Marked

Chapter five

{Marked}

Chapter five

Lilac

        I finally make it through my week, and the weekend has arrived. I come home after a uneventful day at school and discover my dad has gone back to work. As I walk down the sidewalk I clap my hands in joy. 

"Why are you so happy?" I look over towards where the voice came from and see Jerrick.

"Oh.. Just happy for the weekend" I shrug, not meeting his eyes in hopes to not look obvious that I'm lying.

"Are you sure? You seem kind of nervous, and you were looking over there when you got all happy" he says pointing towards my house and driveway. Shit.

"Yeah, working with that kid in photography has just been stressful I guess"  I shrug. 

"Oh" He  says, looking down at his feet.

"Yeah. I should get going" I say, stepping around him, and cutting across the lawn at the front of my house. I make it inside, and sigh. My mom is at work now too, but she'll be home around seven or eight. I find my cat Angus, sitting at the back door. He leaves every so often but always comes back. I let him in and sit on my couch, turning on the tv. He comes and curls up beside me, keeping the majority of my leg warm. I find a marathon of Criminal Minds, and turn it on, not caring that I've probably already seen more than half the episodes they're showing. 

        About three hours into my marathon the phone rings. I jump up, scaring a sleeping Angus in the process. I run into the kitchen and find a phone laying on the counter. I pick it up and hit talk. "Hello?" I answer.

"Hi, this is Mrs. Shias calling, is this Lilac?" She asks.

"Oh, hi yeah this is Lilac." I say, sitting on the counter.

"I'm calling to let you know that your partner in my class has been changed." She says.

"Oh to who?" I ask, positive that it was Matthew who begged for a new partner. Woulnd't want to work with the loser.

"Jerrick. The new student. He called me today, and requested to have you as a partner. I almost said no but the boy practically begged me." She says, giggling like a schoolgirl who finally told her friends some gossip. I'm speechless for a moment.

"Okay.. Thank you for letting me know.. I'll see you on Monday, bye" I say, hanging up before she can say anything else. I pause my Criminal Minds episode on the DVR. I slip shoes on and open the front door. Quickly cutting through my driveway, and his, I arrive at Jerrick's front door, knocking a few times. He opens it after a minute or two. 

"Yes?" He asks, leaning on the door frame.

"Why did you do that?" I ask.

"Do what?" He asks back,

"Ask for a partner swap, I was fine" I say shrugging.

"He was going to put you through hell. I don't like watching guys treat girls like that." He says nonchalantly. He begins to shut the door but I hold it open. 

"Why do you keep acting like this? Acting like I'm the most annoying person in the world, but doing stuff like this?"

"Lilac please move your hands" He says, pushing the door harder.

"Jerrick-" I'm cut off by him managing to shut the door. I sigh and walk back to my house, starting my marathon of TV shows again. 

Jerrick

        I told that bitch teacher not to tell her it was me who requested the change. God damnit.  I sigh and lock my front door, sitting on the couch. Why is that girl so persistent. I mean, I only requested the swap because I felt bad for her... right? Jesus Christ mind would you just shut up. I know I did it because I feel bad. That's the only reason. Yep. That chick is annoying as hell, but I won't see her bullied.

   I find myself clenching my fists at the thought of Matthew. What is happening to me? I don't have feelings for her that's for sure. Ha. I humour myself with the thought of actually liking this girl for a few minutes before pushing the thought out of my mind. Or so I thought.

   Before I can fucking stop myself I'm walking across my driveway. What am I doing? I step into hers. Why am I going to see her. I walk towards the front door. I don't even have to do this. I reach the steps and begin climbing them. What the fuck am I- Then I see her. I stop as she opens the front door looking confused.

"Jerrick?" She says, her eyebrows furrowing.

"Um.. I was wondering if we should work on the projects. There's the forest right there and why not get ahead.. you know?" Why am I so fucking flustered?

"Uh yeah.. sure" she says awkwardly. She grabs her camera which is hanging on the coat hook, and slips some shoes on.

  We walk down the driveway and towards the forest at the end of our road. There's a large trail in the center and a smaller one to the right. Lilac turns and goes down the small beaten path. I watch as she effortlessly hops over holes, roots, and rocks.

  "You know this trail well" I comment.

  "Oh, uh yeah I've been coming down here since I was young, with Luke." She replies never having to look back. I stumble a few times but keep up as we reach the end of the trail. It opens up to a small area with a creek and a large waterfall.

   "Wow" I say, looking around. I breathe in the smell of clean, fresh water and sigh. I sit on a large rock next to the pool of water.

"I love it here. Let's me get away."

"From what?" I ask, looking at her.

"Stop asking me so many questions. You didn't even want to tell me your name and you're expecting me to tell you my secrets?"

"I never said tell me your secrets, but since you have some.." I say, raising an eyebrow.

"Shut up and take pictures" She says, turning away from me and turning her camera on.

She captures the waterfall, and I decide to snap a picture of her in complete focus. She tilts her head to the right a bit, and plays with the zoom. When she's finally satisfied with the shot she turns and focuses on some small fish you can see in the pool of water, before it runs into the creek. I take a few pictures of the waterfall, and a bird perched on a branch that hangs off the side of the rock face.

"I'm surprised you wanted to do this. I thought you'd just get me as a partner and we'd go our separate ways" Lilac shrugs, not looking over at me. She instead busys herself with adjusting the camera strap, that's already fine.

"Lilac I'm not him. I'm not going to make you do this by yourself" I shrug.

"Thanks" She says, glancing over through her hair that falls into her face. I feel the urge to push it behind her ear but I leave it. I feel a rain drop. I look up and see the weather has taken a turn for the worse. The sky is near black, and you can see the mist of rain in the distance.

"Let's head back so we don't wreck out cameras" I say.

"Okay" She says. She loses her footing and falls onto a rock. I see blood trickle down the side of her forearm.

"Are you okay?" I ask, grabbing her uninjured arm and pulling her up. She daps the small cut with her shirt.

"I'm fine" She says. "Fuck I gotta go" She says, pulling out of my grasp.

"What? Lilac why?"

"I'll see you later" She says. Before I can stop her she's already down the path and on the road.