Beautifully Designed

Chapter Three-New kid

"I just wanted to apologize for being an ass earlier." Chase Howl stood in my living room running a hand through his short blond hair.

"Yeah no, it's fine, I understand." I brushed it off as to seem cool, but he blew out a breath in frustration. He was mad at Me? What?

"I should have seen if you were okay, I know Jared can be a weirdo a lot of times. He didn't hurt you, did he?" Chase stepped closer, searching my face.

"No, really, I'm fine." I ducked my head from his scrutinizing eyes, and dropped my bag on the floor.

"Spencer, just tell me if he did." He took another step closer, I could see his sneakers in my vision now.

Slowly, I turned to look at him, his breath fanning my face. Thousands of fantasies played through my head in a matter if seconds, but they all ended with me in his arms. This hopeless puppy love was starting to make me sick.

"What who did?" My mother's questioning voice made him break eye contact with me as he cleared his throat.

"Science project, mom it's fine." I was surprised at how easily the lie flew from my mouth.

"Yeah." Chase said, as we all awkwardly stood there for a moment. "I gotta run, I'll see you tomorrow, Spencer." Chase gave me a sorrowful glance and reached by me for the door. Why didn't I tell him?

"Such a nice boy." My mom said, staring me down.

"What?" I asked, casting her a confused glance.

"Is he your boyfriend?" She raised an eyebrow, grinning from ear to ear.

"Mom!" I groaned, and trudged up the stairs with her chuckling behind me.

*****

"Have you Seen him yet?" Annie Shaw, my best friend asked me as soon as I got to my locker the next morning. It was Thursday, only one more day until the weekend.

"Seen who?" I sighed, trying my combination. She didn't even bother to correct my grammar, she was so excited.

"The new guy of course! He just strolled by a few minutes ago, heading to the main office!" She gushed, fanning her face dramatically.

Annie was the sweetest person in the world, but she always liked to dress very...loud. If it made you stand out, she would wear it.

"This goddamn locker" I muttered, giving it a swift kick until it popped open, "what's so good about him?"

"Heatstroke."

"A, you say that about everyone."

"Well he is the new everyone!"

"Whatever you say." I rolled my eyes but smiled at her.

"Hey, so how was detention yesterday?" Annie asked, searching through her bag.

I stopped what I was doing as the events played through my head like a short film. I was debating whether to tell her when she answered for me.

"Spence? You look really pale, did something happen?" Concern was filled in yher bright blue eyes.

My breathing grew shaky as I thought for a moment. Time to come clean

"Jar-" I started, but was cut short by the bell.

"Crap, Spence, I'm sorry but I gotta get to class, I can't be late again. Tell me later, okay?" I nodded numbly as Annie turned and fast-walked down the hall, her white-blonde curls bouncing with her.

"Get to class, Hayes." A deep voice whispered in my ear, making me jump.

Jared's football-player physique filled my vision as he walked by me. The little heart in my chest accelerated an extra hundred beats per minute at his proximity, but not the good kind. The kind that screams "Holy crow you're going to die, run girl!" So that's what I did.