were reading and doing such. The teacher didn't even realise I was late. She was just sitting at her desk measuring a metal pole and muttering to herself.

   She clicked on her computer screen and began to read out the names. As soon as she got to my name, I shouted 'here' and walked out. Again, she didn't even notice. I smiled and made my way to the quad to meet Jack. As I pushed open the doors to the quad, I was met by a bright ray of sun shining through the blossoms and down on to my face. I stood there for a while and took it in.

   As I walked to the bench, I noticed Jack wasn't there. I sighed and sat down anyway. I zipped open my bag and pulled out the same book I was reading yesterday. Flipping to the page I was on, I carried on reading. That was until I felt a presence next to me. As I looked to my right, I saw Ronan sitting on the table with his legs crossed, staring at me.

   "Uh, hello Ronan." I waved sheepishly. He continued to stare as his placed his hand under his chin. His big blue eyes never left me as he leant in a little bit.

   "Don't stop reading, you look so peaceful. Carry on." He said monotonously. I hesitated for a while before I nodded and turned to read again. After a while, I flipped the page and got lost in the book. The main character did something so stupid that I smiled. Ronan sighed. "Your smile is gorgeous."

   "T-Thank you." I stuttered, blushing at his statement.