Closer

Chapter Five.

Today, I started my day with an apple juice in my hand and a cinnamon buns in my pocket.

I am so late, its not even funny anymore. Three days in row? I am definitely gonna get a remarks for this. I've reached the hallway when Mr Frank was stopped by some students right next to his class. My first period sucks.

He saw me from a distance and rolled his eyes, "Miss Woods, go on! Hurry, move it!" He yelled and everyone starts snickering behind me.

I gave out a loud breath as I rush to the classroom. I'm not even the only one who barely made it to his 7:15 a.m class. What is up his ass today?

I walked to my seat and gave a quick nod to the person sitting next to me. How did he have enough time to style his hair? It's fucking morning for pete sakes.

He looked at me as I was having trouble putting down my bag and art supplies that I might need it today.

"Psst!"

I looked at him in annoyance, "What?" I whispered.

He tried to hide his face but did anyone told him that its very impolite to laugh at someone's face.

"You got something on your face!" He said and I placed my palm on my face and smeared it down to my chin. He shakes his head and then slowly licked his thumb before he placed it on my lower lip.

It was whipped cream I got from my breakfast. He took his hanky out from his pocket and rub the cream on it while I just sit still not knowing how to react to that. Did he just touch my lip?

"Gooood morning! Fellas! If anyone of you attended a party last night i'm sorry about this class. But, you gotta do what you gotta do! Trick test. Take this paper with you and the test starts in 15 minutes!" Mr Frank yelled through the class making us all groaned. He really is a morning pain my heart can't stand.

I mean, every one went to Finn and Troy's party on Thursday night. It's almost like a routine for us. Even I know about the party but I never attended.

But aside from all the sudden death coming from Mr Frank's mouth, I don't know how I felt about Nathan but he confidently looked at me as if we were a long time friend. Making me blush and get used to it at the same time.

How am i suppose to face this stupid test with the image of cute Nathan's face in my head? I am in hell right now!

Later that same day, my mom and I drive around to the Grocery store after school to get some food for dinner. And to my surprise Nathan was standing in a line, wearing a hoodie and sunglasses, with a couple of items in a plastic bag completely avoiding eye contacts.

I'm not sure if I should be talking to him or act like I know him somehow. But, either way I'm not really down to talk to someone who seemed to have  an issues with living people. He could look so much better without his posh attitude and that's a known fact. I don't want to encourage him to think that I am okay to hang out with him.

Am i really?

Absolutely not!

"Riley!" My mom whispered yelled as I looked back at my mom. She was holding a couple bags of Fruits and Veggies for my dad. I don't know why she keeps trying to make us eat healthy foods. Healthy foods are just yucky and blah!

"Can you keep it up here! I'm holding up half of your pound here." She whined as she keeps walking to the other isle. I turn to look back at the cash counter just to see whether he's still there or not. Thankfully, he was gone.

I was never really interested in people's business but to be honest, Nathan has made it throw the seams of my inner thoughts every now and then. Clearly he would be the last person who would ever crosses my mind. But now that he's here, i'm not so sure anymore.

But somehow, whenever I saw him sitting alone in the cafeteria, staring nothing but his phone screens. Eating from a paper bag lunch wraps, without making eye contacts. I can feel that he was lonely. And i felt sorry for him all over again.

We haven't talk much and I think that's the best for both of us. Every once in a while we would share eye contacts in classes and at the hallway. But, sometimes it would be way too much pressure for me. I wouldn't want people to think that I am a freak too! I have enough reputation for being weird that could last me till the Summer to Freshman year in College. I don't need him to pulled the band wagon for me.

"Earth to Riley!" my art teacher Vinay clapped his hands to the whole class as I snapped my head towards the front.

I glance at the empty canvas in front of me with a wet brush on my hand.

"Focus, Miss Woods. You don't have all the time in the world to paint a picture of your endless imagination. What did I tell you before?" He said and smiled at me.

I nod along and sighed, "Cut them in pieces!" I repeat.

Mr Vinay once saw my 5 foot tall canvas full of colours he told me that my imagination is too wide and too big that I can't fit them all in one frame. So, he asks me to break them apart and piece it together at the end. It was the best idea I got ever.

I wet the brush again, and then mixed them with colors. I licked my lips to moist enough from my dry mouth. I take a deep breath and then stroke the brush across the canvas.

"Go take a minute and came back. You need to shake off that day dreams before it fog your imagination!" Vinay whispered. I wanted to hesitate and get done with my last piece today but, its not happening for me.

I walked out of the class room and I could already see the sun is about to set as a shining lights of the golden color reflect all over the room. Golden hour is the best time for me. The color is so warm and cozy it makes me want to sit throughout the time.

I groaned out of stressed as I yawned from tiredness and stretch my sore arms as I walked down the stairs.

To my surprise, I saw Nathan and our school nurse Jane talking out of her office door.

I take a slow turn so that they won't notice me but before I could move and hide behind the wall I heard him called me, "Ray!"

I take a run as fast as I could up on the stairs barely catching my own breath. Nurse Jane can't see me with him. She's the family nurse for twenty years and if she knows that we knew each other and talk in public it'll be news to my parents and then i'll never hear the end of it from both of them.

I don't normally hate lecturing but I hate hearing the same salty topic from them over and over again. I don't understand why they never liked Nathan from the beginning of our friendship, but I don't want to know the truth about it. I'm Mommy's girl, and her words is the end of everything for me if I disobeyed her.

Respect is the key in our family for a long time now. And I don't want to disrespected them for some silly boy. They didn't care about what I did pretty much on everything but when it comes to possessiveness and over protectiveness, I felt like that comes from their heart and I wanna feel like they're protecting me and care enough for me.