Ghost Wolf (Wattys2014)

Chapter Six

Chapter Six: Easily Forgotten

When we got back to Lady Ann’s, it was pouring down rain. We were five minutes late for class but it was worth it. Not only did I get to spend time with Kaiden, but also managed to lessen my time with the droning-on teacher.

In class, I didn’t fall asleep but I was caught daydreaming after being asked to answer a question. I flushed and wished to turn invisible when I answered with a mathematical answer only for it to turn out to be an English question written out on the smart-board. After the class burst out into laugher I wondered if my awkward years were truly over … or if boys brought them back. I guess the idea of Kaiden shirtless under his leather jacket, as it hung open from his shoulders like it had the night we met, was just too divine for my mind to focus on anything else at the time.

At the lunch bell I gathered my things and stepped into the hall where students were gathering around their lockers.  I had to stretch onto my toes to see over the crowd.

Once the halls were empty and the cafeteria was full, it became evident Kaiden wasn’t showing for lunch. So I basically sat alone.

A few girls sat at my table, talking and gushing amongst themselves, but I didn’t bother intervening with their conversation. Anyway, they seemed pretty happy with their little group as it was.

Another bell rang, signalling class was beginning again. I flew out into the hall only to be once again bombarded by students gathering their things.

Where is he? Further up the hall, I spotted Kaiden at his locker, taking out a black backpack. A taller, dark russet-skinned guy stood beside him, talking.

“Kaiden?” I called. His head rose to meet my gaze over the crowd before he glanced back over his shoulder. His eyes then dropped to the backpack in hand.

I pushed through the crowd and made my way over to him. “Kaiden—”

He blinked, slightly shaking his head. “Do I know you?” he muttered, interrupting. The guy beside Kaiden glanced between us, confused as I was.

“I have to get to class,” Kaiden sighed, once again shaking his head as his eyes met my own. A strange vibe tingled in my nerves as I felt my heart sink inside my rib cage. My eyes narrowed. Further confusion flushed over me. What was that look?

Kaiden brushed past me while shouldering his backpack. As he headed down the hall, my eyes burned into his back—I knew he could sense it. The second bell rang, forcing me to follow suit with the other students.

Through class, I couldn’t focus. My pen strummed against my notepad, the teacher’s words flew over my head while my thoughts consumed my hearing. As far as I was aware, the room was empty. No one sat beside me writing, bumping the table, speaking or whispering amongst friends—like usual. It was just me in my own world. The instant class was over I gathered my items and raced out the door.

Standing beside Kaiden’s locker, I watched students pile out of class while I yearned to demand what the hell earlier was all about. He had to know he couldn’t treat me special one minute and then behave as though we’d never met.

“Hey.” A high-pitched, smiling voice spoke. Lifting my head and I found the guy Kaiden was speaking to earlier, packing a book into his locker. “You’re Kaiden’s girlfriend, right?” A white crooked grin passed over the side of his oval face. His long black hair hid the corner of his eye.

“Girlfriend? No. I don’t know Kaiden that well.” 

“Oh, right. Uh, I’m Todoka.” He smiled, brightly. His eye lashes fluttered like a model’s. An old baggy washed-out navy-grey shirt, neck stretched low, clung to his strongly-built arms and chest. His hair reached down his waist.