Shards of a Heart

Chapter 9

Chapter 9 - Now

I am in a good mood after lunch. Brianna and her friends walk me to my next class, Astronomy, in which I sit in the same spot as yesterday. I set my phone face up on the desk like I had in all my other classes just in case Camdon calls. It lights up and my heart races, but it's just a text from Brianna. I am at first puzzled at how she'd gotten my number, but then I read the text. She had taken my phone at lunch and plugged it in herself.

I am about to respond, but someone slides into the desk next to me with a whispered "Hey darling" and I jump slightly. A fruitful laugh plays in my ears as I turn toward Francis.

"Hey," I whisper back, right before the bell rings and I advert my attention away from the good looking creature that just spoke to me again. I must be dreaming. Since when do guys like that talk to me two days in a row without Jade or Cam around?

"You left me pretty quickly yesterday, did I do something?" Francis continues as Mr. Yahn starts writing something on the blackboard.

"Certainly not," I take a risk and look in his eyes, those perfect icy eyes that seem to smile on their own. His shaped brow rises a little as he nods, not breaking eye contact. I can feel my cheeks heat up, and from what people have said, they change scarlett fast. So, embarrassed by my cheeks turning color which makes them even darker, I turn away and try to cover them with my textbook. Thankfully Mr. Yahn had said to open it.

"Hey," Francis' voice comes again and I glance over to him. "What page?"

"One," I answer, even though he already is on that page. His aurous hair, which doesn't have as much product as it did yesterday, falls over his face as he bends over his book. I watch as he pushes it up gently, as though he is stroking a newborn kitten. His eyes flick to mine, and I dart them away, praying he didn't catch me staring.

I feel like we are being taught like third graders. Mr. Yahn continually calls on random people to read, so I'm practically going insane. Trying to keep my mind on the book is failing, mainly because I'm juggling the fear of being called on and because a certain someone keeps moving to my right and it's distracting.

After a girl finishes reading and Mr. Yahn doesn't call on someone else, I pull my head away from my book. He is lazily sitting in his desk.

"Oh," he sits up when he realizes kids are staring at him. "Just popcorn read please." He leans back again while the girl calls on someone else. I get more comfortable, not scared of being picked on. The students in this class barely know me, and it appears they are only calling on their friends.

What grabs my attention is when a voice filled with honey starts reading, the tedious words from the astronomy textbook sounding like a practiced melody. I listen ask he pronounces the word 'aphelion' and suddenly it's my favorite in the universe. As if in a trance, his words flow into one ear and out the other, but not before they leave their sticky sweet sap in my head, making it spin. When they stop, it feels like the end to a favorite song. I have a dire urge to press repeat. I can't.

"Popcorn..." They come again quickly and I snap out of it, meeting their owners eyes. He smiles slightly. "Celia"

I swallow. I have no clue what paragraph we are on. I look down and at my book then up to Mr. Yahn, who isn't paying attention thankfully. I can feel eyes start to accumulate on my back and from all my sides, including a pair of seafoam blue ones.

And of course, those are the ones that I look to for help. They smile in their own way, humored at me. Francis leans closer, and though he could have easily just told me what the first sentence was, he sets his finger on my book. I watch it trace a line before it disappears, along with my sanity, and I mindlessly start speaking preposterous words that the fellow students in this absurd classroom somehow comprehend.

For some odd reason, when the class ends, I'm not ready to leave. I stay seated in my desk, slowly putting my books in a methodized order, starting with the largest on bottom and ending with my small phone on top. I get the sense that someone is watching me, so I stand finally and practically run into an ocean-eyed creature.

"Oh my-" I jump surprise, my neat books spilling forward. Out of instinct, I slam them against the nearest thing to prevent them from falling - which happens to be Francis' chest.

That's where I'm stuck in a predicament. If I take my hands off the books, they'll fall to the ground, probably making things fly everywhere or even hurting Francis' feet. But, if I don't move, I'll be stuck against his chest which is honestly so awkward. I stand with my mouth agape unable to meet his eyes. I stare at my books, trying to twist my arms and hands so that I can get a good grip on them. I can't.

I hear a chuckle, then watch as his smooth hands take the books off his chest and from my own.

"I am so sorry," I apologize slowly, letting each word hit its target before shooting the next. I finally gaze up to his face. A friendly smile is dancing on his full lips.

"I should be the one apologizing," he says in a tone that makes him seem older. "I was the one who scared you"

I smile slightly and look back down to my books. He hands them over, but not before brushing his fingers over mine gently. He makes it look like an accident, but either way it gives me shivers.

"Let me walk you to class. That's okay right?" I nod in response, slipping past him towards the door. I am almost out when he speaks again. "Celia" I turn and face him, startled by how close he had gotten. "Walking with me means walking next to me"

"Sorry, I just don't want to be late. It's only my second day remember?" I step out into the hallway, allowing him to walk next to me.

"You're hilarious." He chuckles, catching me off guard a little. Then again, I should be used to him laughing at me by now.

"How so?"

"Your next class is ten seconds away" I ignore his statement, but a slight grin spreads across my face.

He's right when he says my class is ten seconds away, because sooner than I am ready to, and it's hard to admit that, I have to leave him and walk into another boring class.

My sixth hour class is study hall, so as soon as class begins I borrow a laptop from the cart in the front of the class and log in.

I sit in the back, away from where my teacher's (and classmates) wandering eyes can see my screen. I don't know how strict this school is about actually doing work in study hall, so I just want to be on the safe side. I then sign into my email, preparing a email.

Dear Jade,

I've never really done school without you... It's so strange not having people I know in all my classes and knowing I can confide in you. What's even stranger is that I've made a friend. Don't worry, she's not nearly as awesome as you. You're always so blatantly honest with me, one trait I know Brianna doesn't have. She can't not be nice.

Anyway, that's not why I'm writing this at the moment. There's this guy in my astronomy class. He either loves making me blush and laughing at me, or he's flirting with me. I wish you could see him so you could tell me which. I'm ignorant in that subject.

Ugh Jade I miss you so much. I know I've said that before but know I don't know what to do anymore. Dad's not getting better. And even though I miss Cam so much, he's making it hard. I'm always waiting for him to call, like I'm addicted to his voice. It could just be that I want to know he's still here, if you know what I mean.

Who am I kidding; of course you do, you're Jade Payne.

~C

• • • • • • •

Sorry to the few readers I have that I haven't posted for a little, I had a really busy week.

Just a heads up for the next chapter, which I'm almost done writing so that'll be up soon, it's not going to be switching off from NOW and THEN every other chapter from now on, so make sure you read the beginning so you don't get confused.

Thanks for the votes, and don't be scared to comment, I love feedback (even if it is harsh).

Stay Gold,

AJ♥️