I left the table a few minutes before one, not admitting to the slight sadness I felt when I had to move away from Thorn, after checking to make sure I had everything with me. While making my way down the unoccupied corridor, I finished the cookie I bought earlier and threw the brown paper bag into a recycling bin which the head of year insisted were installed to help with plastic waste at the end of last year.
Thankfully, the school seemed to pay attention to her and actually install something useful for once.
Anyway, once I approached the stairs leading up to the first floor, I heard quiet sniffles coming from inside a classroom. Confused as to why it sounded like someone was crying, I peeped through the window of the old science room and instantly felt anger spike at my heart. James was in there with a younger looking boy, tear-stains etched onto his chubby cheeks and red puffiness around his eyes as he backed up against an old desk. I only watched for a moment longer before springing into action, swerving around the corner and practically kicking the door open.
"James, stop it." My voice was assertive, ordering him to stop whatever mind games he was playing, but of course he didn't listen.
The sandy haired boy looked over his shoulder to see me, and I tilted my head to the side in response, signalling him to get out of here.
"Leave River." James' spoke distantly, almost as if he was a narrater of an old novel written hundreds of years ago. His eyes only met mine after almost a minute of silence, but the usual playfulness had vanished and was now replaced with something close to sadness.
The boy hurriedly ran past me, stopping only for a split second to give me a gratitude filled smile, and then he was out the door and down the hallway before another word could be spoken between us.
"What were you going to do to him James? Were you gonna beat him up too? He was a kid, maybe in year nine? Are you really that crazy?" Words left my mouth at the speed of bullets. I couldn't control them. They just shot out at an animalistic pace. "Why don't you fight the ones who can stand up for themselves? You always target people who feel alone or are physically weak. Like me. I'm weak, both mentally and physically, but that doesn't matter to you. You think hurting people is fun, right? You would enjoy beating the living shit out of me, wouldn't you."
I wanted to stop, but I couldn't. It was like all the anger I had bottled up inside just exploded, and it happened to be in front of him.
I saw him flinch at my words, and he looked down at the floor like a child accused of stealing the last cookie.
"Don't try and act innocent. You know what you did." I paused, taking a step closer to him.
"What do you have to say? Or can you not even do that."
He instantly locked our gaze, and for the first time ever, I saw his grey-brown orbs rimmed with tears.
A pang of fear knocked the air from my chest, as seeing someone so horribly violent look so frightened and innocent scared me.
I could hear his soft, uneven breaths as he gasped for them desperately between his peachy lips, and then a few whimpers before he let out a choked couple of words. "'M sorry, River. I'm sorry."
That was all he managed to say before breaking down, sobs erupting from his throat and tears flooding like water in a stream.
I rushed forward when his knees buckled beneath him, wrapping my arms around his body and gently sitting down on the cracked, dusty floor, taking him with me.
He wrapped his hands in the aqua material, buried his head into my chest, and let the feeling engulf him.
I wasn't sure what to do. I never planned for something like this to happen, and especially not on a day like this. So I decided to care for him just as I would anyone else.
I began to absentmindedly thread my fingers through his messy brown locks, and a small smile formed on my lips when I smelt the sugary scented shampoo.
Huh, I guess that even someone like him can have a soft spot for sweet things.
Sitting on the floor of the old, dark science room wasn't how I expected to spend the rest of my lunch break. Especially not with James Witner curled on my lap, crying and muttering a variety of apologies.
But like I've said before, life never plays out how you think it will.
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I never made it to the storage room, and I doubt I'll ever know who wanted to talk to me, but that was a sacrifice I had to make. As much as I hate James, I couldn't just leave him there. He was breaking, and I knew how much someone to hold meant when you were crumbling down to pieces.
A few days passed after that, and he didn't bother me again. I also noticed how he hadn't had the usual dickhead persona the past couple of days, and I wondered if that had anything to do with me.
However, as I walked into my form room in Thursday morning, my mind was taken off anything related to James.
Miss Reeves, my form tutor, was frantically rushing around with papers and pencils flying all around the classroom.
I seemed to be the first person inside, so as soon as I entered, she paused and straightened her dress while clearing her throat.
"Take a seat please River." She flashed a worried smile, and it appeared as if her usual calm demeanour had completely vanished.
How could she already be stressed out. It's only nine in the morning.
I nodded before making my way over to the back of the room and sitting down in the place I had been assigned earlier this year.
I'll never understand seating plans. Why not let people sit wherever and if they're really that bad, then move them.
After a minute or two, other students came piling into the room, acting as if the world would end when they had to split up from their friends. All I did was roll my eyes when Clayton and Kyle sat down either side of me.
They were basically your average douchebag who couldn't keep their dicks in their pants and hated anyone who didn't listen to what they said. Even though anything that left their mouths was complete and utter bullshit.
"So class, I have some interesting news to share with you all." Miss Reeves had finally calmed down a bit and she had taken a seat on the desk at the front the room.
She shuffled awkwardly, but still continued speaking. "So, on the 15th December, there will be a dance held in the sports hall to-"
And that was all she said before almost every girl in the class shot out of her chair, ran to her equally buzzing friends and began jumping around in circles, screaming 'OH MY GOD OH MY GOD AHHH'.
There was a moment where nothing happened, and the rest of us stayed in shock of how fast they could all move.
"Return to your seats! All of you!" Miss ordered, yet her voice was drowned out by the shrieks and squeals of the hyperactive pingpong balls.
However, as soon as Ash let out a sharp few words, the entire room fell into utter silence and the escapees returned to their seats.
"T-thank you Ash. Now, as I was saying, there will be a Winter Dance just before you break up for the holiday, and I have some letters about the details here." She reached over to the other side of her desk and picked up the heap of papers before starting to make her way around the room.
"There is a dress code meaning dresses and suits are preferable, but if you honestly can't get one in time, then smart trousers, shirts or skirts are acceptable. There will also be no alcohol tolerated and please, I'm begging you, do not have sex anywhere on the school premises." The class let out a variety of sniggers and remarks when someone suddenly blurted out a question.
"What if someone sneaks alcohol in?"
Half of the students in the room sent the poor kid death glares, but Miss just giggled softly. "As long as you aren't caught and no one throws up in the middle of the hall, I'm not going to tell. Don't tell anyone I said that though."
It's official, she's the best form tutor you can get.
She may be a little awkward at times, but she's basically just a teenager in disguise.
"Now, any questions?"
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The weeks were flying by quicker than I cared to count, and the tension hanging between me, Ash and Thorn only grew.
After the whole jacket incident, there was a strange aura around Thorn, and we both started to act differently. Not necessarily a bad different, but... more touchy.
Ash had been the complete opposite.
The maths test had already messed with our minds, and then what happened with the two of them was the final straw.
He stayed away, didn't even look if I walked right past him.
It was like nothing ever happened.
And the worst thing?
I started thinking I made all of it up.
"Hey? You listening?" I suddenly realised that Cole and Alec were sat opposite the four of us, and all of them were watching me with eagle eyes.
"U-uh, yeah." I rubbed the back of my neck sheepishly, feeling slightly embarrassed that they caught me zoning out again.
"Okay, just you were talking to yourself." Lila shrugged and I swear my eyes nearly popped out of my head.
"I was what?"
"Yep, you were. On about jackets and kisses and something about someone ignoring you." Harry added, not bothering to look over at me.
"Anyway, as I was saying, would you four like to go ice skating on Saturday? It's nearing the end of November so we really should get doing some wintery things, and I know an outdoor arena that's only half an hour away." Cole nodded along to everything Alec was saying, and I could tell by their posture that the pair had become a lot closer since distancing themselves from Ash and James.
"That sounds great! Right guys?" Lila was the one to speak on behalf of all of us, and truly, ice skating wasn't my favourite thing. I'd never been good at it and always felt like a nuisance to the rest as they would have to take it in turns to hold my hand so I could at least try and not fall.
Otherwise I was clinging to the edge like a koala, and moving at around minus five miles per hour.
"Sounds good to me." Thorn piped up after being silent for a while, and Harry also said he would go too, so that meant all eyes were on me.
"Oh I'll pass, but you ca-"
"Nonsense! You're coming whether you like it or not."
Great.
"No really, I insist. You can all-"
Thorn pressed his index finger to my lips, which instantly silenced me, yet also sent my mind into overdrive.
Shit he just- stop it River.
Looking straight into his dark caramel eyes, I couldn't help but blush softly. He retracted his hand, but I didn't miss the slight smirk that graced his pink lips before he returned to his usual smiley self.
"You have to come! It won't be the same without you." I sighed at Thorns words, already aware that there was no way out of this, when he leaned closer and whispered something to me.
"Maybe we could spend some time together, just the two of us."
To say I nearly choked would be an understatement.
I nearly passed out and died.
"O-okay, I'll go."
For the rest of the conversation I didn't pay much attention. My thought were occupied with other things like what the hell he meant by 'just the two of us'.
Half of me hoped he was joking while the other messed up part thought he meant go make out behind a tree.
I would have come to the conclusion that it was purely innocent and he just wanted to spend some time with me, if he hadn't started tracing shapes onto my thigh.
Okay, do I just have thicc ass thighs or is it some other reason because it seems as if everyone here has an obsession with them.
I tensed up once he squeezed harder, and I couldn't help but feel slightly uncomfortable since we were sat in a hall with at least one hundred other people, right in the centre of the room and not the most inconspicuous group around.
"Thorn." My voice came out harsher than intended, yet still went unheard by the rest.
His eyes met mine for a moment before I tilted my head downwards, signalling for him to let go.
I saw panic flash across his features and he pulled his hand away, a rosey blush covering his cheeks.
Chuckling softly, I took his hand in mind to assure him I really didn't care, and we both shared a sweet smile.
"Hey lovebirds, pay attention would ya?"
The words forced us to separate and look away, embarrassed, yet the smile stayed on my lips, and I'm sure his did too.
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Chapter 15 already! I can't believe how much fun I'm having writing this.
What do you all think of James?
Also, do you prefer Ash or Thorn?
Thank you for reading!
- Storm ð¹