Inconspicuously Obvious

Chapter 4

Behind me a boy towered over me, making me crane my neck just to catch a glimpse of his face; it didn't help my height barely reached 5'5'', damn you mother for my shortness. Deep brown eyes, dark tousled hair, dangerously high cheek bones.

"Jace" I sighed, letting out the breath I did not know I was holding.

Those beautiful brown eyes that once shone with admiration for me briefly filled with pain, only to be disguised by anger. I noticed his fisted clench as his mind slowly began to process it was me.

"Let's go" He huffed, addressing his followers. Turning his back to me he marched away, closely followed by his tag-alongs, not taking a second glance.

"Are you okay?"

A soft hand is gracefully placed on my shoulder, her grip as light as a feather as if my fragile frame could crumble beneath her fingertips at any moment. I turn to find two different coloured eyes filled with sympathy as she opens her arms, her warmth calling my name. Willingly I tumble into her arms, enveloped by her unique flower-like scent. Tears well up in my eyes, but I swiftly blink them away, refusing to show any more weakness than what is already on display.

Staring into those broken eyes filled me with sorrow and guilt, the boy I once loved could no longer stand me, and it was all my fault.

"Come on," Olivia murmured softly in my ear, "let's get you cleaned up"

Noticing how my pasta now scattered the cafeteria floor, and the sauce staining my clothes, I quickly nodded, agreeing with Olivia's command. We smiled apologetically as we passed the lady who was preparing to clean my mess, she quickly shook her head, signalling for use to forget it. But I couldn't...

Moments later I found myself gawking at my reflection, my scarf now cradled multiple pieces of pasta, my top now buried in a layer of sauce. Embarrassment built up inside of me, the realisation of having to enter class looking the way I did.

"Want to skip?" Olivia asked me.

Skiving the rest of the day didn't sound too bad considering the state I was in, but that wasn't me. Never in my life had I dared to miss a single lesson of school, never have I dared to face the wrath of my parents if the found out I ditched my lessons. Therefor in answer to Liv's question I shook my head. Several times in fact, just to make sure Olivia firmly understood. In response she groaned, as if she was a toddler being deprived of candy.

"You're such a goody two-shoes!" She whines.

"And your such rebel." I responded, mimicking her tone. This time she didn't respond, instead she smirked at me, adding a sly wink to the mix, I chuckled at her contagious grin as I attempted to remove all traces of the sauce; failing miserably. After some time, I realised my constant attempts to scrape it away were useless. I sighed sharply, exiting the bathroom as Olivia follows closely behind.

We enter our final class proceeding to our designated seats which, unfortunately, are situated on the other side of the classroom. As soon as we enter a few sniggers erupt from the flock of students, many blatantly failing to disguise their childish manner, but the sound of the cackles dissolves suddenly as Olivia silences every snickering individual with a low threatening growl.

All I can say is people fear Liv.

Over the years she has built an unsettling reputation, causing people to flinch away from any action that may be considered threatening. But, in reality, she is a sweetheart. There is nothing she wouldn't do to protect her loved ones...