Shards of a Heart

Chapter 15

Chapter 15 - Now

    After Alec walks into the school, I open my door to follow him. Naturally I am a curious person, so I'd like to know what he's up to. When I step out and the wind hits my face, I can feel the tears dry up and stop. I probably look like I had a horrible morning, and I wasn't going to look like that when I walked into Hawthorne, even if there was only teachers here.

Deja Vu sweeps over me as an uneasy feeling takes its place in the bottom of my stomach and I check my face over in the mirror. The scar, as always, bothers me, but it's the smidge of water under my other eye that I touch. Today was going to suck.

    After a while, cars start to pull up and join me in the back lot. I take a deep breath and force a smile before heading out of my car. I felt empty without a backpack, or even something in my hand other than my phone, but I don't let it get to me.

    Francis is the first one to talk to me. I avoid his eyes as much as possible because I still feel like an overfilled water balloon that could explode at any sympathy. He starts a one way conversation about some football game the other night and I nod when needed. It's not until I am almost to my first class when he stops me. His hand touch my chin and forces me to look up from the ground.

    "Is something wrong?" the question hits me like that first drop on a roller coaster, where you know it's going to happen but still makes you scream anyway.

    "Just tired," I meet his eyes and force the smile out again. I've read enough books to know I can't say 'I'm fine' and get away with it.

    "Do you realize you don't have any materials with you?" he questions again, his fingers dropping from my face and giving a concerned smirk.

    "Forgot my backpack. I'm just not feeling all there today." I take a step away, ready to get to class. "See you in Astronomy?"

    "Yeah, I'll make a copy of my homework for you..." He starts to turn then grabs my arm. "I told myself that I would not let it bother me, but I'm a curious young man and it has been on the back on my mind every time I think of you." I swallow hard and smile slightly. What could he be talking about? My scar? I don't want to explain that. Why I haven't worn short sleeves to school yet? Again, I don't want to reveal that. Too many more questions and too much sympathy would follow- "What was that Alec guy saying about your... secret of something?" I thank the heavens for a second before processes his question and realizing I can't give an accurate answer to it.

    "Umm well I made fun of him and he said that I wasn't innocent and had my own secrets. I think he was trying to be threatening?" I play it cool, but don't meet his eyes.

    "That kid is such a loser" I look up, my eyebrows furrowing. Francis is smiling a cold smile a looking down the hallway. "I mean seriously," he looks back at me "He has one family member go insane and then he follows in her footsteps. I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up dead one of these days. Might be good for all of us." I fake a smile and nod. "I won't let him threaten you anymore, no matter how pathetic it is" He smirks again and pulls me closer. "See ya Darling Ceils." My phone buzzes in my hand startling me, but I don't look at it. Francis does and raises an eyebrow at me.
 
  "Bye," I watch as he lets go of me and catches the eye of one of his friends. He smiles and walks away with him before I look down to see who is calling.
    Its Camdon.

    "Cam?" I answer and plug my other ear, hurrying towards the nearest bathroom. The first half of math would be going over the homework I didn't have, so could afford to skip.

    "Cee! Guess what?" I can picture his smile.

    "What?" I smile at his enthusiasm, and it causes me to forget the whole morning for a second.

    "I'm almost done with my big surprise for you!" He says loudly and I grin.

    "When am I going to get this surprise?"

    "When I come to your house" His voice quiets a little, but I can still picture his happy face.

    "Which is still May right?"

    "No! February!" I expect to hear jumping up and down from the other end like I normally do when he is happy, but it doesn't come. I frown. Is he not happy that he is coming?

    "Yay!" My voice cracks but I laugh it off. The second bell rings, signaling that everyone needs to be in class. I wait for Camdon to say more but its oddly quiet on his side of the line. Not even footsteps. Usually when he is happy he can't stay off his feet. "Hey Cam I have to go to class... goodbye" I wait for a bye, but he just hangs up. Is he mad at me or something? He wasn't excited about coming and he didn't even want to say bye... I feel another tear slip down. The water balloon is broken.

    The whole day I was debating on whether or not to leave because 'I'm sick'. After never actually going to math but then showing up at my next class, the office asked why I was late to school. I told them I didn't feel the best and sleept in hoping that would fix it. I got through most classes without getting yelled at for not having any materials and I only have one left. History.

    Much to my dismay, a familiar dark face is sitting in my seat when I walk in. I ignore Alec and choose a closer seat near the front of the class. It now makes sense as to why he was here early. He was changing his schedule and now is in my class.

    Just another problem to add to my list.

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Heya! New chapter! I'm in a good mood. Ya that's all.

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AJ♥️