AN: I guess people really like shy!Thorne and its really fun to write him so here's a new chapter. Hope you guys like it.
"Hi Cress … Hi Cress … Hi Cress … Hi, Cress … Cress, Hi … Hello?"
Thorne mumbled to himself as he made sure The Rampion was secure in the back of his Jeep. He covered the model ship with a tarp and as soon as he was satisfied that no harm would come to it, he locked his car and made his way into the school.
Thorne had spent all week adjusting the motor on his ship and tediously stringing the sails. He had countless cuts on his fingers, but it was all worth it when at 2am that morning he leaned back to look at a perfectly built model schooner. He was incredibly proud of himself and the only thing that would make him any happier was to show it off to Cress.
He stood at his locker, stealing glances down the hall at Cress and her group of friends. He had wanted to talk to her all week, but every time he had the opportunity to, he chickened out. It also didn't help that she was always with one of the people surrounding her now. There was Kai, student body president and captain of the debate team and possibly the most popular guy in school. His arms were draped around his girlfriend, Cinder, who was just as popular and had a reputation of being a badass since she was the only girl in the advanced shop class. Then there was Scarlet, the feisty redhead who was captain of the cheerleading squad and who kind of terrified him, but not as much as her hulking boyfriend, the star wide receiver of the football team. Just his sheer height and the wildness of his hair was enough to intimidate Thorne, but add the fact that his nickname was Wolf and his biceps were thicker than both of Thorne's lanky arms combined…
No, he was definitely too terrified to talk to Cress, but at least now, he had an actual reason to. Thorne steeled himself when he saw Cress and her entourage making their way down the hall. He closed his locker and waited for them to pass. When she was just an arm's length away he cleared his throat.
"Hey—uh—Cress."
Cress turned and saw him. "Oh, hi Thorne." She smiled, revealing the dimple in her right cheek.
Thorne unconsciously rubbed the back of his neck with his hand. He was hoping he could grab a minute alone with her, hoped that her friends would keep on walking but they stopped to watch. He definitely hadn't prepared for an audience. He must have hesitated too long, or her friends were looking at him too curiously because Cress spoke up.
"Thorne, do you know these guys? Kai, Cinder, Scarlet, Wolf. Guys, this is Thorne."
Thorne smiled weakly at them and couldn't imagine how he got himself into his current predicament.
Kai stepped forward totally at ease which made Thorne even more self-conscious. "Aren't you that guy … in the astronomy club?"
Thorne's cheeks flushed. "Uh, yeah."
Thorne saw Wolf's shoulders shake with a silent chuckle and Cinder's elbow jabbing him in the ribs.
Cress took a half-step closer to Thorne. "Really? You're in the astronomy club?"
Thorne nodded.
"I'm sure pirates had to know astronomy to be able to navigate their ships." Cress's eyes twinkled mischievously.
Relaxing, Thorne smiled one of his genuine dimpled smiles.
"Hey, no offense man." Kai said to Thorne.
"S'okay." Thorne mumbled.
"Cress, we're going to be late for class." Scarlet urged, casting a look over to Thorne.
Thorne looked over to Cress, catching her eye for a split second before turning his gaze to the ground.
"You guys go ahead. I'll catch up." Cress said, waving her friends along.
Thorne heard their feet shuffling away and his shoulders relaxed. He looked up to see her looking at him curiously.
"Is there something you wanted to talk to me about?"
Thorne rubbed the back of his neck again. "Um, yeah—yes. I wanted to tell you that The Rampion is done."
Cress's eyes gleamed. "Really?"
"Finished tying all the sails last night." Throne raised his hand showing off his bandaged fingers. "Umm, I thought you might want to see it sail off on its maiden voyage … today … after school."
Cress's smile disappeared from her face and Thorne felt his heart tighten.
"I'm sorry, Thorne. I can't. I have a date tonight." She looked almost as bashful as he felt.
Thorne forced a chuckle. "Of course. No worries." He shifted his backpack, fiddling with its ties. "How about this weekend?" His hastily added.
Cress gave him a weak smile. "Well, there's the game on Saturday and I have a paper due on Monday—"
Thorne nodded, not taking his eyes off his feet. "I understand."
"You should come."
Thorne looked up at her.
"To the game. You should come to the game. I mean, if you weren't planning on it. A bunch of us are going." Cress looked hopefully at him.
"Uh—yeah. Maybe." Thorne replied. He had never been to a football game before, but maybe he could go to this one, if Cress was asking him to. Was she asking him?
Cress grinned at him and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "I should really get to class."
"Yeah, me too. Have fun on your date tonight." Thorne's heart ached.
"Thanks."
He turned and they made their way down the corridor in opposite directions.
Thorne leaned against the park bench and sighed. How had he been so foolish to think that Cress could ever like him, or even that they could be friends. Of course she didn't need him as a friend when she had people like the head cheerleader and star football player as friends. Thorne dragged a hand down his face, groaning.
He reached into his backpack and pulled out a mini bottle of sparking apple cider. He had picked the fanciest bottle he could find that morning at the grocery store in hopes that Cress would be there with him, toasting to The Rampion. Stars, he had been so foolish. Thorne ripped off the red ribbon and gold foil on the bottle and popped the cork. Standing up, he walked over to The Rampion floating on the lake and splashed some apple cider against its starboard side. He flipped the switch, nudged the throttle and watched as the schooner glided along the lake.
Thorne practically downed the bottle of cider in one gulp.
As he sailed The Rampion around the lake, his thoughts drifted back to Cress and that morning's conversation. She did invite him to the football game tomorrow didn't she? Of course, her friends would be around but at least Cinder wasn't so bad and Kai did apologize for embarrassing him. And Wolf and Scarlet would be on the field. Maybe he should go. Maybe she did want to be friends.
He sighed again, turning the knobs of the controls to bring The Rampion back to him. His heart just wasn't in it and it didn't feel right sailing The Rampion without his first mate by his side. Aces, he was pathetic.
AN: Shoutout to lovelunarchron for persuading me to post another chapter of this. I have a couple more ideas if people want to see this continue. Comments and likes are always appreciated.
