Chapter 89: Kisses in the Hallway

~“I loved you more than you’ll ever know. A part of me died when I let you go.” —Lifehouse.~

Chapter Theme Song: “Blind” by Lifehouse.

HARMONY

“Okay, have a nice day, guys,” Mr. Blake calls out as we step out of his car.

Blaze doesn’t bother to respond, his aloofness on full display.

“Thanks for the ride, Mr. Xander.” I offer him a polite smile, and he nods in return.

“Of course, dear. I’ll see you kids later.” He grins, starting his engine and backing out of the parking lot.

I quicken my pace to keep up with Blaze, who’s striding ahead with his backpack slung over his shoulder.

He’s dressed simply in a blue T-shirt and gray shorts. His hair is a mess, and I know from watching him this morning that he does try to comb it. But he has this habit of running his hand through it as soon as it’s neat.

“Blaze, slow down.” I catch up to him and frown. “Why are you in such a hurry?”

Usually, he’s the one trying to keep up with my fast pace. How the tables have turned.

“To put some distance between me and him,” he grumbles.

“You’ve been upset with him since this morning. What happened?” I adjust the straps of my backpack on my shoulders, looking up at him.

“Did you ever think that my dad might have feelings for your mom?” he asks as we head towards our English class.

I furrow my brows in confusion. “Well...yeah, he does. They seem to get along well.”

“No, not like that. I mean, like he might be in love with her or something.

“I’m no expert on feelings, but I’ve seen my dad look at women he liked before. He looks at your mom the same way.”

I chew on my lip, thinking. “Um, I don’t think he likes her that way. He’s probably just being nice. Besides, my mom is still hung up on my dad.”

Blaze stops and turns to me. “You know the saying, ‘out of sight, out of mind?’”

I nod. “Yeah...”

“Well, sometimes when a woman doesn’t see the man she loves anymore and a new man comes along, she might latch onto him. Especially if he’s helping her heal.”

He has a point; that does sound plausible. And my mom does seem to trust Mr. Blake a lot.

I sigh. “Mm...you might be right. But I don’t think they like each other that way...”

I’m trying to convince myself more than him.

“Yeah, and that’s why she left her daughter at his house even though she’s usually so strict. I think they talk a lot, and something’s going on, Harmony.”

Considering how comfortable Mr. Blake was with me being around Blaze yesterday, I don’t think he’d consider dating my mom, knowing it would break us up.

“I don’t know. Maybe they just have a lot in common and feel like they can confide in each other. But my mom loves my dad, and I doubt she would ever…”

My voice trails off as I spot a group of girls at the end of the hall.

They’re the same girls who were making nasty comments about me at the concert last week. They’re all giving me dirty looks and whispering to each other.

I swallow hard, and Blaze frowns. “What?”

“Those girls over there—”

He starts to turn his head to look, but I grab his face and turn it back towards me. “Blaze, don’t look right away.” I laugh.

He chuckles. “I don’t give a shit.”

I let go of him, feeling awkward under their piercing stares. It’s so uncomfortable.

“What are they doing?” he asks.

I sigh. “They’re giving me dirty looks and I can tell they’re talking about me.”

Blaze shrugs. “Who cares? They’re just jealous because you’re beautiful. If they have to talk bad about someone else, it means they’re insecure.”

“I think they hate that we’re together.”

This time, Blaze looks over at the group, and I don’t stop him. After scanning the five girls who are now waving flirtatiously at him, he turns back to me.

“Oh, Jessica and her friends.”

“You know them?” I ask.

He shrugs. “Just the one with the purple hair. I heard she’s slept with half the guys at Jaxton.”

I gasp. “Really?”

He nods. “Yep, are they still looking?”

I sneak a quick glance at them, trying not to let them see that their hateful stares are getting to me. “Yeah...they are.”

“Okay, let’s give them something to look at then.”

A smirk spreads across Blaze’s face, and before I can ask what he means, he closes the gap between us and wraps his arms around me.

My face turns red as I look up at him. “What are you doing?”

“What does it look like?” He pulls me closer until our bodies are pressed together. “I’m giving them a show.”

He leans down and kisses me. His lips are soft and warm, and I rest my hands on his hips as he deepens the kiss.

His hands move down to grip my butt, and I jump, surprised. He chuckles and pulls away. I have to bite my lip to hold back a moan. I want more.

He smiles at my flushed face. “Are they still there?”

I sneak a peek and see the girls storming off. I can’t help but smile. “They’re gone.”

“Good riddance,” he says, grinning back at me before leaning in to kiss me again.

“Whoa! Get a room, you two!” James’ voice interrupts us, and we break apart to see him dancing his way over. “I like what I see. I really do.”

I can’t help but laugh softly.

April is trailing behind him, a smile on her face as she approaches.

“Wow. You two are really going for it, huh?” She crosses her arms. “Kissing in the hallway and everything. I need a relationship like this.”

“Baby, I can give you all that and more,” James coos, dropping to one knee in a mock proposal.

April steps back, looking uncomfortable. “James, get up.”

“Marry me, April,” he says, spreading his arms wide. Blaze chuckles and pulls his friend up by the collar.

“Quit being a pain in the ass. Don’t you have class?”

“Yeah, but I can’t deal with Mr. Kristopher and his runny nose this morning, so I’m skipping. Do you guys have class?”

“Yeah, English,” I answer, and James frowns.

“Damn, I was hoping we could go do karaoke or something.”

“The weekend just ended, and you’re already trying to escape Homewood.” April rolls her eyes. “Harmony, how was your weekend, sweetie?”

~I went home, then to Blaze’s house where we fought, made out, and slept together.~

“Um, I went home, then my mom and I had dinner...” I glance awkwardly at Blaze, and he scratches his neck, looking just as uncomfortable before changing the subject.

“So, why were you and James coming from the same direction, cousin dear?”

April doesn’t look guilty as she shrugs. “I saw him in the hallway.”

Blaze smirks. “Mm. Sure.”

Her eyes widen a bit, and she crosses her arms. “What do you mean ‘mm, sure?’”

He shrugs. “Nothing. I didn’t mean anything...”

James looks guilty as he runs a hand through his hair, and I remember that they slept together last year.

~Does Blaze know something?~

“Anyway, guys, I’m late for class,” I interrupt.

Blaze frowns. “I was hoping you’d forget we have class so we could spend the day in your dorm room.”

“Me? Forget we have class? I need my degree, Blaze, and so do you. Let’s go. See you, James. Bye, April.” I grab Blaze’s arm and pull him toward our English class.

THIRD PERSON

April watches Harmony and Blaze walk away, shaking her head with a smile. She’s proud of how far her cousin has come, and she’s glad to see him opening up to someone without any ulterior motives.

She’s proud of him.

James tries to put his arm around her, but she steps away, glaring at him. “James, don’t.”

He frowns, shoving his hands in his pockets. “Blaze and Harmony are gone now, so you can drop the act.”

She raises an eyebrow. “What act?”

He whines like a spoiled child, and April can’t help but find it a little cute. She’d never admit that, though.

“I know you want me, April, stop playing.”

“James, don’t take what happened last year at that party seriously. We were just drunk.”

For once, James isn’t joking around as he sighs. “Is that how you feel? Because I remember you being sober enough to know what we were doing.”

Her cheeks turn bright red, and he stares at her with the same confidence Blaze has.

She quickly looks away. “I have class, see you around,” she mutters, turning and leaving quickly.

***

“After you...” Blaze smiles at Harmony as he holds open the glass door to the lecture hall.

She grins back. “Thank you, gentleman.”

He chuckles as she steps in, then follows her, closing the door behind him.

Maddie is standing in the corner in front of the lecture hall, a black hood covering her head. She’s glaring darkly and holding a black bottle in her hand.

She starts to move toward the class when someone grabs her hand tightly.

“Ow!” she hisses, but relaxes when she sees it’s just her brother.

“What are you doing here, Maddie? You’re not supposed to be at school.” Malcolm narrows his eyes at his defiant sister.

She swallows and tries to hide the bottle behind her, but he notices and grabs her wrist. “What’s that?”

“No, Mal,” she whines, trying to pull away, but Malcolm manages to take the bottle from her.

She covers her eyes with her hands while he reads the label, his brows furrowing.

“Strong acid?” His eyes widen, and he looks at her in shock. “What are you doing with a bottle of acid, Maddie?”

She frowns and looks away. “Nothing. Mind your own business.”

“Tell me!”

“It’s for my chemistry project,” she snaps. “Give it back!”

“You’re not supposed to be at school. The doctor said you should stay away from Homewood, so why are you here—with a bottle of acid, no less?”

“I told you, it’s for a project. Are you deaf, Mal?”

Malcolm isn’t convinced as he glares at her, then it hits him. “Are you planning to hurt someone with this? Someone like Blaze?”

She folds her arms over her chest. “Why would I hurt Blaze? I wouldn’t. I love him too much.”

“Then who? Who are you planning to hurt?!” Malcolm demands, his voice echoing in the room.

She drops her gaze to the floor, and Malcolm runs his fingers through his hair in frustration. “Maddie, tell me!”

“That bitch!” she screams. “Harmony fucking Skye! I want to hurt her so bad Blaze won’t even look at her anymore!

“I’ll mess up her face so bad, she’ll want to kill herself when she sees how ugly she’s become. Blaze will be mine and only mine!”

“Shit!” Malcolm covers his mouth with his hand, her words confirming his worst fears. She’s lost it. He didn’t want to believe it, but now he has no other choice.

“Let’s go, I’m calling Mom. You do realize you’re never setting foot in this school again, right? You’ve blown your chance.”

He grabs her arm, and she tries to pull away, but he tightens his grip until she squeals. “Stop holding me like this!”

“I’m calling Mom right now. You’re losing it, Maddie!”

He drags her away from the scene while she slaps at his wrist, demanding him to let her go, but Malcolm knows better now.