{COMPLETED} ✔ December Bloom

forty'two

I was just going out the door when Braden stopped me.

"Hey, Ante!"

"What?"

"You do realize that this is the first time in years that we've called each other those names?"

I pretended to think about it.

"Nah."

I smirked at him before leaving but not without hearing his 'tsk tsk-ing'.

I'm walked very quickly down the hallway, my footsteps echoing in the empty corridors as they thumped heavily on the floor.

I stopped to glance at a clock and wince, the time reading that I was mega-late.

I know, I probably shouldn't have bothered and skipped the class but I am failing English and skipping a whole class without an explanation will not make it any better.

I tell you, the day the class received a project by our substitute was extremely fortunate. Our usual teacher, Mrs Bronzer is one tough teacher. She's a really strict teacher. Honestly, she can sniff out any excuse and can always tell one someone's lying. She's like…a hawk or an alien. She knows everything.

It's freaking annoying and scary.

Damn it, why are the dorms so far awayacross campus from the English department?

However, I FINALLY reached the class and took a deep breath before going in, my eyes looking at the floor.

She paused in her droning monologue to turn towards me, her eyebrows raised expectantly.

I gave her a nervous look, my smile wavering slightly.

She just frowned so I stopped.

Damn, that woman is creepy.

Today, she'd gathered her gray hair into a tight bun, revealing her face that was covered in wrinkles. Yes, she was old. Many lines could be visibly seen and hardly any of them were smile/laughter lines. They mostly consisted of frown lines.

"Mr Nichols!" she barked suddenly, the silent and peaceful serenity of the class disturbed. I watched her lips, done up in bright red lipstick, move as she repeated my name.

"Sorry I'm late ma'am." I said sadly.

I wasn't really sorry though. Or sad either, come to think of it.

What?

She's evil…

"Hmph. You should be, Mr Nichols. And please, since you have found your lateness pretty entertaining, pray share with me and the class, the reason as to why it is you are late. I'm sure we'd all love to hear what you have to say." She snapped at me, her bony fingers reaching up to adjust her gold-rimmed glasses.

I blinked.

"Um…" I started out very intelligently, my gaze drifting around the classroom so as to avoid her cold as ice eyes that were probing at me dangerously…

And my eyes were captured by Norah.

Oh god.

She looked so innocent, just sitting in her seat, her head bowed over her exercise book. Her hair falling across her book like liquid brown chocolate as she scribbled notes in her book.

I swallowed, the light filtering in from outside falling across her and lighting her up, making her…glow.

I couldn't see much of her but then she suddenly lifted her head up, her eyes locking onto mine instantly like magnets drawn to each other.