Skye

A couple of days passed with Ethan nowhere in sight. The more I thought about what I said to him the more I hated myself. Aunt Sophie noted -a little too nicely- that I was a bit harsh on him. That was her gentle way of saying I did a really bad thing. When I asked Timothy about him, he told me that Ethan would usually go AWOL for some time and then show up after a few days.

I took it as a good sign. That was good, right? It meant he didn't drop out of school because something I've said. There was still hope. As my frustration build up I wished he would just show up and let me apologize to him and get over with this. I wanted to restore my inner peace. I needed to restore my inner peace. I hated this guilt-eating-thingy.

By now, I have learned where all my classes were. There were moments where I might get a little confused at first, until I remembered which way I should go. Abby was my everyday lunchtime buddy now. Whoever finished with their classes first would wait for the other one. We didn't set an actual rule for that, but somehow it was what we've been doing. She talked a lot about her house and big family. They all seemed sweet and funny. I met her sister the other day when she came to pick her up, she was really nice.

Alert! Day three, English class, he was there.

Ethan

I waited. I sat at my desk and waited. With every passing minute my outrage and frustration increased. I didn't have a plan on how to approach her. My sole focus orbited around just being here. As deeply as it bothered me I felt like I needed to explain my actions, if not somehow apologize. That annoying feeling that I should say 'I'm sorry' bugged me. Maybe I wouldn't use those words specifically.

Hearing others walk in and take their places had me anticipating her arrival at any minute. I kept an ear on the entrance, listening to what seemed like the last person walking in.

Maybe she wasn't coming today.

Or maybe she asked to change her classes.

Or that she walked in, saw me -the jerk- and just turned around and left.

My mood was getting darker with every thought, and with every passing minute, the reason that made me attend today seemed to get smaller and more ridiculous.

"Um... hi," said a soft voice close to me. The Floral and sweet fruit smell filled my lungs.

"Hi..." I said in a strict voice and that was all I said.

I didn't realize that my body stiffened and my jaw clenched tightly until she said, "Relax! I moved my bag to under the table." Then she exclaimed with a huff, "God! You have a guy tripping over your bag once and he holds it against you. Sheesh!"

I didn't know if she was joking or not. I hadn't figured out her vocal expression yet. Denying words toward her reference to my current state started to form in my head and come out of my mouth. It was the small giggle that stopped me, she was joking. Only then I eased a little. My shoulders relaxed a little and jaw lightened the pressure. I must have looked stiff as a board. I felt that one side of my mouth twitching.

Listening to the regular sounds around me, desks and chairs being pulled and pushed, non-stop loud and noisy chatter, and heavy bags loaded with books dropping on the floor with familiar thuds.

And there was the constant tap... tap... tap that caught my attention. 'New girl' was taping her pen to the table repeatedly. It was one of the nervous tics that people unconsciously did when they were around me and I started to tense up.

"Sit elsewhere if you don't want to sit here!" There was a hidden accusation in my words. It was more like an order. Actually, I barked at her. For some reason, it infuriated me. Just a minute ago she cracked a joke about me being uptight and I idiotically took that as a good sign. Apparently, I wasn't only blind I was a fool too.

"Hey!" she exclaimed, "You change your place if you don't want to sit here, I am comfortable where I am."

I have to admit-for the second time-I was caught off guard.

"And I'm sorry that I called you a jerk," she mumbled in a lower tune.

"What?" I heard her perfectly the first time but I wanted to hear it again.

She cleared her throat and repeated in a perfectly clear voice, pressing every word a little bit, "I said, I am sorry that I called you a jerk."

I was about to say something when she continued, "Even though you were and totally deserved it, however, I shouldn't have talked to you like that and for that I am sorry."

Again, she took me by surprise. Ironically, I was 'literally' speechless. I actually opened my mouth and closed it wordlessly a couple of times.

Usually, people let my dark moods pass without judgment since I was blind. Even in my worst moments -which happened a lot, where I went from a jerk -as she has addressed me- to a total 'A' followed by a double 'S'. They always made excuses for me and allow my rudeness slide. That only added to my rage and frustration and I became this obnoxious person , yet they still let it go.

"Settle down..." Mrs. Morgan's voice bounced off the walls.

I was still in the haze of the honest statement that this girl threw in my face that I didn't hear Mrs. Morgan when she came in and she was never one of those who entered silently.

"Everyone to their seats," raising her voice.

Scratches and screeches of desks and chairs being moved along with the sounds of footsteps scattered here and there.

I took advantage of the noises surrounding me and noted, "You have a unique way of apologizing."

"Well, you better get used to it." She announced. "I call it as I see it."

I don't know how but I knew she was smiling when she spoke. I could hear the smile in her voice and I couldn't even start to describe how... refreshing that was.

Usually talking to me sounded of sympathy, hesitation, remorse, alarm and discomfort among other stuff that shouldn't be in a regular conversation. That was what I heard when people talked to me. They would try to mask it up but they never realized how obvious it sounded. Even worse when I heard it in my parent's voices.

"Skye dear," I heard Mrs. Morgan close to us. Skye shuffled next to me. "How are you catching up with your classes?"

"Good, still working on them, copying all the notes Timothy gave me."

I could almost imagine Timothy's face turning red especially when one of the guys yelled, "Good job, Timmy!" Some kids chuckled.

Mrs. Morgan ignored them and encouraged, "Keep up the good work."

There was the regular mumble from the other students. Mrs. Morgan carried on with her lesson shushing them every once in a while, but there was no sound from her. The only thing that told me she was still there was when I caught a breath of her perfume.

Skye

Aaaah! It felt good to apologize. Even though my mouth didn't exactly stop at sorry, but to have this weight being lifted off my chest was the best feeling in the world. I think Ethan was trying to push me away when he told me to change my place. Well, 'stubborn', was my middle name, sometimes even my first and last. Plus, I liked where I sat.

I really wanted to get know to him, there was something pulling me to him. Ethan radiated confidence. I don't know why, but I got this feeling that he was more than what he was showing with the bit of conversation we exchanged. Even though we never met before, but I knew that there was something different about him.

I looked at his side profile for a moment then turned away quickly when I noticed that my gaze lingered longer than it should have. He had deep dark brown hair that reached to the tip of his black shades. Strong jawline. Proud straight nose and awesome lips. The bottom one was just a little bit fuller than the upper lip. I took another peek just as his mouth pressed into a thin line. He seemed miles away and I wondered what was he thinking of. And why so gloomy?

I was glad that we mostly had the same classes -except for two- and I was in the seat next to him in every single one. It wasn't on purpose, I swear, but those were the only seats available. Evidently, I wasn't the only one he tried to send away.

The bell rang announcing lunch break.

In an attempt to avoid the crowd, I waited for the others to start leaving. When the last students made it out -only then I started to collect my stuff.

Ethan didn't move. The inner voice told me to mind my own business.

"Aren't you coming? It's lunch break." Inner voice zero, mouth one. Brain, not included at all.

His head turned a little in my direction.

Couldn't back down now. He was about to refuse, so I said quickly "You do eat, don't you?"

He opened his mouth and closed it again at my words.

"I'll take that as a yes, let's go." I chirped.

I took a few steps then came to a halt when he didn't move.

"I don't have lunch." He announced with a furrowed brow.

My shoulders shrugged. "Well, today you will!" What is wrong with me? Leave the guy alone. And to think I would stop at that, "Before you say anything let me remind you that I am new here and will need a good company."

"That won't be me." Ethan scoffed sarcastically, "In case you haven't noticed."

To think that I would stop trying and just take the guy's word for it. "Nonsense! We're already classmates most of the time- why don't we add lunch to the mix," I said the words as soon as my mind came up with the perfect excuse.

He didn't budge.

"Come oooon!" Wow! I sounded like a spoiled brat, but I didn't care, "Let's go... Let's go... Let's go... pa-w-eeeease!" Pathetic! I know! Throwing in my last card, "You won't let a girl go hungry, will you?"

The debate was clear in the way he pressed his lips and lightly tapped his fingers on the desk. Ethan growled and moved slowly dragging his feet like he had his own law of gravity. Only then did I notice how tall and broad shoulder he was.

"Yippee!" I cheered.

I don't usually do that. Well, not with people I've just met anyway. I refused to admit to myself that I've acted crazy because I was strongly drawn to him, so I just hanged my actions on the 'getting to know your classmate' hanger and left it at that. Inner voice and I would have a serious talk later.

If goofing around would wipe away that dark mood he was always in then so be it, -it came to me naturally anyway-. Even if his jaw was set so tightly that his teeth were probably getting shorter from all the grinding, and that he might just strangle me with his bare hands. Thank god for witnesses.

Without the second thought, I linked our arms. All of Ethan came to a sudden halt. His body, his breathing, maybe even his pulse. A frozen status that sent alarming electricity to every nerve in my body. The muscles under my fingers hardened and his whole body tensed to the point of rigidness. His head turned slowly but dangerously in my direction that I saw my reflection on his black shades. Wide eyes and pale.

"What the hell you think you are doing?" his voice was low.

There was no way for me to miss the rage in his words. Alarmed by the sudden change I almost let go of his arm and made a run for it.

"I don't need your help and I know where the cafeteria is!" A vain pulsed visibly in his neck.

RUN! Inner voice screeched. I didn't listen to my inner voice the first two-hundred times, why would I start now. I stood my ground despite the near heart attack condition and all. My mouth ran so dry that if I so much as coughed dust might come out. Swallowing hard I weaponized myself with my goofy mode.

"Let's make things clear," I started, loving the confidence that I had in my voice, but lacked in my knees, "First of all we are not going to the cafeteria, it's crowded and noisy." That got him confused. That's good, confused is better than angry.

More confidence poured in, "Second, I'm not your GPS so don't expect to have me saying", my voice turned into a robotic-monotone, "In two-hundred meters turn right."

Ethan relax a little but not enough yet his mouth twitched a little at my joke.

That only made me wonder how would he look when he fully smile. Focus girl! Still having some fight left in me I kept going, "Now, unless you are worried about being kidnapped, let me ease your fear. I drive a Mini Cooper and there is no way you will fit in the trunk."

The tension slowly left his face and the rigged state eased. Progress!

Ethan let me lead him to a quieter place.

Abby was waiting for me in the hallway. "Hey, you are finally out. Ready to..." her voice trailed off when she saw Ethan and her eyes widened in a funny way. "I... I'm..." that was all she came with.

Ethan started to tense again so I grabbed her shoulder with my free hand in an attempt to square her focus on me instead of her eyes going back and forth between us, "We'll sit outside while you grab your lunch and join us."

She nodded, span around and left.

Ethan started to pull away, "Let's cut to the chase. I don't need your pity or for you to feel sorry for me," his mood changed drastically as he just flipped to dark and gloomy in a friction of a second.

What did just happened? Now I was confused. What did I do? I was no longer holding his arm. He was standing there, facing me, and the fury was unmistakable.

"Apparently you already have a lunch buddy so why don't you just go have lunch with your friend and get over with this charade? I don't need you!" He spoke through clinched teeth.

Understanding dawned on me. I took a deep breath refusing to leave, not now that my mood was matching his, "You think I pity you?" I snarled, "How is that even possible when you are being way too much of an ass for anyone to even feel sorry for you?"

I thought I saw a flinch, but probably imagined it, "And Abby is my friend and with any luck, she might become your friend too once you overcome your howling at the Moon phase," I took the opportunity of his shock and linked our arms again. My anger subsided and so did his, "Plus, I really want to be your friend but God, you can be such a douche!" That got him walking again.

We were heading to a few stairs and I noted slowing our pace, "Stairs!"

"I know", he barked at me but didn't pull away.

As I said before, no filters, "Douche bag..."

"Weirdo..." he bit.

"Drama queen," biting back.

"Its drama king", he corrected.

I made an annoying buzzing sound, "EEEEE! You lose!"

I really thought that he would push me over or something but instead, he relaxed. Just a tiny bit. Almost a sprinkle.

Ethan

This girl doesn't know when to quit. Neither was she shy calling me a douche bag -among other names of course-. Strangely none of that made me angry. Normally, others gave up talking to me after getting a taste of one of my foul moods. This... this was different.

Confusing different.

Weird different.

Almost sweet different.

Nothing I've known before.

We were out. Judging by the path we took I'd say the back side of school. I filled my lungs with freshly mowed grass infused air as I took a deep breath. There was a hint of the salty sea and the smell of her perfume. The sound of birds and far traffic surrounded me. It wasn't that hot unless we stayed in the sun, but the shade was cool.

"Let's sit." Her voice matched the surroundings, light and soft. No trace of the anger that was there a few minutes ago.

I waited for her to point out where and she caught my drift before it turned awkward.

"Down here, on the grass".

Before I could open my mouth she added, "It doesn't bite!"

There was a low crinkle of paper. "So, what would you like to eat? I have a peanut butter sandwich and a jelly sandwich, some grapes, crackers and strawberry yogurt."

"I am not hungry." I said more sharply than I intended to.

"I didn't ask if you were hungry or not," she said lightly to my shock. "My question was; you want that the peanut butter or the jelly or any of the other stuff?"

I frowned at the strange way she was handling her encounters with my ill-short-tempers, "You're weird."

"And you are a douche. We already did the introduction".

I flinched inwardly.

She carried on like nothing happened, "Back to the main subject, peanut butter or jelly?"

No, seriously, she was weird! I kept the frown and the silence.

She sighed, "Okay, fine. In front of you, half peanut butter on the left and half jelly on the right. You should start with jelly by the way, the sweetness might ease your bitter mood."

That almost cracked me up.

We sat in silence for a while. She hummed pleasant musical sounds while she ate. The branches swayed above me and the leaves rustled. Running my hand beside me over the short bristles. Then I kicked off my shoes feeling the grass on my feet too. It has been a long time since I did this and I breathed again. Peace washed over me for the first time in what seemed like many years.

"Normal people usually have the peanut butter and the jelly in one sandwich", I mocked finally.

"I know, but sometimes I prefer one over the other. It's hard to separate them once you mix them. I can always stack them up when I want both".

It seems like a lot of work over a sandwich yet somehow it sounded logical hearing it coming from her.

I didn't realize I had grabbed the sandwich she has put in front of me until I tasted the creamy, crunchy peanut butter. "Why don't you eat at the cafeteria?" I asked disturbing the stretching silence.

She made a small rushed 'em' sound for me to wait until she swallowed her bite. Then she cleared her throat.

Good! She's still here.

"Well, for starters, it's super crowded. Second, I'm not sure if it's the new kid policy or not but they stare at me. Not to say that some are not even shy to point at me and whisper. Do they do that with everyone or only with me?"

I swallowed the last bite just in time to answer, "Nope, only with you", I taunted.

"Hey!" She exclaimed in objection laughing.

It was a good change not being on the receiving end of her smart comebacks for once. Even better with the sound of her laugh. There was a pleasant ring to it.

A minute later she announced, "Abby is coming."

And my mood turned. Not that I hated this Abby girl. I don't even know her or remember if we had any classes together. I just hated the mere idea of being around people.

"Now, be nice," she pressed the last word and I heard her shuffle.

My body tensed as I fixed the shades on my face. The thought of standing up and leaving was tempting me and I was about execute when I felt her hand on mine.

"Don't you even think about it!" she warned.

"Or what?" I barked.

Her response came without hesitation, "I will kick you, again!"

I wanted to make her uncomfortable and ashamed that she would prefer if I left, "You'll kick a blind guy?"

Why won't she just leave me alone? I've just did something good, I kept her company until her friend came. I wanted to spare her the disappointment of realizing that I was not the type person she wanted to be friends with. Cause sooner or later I would be in one of my moods and end up saying something hurtful.

"I will, and with all my power that it will hurt until next year."

Her voice cut through my thoughts making them come to a sudden halt.

Skye

Oh my god! My mind screeched.

I have just threatened him. The twice my size, six foot plus guy. And where on earth did the, 'I will kick you, come from'. I say that to Matt when he would bug me, but not to Hulk here. If he was the one who would kick me that might send me to where I came from. Again with the no filters thing. I was so ashamed of myself that my face felt warm.

Oh well, It did get him to stay.

"Hey guys," Abby said shyly, "I brought juice for everyone."

"That's so sweet! Thank you! Here, sit," I patted the space next to me.

Ethan didn't say a thing. In fact, he kept a stern face the whole time. Abby glanced in his direction and hesitated for a minute but then she blabbed next to me. Handing me two cold bottles of juice and gave me one of her big smiles.

I asked, "Ethan, do you prefer apple or orange?"

"Nothing!" He cut short that the girl next to me flinched.

I tried again in an attempt to ease the thickness that filled the air around us, "Actually it's orange and carrot juice," I tried my best to hide my disgust at the mention of the two things that shouldn't be put together in one bottle.

"Neither..." his voiced raised.

Abby said in a small voice, "I am sorry I didn't know what you would like so I just grab one of each. I have lemonade if you want to switch?"

The way the line between his eyebrows deepened told me that he was about to blow. So I instantly cleared my throat signaling him.

Ethan sucked in an angry breath and then let it out slowly. His voice was leveled, "I'll have the orange," he held out his hand, palm open.

I placed the cold drink right away. Ethan studied the bottle with his long fingers before twisting the cap. He lifted the bottle a little in Abby's direction, "Thank you," and gulped it down.

Abby's face lit up with a big smile, "You're welcome."

I smiled too. Not that I believed my threat to kick him had anything to do with what was happening here, but I was happy that at least he made an effort.

"Um... Ethan", He turned his face my way and tilted his head a little in my direction, "Do you mind opening our bottles too".

Abby and I have been twisting the caps of our juice bottles uselessly.

He only held out his hand for us to hand him the bottles, then twisted the caps effortlessly saying nothing.

"You guys just missed the start of a food fight in the cafeteria," Abby announced all of the sudden swallowing a quick sip of her lemonade, "Food was flying everywhere before Principle Campbell came and grabbed a few guys."

I laughed and reached for her hair, "Is that why you have a pieces of lettuce in your hair?"

Her dark eyes widened, "No way! I thought I got it all out," then she laughed, "Better lettuce than the chocolate pudding and tomato sauce stains on poor Mr. Campbell."

My eyes widened, "No way!"

Ooooh I'm so telling Aunt Sophie about this!

"Yes way, he slipped on the pudding and the sauce somehow landed on his shirt."

I felt sorry for the man. Falling in a public place was embarrassing. On the other hand, falling in a place full of teenagers was humiliating.

As the conversation went on, I tried to involve Ethan every once and a while. He would only answer when asked and even with that, I've got a maximum of three words per answer and that was for the questions that could have been full paragraphs. At least he was less rigid, I took that as a good sign.

Ethan didn't grumble when I held his arm on the way back to our next class through the sea of students.

"Thank you." I said sincerely, feeling appreciative.

I wasn't sure if he heard me, but then he slightly squeezed my hand between his arm and torso. It was the smallest gesture, almost none existent.

He heard me.

I smiled.

Students eyed us before moving out of our way as we walked to class. The whispers followed us and I started to get restless.

"Ignore them," Ethan said.

I looked up at him and his head was tilted in my direction.

"They will get bored eventually."

I hoped he was right.