Forces of Attraction: Book One

Rihannon

"I told Arden," I say to Tomas as we take a walk by his neighborhood.

His eyes grow wide and a hint of anger flashes on his expression. "What?! Why would you do that? He's bad news, Rihannon. He will ruin everything for you!"

"I know. I know. But....it just felt....right, you know?"

He gives me a confused look, but I know he won't understand what I felt that evening. It was truly the right decision I made. He was understanding and so quiet. In fact, I nearly recognized the boy I talked to two days ago. I still have the paper airplane on my small desk in my room. It might just be the only decoration I have in my room.

"I don't know, Rihannon. I'm sorry, but I think you did not think twice when you told him the truth."

"Well. What do you expect me to do? He followed me there!"

"Idiot," Tomas says with a clenched jaw. "I swear. Those rich brats have nothing else to do but make our lives impossible. I hate him."

"Give him a break," I say as we stop by a street that leads me back to Roy's car so I can go to my morning school. "I don't think he's all that. I've met his other side and he is a bright guy."

"He can pretend to be whatever he wants but if he hurts you, I will make him pay."

I chuckle at this and give him a light pat on his shoulder as I get in Roy's car. "Don't worry so much about me, Tomas. I know how to take care of myself."

I close the door and start the engine. I can see him lean on my window and smile through it. I lower it down so he can say to me, "I know you can. You might just be the strongest girl I've ever known."

I laugh at this and shake my head. "Alright. Enough of your compliments. I have to get to school."

"Which one?" he says with that dimple showing on his cheek.

"My actual school where I can prove to my teachers that I did not cheat on every single exam."

"Maybe," Tomas says with a hint of tease. I give him a small smile and shake my head. "Do you want to get something to eat after your job?" Regardless of how he tries to have an attitude like Arden's, that quiet persona always wins as he gives me a gentle smile.

I open my mouth to agree, but I can't seem to say anything. So I give him a small smile and say, "We'll see." With this, he gives me a nod and I drive away to school.

I actually finish my summer school earlier today. It's barely six so I decide to drive to Arden's school. I'm used to eating at this time of the morning, so my stomach slowly starts to wake up.

I'm disappointed not to see Arden waiting for me by the door today, but I shrug it off and make myself some breakfast. I'm so used to having his company that it feels a little lonely. But usually, when I have this feeling, I prefer to read. So I decide to run by the library to take a look at their books.

The place is really quiet. The lady sits at her desk and doesn't acknowledge me as she paints her nails. I walk to each shelf and see what to read.

When I enter the astrology section of the library, I see a boy with his back to me. It's weird that I seem to recognize his brown hair. I start to where he's at to see a book that caught my attention and when I stand by him, he looks up.

"Rihannon?"

I smile when I see Arden's surprised look. "Hello, Arden. I didn't think of you to be the type to stop by the library and look at a non-fiction book." For some reason, I let down my fake identity and act like a girl my age instead.

Arden goes along with it and smiles down at his book. "I love the sky." With this, I know he remembers the one fact I gave him about myself.

"That's beautiful," I tell him.