Icebreakers

Chapter 2 {Keep-Away}

Ah! Sorry it's so short, everyone. I'll try to write longer chapters. Also, sorry it's not interesting and it moves quickly, I just really need them to get to the part about - nevermind. I'm revealing too much of the story. Anyway, don't be an open hater and enjoy it! 

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Kathryn had refused to say anything else on the matter, other than 'He pinned me to a wall and kissed me' or fragments of that. Despite Dawn's, Griffin's, and even Amaya's (through Skyping) efforts, they couldn't get anything else out of her.

They had decided on making rotations, so that someone would always be near Kathryn should an event like that rise again. For two weeks, it worked. Tyler didn't dare approach her when Dawn, Griffin, or Jacob were near. But, after school on one particular Friday, Jacob had been running late to meet Kathryn at her locker. Tyler took that as his open window of chance.

Kathryn stood alone by her open locker door, shoving books and papers into a blue and black backpack. Tyler snuck up behind her. She was so busy, she didn't notice until he was right there.

He gently placed his hands on her waist and leaned against her, his face inches from hers. "Hey," He whispered, grinning slightly. Kathryn stiffened and grabbed his wrists, forcefully prying them off.

"Off," She said roughly.

He held his hands up in an 'I'm innocent' gesture, and instead put a hand on her open locker door. It slammed shut, drawing her attention back to him. Tyler grinned. Kathryn glared. After what seemed like an endless staring contest, Tyler looked down, unnerved yet impressed and attracted to her icy persistence.

Kathryn smirked, knowing she had won. "Scared?" She taunted, brushing her fingers lightly along the base of his chin. Tyler's heart flitted uncomfortably with two completely different emotions - deep loathing and extreme attraction.

"No," He said weakly. Kathryn ignored him and picked up her backpack. She, yet again, was glad no one was in the hallway with them - she would not allow some badboy flirt to ruin her reputation as the smart kid.

Just then, Griffin came barreling around the corner, rambling something about Jacob being at practice and not telling them. Both he and his heart stopped as he saw Kathryn run her fingers along Tyler's chin. He watched as she picked up her bag and looked in his direction - and the two locked eyes.

Tyler, standing behind Kathryn, looked like a deer in headlights. Griffin suddenly regained his ability to move and grabbed Kathryn's elbow.

"I think," he said, glaring at Tyler, "we ought to be going." And with that, he dragged Kathryn out of the metal doors, leaving a stunned and embarrassed Tyler behind by the lockers.

Griffin dragged her all the way to the yellow fire hydrant where Dawn stood, waiting. He let her loose from his grip and Kathryn stumbled forward, catching herself on Dawn's shoulder. Dawn helped her regain her balance. Realizing he had been a bit rough on her, his expression softened.

"Sorry. I just... don't feel safe leaving you around him."

Kathryn shot him a glare.

"He used to be our friend, you know," She bit back. Griffin gave her an appalled expression. Was she defending Tyler? Kathryn turned her back and brushed off her jacket. Dawn didn't dare say a word. This particular squabble could stay between the two of them.

Kathryn re-shouldered her backpack, which had slipped down her arm, and started walking towards the residential area. "Come on. We're walkers today, like every day. Things don't change."

But Griffin knew that things did change. A lot.

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The next day at school, Kathryn glared daggers at Tyler. He just grinned his casual, badboy smile back to her. Jacob kept apologizing for not telling them about his practice, but after a few hours of his constant rambling Kathryn stopped him and made him shut up by threatening to drop his phone into the water fountain. After that, Jacob had hardly said anything that even remotely sounded like 'sorry'.

Later that day, the bell rang and the students swarmed to the cafeteria. Kathryn, who always packed her lunch, was the first to sit down at her usual table. Tyler was one of the first ones out with his lunch tray. She had her back to him and none of her other friends were sitting down yet. Perfect, he thought. Tyler sauntered over to her empty table and sat down next to her.

Kathryn looked up from her book and over the rim of her glasses. What was it with him and flirting?  She thought, but to be honest, she didn't care. Griffin and Jacob, walking across the lunchroom with their trays, spotted Tyler trying to talk to Kathryn. Both boys quickened their pace slightly and set down their trays, Griffin on the other side of Kathryn and Jacob diagonally left of her.

An awkward tension fell over the group as Dawn walked over from the lunchline and sat down across from Kathryn.

If only Amaya were here, it would be like old times, Kathryn thought bitterly.

"So," Griffin said. His voice cracked on the o, making the whole group snicker - like old times. Griffin grinned shyly.

"Anyway-" Kathryn started, but was interrupted by Tyler.

"This reminds me of middle school."

The rest of the group nodded while she shot him an annoyed glare. Tyler grinned slyly back, suddenly knowing exactly what to do to really bring back old times. 

He stole her glasses off of her face. "Keep-away!" He yelled, folding the arms of her glasses and passing them to Griffin. The rest of the group was laughing and shouting "I'm open, I'm open!"

It was just like it used to be in middle school. Kathryn covered her face with her sleeve and grabbed where she assumed Griffin was, but he had already passed the glasses to Dawn. Dawn passed them to Jacob, who passed them back to Tyler, keeping Kathryn guessing.

She whirled around, furious but grinning, and made a grab for them. He yanked them out of the way just before she would've gotten them.

"Show us you're face without glasses and I'll give them back," He teased. A hush fell over everyone at the table and they exchanged looks. Tyler's grin had slightly faded, not understanding. Little did he remember Kathryn's insistence of keeping her glasses on. Even Dawn and Amaya hadn't seen her without glasses before.

His grin came back and he gently tugged at the arm over her eyes. It didn't budge. "Come on," He whined playfully.

Kathryn didn't oblige. Jacob poked Tyler's shoulder and whispered something in his ear. Tyler gave him a look as if to say, and I couldn't? 

After a few unsuccessful minutes, he returned her glasses. She ducked down and let her dark curls act as a curtain as she slipped them on. Kathryn looked back up at Tyler, her mud-and-algae colored eyes hidden by dirty, fingerprint-covered lenses. And then the bell rang. 

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Hi everyone! I know it's a bit short, but it's probably the longest chapter I've ever written.

It's sad, I know. =T 

Anyway, I hope to have the next chapter out soon. Also, my good friend @littlelego is writing her own book, called The Daughters of Everything. Go read it and vote on it! =D