Peace and Grace

12. At a Distance

"What a jerk!"

"Yes, exactly! Thank you!"

After telling Zack about my encounter with Warren yesterday, he completely agrees with me, like any good best friend would. What are best friends for?

"Well, I'm afraid it'll be the same today, we're still working on this project."

"No worries, I'll just sit by myself this time." I was fed up with trying to be nice to Warren only to have none of that returned. And after taking him the homework, I really thought we were making some progress, but guess not.  If he tried back, that would be one thing, but he doesn't. He doesn't try at all. His attitudes towards me were so confusing, and after our encounter yesterday I was done trying to figure it out. That boy was certainly an enigma. 

"No wonder he doesn't have any friends."

"Whoa, is Naddie Grace really not trying to be nice for once?"

"Shut up, Zack."

"You are!"

"Shut up!"

"Later Jen!"

"Bye Jen!"

"Bye you two! Have a good day!" she calls back.

"Thanks, you too!"

"Did you know that she and Mr. Sparks were a thing?!" I whisper on our way out to meet Will and Layla at the bus stop.

"Who's Mr. Sparks?"

I roll my eyes. "My teacher."

"Oh. Oh really?"

"Yeah, they were in school together. Sounds like they had a major crush on each other, but then he graduated, cause he was a year older than her, and it became difficult to keep in contact. But after talking to them both, it sounds like they both still feel the same for each other, are both still interested."

"Huh, interesting.  Naddie, are you planning on doing some matchmaking?"

"Oh Zachary, what makes you think that?" I smile innocently.

With my friends stuck working on homework over the lunch break, I'm on my own. This time, I make a point of walking right by Warren's table without looking at him and go and plop myself down at me and my friends' usual table. Hopefully he gets my hint. 

I brought a book to read, so at least I've got that to keep me company.  I'm actually enjoying my quiet lunch quite a bit - as quiet as a lunch can be in a high school cafeteria, with super-powered students - when I start to get this funny feeling of someone watching me.

Glancing up, I see that this is indeed true - Warren is staring at me, much like he was staring at Will on the first day of school, but with less of a glare this time. When I look up I accidentally meet eyes with him and quickly look back down at my book.  I feel him watching me for a few more minutes before the sensation fades.  I wait a few more minutes before daring to look back up.

When I do, I find his table empty. He's gone.

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My blatant avoidance of him continues into the afternoon in our Heroes and Politics class after lunch. I take a seat right in the front; the open seat beside Warren remains empty the whole class. No one wishes to brave that seat, and now not even I wish to brave it.

Throughout the class I get that feeling of being watched again - Warren must be staring at the back of my head. I'm not about to turn around and check.

I try to concentrate on what Mr. Sparks is saying, but feeling Warren's eyes on me becomes distracting.  Why is he watching me anyways? He clearly doesn't like me.  He's probably just trying to annoy me. 

At the end of class when we're handing in our homework, I notice that Warren has fled the class, as quickly as usual.  Once again, he's gone.

When it's my turn to hand in my assignment, Mr. Sparks smiles at me. He's definitely one of the friendliest teachers I've ever head, and most interesting. It's clear he really cares about his students and about them learning the material and doing well in their studies. 

"Thanks Nadia."

 "Mr. Sparks?"

"Yes?"

"Aunt Jen says 'hi'."

"Oh, does she? That's nice." Is he blushing? Yes, yes he definitely is. "Thanks. Tell her I say hi, too, if you don't mind."

Not at all. Not at all do I mind.  "Will do." Oh, will definitely do. 

(Aunt Jen is inspired by Aunt Jenna from the Vampire Diaries :)

It's been a really, really, REALLY  long time since I've updated, I know and I'm very sorry about that - I've been focusing on my other stories but I'm trying to use this time to finish up some of my old stories so I don't feel quite so guilty about starting new ones ;) 

I also wanted to say thank you for your continued support of this story, all the reads and comments – this is definitely one of my most popular stories, so thank you!

Thank you  so much for reading this very late chapter and I hope it was worth the wait! :))