Flightless Bird

Chapter 15 - part 1

I walked into the room with Lexi for our last class of the day; Life Skills. As I entered, I looked across the room for Jacob, but was met with the smiling face of Adam. I grinned back and waved at him, startled when I heard a voice behind me say,

"Hey Kerri."

"Hi," I replied, turning. It was Jacob, jaw clenched as he looked not at me, but over at where Adam was sat.

"I was hoping we could talk after class," he said. I nodded.

"Okay, sure. I'm sorry, I told Lexi I would sit with her, but we can definitely talk after class," I told him earnestly as Lexi took my arm and led me to an empty desk near the back of the room. I looked back over at him but he was staring intently at the scarred wood of the desk beneath his hands. I sighed, then turned to Lexi as we sat down.

"You know what we're doing today?" I asked her. She opened her mouth to answer, but it was a boy's voice who said,

"Something to do with marriage."

"Adam! How are you?" I asked, turning to him as he placed his hands on the desk in front of me and leaned over our desk.

"Good. From what I hear better than Jacob. And you?"

"Fine. I think he's just a bit pissed at me to be honest; he found out I was talking to Charlie earlier and now he wants to talk after class."

Adam's smile dropped.

"Charlie?" he asked, "you mean the head's son? Kerri, I don't wanna upset you even more but I heard that guy's seriously bad news."

"Really? What have you heard?" I asked, leaning closer to Adam. He smiled as though he was enjoying the secrecy. I don't think he could feel Jacob's glare on his back.

"Not much," Adam told me, "just that he's some creepy heartbreaker or ladykiller or something. And he can't be too bright either..." Adam finished, trailing off as I thought. Lexi coughed, making Adam turn to her, as though he was just now realising she was sitting next to me.

"And you hun, how are you doing?" Lexi set her lips in a firm line.

"When is this teacher going to get here anyways?" I asked, trying to lighten the mood. I could still feel Jacob's eyes on us.

"Right about now," Adam said with a grin as the door opened and a plump lady wearing beige sidled in, shutting the door just as Adam slid into his seat next to Clark.