Choices

Chapter 5 - A New Ship?

Pictures, photos, texta marking with love hearts all over his locker. Pictures.

Of me.

I blush bright red. My heart flutters. What do I do?

He slams his locker shut, once again.

"That's why I don't show my locker to people" he says, angrily, and he stomps off in the direction of our English classroom.

"WAIT, PLEASE." I shout. He keeps walking. "Jace, please, don't leave me." I say, in a half whispering voice. Thankfully he hears and stops. Then turns to face me. I walk up to him and look up at him and I feel a tear drop from my eye and down my cheek. He wipes it away with his thumb, then rests his hand on my face. He leans in close to me then retreats.

"Just kiss me, Jace" I whisper, looking into his stark blue eyes. His brown hair flops over one, then he brushes it away with his hand.

"Okay." He replies

Then he kisses me, softly at first, then it deepens, and my knees crumble beneath me. He catches me and I wrap my arms around his waist until he stops, then I rest my face on his shoulder.

"Will you go out with me?" He whispers into my ear.

"Yes, please" I say back and we walk, hand in hand to our English class.

...

"And why are you two late?" Asks our English teacher.

I open my mouth to say something but Jace steps out and says

"We were out for Tara's birthday lunch and we lost track of time. Can we get out just this once? It's her birthday, after all?"

Our teacher thinks and then says it's okay. We stride into the class and I sit next to Mel. Jace pulls up a desk and chair next to me and the class begins.

"Thanks for saving us, babe" I whisper

"No problem. Can I call you babe?" He answers

"Sure"

...

"Bye, girls. See you tomorrow! Thanks for the best birthday ever!" I say to my friends. They all answer in Unison 'happy birthday' and I leave, hand in hand, with Jace.

"You have such good friends, babe. Why are you such an amazing person?" He says.

"I don't know, I just am, naturally." I say, cheekily.

"You little shit!" He exclaims

"Shush, a teacher will hear you!" I say, whacking him in the arm lightly.

"Pffff, teacher smeacher." He laughs

"Anyway, are you coming to mine or are we going to yours?" I ask, trying to sound serious.

"I'd like you to come to mine if that's okay." He answers

"Sure, I'd love to." I reply and we head towards the train station.

...

He slots his key into the lock and opens it. He opens the door and we walk in. He has carpeted floors.
No one is at home when we get in. We walk straight past the living room and the kitchen and walk straight upstairs, to his room, obviously.

His door is mostly shut, but he nudges it open. The door reveals a room with a queen bed with a black and white striped duvet lying over the top. He has a desk in the corner facing the wall and a wadrobe one next to the entrance. There is a shelving unit next to the desk an a TV next to that. Next to his bed is a bedside table and then a big comfy chair.

Jace drops his bag and face-plants on to his bed. I giggle then throw my bag next to his and jump on his bed and lie next to him, with my back on the bed. He flips himself up to face the same way as me.

"This is really too good to be true," Jace says, "The prettiest girl in the school is my girlfriend. My freaking girlfriend." He raises his voice.

"I am NOT the prettiest girl in school. I'm not popular and I'm a nerd. Why would someone like you like someone like me?" I say, slightly realising what I'm doing.

"I don't like you, Tara." And I start to realise, "I think I'm in love with you"