Heated Hearts

Headache

~Louis's POV~

Aster was behaving quite weirdly today, she had been practically ignoring me all morning.

I wondered why!

When she came and sat next to me, I greeted her but she didn’t look into my eyes while replying.

It was a bit unusual for her to do so.She would always look into my eyes while talking,but today everytime she talked to me her eyes were everywhere but on mine.

All the time in the class her body was tensed up and uncomfortable.

Even after the class when I called her in the corridor, she kind of ran away from me.

It was bothering me for the past two periods. So,I decided to confront her at the lunch time. I already texted Chandler asking about her,but she said she hadn’t seen her since she left for that meeting.

I really wish I applied for that now!

After four periods of agony, when finally the lunchtime came, I was the first one to stride out of the class.I almost ran for the cafeteria.

I found them sitting at their usual spot but Aster wasn’t with them.

Scowling, I looked around the cafeteria but she was nowhere to be found.

So, I quickly got to their table and sat down casually.

Before I could as about her, Chandler's phone rang and she picked it up.

"Hello,where are you? We are at the cafeteria waiting for you." Chandler asked right after she picked it up but a frown took over her face soon.

"Mhm...are you sure you’ll be fine? Or do you need me to come now?" she asked as she eyed Me, Jenna and Eva who were looking at her expectantly.

"Okay! We'll drop by your place after school then.Take care." Chandler said before hanging up the call.

"What happened? Was that Aster?Where is she?" I couldn’t help but bombarding her with questions the moment she hung up.

"Whoa there! Easy! She said she had a bad headache and fainted. So,they sent her home. She is doing fine for now." Chandler replied.

"I have to go and see her,make sure she is okay," I murmured as I stood up abruptly but a small hand gripped my palm.

I looked down to find Eva's hand snaked around mine.

"She asked us not to go now.We'll go together after school, Louis." She said, her eyes staring deeply into mine...

I don't know why but her words calmed me down instantly as I sighed and my tensed shoulders dropped.

"Yeah, sit down. She said it's nothing serious."Chandler insisted.

To my utter surprise,I sat down. Suddenly, Aster being sick and sent home didn’t make me feel as anxious as before anymore...

***

||Aster's POV||

Because of Mr. Arrogant A.k.a rude Rayven our short introductory meeting was prolonged for next four periods and we ended up attending a whole lecture on manners and respect from our Principal.

It was honestly a torture and more or less everyone was pissed at Rayven for how each time he snapped back at our principal, as if trying to enhance this lecture session he got us into on purpose.

Judging by Mr.Thompson's face I could guess how angry he was, but Rayven sat beside me totally unbothered as if he was a robot, programmed to be rude, mean and anger people.

Zake and Lisa groaned beside me as the fourth period passed, but still the battle between Rayven and Mr.Thompson didn’t stop.

The organizers had left after the second period, since then this debate session was going on and I doubt if this was going to end today.

"I'll suspend you for another week,Mr.Sylvester.I'm warning you!" Mr.Thompson roared his eyes bloodshot red.

"Sure,sir. I don't mind.Please do me that favour. You can try expelling me too if you want." Rayven replied, his palms behind his head,his eyes on Mr.Thompson.

"You... you are the most insolent student I've met throughout my entire career." He stuttered as he huffed,and punched the desk at his office; clearly frustrated and angry beyond limitations.

"Sure, I think you haven’t met any student who is honest and straightforward then." Rayven replied with a small smile plastered on his face.

Beside him, I sighed, shaking my head side to side.

Mr.Thompson's breaths were being released through his nostrils, he looked like an angry bull who will lunge at Rayven any moment now.

His telephone rang before he could say anything else and I practically sighed in relief.

My head was pragmatically aching with all these screaming and bantering going on around me.

"Ridiculous! Why do we have to be captivated in between this sh*t?" Lisa huffed.

"Yeah,this guy is ridiculously courageous and talkative. " Zake muttered as he sighed.

While Mr.Thompson talked on the phone I whispered under my breath,

"Rayven...I beg you... please stop and say sorry."

My voice was hoarse as I spoke, my knuckles had already turned white due to clutching my bag tightly all these while.

Rayven didn’t reply for a few seconds and I sighed again, moisture lingered at the corner of my eyes.

My head was practically hammering and I didn’t know how long would I be able to hold on.

"What's wrong?"

Just when I thought he didn’t hear me, his voice echoed through my ear.

My head turned towards him abruptly as this time his voice felt different. It was not the usual mocking, unbothered, sharp tone that he used to speak but a soft whisper coated with worry.

His eyebrows quirked as soon as he saw my face.

"Aster, are you okay?" He whispered as I turned my head from him and leaned back on the chair.

Mr.Thompson didn’t give me any chance to reply as he roared at Rayven again.

I clutched my bag tighter as I struggled to keep my eyes open.

"I'm sorry,Mr.Thompson. It won't happen again." Rayven replied, taking us all by surprise including Mr.Thompson,who looked like he had been struck by a lightning bolt.

"In fact, I'm really sorry for everything so far. I'll make sure it doesn’t happen again. Now, please let us go. We've been here for four periods,sir." Rayven spoke again,his voice holding the same calmness in it.

Realization seemed to sank into Mr.Thompson slower than usual as he coughed slightly and his face flushed.

Surely, he hadn’t realized how time had passed.

"Remember what you said,young man. You guys can leave." he said clearing his throat.

I swear I heard everyone sighing in relief, including me.

Grabbing my bag, I slowly rose to my feet.

My feet slightly wobbled as I stood up,but I quickly managed to balance myself.

I felt my body sightly quivering as I took slow, cautious steps towards the gate.

Once I was out in the corridor, Lisa came by my side and started walking while she said something that I couldn’t understand anymore.

My head felt like it was going to burst any moment now,and my eyes were burning... My legs felt heavy...

My breaths came out rapidly and I felt my vision blurring then clearing then again blurring as I tried to walk.

Before I knew it, the whole world around me suddenly swirled and vast blackness evaded my vision...