Hollow Hatred

Chapter Ten

           My heart started pounding, my tears started flowing, and my mind starting racing. Owen is here. He is right next to me. I felt my tears being wiped away, and being pulled forwards. Owen was hugging me. He's supposed to be hurt, my mind told me, he's supposed to be in the hospital! Well, he's not, I mentally snapped back.

           "How are you here?" I asked him.

           "I was let out early." He told me.

           For some odd reason, I felt safe. I felt like no one could hurt me. This is odd, I thought, this doesn't add up. When I was in first grade I broke my wrist. I had to wear a cast for a month, and a splint for two weeks. Owen broke his leg and arm less than a week ago, and he didn't have any casts on. I didn't feel any on his arms. Owen rested his chin on my head and whispered something to himself. I didn't understand it. Sounded like he was speaking gibberish.

           The bell rang.

           Surprised, I shoved myself away from Owen and looked around. He took a few steps back before regaining his poster. A few students in the hallway gave us weird glances. The principle and a few teachers darted passed Owen and me, and ran towards the sounds of chanting teenagers. I heard them, cheering on either Jasper or Andre. I looked scared. Owen looked calm.

           I reached up, and wiped my running make-up with my sleeve. I looked down at my sleeve, and saw it had a small wet stain. I sighed pathetically and looked over at Owen. He had a stain on his shirt from my make-up. He wore a dark dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and black jeans.

           "Why are you here?" I asked him.

           He smiled. "To see you, of course." He said, as if it was obvious.

           I looked around, feeling uneasy and tense, and watched the other students scurry off to their classes. The chanting had stopped, and I didn't want to be in the hallway when Jasper and Andre are shipped off to the principles office.

           "I have to get to class." I told him.

          Something sparked in his eyes than it disappeared. "Alright," he said. "Don't get detention . . . again."

           I playfully glared at him and walked away. When I got to my destination, I turned around and saw Owen staring at me. He smiled, and I grinned back before heading into class. Wow. That was weird. I guess Owen isn't so bad. Sure, he put a bruise on my wrist, but he was in the hospital. He was probably on some good medication. I'm not making excuses for him, I told myself. He was just being nice and creepy, and I felt that I had to smile back at him.

           Cassy came into the classroom and gasped. "Oh my gosh, Ari!"

           "What?" I wanted to know.

           "Your make-up."

           My hands instantly flew to my face. When I pulled them away my fingertips were covered with eye liner.

           "Don't worry," Cassy said, pulling out some tissues from her bag. "I can fix it."

           After a few minutes, Cassy said she had got all the make-up off. Then our teacher, Mr. Wong, walked in and sat down. Everyone turned to him, and he started the lesson.

　

           After the lesson, I said bye to Cassy and went to the girls bathroom. After fixing my make-up and applying my strawberry lip balm, I exited the bathroom and came face-to-face with Jake. He wore a graphic t-shirt, and he wore loose jeans.