Life, Love & The Forbidden

No Reasoning

Sara was distracted, as usual, and tapped her blunt pencil against her ruled paper. The class wasn't silent but her mind was other places, thinking about other things, other people. Her head rested on her palm, propped up by her elbow and her eyes flickered between her blank page and the clock. It was almost time to go home, back under house arrest until next time her father left her alone to go attend some work related venue.

Sara stopped as her head swung back to face her paper. Out of the corner of her eyes she saw a flash of pink and felt the familiar feeling of being watched. She did not feel uncomfortable, just watched. She turned her head, her hair spilling into the void on the page and her eyes focus on Michael. He was leaning against his car, arms crossed and his pink, rolled up sleeves revealing his darkened skin.

He looked tired and drowsy, like he had been drinking all day. His facial hair didn't help him look any fresher but his attire covered it up well. His long legs were crossed at the ankle, and he kept glancing at his watch. Sara erupted inside with joy. She hadn't seen him for a while and there was only so much you could show a person over the phone.

She watched as he shifted his weight, using his big hands to lever himself from the car and lower his back to the hard metal once more. He run a hand up each arm, pushing the roughly rolled cuffs of his shirt over his elbows before placing both hands into his pockets. His gaze dropped to his feet as he shuffled his foot across the pavement.

Sara shot another glance at the clock as it neared the bell. The bell was automated, ringing at specific times of the day based on what time it was set. More often than not it was useless relying on your own watch to tell the time in school because it would never be set the same as the school's time. School time and real life were totally different.

When the clock inched closer to the hour Sara began packing her bag quietly. She didn't want to draw attention to herself or she would get a detention for such an act. Her friend shot her a questioning glance as she looked up from her work, a girl sitting next to her talking away into unheard ears. Sara rolled her eyes out the window without moving her head and her friend followed her gaze. Her eyes widened when she saw Michael, giving Sara a playfully jealous look.

Sara grinned wide, her happiness escaping on her face. The bell suddenly rattled through the classroom and chairs shuffled across the flooring as the teacher shouted the homework assignment over the noise. Every student started packing their bags away as Sara rushed past them and into the empty corridors. Within minutes the silence would be broken with talking and the rebounding noise of slamming lockers.

Sara's feet couldn't grip the poorly polished floor quick enough as she rounded a corner, her arms flying out to help her keep her balance. Her hair hung half loose and curly, bouncing on her shoulders each time she leapt into her next step. Pushing the heavy doors to the front of the school, Sara managed the open one with a loud clonk from the lock.

She paused briefly on the top step, her gaze falling to Michael as he stood waiting. He heard the commotion and their eyes met as he lifted his head to the door. Sara was there, wearing a broad smile, her eyes alight with joy. Suddenly he felt a numb, his hands balling into loose fists in his pockets as he fidgeted under her stare.

She skipped down the steps and up to him, slightly out of breath from her rushing. Sara held out her arms as she approached him, ready to take his lips in a searing kiss that would leave them both more satisfied than they could ever have been. Michael took his hands from his pockets and caught hers mid way as they began to snake around his neck, pulling them down but not allowing them to touch his body. As she leant in for the kiss, he pulled away, scanning the school yard for prying eyes.

"Michael?" she questioned and he released her hands and took her good feelings with his icy touch. "Are you ok?" she asked, puzzled by his sudden reluctance to enjoy their company. She searched his face for an answer when his lips failed to meet her request. His eyes were red and puffy and streaks stained his face from tears. She took a step towards him and brought her hand to his face.