One and Only

Chapter Fifteen - Sebastian

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get what Shaun said out of my mind. At night I tossed and turned and dreamed about him telling me how special and beautiful I was. But during the day I was mad at him for not understanding.

In my mind, especially when I closed my eyes, I could see his handsome face as he sung the hymns in church, but then images of him running after me and begging me to explain how I felt haunted me and I had to think of something else.

Which usually led to thinking about what he told me. Something that I would remember for the rest of my life:

"You are His beautiful daughter. You're more special than you know. You are worth worlds beyond number."

Shaun didn't text or call me. In a small way I was glad, but most of the time I stared wistfully at my phone, feeling my heart drop when I saw that he hadn't sent any messages.

During all my classes on Monday I daydreamed out the window, my brain racked with thoughts and I emotions I could not explain. I sat with Serena, Kate, David and Sven during lunch breaks but my mind was elsewhere. It was like being in a weird dream all day.

On Tuesday I had a double period of business. The usual teacher was away, so we had a substitute who had little patience for anything to do with computers. Her name was Felecia and she didn't tell us her last name.

When she arrived, the first thing I noticed was her big, billowy pants that made it look like she was wearing a thin curtain around her waist. She wore dangly earrings and clapped her hands a lot, especially when she happily announced we would not be doing any work.

"Now," she smiled, tossing her fuzzy long hair over her shoulder. "I want to get to know you all so this is what we're going to do."

I was sitting beside Jodi, who giggled every time Felicia clapped her hands. Leaning over, I said, "I'm not sure she'll be working here much longer if she doesn't let us do any work."

"I know, but she's still the best sub I've ever had!" Jodi whispered back.

Felicia kept talking. "I want you to get into pairs, but you must be partnered with someone of the opposite sex who you do not know very well."

I looked around the room as the class jumped up into action. Jodi quickly found a nerdy guy, and pairs were already forming. Drastically, I whirled around and saw a gorgeous face through the cluster of squirming classmates.

"Sebastian!" I called, and he turned to see me, relieved someone had found him befor ehe had to be paired with the teacher.

We sat down together just as the last few people sat down. Felicia clapped her hands with delight. "Now I am going to ask some questions, and you have to answer to your partner. Okay?"

Sebastian shrugged. I didn't get it, but I went along with it, smiling coyly. His striking features were as close as they'd ever been, and I saw that he was even more dazzling up close.

Felicia began: "Favourite hobby."

Sebastian mushed his lips together in thought. "Mm... playing football, I guess."

Now it was my turn. "Um..." I became desperate. Did I even have any hobbies? I decided be keep it normal: "Music."

He nodded. Felicia smiled. "Now tell your partner something that none of your friends know about you."

I went first. This was something I had been dying to say for over 48 hours. And now I had the chance to say it. I took a deep breath and said, "I used to be an agnostic, but on Sunday I realized... I believe in God."

Sebastian stared at me. It was something so personal that he hadn't been expecting it. Now it was his turn and he was lost for words. I waited patiently.

"Um, my dad's in the army."

My lips parted. "Really?"

Sebastian nodded and pushed back his shoulders. "I don't know why I don't tell anyone. It's not that I'm not proud of my dad. I guess I just miss him and I'm too afraid to say it."

Naturally, I reached out and touched Sebastian on the arm. He smiled.

I'd made a new friend.

The following day I bumped into Jodi in the cafeteria and she invited me to sit with her. Happily, I trotted over and sat beside Hannah. Quite a few other 'populars' were introduced to me, and I smiled graciously at each of them.

I was taking a bite of my sandwich when I heard to my right: "Ruby!"

Looking up, I saw Sebastian grinning at me. He took the empty place beside me and touched my hand. "How are you?"

I blushed. "I'm great. How are you?"

He shrugged, "Alright. Your hair looks pretty."

I reached up to touch my braid. "Thanks. So does yours," I winked.

He leaned back and laughed, then tossed his hair with a dramatic wave of his head. "I know."

We ate quietly for a while and then Sebastian looked up and asked, "Do you want to go sit over there?"

He gestured to a group of his other friends. "Sure," I said, and we stood up. He put his hand on my shoulder as we walked, and people stared. I felt so proud, especially as we walked past where Jenna and Chloe sat, and their jaws hit the floor when they saw me with a popular boy.

I already knew most of his friends from my freshman year, so I felt comfortable. He sat close to me, occasionally smiling at me and flicking his hair.

I listened to his friend's conversation and remained silent, awkwardly eating my lunch. Sebastian nudged me. "Want some gum?"

"Yes, thanks," I took it, and he squeezed my hand as he did so, winking playfully at me. My heart pounded as my cheeks flushed.

I couldn't believe what was happening.

When I had finished my lunch, one of the girls said, "Oh my gosh! It's Valentine's Day tomorrow!"

"Really?" Another asked. "I am going to be forever alone."

"I'm taking my girlfriend out to dinner," a guy said, looking pleased with himself.

Sebastian looked at me and leaned closer. "Have you got a Valentine?"

I shook my head.

He grinned. "Well, you do now."