Scales [ON HOLD]

Chapter Forty-Two: Chocolate Milk and Sushi

   I blushed and buried my face in the book, hoping he wouldn't notice. Sliding off the table, he sat next to me and put a hand on top of my head, twisting it to face him. He smirked and let go of me. Leaning in to my ear, he whispered.

   "I'll see you in an hour." 

   I blushed and dropped my head onto the table. As Ronan got up and left the quad, he stopped and looked directly at the sun, smiling. I was about to get up and look for Jack, but as Ronan left, I heard a voice come from the other end of the quad.

   "Octavia!" Jack called. I turned and sighed in relief. He walked over with a different book in his hand. I tilted my head to read it.

   "Crescendo." I read out loud. Jack sat on the table and nodded. "Is that the second book?" I asked him.

   "Yes, it is. The first book was amazing, and so I'm guessing this will be too." He smiled. Flicking his fringe out of his eyes, he turned to page thirty and read the lettering. I watched him as his crystal eyes scanned the page. I had to admit, he was good looking.

   I blushed at my thoughts and returned to my book. Jack looked over the cover of Crescendo and saw my red face. He placed a hand on my forehead.

   "Are you feeling well, Octavia?" He asked me, checking my temperature. He pulled his hand back and wafted his book in front of my face, creating small gusts of wind to cool my face. "Your face is slightly above the average temperature. Here," He said. He unzipped his bag and pulled out a fresh bottle of chocolate milk. He handed it to me. "Have some of this to cool you down. I know it's your favourite."

   I looked at him confused. Taking the bottle, I opened the lid and took a few sips.

   "Jack," I began. Wiping my mouth to get rid of the chocolate, I closed the lid and gave it back to him. He took it and set it down on the table. "why do you have that?"

   "Well, you told me that your favourite drink was either chocolate milk or Fanta fruit twist, but when you said chocolate milk, your face lit up. So I bought some this morning. That's why I wasn't in the car with Sam." He said, still reading his book. I was about to say something when he clicked his fingers. "That's a point. I still haven't taken my licence from him."

   I laughed and moved to sit next to him on the table. He glanced at my face, which was still slightly warm and red.

   "Maybe you should go home," He suggested, putting his book on his lap. He unzipped his bag again and pulled out a small tray of sushi. "this might help you feel better."

   I stared down at the vibrant snacks on the black tray and gasped in excitement. Jack smiled and gave it to me, patting my head. I opened it and put one in my mouth. I realised that I was the only one eating, and so I poked his cheek. He looked up at me.

   "Have one." I told him. He nodded and took the smallest one there. I pouted and pointed to one of the big ones. He shook his head and pushed the sushi towards me.

   "They're yours, I couldn't." He said, smiling again. I gave him a look that said 'are you sure?', and he nodded.

   "Thank you for these." I said, resting my head on his shoulder. He nodded and went back to reading. When I finished the sushi, I crumpled the packet. As I went to put it in my bag, Jack grabbed my hand and took it from me.

   "I'll keep the rubbish." He said, stuffing it into his bag's side pocket. I smiled and carried on reading. My face cooled down-finally-and so I felt a little more comfortable around him.

   "How did you find your brother?" I asked him after a while. He tensed up at the question. I looked up at his face to see his eyes cloudy with sadness and anger. "Jack?" I whispered. He looked up at me and forced a smile.

   "I'd prefer not to answer that one." He told me and gulped. I licked my lips and decided it was best not to ask why.

   The rest of the hour was mostly spent with small talk, laughter and silence.

   "Where do you live?" I asked him.

   "I live only ten miles from here. What about you?"

   "Yeah, it's about the same. I live with my mother only, although she wants to get a pet shark." I told him. Seeing the look on his face, I nodded. "I know. Strange."

   "I live with Sam-"

   "On your own?" I interrupted him. He looked at me and licked his lips.

   "Yes." He answered.

   Since there were only ten minutes left, Jack decided to go and find Sam to get his licence back. I waved him off and then set out to the library to change the book I was reading. I could've finished it in the amount of time I had left, and I planned to do so there.

   When I opened the library door, I nearly bumped into some rude-ass year seven. When he was about to barge past me, I stuck out my leg and so he tripped over. Before he could turn around and confront me, I ran inside and slammed the door shut as fast as I could. I turned the lock and ran off to the fantasy section, trying not to laugh.

   I found the same table I was at yesterday and sat down. I was just hoping that someone wouldn't let that rude kid in.

   As I read the final line, I sighed and closed the book. The bell rang, signalling that it was time for last lesson, but since I didn't have anything, I stayed in the library. I peeked around a book stand to see that the kid was gone.

   Turning around to choose a new book, I nearly bumped into someone. Taking a step back, I said sorry.

   "It's fine," The person said. Looking up, I noticed it was Ronan. I smiled a bit, knowing that I didn't hurt him. "I like how you hurt that kid. I couldn't help but laugh when he smacked his face on the floor."

    "Right..."