I woke the next morning feeling groggy, my body stiff and not willing to move, like most other days. My eyes wouldn't open completely, so I resorted to feeling my way across my bedroom. Finally making it, half blind, to the bathroom I turned on the light. I forced my eyes open to stare at the reflection of a stranger. I splashed some cold water on my face and then proceeded towel dried it off.
How strange it was to see what I was and know it wasn't me. The way I was treated I should be completely ugly and a complete loser, but I wasn't. I was no beauty, that was true, but I wasn't ugly. I had short choppy blonde hair, and deep, penetrating green eyes. I wasn't exactly skinny but I had nothing to be ashamed of. I was what most classified as average except the few good things like my eyes or perfect complexion. I looked away not wanting to see the stranger in the mirror any longer.
It took me only a few minuets to get ready. I got changed into jeans and a black jacket over a black cami and brushed my hair. I had naturally straight hair that went where I wanted without effort. I looked in the mirror once again at the plain face with no makeup, I never wore any. Finally after brushing my teeth, I went downstairs.
I grabbed a granola bar from the kitchen and left without bothering to say goodbye. My mother worked early mornings so she was always gone by the time I woke up. It was a muggy cold day and I had a strong feeling that it would prove to be a bad day.
I started my car and turned the heat up full blast. I slowly pulled out of my driveway, not paying much attention. I noticed the 2004 silver ford mustang just in time. I slammed on my breaks and swerved a little, just barely missing the mustang. I muttered a curse under my breath, trying to think of an actual curse that I could use. I wouldn't have felt bad, it served him right for pulling out on someone like that, but I couldn't think of anything so I let it go. Today truly was going to be bad…
I arrived at my school about twenty minuets later. I pulled into the parking lot and parked in the same area I usually did. I climbed out of my SUV and headed for my first hour class, English, with a grimace on my face. I was in my own little hate filled world when I realized that there was that same mustang in one of the visitors spaces. "Oh great," I thought to myself, "with my luck that will be one of my substitutes."
I slumped the rest of the way to English praying that it wasn't my English substitute. "Thank goodness" I thought as I saw Mrs. Mottaz sitting in her desk. At least I could forget about it for this hour.
English was probably my favorite class and I more than appreciated Mrs. Mottaz being here. She was one of my most favorite teachers as well.
She was the kind of teacher that leaves an impact in your life. She was always in a good mood and glad to see her students. She was nice and joked around with the class. But most of all she treated the students as if they were equals.
I sat down and pulled out my report that I had finished the night before. I smiled at my work. It was true that I technically started it last night, but I had been thinking about it quite some time. I liked the way it ended up and hoped that Mrs. Mottaz would as well.
I passed my report to the front and began doodling on a spare piece of paper waiting for instruction.
"OK class, I'm glad to see that most of the class has decided to do their reports," she smiled, "now today…." There was a nock on the door. I half glanced in interest until I actually saw who it was. I couldn't look down. I sat there awestruck staring, like a fool, at the most amazingly brilliant man I had ever seen.
I couldn't take in all of his beauty with just one quick glance. He was a little taller than I; my guess was 5'11" kind of muscular built, with broad shoulders. He had pale skin that had me wondering if he ever saw the sun in his life before. He had exquisite facial features, every part of his face flawless. His lips were amazingly full, his nose somehow fitting the rest, and his eyes the most brilliant of all. They were breathtakingly blue, deep on the outside and yet icy in the middle. He also had a hairdo of chestnut brown that was shorter in back and longer in front with bangs that framed his face like a heart.
I finally broke the haze he left me in to realize that all the rest of the class was staring as well. He handed the teacher his pass clearly unaware of all the attention he was receiving. She looked around for an open seat resting her eyes in my direction. Of course the only empty seat left would be right next to me…I was just that lucky.
"Daniel?" he smiled the most dazzlingly brilliant smile I had ever seen. "OK you can take a seat next to Alycia there." she walked to her desk and started to write down his name on her roster.
He walked, no glided, to the seat next to me. He took the isle to my left meaning he had to pass me and round the back of his chair to sit. The instant he passed, I almost fainted from the smell that trailed him. The smell was so breathtakingly sweet…so familiar…yet I knew I never experienced it before. I didn't know how to react to being so close to such a god like creature. I tried busying myself with the doodle again but it was no use.
I glanced out of the corner of my eye at him. He was staring at me. As soon as he caught my eye he smiled. I'm not sure what exactly I did, but I believe I smiled back tentatively.
"OK as I was saying class, I'm going to break you up into groups no more than three and we shall discuss Edgar Allen Poe's work off The Raven."
She walked among the students, assigning their partner, finally arriving at my desk. I knew long before she spoke what would be done.
"Alycia do you mind being with Daniel and helping him out? I wouldn't trust anyone else." I shook my head but wished I could say yes I minded...how could anyone be expected to keep a coherent thought while working with him?
I turned to look at him once again. That same smile touched his lips. Oh god. "OK so we have been reading a lot of Poe's work lately. Have you read any?" he smiled.
"Once or twice…" I was obviously missing a joke but I didn't care. That was the first time I heard him speak. Could everything about him be perfect? His voice was so soft, like silk, yet so firm. I sat with my mouth open.
"Are you OK?" he asked to my great embarrassment. I shrugged not knowing what to say. "So Alycia," I loved the way he said my name, "What part are you on?"
"Well we finished reading it and our test is tomorrow…but I don't think you're expected to take it."
"Oh well in that case would you like help studying?" Another breathtaking smile.
"No, I don't need it…I pretty much have it memorized."
"Oh…OK…well than I guess I'll read."
"Me to " that time I laughed, surprisingly confidently for me. I started to reach for a book out of my purse that I could read but found a Latin worksheet that I had completely forgotten about. I quickly started to jot down answers, to get it done before class was over, but I couldn't think of anything but Daniel.
It seemed as if he was watching me but when I looked up he's face was intently in a book.
"Oh forget it. There is no way I'm going to get this done," I thought. I put the worksheet back into my purse and pulled out my copy of Pride and Prejudice instead.
"Good book." Daniel was smiling broad at me and I quickly opened my book to loose myself in it.
We sat reading the rest of the hour. When the bell finally rang I jumped from my seat as quickly as I could. I longed to be out of the dazed fuzz that his presence left me in, yet as soon as I was out of it I wished to be back.
I walked to my next class half wishing and half dreading to see if he would be there as well.
He wasn't. It was creative writing so I was able to escape my thoughts for a while and devote them to the fictional characters I learned to love. The bell rang, almost too soon, and I jumped as it woke me form my daydreams.
I packed as quickly as I could and half ran to my next class, chorus. I wasn't that interested in getting there in a hurry since this was a class that Matt and I shared. I put my books down and went to my usual spot in the soprano section next to the tenors, as far from the bass section as I could get, I stood waiting until I smelt him.
I turned without thinking and saw that there was a new tenor in our school choir. My heart jumped as he smiled down on me. I could hear whispers and turned back to the front. Mrs. Davis entered and sat at the piano.
"Yes well they told me that I would be getting some new ones." she eyed Daniel suspiciously and then moved her head slightly more to the left, near where I was standing. I turned slightly to see what, or whom, else she was speaking of. There stood another amazingly beautiful new student. I knew she must be related to Daniel due to their uncanny similarity. They had the same face features and air about them, although the girl's eyes were different being a deep brown with gold flecks. Her hair was the same basic base color as Daniel's but had blonde highlights, while cut short to flare at the bottom.
"Now lets see…we have a concert coming up shortly where ,if I do not feel you are ready for, I may ask you to not participate in. We have been working on a total of five compositions that I intend to have showcased. Now, do either of you read sheet music?" Daniel put his hands inside his pocket and looked down towards his feet. The other, however, looked rather enthusiastic as she jumped in her place on the risers.
"Oh yes, we both can read, Daniel better than I, if I do say so myself. We are both rather musically inclined actually. I play violin, while Daniel plays magnificent piano!" At this Mrs. Davis eyed Daniel who was still looking rather defeated.
"Is this so? Well it would be rather nice to have a pianist in my class…would you mind?" She waved her hands toward the piano suggestively. Daniel sighed slightly but climbed down the risers towards the piano anyway. He sat and quickly ran his hands in an up and down scale movement to warm up his hands, I presumed. He glanced towards Mrs. Davis a last time before beginning.
The majestic notes that flowed towards me were unheard of. There was such a joyful bliss involved by simply listening that I thought that I must be sleeping. The notes battled with the chords until finally they reached such a beautiful harmony that I believed myself inadequate. He ended with a last lingering harmonic chord and the world started again. The class cheered and clapped while I stood there staring dumbfounded towards Daniel.
He quickly stood and passed Mrs. Davis on his way back to his spot. He glanced at the other, the new girl, and I thought I detected a slight glare, but as he was turning our eyes met and I felt a slight shock go through me. His eyes confused me and I wasn't sure if it was a good or a bad look. It seemed they reflected a glimmer of surprise and then a feeling of resentment passed through them. I turned forward and tried my best to forget the happenings of the moment before.
Mrs. Davis was back at her piano and it seemed that she was ready to begin. "Alright class, settle down. Now Mr. Hathaway that was truly quite delightful. I hope you wouldn't mind me using you sometimes so I could get out from behind this piano and direct the class more appropriately." He nodded his head slightly which Mrs. Davis took as a sign encouragement. "Fabulous! If you don't mind my asking though, who was that that you played? It was breathtaking but I am not sure that I have heard the composition before."
He looked up into Mrs. Davis's eyes and replied, "It was my own…I could play one of yours if you would prefer."
"Oh no. No, that would be quiet all right. I've heard you play now I would like to hear you and your glorious sister sing please." At that the girl straightened up and wore a smile of utter enthusiasm. Daniel, on the other hand, just took a more relaxed stance and wore an expression of nonchalance.
The piano rang with the usual up beat pick up and the girls began. In choir I had always been a leader. I do by no means have a great voice, but it is sufficient and since I was able to read sheet music rather fluently the other sopranos always seemed to follow my leading.
Today, on the other hand, was different. The other girl was singing with amazing clarity. Her voice was amazing. It was so clean cut and bright that it made me smile just to listen to it. She hit every note with the perfect tone and rhythm and I could tell even Mrs. Davis was surprised. Than the song went to the bridge and the sopranos and altos cut out for the guys to pick up. My mouth dropped. Daniel's voice was the most beautiful I had ever heard.
It was so…I don't know. It was strong yet contained, calm yet pronounced…sultry yet innocent. The mere sound confused me in a blissful manor. I turned my head, so that I could watch him, unthinkingly. What I saw shocked me more. He stared down at me with his beautiful deep mesmerizing eyes. I glanced longingly until the trance was lost as he stole a quick glance to his sister. He shook his head slightly and looked forward while continuing to sing. I turned back worried that I had upset him.
The guys faded and we stood there as the piano continued. It was the part that was set said to be a duet. There was to be a tenor and a female singing a love duet where there would act in love and perhaps kiss. I shied away from the part, although I really loved it and knew I sounded good singing it. The truth was that I would love to have it but I had never kissed anyone…or even loved someone…so I could never have it.
Finally the song moved back to the melody and the whole choir sang in unison. Besides the duet the ending was my favorite. It was the resolution to the story of love that our song was set after and it was so happy and meaningful that every time we sang it I couldn't help but smile.
The song closed and Mrs. Davis greeted us with a smile. "Well that was just grand! Mr. and Miss Hathaway your voices are superb! Have you had any training?" for the first time that day Daniel was the one to answer.
"No, we have not. Just practice." He looked cautiously at his sister.
"Yes, well, regardless you are magnificent!" Thankfully the bell choose then to ring and the students lumbered down the risers to receive their belongings.
For the first time I actually wanted to talk to him. I looked around looking for him but was disappointed. He must have left quickly for he wasn't in the room any longer. I sighed with defeat and walked to leave.
I reached the door and turned toward my next class. I ran into someone and dropped my books. I bent down to pick them up with a moan, but he was already there with them in his arms.
I gasped at the surprise that this was. "You play beautifully." I said idiotically, immediately embarrassed. He simply laughed though.
"Yeah, I've been told that before." he handed me my books and I eagerly took them. My hand grazed his arm. Was it my imagination or was it really that cold? I didn't dwell thinking that it was impossible that someone cold be that cold.
"Oh…hi…how rude of Daniel, I'm Tiffani!" I hadn't even noticed her standing there and I felt embarrassed of the fact.
"Urm…hi…I'm Alycia." Wow I felt like an idiot!
"Well…I'm just going to go now…nice meeting you Alycia, hope to see you soon…see you at lunch Danny-Boy!" She turned with a majestic laugh and walked away. Daniel stood there staring after her and I could have sworn that he had growled. I laughed myself at the scene that just took place in front of me, and Daniel turned his head back in my direction. I decided to be brave and look him in the eyes. BIG mistake! I was stuck. Daniel's eyes were like no other before. They weren't just ordinary blue eyes. With one glance it took all the will power I could muster up to look away from his deep penetrating stare.
"So Alycia what class do you have next?"
"Calculus with Mrs. Pisarek." I answered fast and shortly.
"Well I have advanced equations, which is right next to calculus, so would you like me to walk you to class?" I smiled slightly not able to answer. He reached for my books back and I forfeited them rather reluctantly.
We walked in silence most the way to my next class. Finally feeling I could take it no longer he spoke.
"So are you always this quit?"
"Yes…" I answered with out even thinking first. "…Well see I don't really have any friends here…I'm kind of a loner…"
"Really?" He seemed genuinely surprised.
"Yeah…no big deal I guess…I like being alone."
"Oh…I'm sorry. Would you like me to leave?"
"No!" I said that to soon, and I flushed red.
"Good…I don't want to leave just yet either." a darker shade of crimson touched my cheeks and I could tell that Daniel felt awkward as well.
"I'm sorry to say...your going to have to…this is me." I glanced at my calculus class next to me.
"Oh…well…" He actually looked disappointed,"…I guess I'll see you later…if, that is, you don't mind giving up some more alone time." He smiled down at me encouragingly.
"No, not if it's with you." Did I really just admit that?
"Good…I guess I'll see you at lunch then." Before I could answer he smiled, leaving me breathless, and walked back the way we had just come.
I walked into my class in a daze and found my seat. Did that really just happen…to me? Did this brilliant creature really seem interested in me? Was I actually flirting with him?
I tried to focus in my class, really I did, but with little effect. I kept running our conversation over and over in my mind. Mainly, though, I was thinking about the upcoming lunch hour. I kept glancing toward the clock counting the time down to when I would have to confront Daniel again...EHHKKK ten minuets left…
Part of me wished Daniel would forget his little promise about meeting me…but the stronger part was so eager to see him again. I tried to remember why he left me feeling this way. I knew he was amazingly beautiful, I'd never be able to forget that, but what was so special? I knew I longed to see him…to be with him…just to see him. How could any guy make me feel this?
The bell rang and I jumped at the surprise. I picked my books up in a haste to get out of there. I couldn't confront him. He was too beautiful…to talented…to perfect. I was insignificant, powers and all, compared to him.
I quickly walked down the hall the opposite way of the cafeteria. Through the commotion of the period exchange I heard my name being called. OH GOD. Even his voice was to perfect. I sped up trying to ignore him.
He swiftly caught up to me, which surprised me. "Hey Alycia…where are you going? I was wondering if you would like to have lunch with Tiffani and I."
"I…well…I," I couldn't think of a good enough reason to decline so I had no choice but accept, "sure, I guess I could." He smiled and we turned around to walk the opposite way towards the cafeteria.
We weaved through the idiotically slow students without speaking a word. We came to the cafeteria and I reached for the door. Before my hand could touch the door handle there was a porcelain one in its place. "Allow me."
I smiled sheepishly and nodded my head ever so slightly as I walked in. Daniel swiftly followed my entrance and I started to walk to my usual lonesome corner unthinkingly. "Uh…well Alycia my sister is sitting over there," he pointed to the other side of the cafeteria, "would you mind if we sat with her?"
"Oh no, I'm sorry, I kind of forgot that today wasn't normal."
"Normal huh? Well you don't really strike me as the 'normal' type."
I lightly sighed and added a quit, "how true is that," under my breath.
"Excuse me?" Daniel asked with an honest curiosity.
"Oh nothing, never mind…and no, I don't mind, we can sit with her that's fine." We walked towards an empty table, that is empty except Tiffani. "Hey Tiffy!"
"Oh very funny Danny Boy."
"Hey I just called you that because of the 'Danny Boy' from earlier…but now I owe you one more."
"Oh just sit down already Daniel. Hi Alycia! I didn't see you there."
"Well that would probably be because I was trying not to be seen." I didn't actually say it but I was thinking it real hard. "Oh, well I tend to blend in."
"I doubt that." Daniel said it softly but I knew I heard it. I smiled slightly and looked towards Daniel. He was looking back at me but looked away at the notice of my gaze. Tiffani giggled, so I returned my attention to her. She simply winked at Daniel though.
I began to sit on the bench in front of me when Daniel asked quite suddenly if I wanted him to escort me while getting my lunch. "Oh well I don't typically eat lunch but I will go with you to get yours if you want."
"Oh that wont be necessary Alycia, Tiffani and I don't eat lunch either." He smiled slightly but then something caught his attention and his eyes darted towards where my old friends were sitting. I could see the entire table, along with Alyssa and Amanda, laughing hysterically. I turned around to face Daniel again, what he did next surprised me immensely.
Daniel leaned in and tucked a stray piece of hair behind my ear. He stared into my eyes for what seemed like eternity. I felt a spark run through my spine like nothing I had ever felt before. I was in a different world, a world that belonged only to Daniel and I.
As quickly as it started, the haze was broken. Daniel rose from his seat and without excusing himself, left the table. I sat dumbfounded. I had no idea why he had left and I was worried that I was to blame. I muttered a small "wow" under my breath and Tiffani giggled lightly. I turned towards her. "What?" I asked trying to muster a fake smile.
"Oh…nothing…" She giggled a little more this time,"its just that goofy look you were making."
"Oh god! Are you serious?" I could feel my cheeks being overwhelmed with a deep blush.
"No, it was cute, and don't worry, I don't think Daniel noticed." I breathed a small sigh of relief. "So…you like my brother huh?" Oh lord! I don't think it would be possible to get any redder than I was at that moment.
"What? No! Why would you say that?" I suddenly became very interested in one of my fingernails. "Well that look you had on your face earlier is a start."
"He just took me by surprise that's all."
"MmHm…I bet." that giggling was getting annoying
"Oh…well…I…"
"Don't worry I wont say anything, but I have to warn you Daniel never shows much interest in girls." Just then Daniel mad his presence known with a slight cough.
"Sorry about that…I had to…um go to the bathroom."
He wasn't looking directly at me but I answered "Oh that's fine" anyway.
For a while we all sat there saying nothing in particular until Tiffani, who couldn't seem to stand the silence any longer, asked if I had always lived in Seattle, Washington.
"Oh no, I haven't. Actually I grew up in Escondido, California. I moved here with my mother when I was younger after my father died."
"Oh! Alycia I'm so sorry! I shouldn't have said anything!"
"No Tiffani, its quit alright. It was a long time ago…I'm over it honestly," I smiled the fake smile I gave all my teachers. I could feel Daniel watching me so I looked down and started playing with the ends of my hair.
"Alycia?"
"Hmmm?" I slightly looked up and could see that Daniel wasn't just watching me, he was staring quit intently.
"Are you sure that you are alright?" His eyes bore into mine and I really wanted to tell him my pain…and secrets. I couldn't, I knew I couldn't. I felt as if I could tell him everything about myself and that he would understand completely, but I knew better. I lost too much by being too trustworthy.
"Yes Daniel…why wouldn't I be?" I smiled again, but this time I tried harder to make it more believable.
"Well its just that you…well you don't seem alright…it seems that there is more to the story and that you're not really okay." It was his turn to look down uncomfortably.
I was trying to think of something to say, but thankfully the bell rang and again I was saved from my discomfort.
Tiffani was the first to respond to the bell. "Well I'm off to Photo and Print! See you after school Daniel! Until next time Alycia!"
"Yeah yeah goodbye Tiffani." Daniel looked at his sister with a goofy grin. "So Alycia," he turned back to me, "Shall I walk you to your next class?"
"Well are you sure you want to, I wouldn't want you going out of your way."
"Nonsense, I have Latin with you."
"Oh in that case…wait how did you know that I have Latin next?"
"I saw you doing some in English class." He shrugged it off as no big deal, but to me it was so much more than that. He had been paying attention to me, sure it was just a little recognition, but I was elated just the same.
"Oh okay, well then yeah lets go." I picked up my books and purse and headed to leave the cafeteria with the other students.
Daniel was easy to walk with. He, unlike his sister, didn't feel the need to keep conversation. We walked towards my usual Latin class, not muttering one word.
I could feel the stares of the brain-deads and hear them whispering as Daniel and I continued down the halls. I knew what they would be saying. "Why would someone like him be walking with someone like her?" "Did he loose a bet?"
"No way they know each other?"
I felt so uncomfortable. I had to take some of the attention off of me! But how? I looked around trying not to cause even more suspicion and found a target. A little bit away there were some lockers and a freshman was trying to open her combination. I concentrated real hard and when the poor girl succeeded in opening her locker a rabbit hopped out.
I knew it was cheesy, and a bit of a cliché, but rabbit pranks were my favorite. It always brought in irony to me doing magic.
The small prank accomplished what I wanted. People all around were looking away from Daniel and I, and down the hall to see what the commotion was.
Daniel didn't turn to look, or even seem to be in the least bit interested. We just kept on walking in our silence like nothing had happened at all.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, we had reached the Latin classroom. Daniel, always being the gentleman, opened the door and held it open for me to enter first. I went to my usual seat, close to the back, and quickly pulled out the worksheet that I gave up on earlier, in hopes of finishing it before Mr. Conley collected it. I jotted down some answers quickly, but left one that I wasn't sure about blank.
"Nobody's watching." I looked up quickly to see Daniel sitting in the seat next to mine, once again, leaning over closer to me and starring straight at me.
"Excuse me?" I blinked, amazed at Daniel. What had he meant by that? I was hoping that he meant what I wanted him to mean. I leaned closer to him absent-minded.
"Nemo vigilo…the answer to number seventeen is nobody's watching."
" Oh…urm…right…of course, thanks." I sat back into my desk and filled in Daniel's answer. I sat there feeling a little awkward, and a little embarrassed to say the least.
I looked up and saw that Daniel was still watching me rather inquiring like. "So how did you know that? Have you taken Latin before?"
"Yeah, you could say that. You know at my old school, I only know a little though." Daniel sat back in his seat as well. But he seemed more amused by the ordeal than I was.
Mr. Conley went around the class and gathered our homework. He then told us to break up into groups and work on our conjunctions. I absolutely hated breaking into groups. I hardly ever received a partner and when I did I was the consolation, nobody left, to bad you got stuck with her kind of partner. I ducked my head into my purse trying to make it appear that I was looking for something.
"Um Alycia, would you mind working with me by any chance?" I looked away from my purse and up into Daniel's eyes. They reflected what I'm sure mine were showing at that very moment, hope and longing. I nodded my head and my favorite smile reappeared on his face. I scooted my desk closer to his and he handed me the sheet that we were to be working on.
Between the two of us we finished the work faster than anybody else. Daniel was just being modest, he was even better in Latin than I was, and I was always the best in the class. I had a feeling that that would be changing in a lot of my classes, but I really didn't care.
"You know Alycia your pretty intelligent." Was he kidding? He was the smart one here.
"Well not really I just have a lot of free time to study. You're the genius here."
"Ha you think you have a lot of time to study…" I didn't understand for the life of me what he meant by that. I was the loner! How could he have extra time to study while everyone around was dying just to have him glance their way?
"What about your sister, and your other family, and you have to have friends. I mean look around, everyone has been staring at you all day hoping you would talk to them."
"Well you see Tiffani is great and all, and don't get me wrong she's like my best friend, but you saw what she's like. We're complete opposites…and my dad…well my dad isn't really around a lot. He has his own idea of what our life should be like, and our mom is ignorant to him. That's why Tif and I moved here, to escape them kind of…and I've never really talked to anyone like you before…like you said earlier, I'm used to being alone."
He nudged me with his elbow and I couldn't help smile up at him, even though I could clearly see the hurt in his eyes. I felt as if he was hiding something, there was just so much pain behind his words he was trying to keep the world from and I thought of myself. "How about you? I don't see why you would be so alone. Don't you have friends and family to turn to?"
"No, not really. I don't have any friends here. My only friend is my cousin Kathleen and she is also the only family that really cares. My Dad died when I was really young, and my mom doesn't care to be around me. Wow I can't believe that I just told you that I never tell people about me, well I guess that's more because people never ask."
"I know exactly what you mean Alycia. I never open up to people besides Tiffani. We share a really close relationship. There's nothing I can hide from her, even though sometimes I really wish that I could, but I don't know, it feels good to talk to you." His eyes smiled at me even though his mouth stayed motionless.
"I feel the same way. Usually I feel all self-conscious opening up to people, even Kate, but with you…it feels…well right." This time Daniel smiled with his eyes and mouth and I smiled back.
The bell rang at that moment and I jumped at the sound. Daniel smiled and laughed slightly at me and I laughed with him. It felt so good to have someone to talk to and laugh with.
I put my desk back and grabbed the rest of my stuff. "So Daniel what do you have next?"
He pulled out a sheet of paper from his back pocket and glanced at it. "I have Advanced Chemistry." he looked up at me with questioning eyes.
"Well I have P.E., but Advanced Chem. is just past the girl's locker room, so we could walk together if you would like?"
"Well I believe that would make the most sense." I smiled at his little joke and we left for our finale classes.
We walked through the halls together once again, but this time it felt easier. It felt as if Daniel and me had been friends for a long time. The halls were packed with whispering and stares just like before, but this time it didn't bother me in the least. Daniel even looked down at me and smiled a couple times while walking and I would return it. I had never smiled this much and I was really beginning to wonder why. It felt great to be happy for once.
We reached the door to the locker rooms and we both stopped and turned to each other.
"Well your class is down the hall to the left can't miss it." I smiled playfully at him.
"Thanks Alycia, you know today was really fun. I hope to see you in English tomorrow." And with that he lightly grazed my arm, where my jacket covered my skin, with his own hand and turned to leave.
I quickly got changed for P.E. in a haze and even played basketball with the other girls for once.
I was really hopping to see Daniel in the parking lot after school but with no luck. Oh well I guess I'll just have to wait till tomorrow to see him again.