Shadowheart

Chapter 5

Dahlia's alarm sounds... At 4 am, while her parents are still asleep. She prepared her bacon and scrambled eggs all on her own, and ate alone on her table. No father scolding her nor her mother ignoring her. Just a peaceful breakfast in the early morning. Then Dahlia drank hot chocolate to warm her body and waken her up. As Dahlia felt satisfied by being in the quiet dining room, she grabbed her bag and went to her bus stop to go to school. After several classes, Dahlia received no trouble so far. She went to the library to continue her drawing, just as someone sat right in front of her.

-"Well hello there, bloody Mary." He said in a sarcastic tone.

Dahlia looked up and it was Zeke. She immediately closed her sketch book as Zeke quickly grabbed it, pulling it away from her.

-"Zeke, no!"

-"Let's see here..."- Zeke opens up the sketch book. -"Crap... Crap... Crap... Crap like the worthless emo witch you are."

-"Zeke, I swear to-"

A young man passed by as the two were confronting. It was the same guy from the hallway yesterday.

-"Is everything alright here? Awfully loud in this corner."

-"Just looking at emo's little doodles in here. I think she wants to murder everyone in the school or something." Zeke gives an insulting smirk to Dahlia, as she shrinks into her chair.

-"Listen man, I'm basically a volunteer for library work. So if you don't wanna get sent to the principals office, I suggest you shut the hell up and give the book back to the girl. Okay?"

-"Tch, wuss."- Zeke throws the book back to the table. -"Just be glad we're in the library, otherwise your bones would be making so much noise."

-"Try me, jackass."

Zeke backs away with a smug on his face, and the young man sits in front of Dahlia.

-"Hey, you ok?"

-"I'm fine, thank you..."

-"The hell is up with that guy? I mean I know some jokes around here but he just takes the cake."

-"I know... Zeke is just an idiot... He does this kind of crap every time he sees me... But hey, you really volunteered as a librarian?"

-"Yeah, I like books and I enjoy being around here. It's basically my favorite area of the whole school."

-"That's nice..."

The young man glances over Dahlias sketch book, then over to her, smiling.

-"I'm Daniel. Daniel Hirsch"

Dahlia looks up to him, seeing he's acquainting himself to her.

-"Dahlia... Rivers."

-"Dahlia? That's a unique name."

-"Blame my mom, she named me this way."

-"No, I meant that it's a pretty name."

Daniel then glances back at the sketch book.

-"So what were you drawing there?"

-"Nothing really..."

-"It's clearly something, I had a little peek yesterday."

-"A peek...?"

-"Yeah, all I saw was a tree and that was... it I think. Hell, the leaves look good."

-"Yeah, it was actually a tree, but there's more to the drawing, though."

-"Oh? Like what?"

-"..."

Daniel noticed Dahlia's expression change, from slight enthusiasm to looking down.

-"Why do you want to know...?"

-"What? Is it illegal for me to look at an artists work?"

-"No, but-"

-"But what?"

Daniel slipped Dahlia's sketchbook off her hands and took a look at her drawing, his eyes widened in surprise.

-"Wow... This is... Really really good"

-"... really?"

-"Yeah! The cherry blossom looks amazing. Love how you put some petals in the river too."

-"Well... It's not quite finished yet. There's some missing parts in the river..."

-"And it could use some color too." Daniel looks at Dahlia smiling. Much to his surprise, Dahlia smiles slightly.

-"Well this is a first."

-"What?"

-"That smile, first time I see you do it."

Dahlia covers her lips, and she couldn't help but blush and look away.

-"No! It's bad!"

-"Aww, come on. I just saved your sketchbook and I can't have a smile nor a 'thank you for saving my ass from jackasses'?"

-"Well..." Dahlia looks back at Daniel, with her hands lowered down to her chin. -"Thank you for saving me... My hero." She squints her eyes, smiling.

Daniel laughs, and keeps on looking at her smile. -"Wow... That's a really cute smile, honestly."

-"Thank you..." She moves her hands away so Daniel could have a clearer look. Then he looks at his watch.

-"Damn, it's almost time..." He stands up and walks towards his nearby desk to pick up his bag and walks back to Dahlia. -"Class is coming, you think I can have your number or something?"

-"My number? Oh... I don't have a phone..."

-"Ah, well wanna meet up for lunch tomorrow? I'll save you a seat."

-"Ummm... Yeah, that actually does sound good."

-"Wonderful, alright, I'll see you around.... Dahlia." He stretches his arm to her to shake it. Dahlia stretches hers along and shakes it. -"It's really nice meeting you, hall girl."

-"And you too, bookworm." Dahlia teased Daniel, and Daniel playfully glared at her. As Daniel walked away, Dahlia hid her face on her arms, squealing into her hoodies sleeves as she smiles and blushes uncontrollably. The first time a boy approached and protected her, and Dahlia couldn't get any happier in her day.