A Chill In The Air (Book 1)

A Chill In The Air - Chapter 5

A Chill In The Air

Chapter Five

As Layla rounded the corner from her English class a look of sheer determination wiped across her face as she thought she had caught sight of the back of Tanner’s head. Ahead of her lay a long hallway fit enough to hold many processions, also enough space for the one person she was looking for to easily hide himself in the mass of people within its walls. She continued to walk down the hall with as much pep in her step as from when she left her English class except for now she had to retain most of her determination so not to draw attention to herself, thus making her look like she was rather desperate for one room in particular that is found in the everyday home.

Layla’s gut instincts somehow drew her to the lunch hall, also used for breakfast and dinner. She felt some sort of energy within this room as almost as if she could sense Tanner had come this way. Her eyes searched the whole hall top to bottom, catching the odd glimpse of students chowing down on the meal of the day. To her dismay she could not see him as hard and close as she looked, inside she felt some sense of disappointment as she was more than sure she had him cornered. Just then as if all hope had been lost, some had been found in the form of her new comrade and roommate Cassie. “Hey Lay, looks like you’re looking for something? What’s up?” Layla turned around casually so not to appear more suspicious than already present. “Uh…yeah I guess you could say that. It’s more like I need to speak to someone who I can’t seem to find.” Cassie nodded and leaned against one of the long tables behind her. “And who would this be? A guy per chance.” As she winked she received a gentle nudge to her upper arm by Layla as the pink hue returned to her cheeks. “Yeah it IS a guy but not in the way you think, I’m not like you I don’t hook up with every guy my eyes set on, no offence.” Shrugging Cassie smirked, her corners of her mouth lifting with satisfaction. “None taken, so who is he then?” Layla took a deep breath and controlled herself as she said his name as a ripple of mystery sped through her entire body when she even said his name in her mind. “Tanner Shay.” Cassie could but only blink at the name as every female in the whole campus knew who he was. “Tanner? Yeah he passed me as I was coming in after you, what d’ you want him for?” Layla once more had that urge to follow him to get the answer out of him. “Tell you later, thanks Cass.” She said as she patted her upper right arm quickly passing by her and out the lunch hall doors.

By this time Layla was wearing thin on energy chasing around after a guy, which is often common for girls Layla’s age but for her the circumstances are different. Taking a breath now standing by the lockers in the hall Layla was too worn out to carry on today, she would just confront him the next time they’re in the same class. Thankfully she’d stopped right beside her locker so book changing ready for her next class required not that much physical effort much to Layla’s relief. However as she reached to turn the dial on her lock a white corner of a piece of paper caught her eye, as her locker door gently swung open once the lock was removed Layla was more than anxious as to find out what was on the piece of paper. Unfolding the folded piece of paper it was clear that if Layla’s heart beat any faster it would surely leap out of her chest as the nervousness just about started to show on her face. Looking down at the writing on the paper Layla’s feelings of nervousness was just about right as what faced her forced a nervous sweat on her brow. It read; ‘Don’t attempt to go looking, you won’t find what you’re looking for’. Quickly scrunching up the note into a ball into her hand, Layla’s feelings of determination were replaced with that of sheer annoyance and rage. She was more than sure that this was the work of the cocky know it all Tanner whom she had been searching for since the end of English class. She no longer cared about what he did in the class she was now more determined to get him to explain why he put the note in her locker. Balling her fists and clutching her bag strap on her shoulder, Layla once more set off in search for Tanner, the guy with no end of pushing her to her limits.