serendipity [h.s.]

five

Song of the Chapter: Paradise by Tove Lo

My heart increases at the site of him and also with the reminder that Jace's eyes have been on me every day for years. I won't sleep well tonight and I know it. I can feel both their eyes burn into my face as they watch who I will respond to first. My head feels light and my eyes begin to fuzz. My limbs feel heavy and I know what's happening. I'm about to faint.

No, I tell myself. Not here. Not on the first day of school.

I grip onto the wall as they continue to stare. I breathe deeply and close my eyes.

"Joe?" Harry asks again. I give him a small nod.

"Who are you?" Jace finally looks away, diverting his attention to the person I've previously bumped into.

Harry, being the kind gentleman that he is, sticks out his hand. "I'm Harry, yourself?"

"Jace," he replies flatly- returning Harry's gesture.

My head clears, but my limbs still feel heavy. I stand up again and mutter an apology to both of them. Jace huffs and walks away, but Harry continues to watch me as we move up in the line.

"I didn't know you went to school here?"

"That's because it's my first year here." He smiles. I nod and grab my juice, Harry grabbing a milk. I remember when I stopped getting milk. I never enjoyed the ones the school provided. They tasted like water.

"Are you sure you're alright?" He asks voice still drowning in concern. My heart warms at his care.

"Yes, I'm fine." I nod and we stand in silence for a while longer until I speak again.

"How old are you?" I ask.

"I'm going to be nineteen in February, you?"

"I'm turning eighteen in December." I reply.

He nods and moves up in line and waits for me after he pays.

"Can I sit with you?" He asks, blush rising on his cheeks.

"Of course." I smile and lead him to our table.

I watch as Heather and Steph's eyes follow him as he walks behind me. I look at Harry and he's completely unaware to their stares. He's watching me.

His button up suits him well and his beanie makes him appear juvenile. I look back at them and their eyes are wide and Heather coughs.

"Uhm..." I start. "This is Harry. He's new."

Heather nods and introduced herself in a subtle way. Steph, well, Steph had other ideas.

"Of course he's new," she says licking her lips. "Hi Harry. I'm Stephanie Grace."

Her tone is dripping in "seduction". Her eyes rake up and down his body, or what she can see, and she hums. Harry gives her a shy smile and turns back to me. A certain feeling washes over me at the thought of Harry paying attention to me instead of anyone else. It's pleasant and unnatural.

Steph usually gets all the male attention. She gets whoever she wants and guys practically bow at her feet. I don't know how she turned out the way that she did and I became the opposite. She has had many sexual partners and goes to many parties. I, on the other hand, stay home and read books all night. Life's funny, I suppose.

She continues to eye him hungrily but he's oblivious. He pays more attention to the chicken tenders in front of him and the small portion of pineapples on the side.

"Harry," she purrs and he turns to her. "Can I see your class schedule? I want to know if I'll be seeing you as often as I want to."

She winks and he turns to his backpack, pulling out the small slip of paper. I watch Steph and he smiles falls, eyes losing their "seducing" shine. "What's the matter?" I call.