The Stockings and The Eyes

Chapter Seven

  It had been weeks since Azure first spoke to me. I was still completely dedicated to her, even if she seemed out of my reach. She had full on scars from her injures of boredom. My cut had healed as well. A few students gave us looks when Azure pulled me around to do something crazy, but I learned to ignore them. Azure had become my main focus in life. I had promised myself to protect her and keep her happy.

"Noah!" Azure called from a top the highest tree in the courtyard, "Hurry up, I'm getting bored."

"Hold on a second," I shouted back. I was clinging onto on of the branches below Azure, absolutely terrified.

"Hurry up," She said as she grabbed my arm and pulled me up, "The teachers are about to show up."

She had pulled me up to the top of the tree. I held onto the trunk with both arms. I was to afraid to move my feet. Azure leaned back against me.

"Here they come," Azure said as she faced me towards the running teachers.

"What on earth do you think you thing are doing ms Joy?" Mr, Swon shouted up to us.

"Mr, Swon. Man. He's so boring," Azure said back to me.

"Ms Joy we've talked about this. You can't just do what you want on school grounds, you could get hurt," Azure mimicked that last sentence as Mr, Swon spoke, "Get down at once!"

"He wants us to get down," I said to Azure, "How do you plan to go about this?"

"Let's get down," Azure said, "but let's have fun while we're going."

"Ms Joy? Is that another student up there with you?" Mr, Swon didn't seem too surprised.

"Let's go!" Azure shouted.

She quickly pulled my arm and jumped down. She grabbed the last branch to keep us from hitting the ground. I felt weak, and dizzy. Azure dropped us and we landed on the ground. Azure landed perfectly on her feet and I, I hit the ground hard back first. I sat up and did a quick check to make sure no bones were broken and everything worked, I was fine but bruised.

"Ms Joy, I'd expect this behavior from you, but honestly. Bringing another student into your shenanigans isn't the wisest choice," Mr, Swon took one look at me as raised one eyebrow, "Mr Atlas, you're the last person I'd expect to climb a tree on school grounds. Let this be a warning to you both. If another teacher were to find out you'd surely be suspended."

"Thank you Mr, Swon," He looked back when I said that, "for not suspending us."

"Just be more careful Atlas," He said as he walked away.

"Let's go scare someone," Azure said and pulled me off in another direction.

Azure was dragging me around the school for a while. When we made it to the roof and she paused for a second. I tried to sit down for a rest but Azure grabbed me and pulled us back against the wall. She had her right hand covering my mouth and used her left arm to pin me against her. I tried wiggling free but she squeezed me tighter. She shushed me when I tried to speak. For the first time ever, I heard her heartbeat raise. She was shaking and holding me tighter by the second. Her breathing had become unsteady. I used what I could of my arms to try and hold her but she wouldn't let me.

"No," Azure whispered, "not today."

I wanted to ask her what was wrong but she turned me so she was using both arms to hold me, and my face was being pressed against her chest. Azure, please, I thought, let me know what's wrong. Why are you afraid? A loud ringing sound came on and faded out.

"Azure Joy please come down to the office," The loudspeaker called, "You're being picked up."

Aruze didn't move. She sat there all three times her name was called to got down to the office. She stayed still a while longer after her name was said that last time. After she pulled me up by the arm and jumped the fence that was around the edge of the roof, pulling me along with her.