CHAPTER 2
1700 Words
Kiara’s POV
The class was brief, and in less than an hour,we were already preparing for the next class. I grabbed the important books and stuffed the rest of my bag into my locker.
“No time for breakfast, I presume?” A voice calls out, seemingly addressing me. I turn around to notice a tall guy right behind me
His outfit was pretty casual, nothing fancy. However, something about his dirty blonde, slightly tousled hair, and bright blue eyes contrasted sharply with that of the brooding, dark haired guy I had bumped into earlier.
My God! Why was I still thinking about him!? I hurriedly brushed the thought aside as I faced the guy in front of me.
He wore a broad, knowing smile as he handed me a muffin. Strawberry? Did he know I loved those? Nah, he was probably just being friendly
“Story of my life. Thanks Kyle.” I collect the muffin from him with a smile. “Glad I could help.” He gives a light bow and makes his way back into the class, the friendly smile never leaving his face. Truth be told, Kyle was one of those here and there kids. I had known him since high school and even though we weren't particularly close, I still thought he was a pretty decent guy.
Anyway, the rest of school progresses smoothly. The bell rings meaning it was time for lunch break.
“LUNCH BREAK!!” Lexi shrieked like a mad woman. She was one who didn't play about her food. Always wondered how she managed to maintain such a lithe figure despite eating so much. Must be all the athleticism.
She dragged the both of us as she ran to the lunch room
“Lexi. The food isn't running away y'know.” Malia sighed and she slowly followed behind her.
“Yh it's pointless arguing with her Malia,” i let out a small chuckle as I followed behind them both “you know how Lexi gets when she's around–”
The words halted as I brushed past someone.
A certain familiar someone.
Tall, dark hair, those familiar brooding dark eyes.
It was the guy from earlier…
I immediately froze in my tracks, my gaze trailing him as he walked past the hallway…
Without as much as a second glance at me…
"Kiara? You okay?" Malia's voice jolted me back to reality. I turned around to notice both of my friends staring at me. Their gazes trailed from mine to where I was looking at…
They knew…
***
“I'm telling you, there's something off about that guy.” I stabbed my fork into the plate, taking another swirl of pasta as I engaged my friends, who occasionally stole glances at the young man sitting at the corner.
I couldn't quite explain it, but something about him felt off….
It could be the fact that he almost never talks to anyone. Even now, he was just sitting quietly in the corner, looking at his phone. He was muttering some words to himself….
Words I could barely make out….
I probably shouldn't be listening in on other people's conversations….
He suddenly shifted in his seat, and I was completely caught off guard as he suddenly turned around…
Our eyes locked for a split second
Crap! He had caught me staring at him….
My heart sank to my belly as I immediately turned my gaze away from him and back to my food but the damage had already been done. God he must think him weird. I thought to myself, sinking further down in my despair.
“Kiki? Kiara?” Lexi's voice jolted me out of my train of thought this time.
“You totally zoned out back there” Malia asked, her voice betraying her concern as she scanned me from head to toe. “Are you okay?”
“She's fine.” Lexi waved dismissively at me. “She was just ogling the new guy. As usual” She had added that last part solely to get a rise out of me….
And it worked…
Curse her for knowing me too well…
“I am not ogling him.” I shot back, a little heat rising in my cheeks.
I totally was…
“You totally were.” Lexi shot back with a smirk of her own, as if she could read my mind. “You didn't even realize I had taken one of your meatballs a while back.”
My eyes then trailed down to my plate and only then did I not only notice that one of my meatballs had gone missing, but I also noticed the stain of tomato sauce on the side of Lexi's lower lip.
Damn, she got me..
“Well cant say i blame you.” Malia reclined back on her chair, a smirk spreading across her own lips as her gaze rested from Lexi back to me.
“Aiden McAllister." Malia reeled off his name slowly like it was prized information “Almost every girl in school had been talking about him.”
I perked up from my chair. “They have?” I was suddenly interested. And I didn't even know why.
“Why do you sound so surprised?” Lexi chimed, raising an eyebrow at me. “I mean look at the guy.” She forced me to steal yet another glance at the guy, and my eyes trailed towards his broad shoulders and toned physique which were concealed under his dark leather jacket.
It would have been super awkward if he had caught me staring again…
How would I possibly have explained myself if that had happened?
“Heck, I'd be all over him if he just said the word.” The next words that came from Lexi's mouth made both malia and I spin our heads towards her in pure disbelief. I couldn't say I was surprised though. Right from time, Lexi had always been that type of girl. Out of the three of us, she had dated the most and had an entire gallery of ex boyfriends that would make a football team blush..
Okay, that last part might have been an exaggeration. But my point still stands. Lexi dated a lot….
And here she was, talking about adding Aiden McAllister to her list?
She was lucky I didn't turn her into a pretzel.
Can I actually do that though?
I let out a small chuckle at the thought of Lexi becoming a pretzel. Malia caught sight of this and just assumed I was laughing at Lexi's remark.
My friends were still not yet in on the whole me “being a witch” thing yet. And I intended not to tell them. The last thing I wanted was to bother someone else with things that even I didn't understand just yet.
Will I tell them eventually though…?
Probably…?
Maybe…?
Eventually…?
I might consider it…
RING!
The bell rang, signifying that recess was over. We all packed our plates over to the sink and I had to assist the lunchlady, Mrs Carden, with the dishes and cleaning up. My friends had to join in because of me. And I was doing it in the first place because Mrs Carden was a friend to my mother and while she herself never imposed anything on us, my mom would definitely give me an earful if she hears that i didnt help her when I could..
Anyway, the clean up lasted about 20 minutes and before long, we were all done. I put my hairnet and apron to the side and was about heading out into the hallway when I bumped into Aiden yet again.
I stopped dead in my tracks as my breath seized. I had just been thinking about him…
“Hey aiden… whats up.” I tried my best to play off as casual as I could, but my brief stutter and aversion to eye contact had betrayed me. Damn it. I could feel the heat rising up to my cheeks once again.. Why am I getting so flustered? I wondered. For some reason, I felt drawn to him, in a certain way…
I couldn't explain why, but I just did….
"Hi” he replied, his voice suave as ever. Then he suddenly extended his hand, reaching for the back of my head.
I could feel the butterflies increase in my tummy…
What was he doing? I tried to remain calm, but his fingers were getting closer. They brushed past my hair, sending electrical signals straight to my brain. This was the first time he had actually touched me, well, besides stopping my fall back then.
what was he going to–
“You had some lint in your hair.” His voice was calm as he stroked my hair smoothly, slowly brushing what was left on it away. Then without another word, he brushed past and made for the table which was directly behind me.
“Oh… umm.. Thanks….” My face carried a mix of disappointment and embarrassment as my voice trailed after him. I must have gotten the lint when I was doing the dishes earlier.
Wait, disappointment? Kiara Michaelson, were you expecting him to–
“Oh,. and another thing…” Aiden's cool voice came around again. I turned around to face him as he was also turning around. A brief silence fell between us…
“Try not to stare too much at people, it's weird.” He gave a light shrug as he left the table, seemingly having gotten what he came for as he made his way out of the room..
He remembered me staring….
Oh no, he now thinks I'm weird. I was dying of cringe on the inside.. Maybe he only saw me once? Or was he aware of all the other times I stared? Regardless, I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me whole.
But still…. I couldn't deny the attraction I had felt with him.
The few times we made contact with each other had been nothing short of electrifying. I didn't know exactly what it was, but I was certain…
There was a connection between us…
- Writer
