I do not own The Host

Chapter 4

Ian POV

I quickly left the theatre, I just had to get out of there. Seeing Wanderer with Aleyc and Jason made me so...I don't even know. They have serious reputations as players. They better not hurt her. I will hurt them if they do...

Wait, why do I care? Do I? No i don't. I dont even know her. But what was up with Jared getting down on one knee and taking her hand. He looked like he was purposing. And by the way his face looked I can count on she said no. That has to be a first for him. He is too thick to see Mel has had her eye on him since forever.

I took my time making my way to my next class. It was my honors biology class with Mrs. Oliver. I wasn't really looking forward to it.

I walked into the class, and I thought I was the last kid. Being early for something was never my specialty. There were two empty seats at the last lab table in the classroom. I took one of those.

I sat down, and prepared myself for a nightmare of a period. I had heard hell-like stories about this course. Mrs. Oliver showed no mercy. Zip. The very name causes the school's average student to whimper and tremble in fear. I laughed to myself.

I take out my folder and stand it up and resting my head on my arms. I can't seem to get the image of Wanderer up on that stage singing out of my head. Or that kiss either.

Man I would give anything to just kiss her again. She made me feel, i don't even know. Jessica or any of my other girlfriends never had an effect on me like this.

Great that is another thing. Sooner or later i will have to deal with her.

Peering over my folder, I already saw two guys start throwing paper planes at each other. I sighed. It was going to be a long period.

The bell rang then, and Mrs. Oliver got up to take attendance, but then one last guy burst into the room, panting and out of breath.

I rolled my eyes behind my folder. I wasn't an early bird but I don't show up like that.

I decided to at least say hi to the late guy seeing as we would have to be lab partners for the rest of the year. I then heard whistling.

When I looked up, my voice caught in my throat.

It was Wanderer. I swear she looked even more gorgeous than she did ten minutes ago when I last saw her. She ran to the back of the classroom and slid gracefully into her seat, right across from me, offering Mrs. Oliver an apologetic smile.

Dang it.

This was perfect. Just great. Fantastic. This class really was going to be living hell. I'm going to be stuck with the most beautiful girl in the entire school as my lab partner. There is no way I'm going to be able to concentrate now with her sitting across from me. Not that I was concentrating very much in the first place...

I didn't mean to say it, but next thing I knew, my big fat mouth muttered the words, "You've got to be kidding me" She looked up at me. I froze for a second. She seemed to recognize me and lower her head.

And then again my big mouth opened. "Well if it isn't Kissing Kate Barlow" (from Holes)

Her head snapped up, and her blue-grey eyes stared into mine, shocked. She looked over her shoulder slightly, as if she wasn't sure that it was her I was referring to.

"You know from the old west. She was a bank robber and she kissed the men she robbed. Or I should say she killed them, then kissed them"

Her eyebrows crinkled together as she took in what i said. And i have to admit she looks even more adorable like that.

"Then you should be counting your blessings since you're still alive"

I chucked darkly. "I guess I should" That's when I noticed something different. She had on a different shirt from the low cut tank top from this morning. Instead she had on a tight black V-neck. But what caught my eye is that on it, it had an outline of a human head but instead of a brain it had a soccer ball. Now way, she likes soccer. Then I see a soccer ball dangling from a chain around her neck.

"Hey weren't you wearing a different shirt?" i ask her before i realize it. Great now she will know i was looking at her chest. She look down at her shirt. Thank god cause i could feel my face heat up. A piece of curly brown hair drops in her face. She flips it absentmindedly. That was so hot. What am i thinking?

"Oh ya I got pulled over in the hall by some old teacher saying it was 'inappropriate'. I had this one in my backpack as a spare. You never know when you'll need it"

I nod understanding. "You should know this year is really going to suck"

"Pardon?" she asks polietly.

I sighed, deciding to the truth. "How the heck am I is supposed to concentrate when I've got a gorgeous girl who also likes soccer sitting across from me the whole year. There's is no freaking way I'll be able to get anything done because I'll probably be staring at the soccer ball on you necklace the whole period, day dreaming about kicking a ball through a net"

She looked a little shocked at what I had said. Why did I just admit that to her? So stupid. But then she smiled at me. It was worth it. Just like the kiss.

"I'm sorry but if I'm going to distract you so much I could switch partners..." she tells me sliding off her chair. I quickly grab her wrist gently stopping her.

"No, no, no I would not want anyone else to be distracted"

She laughed. I swear I heard angels singing.

"Well if you insist" she says smiling. She slides back in her seat. Her smile then fades and a light blush enters her cheeks. "And I'm sorry for this morning"

"You don't have anything to apologize for. I am the one who should be apologizing to you" She just nods at me.

"Hey if you like my necklace, you'll love my shoes" she says quickly changing the subject. I'm so glad too otherwise I might make another stupid comment to her.

I lean to the edge of the counter and she lifts her left foot. My jaw nearly drops. On her tiny foot are top of the line athletic shoes. I've seen them for men but she has purple and pink ones on.

"No way. Those are two hundred dollar shoes"

"Recognize the signature?" she asks smirking. Man she looks so hot when she smirks. Focus man. I gently pick up her foot lifting it. This time my jaw does drop.

"Mia Hamm. Are you serious?" I ask shocked. She giggles.

"Yup. She signed and gave them to me. Oh and my cleats too"

"But how? Why?" I ask quickly. She laughs again.

"Advantages of being an orphan" she says ever so calmly. Who would ever want to give her up I have no idea.

"I'm sorry" She just shurgs it away like nothing.

"Don't be. I use these for running and my cleats for soccer even though i've never used them in a real game. Only goofing off with Aleyc and Jason" So she hangs out with them quite a lot.

"How do you know them? Just curious"

"I'm sure everyone is wondering who this nobody is coming in and talking to popular guys" she mutters.

"I didn't mean it that way. It's just they aren't known to have girls as just friends"

"I know. Well I didn't know the extent of their status" she admits. Yet she still is close to them.

"So...?" I say hoping she will continue. Please be related, please be related.

"I've known them since I was ten. They are my best friends" Well not related but close enough.

"I see"

"You're Jared's friend right?" she then asks me. I forgot she knows him too.

"Howe, ya. How do you know him?"

"I met him this morning before you" she blushes but continues "He helped me when i ran into some red head girl and then showed me to my locker. Well actually he really didnt give me a choice. He kinda took my books and walked off"

"That's Jared"

"Are he and Melanie dating?" she then asks softly. I should have known she would fall into his charms.

"No they aren't" I answer flatly.

"But she likes him. I can tell" So she isn't asking for herself. This is good.

"Everyone but him can tell"

"I figured as much. She needs to make it clear to him her feelings if she wants anything to happen" So right you are.

"You don't know Mel. She turns to jelly around him"

"I definitely know that feeling" she says from experience.

"What about you?" I ask her. She probably has a boyfriend already. All the pretty ones do.

"What about me?" she asks her eyebrows crinkling.

"Come on. A pretty girl like you has to have a boyfriend" I tell her. Her cheeks color a little and I smirk.

"Nope" is all she says.

"Really?" I asked truly surprised.

"It's not that surprising. I am just not looking for that right now. I'm only fifteen i have the rest of my life to worry about love" Oh, great.

"Spoken by someone who is far beyond her years" she laughs lightly and i cant help but join her.

"Since we were never eally properly introduced I'm Ian... Ian O'Shea," I finally said.

"Wanderer Everett," she replied giving be a dazzling, and genuine, smile. "Don't even ask about the name. It's a long story. I might tell you some other time if you ever feel like being bored to tears." I laughed.

"I will take you up on that offer"

We ended up talking to each other for the entire period, totally ignoring what Mrs. Oliver was saying. It was mostly about totally random stuff but it was nice.

"Hey... what do you have for last period?" she asks me.

"Trigonometry" I said. She looked a little disappointed. "You?"

"P.E. so much fun" she says sarcastically.

I internally groaned. "I have it sixth"

"Darn," she muttered.

I was disappointed too, but I couldn't help from feeling elated. She liked me. I'm not saying that she like liked me, or that she has the same infatuation over me as I had with her, but she enjoyed my company apparently. That was a good sign.

"You've got the weirdest grin on your face, "she told me. I laughed.

Then the bell rang. Stupid bell...

Wanderer and I scribbled down our homework, and we walked out of class together.

She seemed sorry to go, and I was devastated to see her leave, but I made her promise that she'd have lunch at our table tomorrow. She agreed - laughing in that musical way she does. She walked away smiling.

I think I'm really going to enjoy seventh period science this year.