My Haunted Heart

Chapter 3

It was a foggy morning. My lungs weren't prepared for the cool September air, causing me to gasp as I stepped outside of the house. As I trudged down the clay driveway and onto the familiar road that led me to school, the trees rustled against the wind, as though they were whispering.

Then I remembered the eerily calm voice that whispered my name in last night's dream, causing me to shiver and pull my beige knit cardigan tighter around my body. The voice was unfamiliar but somehow inviting, as if they wanted me to feel safe.

As I walked along I looked down at my frayed jeans and moccasins, subconsciously noticing the visible cold breath coming from my mouth. I didn't dress like the other girls at school, but I preferred my simplistic, warm style to their generic sporty outfits.

An ever growing noise disrupted me from my thoughts. A black car was behind me, and as it got closer it slowed down. I looked back several times before the car finally arrived beside me, and the driver was someone I was not prepared to see.

"Hey Emma," Fletcher grinned, his window now half rolled down. He looked even more beautiful today in a crisp white tee shirt. "Ella," I corrected him, "What are you doing here, and why are you talking to me?"

"Nice to see you too," he laughed, and I realized that I'd never been so confused in my life. Fletcher's eyes glistened like diamonds, and it was hypnotizing. "I was just taking a drive before I saw you. I was wondering if you wanted a ride to school," he said. His voice was the most beautiful sound to listen to, better than any song.

I caught myself gawking and I shut my eyes and shook my head. "This must be some kind of joke," I mumbled, opening my eyes again to see Fletcher's eyebrows furrowed. His emotion was unreadable, but I could sense annoyance radiating off of him. "Fine, have it your way then," he snapped, before slamming on the gas pedal and leaving me behind in a cloud of red dust.

After I finished coughing for several minutes while I continued towards the school, I arrived at the front office and checked in. Miss Graham smiled and handed me another schedule, just in case I'd lost the other one.

Music class went smoothly; Mr. Manning read us a story about the early development of classical music. Next was biology, and after a long lecture about single cell organisms, I ended up in line at the cafeteria for lunch.

Lacy and the others were sitting at their usual table, and I took a seat between Luke Emerson and another boy. After taking a small sip of chocolate milk, it came to my realization that the boy on my left was watching me intently.

"Hey, Ella right? My name's Marcus. I'm the captain of the basketball team, and your future prom date," he grinned, putting his tan arm around my shoulders. "Um, hello," I said, shifting in my seat.

"Back off dude, Ella's mine," Luke laughed, and I silently prayed that this would end.

"Ladies, ladies," Lacy cooed dramatically, causing me to stifle a giggle. Marcus bit into an apple and Luke rolled his eyes before going back to get more french fries. She smiled devilishly at me before turning back to another girl. I folded my arms and let my eyes wander curiously around the room, before a pair of piercing blue eyes caught me completely off guard. I held my breath as my eyes locked with Fletcher Black's. His head was tilted down, and his jaw was clenched as his eyes seemed to probe into my soul. His hands clenched his food tray before he quickly got up and stormed out of the room.

Lacy seemed to notice this too. "What's pretty boy's issue with you?" She asked incredulously, picking at the dwindling food on her tray. "I don't know, he just seems to really dislike me," I replied, looking down at my lap. "He doesn't like anybody, sweetie," Lacy laughed. "He never talks, not here at least. Sometimes people spot him hanging out with some messed up kids from the edge of town, but that's it."

I pondered this for a few moments, and then the bell rang, pulling me from my thoughts.

Gym class just as overwhelming, but Luke made it his main priority to teach me proper sit ups, and so I didn't feel as awkward as yesterday. After I finished changing out of my uniform and showering, I looked in the mirror and mentally prepped myself for English class. Other girls were noticing me giving myself a pep talk, and so I exited the locker room and decided to get an early seat in English, since desks were apparently a valued resource in this class.

Thankfully there were many open seats when I arrived, and so I picked the farthest possible desk from the back corner, where he would be sitting.

More students were filing in now, and finally walked in the man of the hour. Literally. As Fletcher Black walked through the doorway and down the rows, all eyes were fixed on his chiseled, flawless face; which almost always appeared to be angry, I realized. Nobody could deny that he was beautiful, but I could see more than awe in people's faces. Some people seemed unsettled and nervous as Fletcher walked smoothly past them to his seat.

I felt him watching me the entire class, and it didn't help when the English teacher, Mr. Jacobs, called me up to the front to read a short excerpt from a book. I walked slowly up to the front and turned to meet the shining, beady eyes of my classmates fixated on me.

The lights were off, and the only thing that separated us all from utter darkness was a light shining from the projector at the front. I could see dust speckles floating through the small ray of light, and I watched them dance in the air until I found myself staring at Fletcher's face again. His face was soft and calm, and his eyes rested on me intently, causing my heart to flutter.

I cleared my throat and began:

"Every heart's a hurricane,
Each soul a starlit sea,
Every mind's a meteor
Unbound by gravity.
And everybody's wishing
They could learn to tame their tides,
When nothing more than nature
Is what's echoing inside.

Every life's a lightning bolt,
Yet everyone's told no;
Bite back all your thunder
And don't let the wild things show.
Every heart's a hurricane,
Everyone a world within,
Every life too short for loathing
Any storms beneath your skin. -e.h."

My hands were shaking as I looked up from the paper. Applause erupted from the class and my eyes darted straight to him. His eyes were closed peacefully, and his lips were parted in what looked like the smallest smile, even if only for a second.

Suddenly the bell rang, causing Fletcher's eyes to open suddenly, and his soft lips turned into a scowl. This prompted me to decide that I didn't want to be his target again, and so I weaved my way through the crowds of students towards my locker. After grabbing my bag and checking out at the front office, I stepped outside to catch my breath.

The fog had subsided, but the afternoon sky was bleak and cloudy, promising that a thunderstorm would soon come.

I was about to run to the road before a hand caught my arm, stopping me. I looked back to see none other than Fletcher Black, eyeing me curiously.

"If you're only here to tease me, please just go," I begged, brushing his hand off of my arm.

He looked past me and sighed. "Look, I'm sorry about this morning, or yesterday, or whatever you're mad about. But I was wondering if I could drive you home?"