Sakura Souls

Chapter 4

Ray's POV - Aita Realm

I didn't want to admit it at first, but I started developing feelings for Shell (and serious feelings at that). I guess it started when Aspen first arrived. He ended up sitting closer to Shell in the classroom and I actually got jealous. It wasn't just because the group of girls were greatly annoying me. I wanted to be closer to Shell. There was no denying my crush anymore.

I kept trying to say it was false, because never in my life had I developed an actual crush. My father tried to set me up with potential sinners to be my bride, but I wasn't interested in any of them. I'd been on dates and done everything a couple should do, but without love. I wouldn't have done half the things I did if my father didn't try to push each girl onto me like my life depended on it.

My butler was the one who told me what it feels like to actually love somebody. He told me my heart should start racing, and I'll never want to leave them. Well, those were both true. Plus, I couldn't stop thinking about her! Now that I recognized my feelings and embraced them, I just wanted to run up to Shell and keep her as mine. To keep her away from people like Aspen.

So as I sat in the classroom for another day, my eyes kept darting back and forth from the clock to Aspen and Shell. They were talking to each other. Shell occasionally laughed at something Aspen said, and Aspen would smirk at me afterwards. It pissed me off so much.

There was only seconds left of class, and finally the bell rang to signal lunch. I was one of the first people to jump out of my seat. I walked right to the other side of the room to greet my friends. "Hey guys." I said happily.

"Hey!" Shell said with a smile. It gave me butterflies in my stomach. Just by seeing her smile. Geez, I was in deep love.

"So Shell," Aspen began. His eyes watched me as he spoke. "would you like to eat lunch with me in the cafeteria?"

Before Shell could say yes (because I knew she would accept his offer), I opened my mouth to interject. "I was thinking Shell and I could eat alone. Don't you have somewhere to be anyways, Aspen." I said it more as a statement than a question.

Aspen rolled his eyes. "If you're referring to Ashimira, I don't have to be there until after school, idiot."

"Well maybe you could go early." I retorted. "Shell and I should eat alone today."

Shell didn't know how to handle our bickering. When Aspen and Keaton were arguing, she just let it happen. This time, it seemed like she felt she needed to do something. "Uhm guys. How about I eat with Ray today, and tomorrow I'll eat with Aspen?" she said.

I wasn't exactly happy with her suggestion, because it would let her and Aspen have even more alone time the next day. But it was either accept it or be forced to have Aspen eat with us that day. I looked up at Aspen and said "How about it, then?"

Aspen clearly wasn't fond of the deal either, but chose to comply like I did. "Alright fine." He said, then stuffed his hands in his jean's pockets while walking out. He turned around to glare at me, then disappeared into the hallway.

"Honestly, you guys shouldn't fight so much." Shell said with a sigh. "I don't know how to handle my closest friends getting in arguments."

"Sorry." I apologized. "He's just hard to deal with." It was mostly because he was pining for Shell as well, but also for who he was as a person. Aspen was just annoying to me, and I couldn't see how Shell thought otherwise.

Shell shoke off what happened and said. "Let's just go eat. Follow me!" She grabbed her lunchbox in one hand and handed me the lunchbox she prepared for me that morning with her other hand. I followed her out of the classroom and through the halls.