Chasing Hearts

Chapter 1

I walked into the hallways of John Middleton High School and couldn't help but notice the tension that ensued upon my entry.

Whispers.

Stares.

Avoidance.

Wide eyes.

I wasn't used to all this attention. I was always in the background, no one noticed me and I liked it that way.

I didn't understand what was happening until I saw my only friend, Taylor, making her way towards me.

"What's going on?" I whispered as I tried to ignore the glares that were being sent my way.

"You didn't expect this?" She replied with a question of her own. I sighed and ran a hand through my hair.

"Will you just tell me why everyone is looking at me as if I killed someone!" I half- shouted.

She stopped and looked at me. "You didn't kill anyone, but you came close."

I didn't understand.

"Does Jessica Adams ring a bell? The girl who did community service? the student body president? The cheerleading captain? The girl who could bring a smile to everyone's face? The girl who you drove out of this state?!" She shouted at me.

All eyes were on us.

Now if there was one person who didn't know about the Jessica situation, I'm sure they all know now.

I didn't get why everyone was so worked up over this girl. She's gone and she should be forgotten. I mean, if it was that easy to get her to leave, then did she really belong?

Getting out of my daze and realizing that everyone's eyes were still on us, I grabbed Taylor's hand and we both rushed to our Guidance class.

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I walked into the class holding my head up high. Just because I was being frowned upon for what happened to Jessica doesn't mean I should just sink back into the shadows.

The teacher, Mrs. Hoover, came a couple minutes after us and began taking the register in her usual monotonous voice.

Guidance was my most hated subject. I have no interest in being taught how to behave and how your actions affect others. It was simply a class where the sole taching was everything that we could learn by ourselves in the world.

I looked up as I heard my name, "Here." I stated, louder than I should have. It was then that everyone started staring at me again, just like in the halls.

I sighed, mentally preparing myself for the new found attention I was being given.

"I will be placing you in groups." Declared Mrs. Hoover, earning a groan from the entire class, all but me. This would be my chance to finally branch out, meeting new people and corresponding with my fellow classmates.

My heart however sank when the groups were called out.

"Nathan Rhoden, Rosa Meyers, Allie Mckennan and Taylor Hayes." Mrs. Hoover had said.

Now let me explain, Rosa Meyers isn't just anyone. She was her bestfriend. As in Jessica's best friend. That part of my life was behind me, left in the past. I had intended for Rosa to be left there too. Any reminders of Jessica would just damper the happy spirit I had managed to get ahold of for this year.

Although, there was a bittersweet highlight to the placement of the groups.

And that was Nathan Rhoden. Although I had never actually spoken to him, I've had a bit more than a crush on him for a long while now. He was captain of the football team and the sweetest guy around.

He didn't judge anyone and was even friends with some of the stranger kids this school had to offer.

But, I had to ask myself, did I really want to be in a group with Rosa? The obvious answer was no. But I was a changed person now, and I would show her that.

I would be my best self in her presence and even express my fake regret about what happened to Jessica. It would be perfect.

I looked in Rosa's direction and couldn't help but notice the daggers she was sending my way.

Her eyes were narrowed into slits and she obviously didn't want to be partners with me as much as I didn't want to be hers.

I shrugged it off nonchalantly. Who cares what Rosa thinks? Who cares what anyonevthinks? I certainly didn't.

I turned to my right and tried to not make it obvious that I was trying to get a view of Nathan.

That didn't work however. As soon as I fully got a view, his eyes met mine. Now, this should be considered romantic, meeting eyes with your crush and the both of you secretly yearning for each other.

But it was the exact opposite. His face was completely void of all emotions. To the untrained eye he might have seemed just as bored as everyone else in this class. But that wasn't the case.

It were his eyes. They held everything. I was good at analyzing people and he was no exception.

The look in his eyes was anything but friendly or inviting. He looked like he wanted to leap out of his seat and strangle me to death. They held so much hate, so much resentment, even more than I had saw from Rosa.

All this anger.... for me. This one I just didn't get. There was no way this could be about Jessica. They were barely friends, even though they were both very popular.

They walked in the halls and said hi, nothing more. So I didn't understand at all.

This was bigger than Jessica, more than her. I couldn't help but smile knowing that for once something wasn't about her.

But my smile soon vanished. These two people hated me. Well, the entire school hated me, but these were the only two that mattered. I would make them see that I had changed.

Whether they liked it or not.

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Author's note: Image of Vanessa Marano as Allie Mckennan to the side