The Element of Surprise

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Olivia's P.O.V.

I wait for Jake in the car. He always spends so much time after school socializing. It is super annoying especially since he knows I am waiting for him. I used to have to wait longer, but thankfully now I only have to wait like 10 to 15 minute opposed to 30. But he only agreed to that because I threatened to never cook for him again.

After about 10 minutes of impatient waiting, I see him walking up to the car. FINALLY! (I am very impatient.....especially when I am angry) He got in the driver's seat, but didn't say a word. I'm still mad at him for what he did, or rather didn't do, at lunch today but I am not as livid as I was before.

"So..." he started. I shot him an icy glare. "You're still mad aren't you."

I look away and stare out the window, "Oh, I don't know...YOU THINK!" I shout and whip back around to look at him. If looks could kill, he would be dead as a door nail. He looks sincerely sorry, but I'm not letting him off that easy.

"Look, I know I was an ass, but I really am sorry." he says. he looks at me with sad and sincere eyes. Oh, no! He's giving me his puppy dog face.

"NO!" I scream, "Do NOT give me that face. You are a total jerk for what you did and I am not forgiving you." He tilted his head down more so he could look up at me through his eyelashes, making him look like a cute innocent little kid.

"Please forgive me. I'm really sorry. Please? Please, please, please, please, please, please, PLEASE forgive me?" he begs, stringing the last please out. I couldn't resist anymore, he looked too damn cute to refuse. Plus, he's all I really have since our mom is never home and even when she is, she doesn’t acknowledge us. I'm not one for holding grudges, anyway.

"FINE! I forgive you but I am not making you dinner tonight. Find your own food." I say and then looked back at the window.

Suddenly, I felt the seat shake. I look over and Jake is practically vibrating in his seat, with a giant smile spread across his face.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!" he shrieks excitedly. His eyes were glowing like he had just won the lottery. "I love you so, so, so much!" he says. After Earthquake Jake finally stopped, he started the car to head home. A moment of silence passed through the car. Neither of us knew what to say next.

"...So who were you talking to?" Jake asked me, out of the blue.

"What?" I look over at him with a puzzled expression. What in the world is he talking about?

"At lunch. I saw you talking to some guy. Who was it?" he asked with an edgy voice. Oh, he meant Claude.

"Oh, that. He's new. His name is Claude and he's really nice. He actually talked to me and didn't called me a loner, weird, a loser, or anything." l explain. My brother looks at me suspiciously. "What?" I ask.

"Nothing. What do you know about him?" he asked in a possessive tone. OH! Light bulb! He is being the protective older brother again. God, I hate when he does this.

"Not much. I just met him. All I know is he's new and moved here from New York." I say. "He wasn't really that chatty, but he was nice." I continue. He really did seem like a nice guy. I had a few other classes with him and each time he saw me he smiled and said hello.

"Still, I don't think you should be hanging out with some guy you just met." Jake replies in an irritated voice.

"Jake, you don't even know him and I'm not sure if I will ever talk to him again. He'll find cooler people to hang out with." I say. I was truly upset at this reality. I really like Claude and want to get to know him more. And I still have to find out what the story is behind that scar.

"Oh come on! You’re cool! And if he judges you because of what people say, then he is a moron." bursts Jake.

"You mean...like you do in front of all your 'friends'" I inquire.

"...Um we should go home right? Right." he says nervously and starts home.

****FIVE MINUTES LATER****

"Wait, wait, wait,  WAIT! Did you just say you wouldn't cook for me tonight?! " Jake asked in a nervous voice.

I turn and look at my 18 year old brother. He looks at me, panicked like a kid who thought he saw a monster in his closet...and I burst out laughing. I'm a great sister aren't I?

Claude's P.O.V. 

Wow! She is beautiful! Her jeans hug her legs perfectly and her V-neck made her eyes shine an even brighter emerald green. Her beautiful, silky brown hair just made me want to run my hands through it over and over.

I first saw her in my math class. She kept her head down the whole time, but I could still see her undeniable beauty. She worked through the test in 10 minutes. The she just sat there looking completely oblivious to the fact that she lured in all of the male eyes in the room. Although, it did give me a chance to analyze her more in depth.

She seemed like a reserved type of girl. One who doesn't let people past her protective walls that she has built around herself. As if she has a secret, one that is worth keeping.

Not that I would ever pry. I have my own secrets that must stay hidden if I am to succeed here then no one must know who I was before.

When I see her sitting alone in the cafeteria, I couldn't help but go sit next to her.

"Hey." I say, trying with all my might not to stammer. She looks up and I once again get to admire her luring green eyes.

Her gaze travels across me from head to toe. I find that her eyes linger at my forearm slightly longer that the rest of my body. Now I am wishing that I had worn long sleeves today. She doesn't mention anything, but deliberately looks away.

"Hi." she whispers as a reply.

"I'm Claude." I say smiling. She doesn't say anything. She is just sitting there...staring at me. I look at her with a confused expression until she snaps out of whatever trance she was previously in.

"Olivia." she says. Slightly louder than her first reply. Good, that's progress.

After a few moments of silence she asks in a low tone of voice, "Are you new?" I look down at her and she locks her gaze with mine. I was surprised that she was the one that started the conversation.

"Yes," I reply after I get over the slight shock. "I moved here from New York. Things there, sure are different there than they are here, in California." As I speak, I start to think of all that I have experienced.

"Actually, I wouldn't know. I've never been anywhere but here and have lived here my whole life." Her reply snaps me out of my memories and back to the present.

"Really? Not anywhere? Not even for a vacation or anything?" I ask. Surly she has been somewhere other than this small town.

"Nope." She says. “Well, I have been to the beach that’s a few towns over, but other than that, no.” Huh... maybe if we get to know each other I could take her somewhere. The bell rang, signaling that lunch was now over.

"Well, I guess I'll see you around, Olivia." I say. I smile at her and stand up. I lend her my hand. After a moment, she took it and stood up.

"Yeah, I'll see you around." She says, as we walk out of the lunch room to our classes. I really hope this town is better than the last, and I think it will be...