Kirkland Academy- Interracial Fiction

Kirkland Academy- Chapter 7

The thud of a lunch tray startled Tia as she sat alone reading a book in the cafeteria. She let out a shriek of terror, before looking up into Jack’s amused eyes. Tia looked away, her face flush with embarrassment. 

"Did I scare you?" Jack asked with a chuckle.

"You nearly gave me a heart attack," Tia admonished him as she sat down the book face down to preserve her place.

"What are you reading?" Jack asked as he took his place from her across the lunch table.

"Professor Stanley lent me this book of short stories," Tia said, marking her page with her bookmark, then handing it over to Jack.

"I’ve ben meaning to finish this one. Seems pretty good," Jack said returning the book to Tia.

"You have this book? I didn’t know you were much of a reader," Tia admitted.

"Yes. My mom used to be a writer, so I always loved books," Jack admitted. The mention of his mother made his heart ache, as he thought of her reading to him, in the few bonding moments that they shared.

"Why aren’t you sitting with Erica? Isn’t she going to torture you if she sees us together?" Tia asked searching the cafeteria for any sign of trouble.

"She’s banished me from her queendom," Jack said nonchalantly, "Where’s Brittany?"

"She’s working on a project with Kalinda. How did you get yourself banished from Ericaland?" asked Tia.

"I told her that I did not want to get back together with her, and she told me she didn’t want me to be her friend any longer," said Jack as he ate his lunch.

Tia stared at him for a moment. Studying his face for any emotions. She had been sure that he still cared for Erica, but as he sat there now, he seemed completely emotionless recounting their exchange.

"Does this mean that she’s going to torture me more or less?" asked Tia, once again searching the cafeteria for any signs of impending doom.

"Less?" Jack ventured a guess, which didn’t help to remove the look of worry from Tia’s face.

"Are you sure about that?" asked Tia skeptically as she took a sip from her bottle of water.

"Yes. I’ll protect you," Jack said, giving Tia a smile that made her stomach tie itself into a knot. She’d been doing her best to keep her crush on Jack in check. She didn’t want her friendship with Brittany impacted and she knew that it would happen if she allowed her feelings for Jack to get in the way.

"Thanks, but I can protect myself, if I need to," Tia said, crossing her arms over her chest defiantly.

"I’m sure you can," Jack said, his voice low and seductive. Jack thought that Tia was adorable in her stubbornness, and couldn’t contain the slow smile that spread across his lips. 

"Well, it’s time to head to class, so I’ll see you later, Jack," Tia said, picking up her things and leaving the cafeteria.

"Who do you think you are?" asked a voice that stopped Tia in her tracks. Heaving a sigh, Tia turned on her heels to see Erica, cross armed and furious. She heaved a sigh as Erica walked toward her. Erica narrowed her eyes to slits as she approached Tia, her mouth twisted in anger. 

"What do you want now?" asked Tia as she curled her hands into tight fists to hide their shaking. She didn’t want the other girl to see her true feelings as she shook with nervous adrenaline at the impending confrontation.

"What is going on with you and Jack," asked Erica.

"Nothing is going on with us. Not that it’s any of your business, but I’m not interested in him," Tia said trying to keep her composure.