Monday morning…
I arrived at school early. I needed to go somewhere quiet, and I couldn't stay cooped up in my room anymore. The school corridors were empty; the only person that you could see was the janitor listening to his music while he mopped the floors. He whistled to his music, unaware of his surroundings. A few of the classroom doors were open, light flooding into the hall. The classroom lights were much brighter than those in the hall because of school budgets.
I walked over to my locker and saw a piece of paper barely sticking out of the grate. I opened it up, this time cautiously hoping it wasn't one of Lauren's tricks, to see a note. I pulled it out, the scent of lilac and rose filling the air around me, and read it.
I know it was one kiss, but now I think I'm in love.
Your Secret Admirer
I placed the note in my bag, closed my locker and headed out to the old oak tree behind the library. I found my way to this tree about a year ago. It wasn't directly behind the library, but you could see it clearly from just about any window in the school. It was an old oak, from what I could tell about 25 years. It looked like it had spilt about 15 years ago but survived healing itself in a bit of a twisted fashion, making it the perfect tree to sit in when you wanted to think or be alone.
I laid on one of the branches, closed my eyes, and listened to my surroundings. I imagined the sounds of the leaves being brushed against the ground by the wind as the sound of a broom, brushing the floors of an old cottage. The scent of maple from a few nearby saplings reminded me or pancakes on a cold December morning.
The quiet was all I needed. I listened to the wind as it whistled through the branches, but I was startled by the sound of footsteps. They cracked a twig underfoot, startling a crow from one of the trees. It cawed as it flew away, almost as if it sensed immediate danger. I gasped as I looked around and spotted Helia, trying to hide behind the twisted trunk.
"Helia?" I asked sitting up, dangling my feet from the branch.
"I'm sorry Flora; I didn't mean to scare you. I didn't think anyone else was out here. May I?" He gestured at the vacant spot next to me on the branch. I nodded my head in approval.
"So how long have you know about this place?" I asked.
"About a year now. I come to this place when I need to get away." He said. He looked out at the forest that sat behind the school. The forest goes on about two miles to the park. Kids would sneak in there to make out at a stump a few feet in.
"Flora, can we talk? Listen I know that kiss came out of the blue, but it was just so I could thank you. If I hurt you in any way I'm sorry." I could tell he genuinely was sorry. I took his hand and placed my head on his shoulder.
"Helia, you have nothing to be sorry for. When you kissed me, I was in shock that's all. You didn't hurt me." I let a tear slide as I picked up my head and looked at him. In the distance the bell for class to begin sounded. I stood up, kissed Helia on the cheek and headed for class. Helia followed behind, a smile now replaced the frown he once carried.
English Class…
Mrs. Reyes collected our papers for the project and told us that we would perform our scenes the next day. The rest of the period was given as free time, so I used it to catch up on my math homework. Helia looked over at me several times during the period, each time smiling. Lauren was next to him. She started talking with him, but he didn't seem to pay attention.
The bell rang; I collected my things and headed out into the hall. Lauren stood there in the middle of the hall Helia, across from her. He stood there and listened attentively as she yelled at him. She was angry and he was upset. I had no right to listen so I walked away.
As I sat in the cafeteria, alone at one of the empty tables, I looked around to see that neither Helia nor Lauren had walked in, but it was none of my concern.
I sat alone because Bloom and Stella wanted to sit with their boyfriends, Musa and Riven had no afternoon classes, Timmy and Tecna had a computer club meeting and Layla and Nabu were at a swim meet. Kendall had disappeared after English, and I could not find him when I came in leaving me with the only option I had, and that was to eat alone.
The sound of heels clicking on a hard surface caught my attention. I looked up and saw Lauren standing in from of me.
"We need to have a little chat, in private." I stood, throwing away the remnants of my lunch and followed her out into the courtyard. I was empty, which was odd for lunch but I guess because of all the activities going on today the school was a bit less populated.
"So what is it that you want to talk to me about?" My mind wondered with curiosity though I knew it was going to lead to no good.
"You need to stay away from Helia. You're messing with his head. If I catch you anywhere near Helia again, you are going to wish you never met him." With that she left, probably to go and meet back up with Helia. I stood in the dust of her departure unknown of what my next move would be.