Watched

Chapter 16

Break time felt short, as always but as we all gathered around the fountain Randy, Maddy, Naz, Alex, Izzy and I. I found it hard not to observe Izzy. She seemed fine and she was laughing along with Maddy but I noticed the little things she did that were indicative of her being stressed. Her posture seemed rigid, she must have had sweaty palms because she kept on wiping her hands on her pleated skirt and she was completely avoiding eye contact with me and Randy. It was odd why would she avoid me? I pondered as I sat there and ate my lunch quietly.

"I can't believe you guys," It was Maddy's voice that snapped me out of thought.

She was talking to Naz and Alex.

"You two still won't admit you guys are an item... I mean what would it take a meteorite shower to hit earth?"

Naz pushed up her glasses and crossed her hands over her chest; as far as roommates go Naz and Maddy were polar opposites. Naz was more logical and scientific and she based her opinions purely on facts. She was really petite with dark hair and dark eyes and she had small sharp striking features whereas Maddy was this hippy earth child that believed in love, peace and happiness. She was of average height with chestnut brown hair that was sun streaked and big brown mellow eyes. Considering that they are so different they often had these small tiffs or as Naz likes to call them "a difference of opinions" but because they loved each other and they were best friend like me and Izzy they always got over it. Right now I could sense that they were about to have another one of their tiffs so I intervened with a random fact.

"Hey guys!" I said and all eyes were on me as I continued.

"Did you know that chickens can see daylight 45 minutes before humans can?" That got me a lot of raised eyebrows and concerned looks.

I tried to look innocent,

"What? I'm just stating the facts," I shrugged.

Randy came up to me and placed both hands on my shoulders.

"Noble are you losing some screws? Stress getting to you?" I rolled my eyes and chuckled but then I spotted Izzy noticeably stiffen from the corner of my eye.

I shrugged Randy's hands off my shoulders playfully.

The bell rang signaling the end of break and I made my way to where Izzy stood waiting for me it was our custom, we always walked to English period together.

She was silent for a while but I felt the need to address what happened this morning.

"Izzy...about this morning..." I trailed off.

"Yeah what about it?" she said ducking her head. I searched for the right words to say.

"So how long have you had this thing for him?" She let out a deep sigh.

"I don't have a thing for him okay? You know how Maddy is she sees the romance in everything even when it's not there." True. "Besides even if I did like him what difference would it make it's not like he would like me back especially since he already has a thing for you."

My mind went blank.

"Wait what?" I stood dead in my tracks we had almost reached the class when she said that.

"Why would you say something like that?"

"Well because it's true...can't you see the way he acts around you? How he flirts and uses any excuse to touch you?"

By now we were already in the classroom taking our seats and waiting for Mrs. Keller to arrive.

I sat facing her,

"So... that doesn't mean anything were just comfortable around each other, I mean we've been friends since I was seven for Pete's sake"

She nodded

"Well tell him that, all I know is that he follows you around like a lost puppy." I heard a bit of resentment in her words.

"You know I have proof that that's not true, Randy has had a lot of girlfriends in the past. There was Avery, Roxanna, Lucy, Kim and even Chantal."

She rolled her eyes,

"All of them were place holders, second best. That's why he never has any long term relationships because he was always secretly pining away for you."

"How do you know this anyway, are you like a mind reader or something?"

"I don't need to read minds to know what's up with him, he's emotions are written all over his face."

"I don't believe it," I said weakly thinking about what I must have done to lead him on.

"Miss Noble" I heard the witches voice call out I hadn't noticed her come in. She wore a navy blue blazer and pencil skirt. Her frosty blonde hair pulled out of her face in a tight bun the mole on full display. She looked imposing but I didn't bat an eyelash. I knew how to deal with b-witches like her.

"Care to share your fascinating story with the rest of the class?"

"No, that's why I was whispering Duh." I said deadpan.

Her lips went tight and I gave myself a mental high five. Boo-yah one point for me and zero for Mrs. Keller. I thought as the rest of the class snickered.

"Pack your books and swap places with Damien immediately," Damien an average looking guy consequently happened to be sitting next to Jordan. I rolled my eyes and did as I was told one point for Mrs. Keller I thought.

Damien got up and took my previous seat and I slipped in to the seat next to Jordan's and accidentally our knees bumped.

"Hi," he whispered with a small smile and I smiled back at him.

"Hi yourself," I whispered as Mrs. Keller looked at us.

"And I don't want to hear one more peep out you young lady, is that clear?" Oh does this lady never learn to stop asking such questions? A list of sarcastic remarks was on the tip of my tongue but I remembered my grandmothers warning and kept my mouth shut.

Later on in that period Mrs. Keller gave the class a few minutes of down time and I was finally able to talk to Jordan. I asked him if we couldn't reschedule tonight's practice session to an earlier time because I promised Randy that I would be his study buddy for the history quiz tomorrow. He seemed to be a bit put off but he agreed to switch the times around and when everything was sorted I started taking down the notes of Othello from the board. Until I had this feeling of being watched again and I turned to confront him.

"What?" I asked giggling, "Why do you keep on staring at me like that?"

He shook his head and chuckled,

"Nothing, you just remained me of someone from back home."

"You mean back in Spain?" I asked, it was true that Jordan was Spanish (a fact that I had just recently discovered) just like most students that attended Livingstone the few locals who were actually in this school were most likely here on scholarships. But there was only a few of them. The majority of students were foreign including me. Naz was from Dubai and Maddy from Mexico. Randy was Australian and Izzy was American. As for me I am 'technically' American by birth but lived most of my life in England and Pebble Island so I guess I'm a nomad.

"Yeah," he said and at that exact moment the bell rang.