The Secret Door

Chapter 5

Jace. Why had he been in my dream? With this thought I ran to take a quick shower. I put on a purple sweater with skinny jeans and boots. Everyone was getting ready when I left for breakfast.

Breakfast was the usual with my three pals and I didn't see Jace. I had 4 different classes today so I didn't know if I had any classes with him. The day flew and I saw Jace in my English class but he was surrounded by girls so I couldn't get to him. After classes, I went to the library to get some homework done.

The library had books along the walls and bookshelves were set in rows on one side while on the other side long rows of tables were placed for studying. Computers were on the second floor along with more rows of bookshelves.

Everywhere groups were huddled over books. I noticed a boy sitting alone at a corner table. He was wearing a white shirt with a black jacket and jeans. I went over and sat down in front of him. I set my things down and opened my Pre-Calculus book. The boy put his book down. Crap.

Jace smiled back at me. Why is it that wherever I go, he ends up in front of me?

"Hey Scarlett," he said.

I fidgeted. "Um....hey." I said nervously. Jace smirked and went back to his book.

I took my calculator out and tried to concentrate on a math problem. Thoughts cluttered my mind. Should I talk to him now? Should I thank him?

"Jace?"

He put his book down. "Yes."

"I was wond-" I was interrupted with a "Sshh."

I looked up and saw that the librarian Mrs.Choksi was glowering at me with her wide eyes.

"Sorry." I waited for her to pass.

I leaned closer to Jace and said quietly,"I was wondering when we should start on that lab report?"

Jace thought. "How about tom-"

"SSHHH!" Mrs.Choksi was back but now she was glowering at Jace. He shrugged and then we waited for her to pass.

"How about we meet tomorrow?" Jace whispered.

"Tomorrow sounds good for me," I replied.

"We can meet-"

"If you two want to mingle, do it somewhere else but not in my library." Mrs.Choksi was standing with her hands on her hips.

I looked at Jace and he nodded his head in the direction of the door. I nodded and gathered my things. I followed Jace out of the library. Jace walked down the hall and I was running behind him. He walked really fast that I had to slightly jog to keep up. I followed him into the garden.

The garden was at the back of the school. On one side of the garden was the school and on the other were the woods. It had a fountain in the center and bushes and trees arranged in rows. The trees were in different colors of red and orange. There was a bandstand on one side of the fountain. Park benches were arranged randomly around. The sky was cloudy and thundering was heard in the distance. There was nobody in the garden because everyone was in the library or at the Sleep Hall studying. Jace sat down on one of the benches.

"Why don't we meet tomorrow at 4 here?" He noticed that I was still standing. "Sit. I don't bite."

Reluctantly I sat down. "Jace I wanted to thank you about yesterday." I was so nervous that I couldn't make eye contact with his surprised face.

"Jace? You didn't call me new kid anymore."

I fidgeted. "I think I should give you a chance to be my friend since I am indebted into you."

"You're not indebted to me. Whatever I did was because it was my fault. I caused you to be distracted and I don't want you to be friends with me because you think you owe me." Jace got up preparing to leave. He looked hurt.

"No, wait. I WANT to be friends with you." I stood to stop him.

Jace stopped. He turned around to face me. "Want?"

I stood there quietly just realizing what I had said. Had I really wanted to be friends with him? To get to know him? Had my ego just gotten in my way?

Jace waited for me to reply but I had no answer. Suddenly, little droplets started falling from the sky. They didn't have any effect on Jace. He stood there watching me. His blue eyes observing me. I wondered what he saw in me that he didn't see in others. He always looked at me differently.

The droplets soon became bigger and faster. In order to avoid the rain, I ran towards the closest cover which was the bandstand. Jace splashed puddles behind me as he followed.

Laughing, we put our things down. Water dripped from my hair and my boots were covered in mud. The wind stung me as I shivered. I crossed my arms and laughed.

"Are you cold?" Jace asked. I turned to face him. He was taking his jacket off.

"No, I'm fine," I said knowing what he was about to do.

"Stop lying. Your shaking. Are you wearing anything under that sweater?"

I glowered at him, wide-eyed.

"I have no intention on seeing anything," Jace said reading my face,"but if you are, you should take off that wet sweater or you're gonna get sick. Here you can put my jacket on afterwards." Jace handed me his jacket and turned around to give me privacy.

I turned my back to him. I had a black tank top on underneath so the minute Jace turned, I threw off my sweater and put on the jacket. It smelled of Jace's wood-like smell.

"I'm done." As I turned around, Jace was closer than I expected. I bumped into him as he was turning. I stumbled as Jace held me at the waist to steady me. His face was only inches from my face. I could feel his breath on my nose. He smelt like wet grass, almost fresh similar to a recently cut lawn.

I settled my hands on his chest. I could feel it rise and fall. Jace wrapped his arms around my waist. I shivered as a gust of wind sent a chill through my body. Jace pulled me in closer. I felt myself tense. His eyes were a darker blue than usual. He moved one of his arms up my back. I noticed a water droplet running down the side of his face.

"Jace I-" Jace placed one of his fingers on my mouth and shushed me. He gently placed one of my dangling wet strands of hair behind my ear. I didn't stop him. He was closer now. His face was so close that my nose almost touched his. Jace kept moving closer.

"Scarlett?" I heard another voice call my name. I pulled away from Jace as if I had been caught doing something I wasn't supposed to.

__________________________

They were so close to kissing. But it's not the right time so you'll just have to wait and see.