Evelyn ✓

06

✯ E V E L Y N ✯

"You know, you'd be kind of hot if you ditched the piercings and stopped dressing so depressingly," Jesse says breezily, throwing an arm over his eyes as the sun streams through the trees. "I mean, black is a nice color, yes, but it just makes you look washed out and emo."

I roll my eyes, scowling as I put the book I've been trying to read for the past five minutes. "I'm sure that's what every girl wants to hear," I drawl sarcastically. I shift my position and get comfy with my back against a tree trunk.

We're in the quieter, greener part of the school campus, which happens to be behind the main building, away from prying eyes. It's one of my favorite places to be, mostly because the school gardens are so tranquil and beautiful.

I do find it ironic, however, that the place I feel most alive is where the atmosphere is still, and yet the air is alive with birds chirping and leaves rustling.

"Wait, what do you mean by piercings?" I say, confused and a little annoyed at his presence. I absently play with the necklace around my neck. Cold metal against cold skin, a shiver runs up and down my spine as a gust of wind blows over us.

Jesse peeks from under his arm, shooting me a wide grin. "You have a nose and a belly piercing," he states.

What the heck? I continue, "How do you know?"

A secret smile plays on his lips. "I guessed," he winks, eyes twinkling. "Nah, Gym."

Right, Gym class. I don't know what freaks me out more, the fact that he could see my piercing through my shirt despite my attempts to hide it or the fact that he's been watching me this whole time without me noticing. We don't even have Gym at the same time, but I suppose he saw it when walking to his next class, seeing as Gym accounts for two periods.

I stay silent, crossing my legs and falling into deep thought. Never would I ever have imagined me sitting beside Jesse Garza, school heartthrob. For some inane reason, I feel more nervous when we're out in public rather than when we're alone, which has become a regular occurrence this past week. Maybe it's because when we talk to each other in public people stop and stare, and I can literally see the gears moving in their heads as they begin to formulate some dumbass rumor that the student body will hungrily eat up.

"So," Jesse starts, propping himself up on his elbows and giving me a casual, inquisitive look. "There's a party at mine on Friday, you're welcome to go if you want to."

I'm already shaking my head before he finishes, "Thanks, but I'm good," I reject his offer half-kindly, half-brusquely, but he looks unfazed.