CHAPTER TEN: COLD HEARTS DON'T CRY

The rest of my weekend was filled with my mind thinking of Aubrey, constantly. Not a second passed where she wasn't on my mind. Everything reminded me of her. I couldn't help but think that she mumbled my name in her sleep. So I must have gotten into her wall right? She must've let me in if she was thinking about me. She let her guard down; she told me what happened to her. She trusted me. On Monday I should be able to walk right up to her in art and sit next to her and talk to her. We should be able to make plans for me to take her out and I can finally get to know her, right? Wrong.

I walked into school on Monday, confident that Aubrey finally realized that I was a good guy. That I wasn't going to hurt her. English dragged on, like always, because I was looking forward to art. There were two minutes left of class and the I swear the hands of the clock were going backwards, just to make me go insane. I was tapping my fingers due to anxiousness and I wasn't paying attention at all, my eyes were focused on the clock ticking the last seconds until the bell rang. Three…two…one, BEEP. Finally, I sighed. Everyone shuffled out of the classroom and I was just about to walk out of the door when my teacher called after me. "Cruz!"

I rolled my eyes and turned around. "Yes?"

"I noticed you haven't been paying attention lately…"

"Well, I've already read Beowulf so many times, and it's just boring for me. I'm sorry," I wasn't completely lying. English was really boring.

"Well if you were paying attention today you would've heard that we're starting a new project," he spoke to me like I was mentally challenged. I wasn't stupid, I was just anxious to get to my next class.

"Oh."

"Well, you have to write a short essay on how love connects to the meaning of life," he said, handing me a yellow sheet with the directions. I just nodded showing him I understood as I took the paper, "I hope you haven't done this so many times, Mr. Newport," he said sarcastically, it took all of my willpower not to roll my eyes. "Anyway, it's due in a few weeks so you should have plenty of time."

"Okay, thanks Mr. Fletcher, and I'm sorry," I apologized and walked out of his room quickly. I shoved the yellow paper with the directions for the project in my backpack and took out my art supplies. I shut my locker and walked quickly to art, hoping I wouldn't be late. I managed to make it in the door as soon as the bell rang. My art teacher looked up and sighed, but said nothing. I looked around and saw that Collin had already moved on to Kendra, figures. I walked over to where Aubrey was and pulled out the empty chair to the right of her. "Is this seat taken?" I smirked, knowing that she would allow me to sit there.

She looked up at me and rolled her eyes. "Yes it is," she said coolly, I smiled thinking she was referring to it being taken by me, but then she shoved her bag into it and pushed the chair back towards the table. I looked at her, my face full of confusion. I thought we were at least on the friends level now, but I guess not. I carried her home for God's sake. I saved her from Collin and Peter, and this is how she fucking repays me? Sweet.

I turned around on my heels and sat next to Sam, it had been awhile since I sat next to her in art. "Oh, am I good enough to sit next to Cruz?" She said harshly.

"I…uh, um…I," I stammered, and she just started laughing.

"Relax. I'm just kidding," she smiled.

I sighed in relief. "Oh," I chuckled.

"I heard about your heroic moves at the party Friday. Your sister and Aubrey all in one night?" she said, raising her eyebrows and smirking.

"Yeah, that was a mistake," I mumbled, and looked up at Aubrey who was engrossed in her drawing, she would be.

"What do you mean?" Sam asked, confused.

"Chloey, no mistake there. She's my sister," I said. "But, Aubrey? I saved her from that fucker over there," I said nodding my head towards Collin. "I carried her all the way to her house, snuck her into her room, and tucked her into bed and I didn't even get a thank you. I got a roll of her eyes, and bitchy remarks," I spoke angrily. I wasn't about to hide my anger, I wasn't going to lower my voice so Aubrey couldn't hear. I was pissed. I beat two people up for her. "Oh, and," I began, forgetting all about Peter. "Peter comes over and shoves her against Collin's car, and yells in her face and I defend her and beat him up too!" I exclaimed. I was disgusted with Aubrey. I really was wasting my time.

Sam put her hand to my shoulder. "Listen, there's only so much you can do to help someone out. If they don't want your help, just give up," Sam shrugged.

"Yeah, she's a waste of my time," I said, and glared at Aubrey who was looking back at me. It looked like she was trying to hold back tears, but I must've been imagining it. People with cold hearts don't cry.