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And you said
It was like fire around the brim
Burning solid
Burning thin the burning rim
Like stars burning holes right through the dark
Flicking fire like saltwater into my eyes
You were one inch from the edge of this bed
I drag you back a sleepyhead, sleepyhead
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Garfield smiled as he lifted his head up and shielded his eyes from the glaring sun shining through his window. Contrary to what he expected, he actually had fun with Rachael last night. After showing Rachael his favorite exhibits, they went to a vegetarian restaurant, much to Rachael's chagrin and Garfield's delight. After that Garfield dropped her off at her house and he spent the rest of the night gloating to Victor about his latest conquest with Rachael.
Unfortunately for Garfield the night was over and so began the next school day. Yawning, he lazily yanked off his pajamas and threw on random articles of clothing, having showered briefly the night before. He didn't bother brushing his hair and picked up his relatively light book bag before walking out of his room and closing the door behind him. The blonde haired boy descended down the stairs and made his way to the kitchen, where the smell of waffles permeated the air. His adopted mother, Rita had her head buried in the newspaper while his adopted father, Steve, stared at the T.V. screen on the wall of the kitchen.
"Good morning Garfield!" his mother said airily as she looked up from her newspaper.
"Morning mom, morning dad." Garfield said, a little tense in calling his adopted father dad. Garfield had always been close to Rita. Even though he was not her own biological son, he was the only son she would ever have and Rita showered him in affection and love. Steve on the other hand, was not as close to Garfield. In fact, the two had a very rocky relationship, one often mediated by Rita.
"Morning pal." Steve said stiffly, not bothering to take his eyes of the television screen. The older man scowled and shook his head at the T.V while Garfield made himself a plate of pancakes.
"Can you believe this stuff? Guy kills all these people and he gets way with it! Makes me sick." Steve said, sipping his coffee. Ignoring him, Rita turned and smiled at Garfield.
"So you were out late last night with that Rachael girl, weren't you?" she said knowingly as Garfield blushed.
"I wasn't out late! I got home at like five, mom." Garfield said, shoving pancakes in his mouth to avoid conversation.
"Now Garfield there's not reason to be ashamed, she's a very pretty girl and I've heard she's just brilliant!" Rita continued, making Garfield turn a dark shade of red.
"OH MY GOD MOM." He said, plugging his fingers into his ears. Rita chuckled at him.
"I'm only teasing you, Gar." She said, removing his now empty plate.
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Rachael stared off into with distance with disinterest as her English teacher continued talking. As much as she enjoyed literature, she detested this class. Instead, Rachael focused on the note she had found in her locker that morning.
It was a note from Garfield, asking her when his next tutoring session would be. This time, he needed help in Physics. The thought of being alone with Garfield no longer made her feel repulsed but rather…nervous. Almost like how she had felt when she was with him. These feelings were so unnatural for Rachael that she now spent the majority of her classes wondering what was wrong with her. After all, they had only been sworn enemies just a mere week ago.
Suddenly the bell rang, jolting Rachael out of her thoughts. Happy that the class was over and she'd soon get to go home and relax, Rachael hurried to leave the room, dropping the note as she scurried out.
Hundreds of students filed through the hallway as Rachael made her way to her locker. Tired and ready to go home, the dark haired teen quickly threw all her books into her book bag and slammed the locker shut. Unfortunately her plan to go home and relax was cut short by a familiar blonde haired boy.
"Rae! So glad I found you! So, listen, I like failed my physics test the other day, like reaaallly failed and I was wondering if you could come and help me out? Like right now? My house probably?" Garfield said, wrapping his arm around Rachael's shoulders as she scowled at him.
"Well gee, thanks for asking me at the last possible minute." She said, peeling Garfield's arm off of her.
"Aw, come on Rae. You said you would help me!" Garfield pouted.
"It couldn't have been that bad, what did you get?"
"Uhhhhhhh, probably about a 54." Garfield said, coughing out the last part. Rachael's eyes bulged.
"A 54?! Are you serious? Do you even pay attention in class? Those tests are not that hard!" Rachael exclaimed.
"I thought it was hard!" Garfield said, hurt. Rachael bit her lip. As much as she wanted to go home and relax, she also felt this small, nagging need to help Garfield out. So, with a long sigh, Rachael nodded.
"Fine."
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"So the lower the center of gravity is, the more stable an object is, okay?" Rachael said, demonstrating for Garfield.
"Uh, Garfield?" the dark haired girl said, snapping him from his daydream. For some reason, Garfield found himself staring at Rachael more often. He never noticed the softness of her pale face, or the beauty of her bright blue eyes. He never even noticed her smooth black hair and delicate hands.
"What? Yeah, totally, center of gravity." The blonde boy said, a blush creeping across his face. Rachael sighed. As usual she had wasted her free time.
"You're not even paying attention." The pale girl said, rolling her eyes.
"I am! Things with low centers of gravity a stable!" Garfield said heatedly. Rachael was taken aback. This the first time Garfield retained anything.
"Wow. I wouldn't have been able to tell you retained all of that given the fact that you were staring off into space the entire time." Rachael said, grumbling.
"I wasn't staring off into space! I was staring at you." Garfield said, mumbling the last part. Rachael's heart stopped. What did he just say?
"You were staring at who?" Rachael asked, her heart beginning to speed up now.
"Uh, you. I was staring at you." Garfield said, now blushing furiously.
"Why would you be staring at me?"
"Because you're pretty?" Garfield replied, a confused look on his face. Never had he seen a girl so upset over a compliment. Rachael looked as if she were going to vomit.
Heart beating faster now, Rachael shook her head. She hadn't been called pretty by a boy since him. She thought this must be a sick joke. There's no way someone like Garfield Logan would call her pretty.
"Um…I-I think I'm going to go home now. I'm suddenly not feeling very well." Rachael said, her already pale face growing whiter.
"Do you want me to walk you?"
"N-no I'm sure I'll be fine. Thanks." Rachael said quickly, eager to leave.