Decided By Fate (Preview)

Act 1, Chapter 5

Walking into the mock hair salon, Ms. Cooley led me around a corner to where the rest of the class was already sitting in salon chairs against a wall. It was like walking into the waiting room of a popular haircutter. I wasn't sure if it was just the day or what, but a boy in the class caught my eye. Looking at him, I knew he was somehow shrouded in mystery. A mystery that I was determined to find out. The boy's hair was brown and shaggy; his height was maybe six feet, possibly a touch shorter. Yet, the most defining feature was his eyes. They were a sapphire blue that captivated anyone just like the gemstone would. I wonder what his deal is? I thought as Ms. Cooley's voice brought me back to reality.

"Everyone, this is Fate; she'll be joining our homeroom. Fate, this is the class, and feel free to take a seat anywhere you like." Ms. Cooley explained.

She had put me on the spot as I nervously waved at the others in the room before looking at my potential seating options. The class had all stayed against the wall. No one was sitting in the salon chairs at the individual stations, so that was out for me because I wanted to attract the least amount of attention. Looking at the seats against the wall now, there were two options. One at the end of the room, closest to the door, or the one beside the mysterious-looking boy who had his attention on the girl sitting beside him. Thank you, lord. I told myself, allowing the words to leave my mind as I slid the backpack off my shoulder. Biting the bullet, I took the seat next to the boy and, in doing so, sparked his interest and the long-haired brunette's interest sitting beside him.

At first, I avoided looking at them, hoping that one of them would make the first move, but then I was surprised. I was in the process of turning to face them when I suddenly felt a tap on my shoulder. The next surprise was that it wasn't the boy tapping on me but the girl. She was leaning over the boy's lap and looking at me intensely. Her mouth was moving, but no words came out of it, and the moment that followed, the girl made a gesture. She put her fingers in her ears and then pulled them out simultaneously. Immediately, I took the hint, having forgotten about my earbuds; removing them, I gave the girl my full attention.

"Hey, welcome." The girl said.

The brunette's voice was angelic and caring, that it warmed my soul. It was a complete one-eighty to what I had initially imagined. Holding my attention, the girl leaned back over the boy, using his legs as support, which he didn't seem to care that she did. Are these two a couple? I wondered, observing the weird connection between them. I hadn't realized I was staring into the boy's eyes until now as the girl's hand found my eyeline again, shaking her open palm at me. My daydream faded, bringing me back into the conversation.

"Oh, um, yeah, thanks," I said in response to the girl's greeting.

"Lost in his eyes, eh?" She asked, and I didn't know how she could've figured it out.

"What? No, what?" I tried to play it off cool.

"His eyes; a lot of girls do that when they see them." She teased but still didn't give me any clues about their relationship.

"I bet. They're really pretty," I said as we conversed over the boy who had remained silent.

He hadn't said a word while the other girl and I practically leaned toward each other over his legs. However, a part of me thought he must have been revelling in the moment as his head turned from the other girl and then to me. A smile rested on his face, something even the other girl seemed surprised about. I had his attention now and had to use this opportunity wisely. Except before I could do anything, the boy's deep voice was almost sex to my ears. It sent shivers down my spine and made me tingle from head to toe, with an ecstasy-like feeling.