Shards of a Heart

Chapter 12

Chapter 12 - Now

The place is beautiful. The middle is a large round marble high top table without seats and a cut out center. At the backend is a door and hallway looking thing. Workers step out of it with colorful ice cream and summery drinks. On one side of the hall is a sign spelling "Study" and the opposite reading "Restrooms". All around the outside is booths and tables. Francis leads me to the "Study" side all pulls me into a light pink booth. What's different is that attached to the ceiling is a curtain on a rod. He pulls it shut and sets a plastic number card on the table.

"Do you like it so far?" He questions and I nod, looking out the window.
"What's cool is no one can see in, its one way glass" He looks out them as well, then turns his head and peeks out the curtain. "Wait here"

I pull open the curtain more and watch as he walks up to the marble bar as a worker comes out with a green and a pink drink. Only now do I notice the screens hanging on the ceiling displaying numbers. Francis trades our number for the drinks, and smiles as he walks over.

He sets mine down in front of me and closes the curtain again, then takes a sip of his. He puckers his lips a little, but grins anyway.

"What are you waiting for?" He leans closer to me and watches as I take a sip of the iced tea. I'm hesitant because there is literally petals floating in it, but am surprised by its sweetness.

"It's actually good," I smile slightly and meet his light eyes. He then slips out of it too and nods.

"Tis," He adds with an accent. My smile widens.
According to Francis, a smile is an invitation to move closer. Since the booth is round, he scoots over so he's sitting next to me and places his hand on my leg. I freeze again, not daring to move. Somehow though, I get guts.

"Is this a date Francis?" I am shocked at myself, but try playing it cool.

Unfortunately for me, thinking cold thoughts doesn't stop the heat from moving into my cheeks.

Francis grins wide.
"Yes, it tis," He says with the charming accent again. "Unless you wish it not"
I feel like I am in an old movie, and can't help but play along.

"Why, I would wish it to be so" I smile, my cheeks turning redder, but I don't care.

"That's wonderful darling, 'cause if it twere not I do believe I would be quite sad; you are such a beautiful young lady"

"You're very charming yourself" I counter, caught up in the moment

That's when I feel Francis' hand move up to my waist and pull me closer to him and snap out of the trance he put me in. My heart beats fast as he turns himself so we are facing each other, closer than I had thought we were.

Forgive me if i'm wrong, I am just ignorant when it comes to this, but that seemed like the first stage of a kiss.

I've never kissed someone before - and I knew I wasn't ready to now.
Awkwardly, I pull away and take a big sip off my tea. I avoid eye contact with Francis, but I can tell he is disappointed. After a second of waiting, he swings back to the other side of the table and pulls open the curtain a little. I pretend my drink is the most interesting thing ever.

"Do you want to walk back to the school? My cars there, then I can drive you home" He offers after he sips his own drink for a minute. I nod, still avoiding eye-contact. "Okay then, I'm just going to go to the restroom quick" He slips out and pulls the curtain the rest of the way open. I watch him walk away.

Why did I do that? I could have told him I wanted to go slow or something...
"Francis wait," I call. He turns around, smiling as soon as we make eye contact. I look down to his perfect teeth and full lips, then back up. He strolls back over to me.

"Yes darling?"

"I'm sorry, about that" he shrugs it off with an 's'ok'. "No seriously, I just... If we are going to do this, I want to go slow. I'm... not into the fast stuff." I'm sure I sound stupid. He'll probably not like me after this. I actually didn't even know if he liked me.

Duh Cee, you're so dumb. Of course he likes you.

"Darling. It was my fault anyway. I agree. Slow... like a caterpillar. Then we can become a beautiful butterfly"
I can't help but turn the corners of my mouth up at that analogy. Ever since I had a butterfly garden when I was six, I've always loved butterflies. It was like he knew that, though he couldn't possibly, and said it just to make me happier.

He sets his hand on my shoulder and smiles back, then leaves for the restroom. I sigh. I was lucky to have someone like him I guess.

I look over to his coffee, and decide to try a sip like he did mine. I pucker my lips in the same way from the tartness of the greenapple, then cough when I taste the wasabi. My mouth burns. It isn't so bad, but I have a low tolerance for spicy things. I involuntarily wave my hands in front of my face, then laugh at myself before taking a huge sip of my own. My eyes start watering, but the flower tea somehow helps the burning.

"You're an idiot" I hear a voice beside me and jump from it, hoping Francis didn't catch me. From the tone of his voice, I can tell that he did.

Expect, when I finally turn towards the sound, it's not Francis' eyes I meet. Instead, they are dark, but not dark in color. I pull away and take in Alec's face. No amusement is dancing over it like Francis' would be. He stares blankly at me, but I don't miss the hint of anger.

He thinks it's okay to call me an idiot for taking a sip of Francis' drink, and not even in a flirting or funny way? He seems to be dead serious.

"I was just trying it, you don't need to be so... so mean about it" I scowl, matching his countenance.

Alec rolls his eyes. "So I guess you are just another dumb girl who falls for any guy who gives her attention"

"What's that supposed to mean?" I clench my jaw. I did nothing to deserve this from a guy who probably doesn't even know my name.

"I wasn't saying you were an idiot for trying that drink. I'm saying it because you met him, what, two weeks ago?"
I am confused for a second, then realize he's talking about Francis.

"So? And why do you even care?"

"I don't like watching people get hurt"

"Francis isn't going to hurt me!"

"You don't know him that well do you"

"I know him well enough to know he wouldn't want you to talk to me" I practically growl.

"I'll give you credit, that's true. Francis doesn't like me. But I'm warning you, he's not your type"

"Says you, who doesn't even know me! Why are you even bothering me?" He closes his eyes and takes a long breath, then lets it out.

"I told you already, I don't want to see you hurt"

    "I'm not going to get hurt! Plus you don't even know me" I stick up my chin and, to make myself seem less vulnerable, I stand up. Alec is much taller than Francis, who's eyes I meet with just a small tilt of my head. I have to crank my neck to see his clouded eyes.

"I know your name is Celia. You're new. You're in my lunch."

"Stalker" I mumble

"Celia. It doesn't matter whether or not I know you. I hate when innocent people break. And I know you're not going to have anyone when that... thing, tears your heart apart."

At this point in the argument, I figure there is no way he is going to listen to me about Francis being good. He obviously has a grudge against him. So, in attempt to get him off me, I try a new tactic.