CHAPTER FIVE : THE ICE IN MY HAND
1435 Words
*TWILIGHT POV
A soft chuckle was what made me open my eyes.
He reached up and plucked something from my hair.
“Why did you close your eyes like that?” he asked, holding up what looked like a piece of thread between his fingers. A slow smile pulled at his mouth. “I just wanted to remove something from your hair.”
He paused. His eyes flicked to my face.
“Wait. You thought I was going to kiss you?”
My face went hot. “Umm…” I blinked. “I… I…”
No words came out. My heart was hammering so loud I was sure he could hear it.
I shot to my feet. “Bye,” I muttered, and bolted for the door.
“Wait, your phone!” Aiden called out behind me.
I skidded to a stop, turned, and jogged back. He was holding the phone out, smirking. I snatched it from his hand, mumbled “Thanks,” and rushed out of the room. His laughter followed me down the hall.
The second I was in my room, I slammed the door and leaned against it. My hand flew to my chest.
Thump. Thump. Thump. It didn’t help.
“Why did I close my eyes like that?” I whispered to the empty room.
“Ahhh!” I grabbed a handful of my hair and pulled.
“Stupid, stupid.” I started pacing.
“What am I going to do now?”
“I can’t face him. No, I can’t.” I shook my head hard and dropped onto the bed, face-first into the pillow.
“You are so stupid, Twilight,” I groaned into the sheets.
The next morning, the car ride was torture.
Aiden got in and sat beside me like nothing had happened. He smelled like soap and cologne.
I stared out the window the entire time.
When the car stopped at school, I didn’t wait for the guards. I grabbed my bag and practically jumped out.
I power-walked to class. Let them whisper. Let them point. I had Tracy’s headphones on and music in my ears.
“You don’t look as bright as you were yesterday,” Tracy said when she slid into the seat next to me. We were waiting for the next class. The room was loud.
“I’m fine,” I said. My voice sounded flat even to me.
She didn’t buy it. I could tell by the way she was studying me. Her eyes dropped to my desk. “You got the latest iPhone?”
She picked it up, turning it over in her hands. “Wow.”
“You look so amused,” I said, raising an eyebrow. “Is it that expensive?”
Tracy looked at me like I’d grown a second head. “What are you even saying? The price of this phone can literally feed you for a year.”
I blinked fast.
“Tell me Aiden got it for you,” she said, eyes narrowing.
I nodded. Slow.
“Woo, girl!” she screamed. Half the class turned to look. “Sorry!” she waved, then leaned in and whispered.
“Girl, you’re lucky. Not everyone gets a popular guy who spends on her. I heard you’re his family friend from outside the states. Suffering from amnesia.”
So that’s the lie they told. I looked down at my hands. “Where’s Trinidad?” I changed the topic fast.
“She’s in Computer Science, year one,” Tracy said, stretching her arms above her head. “She’ll meet us at lunch.”
Just then the teacher walked in. Class started.
When the class was over, I was halfway out the door when a voice stopped me.
“Hey.”
I turned. A boy with glasses was behind me, shifting from one foot to the other.
“Can I help you?” I asked.
“I’m Ace, the class representative,” he said, pushing his glasses up his nose. “I need your number to add you to the group chat.”
“Number?” The word hit me weird.
“What is a number?” I asked before I could stop myself.
He blinked. “Uh… give me your phone. I can help you with that.”
I hesitated, then slowly pulled the phone from my bag and handed it over. His fingers moved fast over the screen. Tap tap. He handed it back a minute later. “Here you go. You’re in the group now.”
“Thanks,” I said, and walked straight to the bathroom. I was pressed but this time I was ready. I wouldn’t mess up.
Before I could open the door, voices from inside made me freeze.
“Kai Khaid is at it again,” a girl’s voice said, sharp with annoyance. “He released his album because Aiden said he’d be releasing soon.”
“I can’t get over his jealousy,” another voice answered. “Always trying to compete with my Aiden. But he still remains the best. In wealth, in followers, in beauty, even in fashion. My Aiden beats him hands down.”
I pressed my back to the wall.
“Aiden has a competitor?” I whispered.
The girls came out a few seconds later, laughing. I waited, then slipped inside.
“We’ve been looking for you,” Tracy said when I came back to our seats.
“Sorry. I went to use the toilet,” I said.
“Hey, popular girl,” Trinidad greeted, popping a piece of gum.
“Good afternoon,” I said.
“Hey girl, loosen up,” Trinidad said, slinging an arm around my shoulders as we walked to the cafeteria. “We’re your friends, okay?”
I spent the rest of the day hiding in my room after school. Summer wasn’t back yet. Their mother had mentioned getting me a tutor. I didn’t care. I just didn’t want to see Aiden.
By evening I was thirsty. I crept downstairs for water.
I bumped into Aiden on my way going inside.
He was coming out of the kitchen, sleeves rolled up.
“Good evening,” I mumbled, eyes on the floor. I tried to hurry past him.
His hand shot out and caught my wrist.
The pull made me stumble. I crashed into his chest.
I gasped. His other arm came around my waist immediately, steadying me. But he didn’t let go. He pulled me closer instead.
He was so tall. I had to tilt my head all the way back to see his face. I felt small.
“Now tell me,” he said, voice low. “Why have you been avoiding me all day?”
“Me? I wasn’t avoiding you,” I said. I stared at his shirt instead of his face.
“Look at me when you’re talking, Light.”
Light.
Why did that nickname make my stomach flip?
I forced myself to look up. His hazel eyes were on me. His hair was messy, like he’d been running his hands through it. For half a second I wanted to reach up and smooth it.
Snap out of it, Twilight.
I pinched my thigh under the table to ground myself.
“So,” he said. “Do you have a reasonable excuse now?”
The words flew out before I could catch them.
“Are you a pervert?”
His grip loosened. “What? No.” He frowned, stepping back half a step.
Before I could take it back, his phone started ringing in his pocket. He pulled it out, glanced at the screen.
“I’ll be right there,” he said into it. Then he was gone. Walking away without looking back.
The air felt cold without him.
What if he was angry?
Why did I even say that?
The questions chased me as I dragged my feet to the counter.
I poured water into a glass. My hands were shaking. I wasn’t even looking. Water spilled over the side and onto the floor.
I needed this. I needed to think.
His presence always made me feel like this. Like my chest was too tight and my head was too loud.
I lifted the glass to my lips and it froze.
From the bottom up.The water turned solid. Ice cracked across the surface until the whole glass was frozen solid in my hand.
Panic exploded through me.
Oh no. Oh no.
I look up to see Aiden's mom stroll towards me. Her phone in her hand.
Her gaze slowly dropped to my hand.
This is bad !!
- Writer
