-Next week-
I sit in class again at the lab table, waiting for class start. Every time the door opens I whip around- when I'm seated, I face away from the door-hoping to see Jared. He's been out of school for over a week, and I'm worried. I am pathetical, worrying over a boy that has never paid me any attention in my life.
Drumming my nails on the table, I glance over at the empty seat beside me for the sixth time. Each time I will him to appear, and each time I am disappointed again.
Halfway through class, Ms. Alito is droning about the atmosphere and it's "simply fascinating levels" (her words, not mine), when the door opens and closes softly with a soft click.
I turn around, curiosity burning in me. My mouth stretches into a relieved grin as I take in Jared, standing there with his chest puffed out. He strides to his seat and collapses into the hard chair. He keeps his eyes on his notebook, not looking at anybody. Especially not me.
"Jared." Ms. Alito says, sickly sweet. "How nice of you to join us. You have missed a lot of work, young man." She glances over at me and my binder, then continues, "Maybe Kimberly can help you with the assignments."
Jared glances over at me, catching my eye through the hair falling over my forehead. His black eyes rove over my face, and then dart away. But they instantly come back to mine-a classic double take that I thought didn't exist outside of movies- and capture them in their intensity. Black fire burns in them, and a spark electricity runs from him to me.
I stop breathing as he reaches up and strokes my face. Just once, and that's all it takes for his intensely hot touch to burn my skin; it's hot, but in the best possible way.
The trail of fire left by his touch almost hurts. I bring my hand up to my face, covering his hand in mine. His mouth curls into a smile when my hand touches his.
He leans in closer to me. His hands burn against my face, but I close my eyes in happiness and pleasure. There's not place I would rather be right now than here. His lips are an inch from mine, and I can feel his breath waft over my face.
"Kim, I-"
He gets cut off by Mrs. Alito grabbing his ear and pulling him to the front of the classroom. He puts on a cool façade, but his eyes betray his fury. He's actually shaking with anger. His hands are twitching, and he clenches them and unclenches them, trying to dispel his fuming.
I hear gasps and wolf-whistles coming from around the classroom. Several kids are staring at me, and I lower my head to the tabletop, willing the ground to swallow me.
"Mister Kaliyit!" Ms. Alito screeches. "What is the meaning of this?!"
Jared's eyes never leave mine as he answers, "I love Kim."
All sound stops.
The world stops spinning.
Clouds stop moving.
People stop breathing.
I think I'm one of them.
Ms. Alito's eyes widen and flash to me, then back to Jared. "What did you say?"
Jared's chin just out. "I love Kimberly Blackstone. Is that a problem?"
Her eyebrows rising into her hairline, Ms. Alito says sharply, "It's a problem when you choose to disrupt my classroom with your proclamation of love. I will see both of you in detention after school."
My head snaps up from the desktop as Jared argues further. "No! Don't do that to Kim, she didn't do anything!"
"No!" I protest quickly. "No, it's okay. I'll serve my detention." Several pairs of eyes-including the teacher's-question my sanity. After all, who would willingly serve detention?
