Broken Faith ✓

Chapter 23: His

"Faith?"

I took in a large breath and exhaled "Yes?" I asked hesitantly.

"So, I understand how you use sine and cos in the equations but how do you know when to substitute what?" Arthur asked.

This was just his twentieth question throughout only this maths period.

"There are rules. You get to see this rule on the first page of the exam paper so you don't have to memorise it" I said quietly while looking between my textbook and maths jotter.

"Sweet! They actually give you it?" he smiled at me.

"Yeah, but it's actually a really simple equation which sticks in my head" I replied. I wished they would print those long hard equations that were so much more complicated on the front of the exam paper.

"Of course it would, you're the smartest girl I know"

At his words, I looked up to see him smiling widely at me waiting for my reaction. Guilt swarmed through me. I didn't mean to play with his emotions but I wasn't ready to show case my relationship with Ryder to anyone at all. Maybe it would be easier to though because then at least people would know I'm with someone and they wouldn't be low-key flirting with me or whatever this was that made me uncomfortable and heavily guilty.

I looked down to my work again and continued in silence. But that didn't stop him. He kept asking questions.

At the end of class, I even tried to leave the classroom as fast as I could so there was no chance Arthur could ask me more questions. I made it outside to the playground.

But it didn't work. I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned around to see Arthur standing right behind me "Damn do you whizz out of class! It's a good thing I'm fit or I would never be able to catch up to you" he winked.

I averted my gaze and cleared my throat. I clutched the handles of my bag more tightly. We dived into an awkward silence.

"You and Ryder huh?" he asked out of nowhere.

I whipped my head to him "Huh?" I asked with a confused look on my face.

"I mean I heard about you from Ryder. I'll be honest I didn't really know who you were until he mentioned you and then we were sat at the same table in maths and I guess it was fate" he shrugged his shoulders and smiled as he looked in front of him at the distance.

"Arthur" I spoke quietly.

"Yeah?" he asked.

"I'm not looking for anything right now and you're a really nice guy and I appreciate all your compliments but I can't" I said looking straight at him so he knew I was being honest.

"I figured" he laughed gently "Every time I flirted with you, you would go absolutely silent. But look we don't have to be anything like that. How about just friends?" he asked hopefully.

"I...I'm not sure" I answered honestly. Was it really a good idea to be friends with him when he had already flirted with me? To keep him in perpetual hope that something may eventually happen with us even though I knew it wouldn't because I was only Ryder's?

"I won't overstep our friendship, Scout's honour" he said as he placed a hand on his heart.

"I guess?" I mumbled still thinking that this really wasn't a good idea but if I refused to even be friends that would be inconsiderate.

He pulled me suddenly into a hug as my hands flailed around trying to pull myself away from him but he was strong, evidence that he did indeed go to the gym.