Personally Sweet
I slid my tray down the lunch line, and caught sight of a piece of chocolate cake. I reached for it oblivious to the hand already picking up the little white plate. I jumped back in surprise.

"oh my god!" The smile on Patrick's face was priceless. But my heart was beating way too fast for me to fully appreciate it. He held up the cake to my face, allowing me to get a whiff of the chocolate waving in the air.

"Ally." He let the cake sit in my hand.

"So you like sweets." He noted. The corners of his mouth went up with pride, that he knew something about me. I look a deep breath, avoided his hazel eyes-they had changed again. Were they contacts?-and wiped my smile away as best I could.

"Is this your way of apologizing?" His eyebrows creased in confusion.

"Apologize." He echoed. Only from him, it seemed more like a question.

"You left me yesterday." I reminded him. My voice held as much ice as I could possibly handle without freezing from my own chill. He just smirked, surprised he'd gotten to my so easily. I crossed my arms over my chest and raised an eyebrow. His flawless perfection was weakening my fury. He sighed, annoyed.

"I had..."

"To use the bathroom." I finished his sentence, sarcastically. His lips pressed into a thin line.

"Are you mad at me?" I glared, most of the rage coming back to me.

"What do you think?" I hissed through my teeth.

"I'm sorry." His answer was quick, but his eyes held sincerity. They searched my eyes for any sign of mercy. I looked down at the chocolate cake, now limp, in my hands and took a bite. When I looked back up, he was no longer in front of me.

"Ally!" The feint continues. I forces a smile, and took my usual seat next to Billy, who seemed to sit up a little straighter.

"So you're going to Louisville, right ally?" I nodded, head feeling numb. Tesha grimaced, Eddie grinned.

"I call shot gun!" Billy immediately knowing which car Eddie was calling, whipped a soda can at his head. Eddie dodged it without effort. I felt someone starring at me. I turned my head and glanced at his table, but only Nesha and Dylan were sitting there, poking at slices of cafeteria pizza. Nesha glanced at me. Locking my gaze. Her eyes, now a topaz color, held confusion then eased into its normal intensity. I couldn't look away.

"Ally?" Nesha released my gaze, looking at something across the cafeteria. My head, clouded, struggled to focus on Ronay's expression. She was alert.

"What is it?" She leaned in, and whispered, her eyes glancing in the same direction as Nesha's.

"Patrick is starring at you." My heart fluttered. I felt my shallow breath quicken, as I looked behind me again.

His eyes pierced my instantly. I welcomed the burning sensation as we glared at each other. His hand rose, and his index finger motioned me to come sit with him. My legs wouldn't move.

"Is he looking at you?" The surprise in Tesha's voice was definitely a insult. She crossed her arms in front o her chest, and watched my sad attempt at being graceful as I walked towards him. His gaze left me dizzy, stumbling several times over my own feet. I sighed in relief as I safely tucked myself into the chair in front of him. That was so embarrassing. There were at least 30 people starring at us. He just smiled, oblivious to them all. His voice was serious as he asked.

"Why would you come here?" I looked at him, caught off guard, with confusion.

"You seem…fresh, new. I didn't see you last year, or the year before that. I'm just wondering why someone would choose to move here. There aren't that many opportunities." He clarified.

I took a deep breath. Nobody's ever asked me that question, so I wasn't prepared for it. I haven't thought about it. It was kept hidden in a box in the dark corner of my mind. He waited as I nervously played with my hands.

"My dad lives here. He loves it here, and…she deserves to be happy." I said slowly, trying to push back the misery creeping into my chest. The box was breaking. I could see it, everyday Tim was gone on a tour or at a concert. The longing in her eyes. My mom had sacrificed so much for me. It only seems fair I sacrifice something for her.

"My mom had me at 17, and lost everything. She wasn't prepared for it. The money needs, the apartment bills. It seemed like I was taking care of her-emotionally-some of the time after I'd turned 8.. She's given so much. I've always felt guilty for that. Now she has a life with Tim...she's happy…but when he'd go away on tours, she'd stay with me. I knew it killed her. I-..."

"Felt like you were getting in the way." He finished my sentence for me. I looked down, and started playing with my hands. His eyes never left my face.

"Do you like it here?" I smiled more at myself than him, as I finally looked up.

"That obvious?" He smirked, but his eyes waited for the answer.

"It's...okay" I choked on the last word. It wasn't really a lie, but okay is kind of....overstating it.

"I don't like being alone. Drew is chief of the wilderness rangers"-funny how only a small town surrounded by woods, in the country would have something like that-"and he's busy. People getting attacked by bears-"

"Too busy for you?" His eyes were concentrating. He was trying to understand me, my decision to come to Tyler, Virginia of all places. I was a deer caught in headlights. I hadn't thought of it like that, and even answer his question. We sat there, starring at each other. Patrick broke the trance first, and glanced over my shoulder.

"They're going to quiz you after lunch." My heart sank. My eyes were questioning.

"How would you know that?" He ignored me, and stood up, his face hard.

"You should go back to your friends." His words stabbed my heart with agony. I hate to admit it, but I didn't want him to leave.

"Wait-What?" A lump rose in my throat strangling the words leaving my lips. He took in my expression and smiled amused.

"I'll see you in class." His promise lost its effect as I watched him, dazed, walk towards the parking lot.

This is....awkward. I gulped. Ronay, Lesa, and Tesha had cornered me before I could escape to Art class.

"What was he doing talking to you?"

"What did he say?"

"Are you okay, ally?"

"yeah, you didn't seem too happy."

My head whipped from face to face, still trying to answer to first question. The hallway started spinning in circles.

"Give Ally room to breathe," Eddie snapped as he pulled me away. My hand was planted to my head, trying to stop the whirling.

"You ok?" His hand was on the small of my back rubbing it as if to comfort me. At first when I looked at him, there was two...I started swaying back and forth.

"Whoa." Eddie held me by my waist trying to steady me.

"I'm fine." I assured him. It sounded like a lie to my own ears.

"Maybe you should sit down."

"I'm fine." I said harshly this time. Hurt flashed through his eyes, but he didn't let go.

"Let me walk you to your seat." A voice answered before I could speak.

"I'll help her. You can go." The voice had a hint of authority to it. I felt Eddie's hands being replaced by a pair of icicles. Oh god, please don't let it be who I think it is. I felt his breath on my neck and smelled his delicious scent. I rolled my eyes to the ceiling. Kill me now.