DESIRE

CHAPTER TWELVE

WINTER BRAY

It's been a week. My parents were yet away on their business trip, and I must admit, things were not only getting boring but also lonely. Apparently, they couldn't get through with the deal, and couldn't drop it, so now I had been alone for a week.

Things in school were getting weird. I mean, Nadora, Altin and I were still friends and stuff, but I hadn't seen Theo at all. My December sickness was finally over, I never thought it would end.

Speaking of December. It was over us, and that meant it was almost my birthday. I dreaded it so much, and I did everything I could not to make anyone find out about it. Everything went fine with my plan, and I thought I could get over this birthday with no one finding out. But suddenly, my lovely mother called while I was in school, and things took a turn.

"Mum, is everything okay?" I asked in worry. I always thought the worst when my parents were away, especially for this long.

"Winter! Honey, everything is perfectly fine!" She chuckled, but then her tone turned sadder and more serious "Winter, I'm so sorry, but your father and I won't make it home for the 12th." I sighed lowly. They won't be home for my birthday. I knew I didn't like the birthday part, but I still loved to spend time with my parents on that day.

"Mum, it's okay," I spoke, trying not to sound disappointed.

"It's not. We always watch a movie on your birthday, and now we won't be able to," My mum sounded like she would cry, and I felt bad.

"My birthday isn't that important; we'll watch a movie when you guys get back," I assured. I leaned against my locker as I waited for her to answer.

"Of course. We'll talk later, Honey. Love you!" Sadness overcame me and I hated not being capable to hear the voices of my parents or just be in their presence. I sighed and reminded myself that this was how it was with so-called business parents.

"Your birthday?" I squeaked and turned around to meet the screeching voice. Nadora and Altin were standing right next to me. How did I not see them?

"Did you just listen to my phone conversation?" I asked in disbelief. Both of their expressions turned into a goofy smile.

"No?" They said in unison but it came out as a question. I shook my head at my two stupid friends.

"You guys are so stupid." I giggled at them jokingly. Altin continued to smile at me with his goofy expression while Nadora put a hand over her heart, with her mouth agape.

"So, your birthday? When?" I groaned at his question. How did I tell my friends I basically hated my birthday? Again, it wasn't normal.

"The 12th," I muttered, hoping that none of the two heard me, but when I heard loud gasps from all around the hall, my first instinct was to ask what everyone gasped about. But little did I know, what it was, shocked me.

Walking down the crowded halls of Grimmwood High, Theo had caught everyone's attention including mine. I swear, I saw a group of girls in the corner of my eye with drool running down their chin, but who could blame them?

I think my jaw dropped to the floor when I saw Theo wasn't wearing anything in front of his eyes. They were visible, there were no sunglasses or anything which covered them. Everyone watched him, and their eyes were studying him like a project. My breath hitched when he walked past me. My eyes followed his every move, and every step, but then questions invaded my mind. Where had he been? Why was he away for so long? What happened to his sunglasses? And why do his eyes look exactly the same as in my dream?

"Winter?"

"Winter?!"

I snapped out of my thoughts and my staring for the matter. Altin stood in front of me with a smirk on his face. I instantly looked away as my cheeks caught colour. Was I just caught staring?

"You were staring,"

"N-No, I wasn't." I defended terribly. Altin's smirk didn't vanish from his face "Okay fine! But seriously, where are his sunglasses? He's not wearing any."

"The two of you are friends, right? Ask him yourself." My eyes widened further, no way. I wasn't going to talk to him. Now, he seemed more intimidating than ever.

"Uhm... No, thank you. I'll pass." Please, let's talk about something else...

"Enough about that," Nadora stated. Thank Lord Jesus..."So, your birthday is in two days, and I have the perfect plan." I didn't like the sound of her idea or tone one bit. Nadora and I were two very different people, so whatever she had in mind, was probably something I wasn't comfortable with.

"Nadora, I don't thi-"

"So, I met a guy, his name is Dimitri." Her eyes twinkled with an emotion which I couldn't put my finger on. I gave Altin a glance, and he too could tell something was going on there "He's actually hosting a party on your birthday, how convenient! And I'm sure he wouldn't mind if I invited two of my friends." I didn't like the idea one bit. I had never found partying interesting, let alone been to one. To me, partying was a room full of horny teenagers, and alcohol.

"I don't even like my birthday," I muttered looking down at my hands, not wanting to see their reactions.

"What? Who doesn't like their birthday? That's outrageous!" Nadora shouted. It didn't surprise me that she would think that. It was Nadora we were talking about.

"I just don't like the attention, so I'm going to stay home, maybe talk to my parents to hear when they'll come home-"

"Are you going to be alone on your birthday?!" Now, Altin was the one shouting "That's it, we're going to this party!" Nadora looked satisfied with how she had gotten Altin on board. I sighed loudly; this was the last thing I wanted.

"Sober up, Snowball. This is going to be good, it's better than being all alone." Altin said with a smirk as he gave me a nudge on my shoulder. I gave them my best smile, I could muster. But I was the world's best at fake smiling, so of course, they bought it straight away.

"Okay, but I'm not much of a drinker." I gave them the smile I had practised a week before my first day here. Sometimes, it still came in handy. My two friends gave each other a high five as their little plan succeeded.

Afterwards, I told them I had to go to the library, to get books for an assignment, but it was a lie. Again. They bought it straight away, and with that, I headed towards the library. Somehow, the whispers weren't so bad anymore, which delighted me. Maybe the fact that Theo finally had shown his eyes, changed the way people looked at him.

I greeted the librarian as I entered. The school library was enormous, nothing like I had ever seen inside a school. It was three times bigger than the library at my old school. I thought they had every book here, so I started my search.

"Looking for something special?" A husky voice whispered in my ear. My breath hitched as I felt the warm breath on the shell of my ear. I felt like I couldn't move, I was afraid of turning around. What if it was my imagination, and when I turned around the voice would belong to a totally different person?

"Hi, Winter," Theo said with a... soft smile? I had never seen him smile like this. His lips didn't tug up as if he got forced to do so. It actually looked believable. However, I didn't answer. I couldn't. Something lost me in those beautiful eyes I had wanted to see for long.

Lapis Lazuli.

That was the one word I would use to describe them. They held so deep emotion, and so many of them at once. It was still impossible for me to read him. To figure him out. All I could read was his smile, but I did not understand what meaning it had.

"Hi," I said blankly, turning around. I didn't return the smile, but why didn't I? I didn't even get intimidated by him, and that was a first. Maybe it was the disappointment I felt which overpowered everything else. Theo being gone for a week, suddenly coming back with his eyes on full display. After my so many tries to remove those sunglasses. I still had all my unanswered questions, but I didn't know how to approach Theo with them. I didn't even know if he considered me as his friend. Did he even trust me? Just a little?

"Winter," Theo said again, placing his hand on my shoulder. I felt the heat and the shivers streaming through me, and it was all by one single touch. I took a deep breath as I turned around once again. Theo was much closer now. I could finally have a look of all his handsome features, without those big sunglasses and suddenly the feeling of intimidation came back.

"What's wrong?" Theo's voice was smooth as silk. Concern laced his dark blue eyes. The next moment, I felt a warmth spread across my cheek and jaw. He touched me. He cupped my cheek in the palm of his warm hand, and I tried so desperately not to lean into his touch.

"Nothing,"

"Don't lie, Love." There it was again. That nickname. It made butterflies erupt in the pit of my stomach. Theo eyed me with such an intensity which I had never experienced. Those blue eyes were piercing into mine like his life depended on it.

"I want answers," I replied demandingly.

Theo's eyes narrowed, and I immediately regretted the tone of my voice. His eyes turned three shades darker as he continued to step closer. Before I knew it, I got pushed up against the bookshelf behind me.

"You want answers, Winter?" Theo whispered against my neck. I let out a shaky breath but quickly got to my senses.

"Yes." I breathed, and Theo hummed in response. I felt his lips brush against the skin of my neck. I immediately closed my eyes, I waited for Theo to do something, anything. This was pure torture.

"No." My eyes shot open. No? What did he mean with no? Theo wasn't any longer standing close to my neck, he was gone. There was no sight of him. It was like he had completely disappeared, I looked around the area, but it was empty.

What just happened?