Her Beautiful Innocence

20 | ᴊᴀᴄᴋᴇᴛ

I shifted my eyes from him downwards, seeing the eye I drew. One with long eyelashes, it was shaped as if the person was happy, smiling. I analyzed Grayson's expression again and witnessed something I thought I'd never see.   

A smile. It wasn't a big one, not even near big, but it still was one. Even if it was just the corner of his mouth, I savored the moment and took a photo of him with my mind. It wasn't a smirk, sneer or scowl, but a genuine smile. 

When he saw me staring at him, he ran his hand through his brown, soft-looking hair and sat down disinterestedly. He closed his eyes and rested against the back of the chair, how I was settled before he came in. 

Before he'd open them again and catch me drooling over him, I quickly turned my head, instead staring at the little drawing I made. An unintended smile overtaking my facial features and an unknown feeling passing through my abdomen. A fulfilled sensation. As if I was joyful because I put a smile on his face, even if it were just for a millisecond. 

With everything that has been going on, he did appear more grave than he already did. Which shouldn't be like that, everybody needs to laugh a few times a day at least.

Another person entered the room, and this time I did look up. Ms. Hamynton reached her bureau and immediately began the lesson after she indicated for us to open our books at the page where we left off.  

-

These 50 minutes of Ms. Hamynton blabbering on about stuff I didn't even catch up on didn't pass by all too quickly. I noted everything down that was written on the board without even realising what I was writing. It was as if everywhere he was, I could feel him. His presence, it was distracting and kept me from concentrating on the teacher. 

I packed everything up and left the room, him still in his seat, doing it on his own tempo. I put some stuff in my locker and shivered when a breeze of cold air brushed passed me. I turned around and saw the double doors open. 

Oh no, did I forget my jumper at home? Yes, yes I did. I clasped my arms close to my chest, my hands wrapping around my torso. I didn't think it'd be cold today, I mean the sun is shining. 

"Hey, Sophia," I heard a voice call out. It was a masculine voice, a lively tone to it. Kyle jogged up to me and smiled as a greeting. The sudden energy he threw at me made me raise my brows a bit and laugh. He was being way more dynamic than the boys behind him, all walking toward me as well in a slower pace. 

I made eye contact with Anderson, who didn't show much emotion, but his face somewhat softened as he observed me. Next was Jacob, he was smirking in Grayson's way.

"You headin' outside?" Kyle asked me as he saw my body facing the open double doors that let you exit the school building. 

I nodded. He studied me over and sent me a look that literally spelled out 'are you serious?' 

"You'll freeze if you go outside like that," commented Jacob, and Grayson instantly glanced over. He, for the first time I saw it, looked at my outfit. He sent Jacob a silent but deadly glare, Jacob's sneer grew.  

Kyle cleared his throat softly, unexpectedly being nervous and sympathetic. "You can lent my jacket?" he recommend, putting his fingers around one sleeve as if to pull it off, but stopped and stared at me, waiting for my reply. 

"Oh, thank you, but you don't have to," I said, declining his offer. I didn't want him to be cold rather than me. 

"You sure? You're already shivering and we're inside." I couldn't suppress the quiver that let my whole body vibrate for a short moment. 

"Don't worry, I don't get chilly that easily," I insisted. I don't know why, but I shifted my gaze to Grayson, wanting to see his reaction to this. His jaw was ticking and his hands in his pockets. He shook his head, a knowing expression playing on his face.

He finally met my eyes and pulled off his jacket instead. He made it look like he did it reluctantly but also rather wanting me to wear his jacket than Kyle's, which didn't make any sense, right? 

I eyed the material in his hand dubiously, was he giving me this? Was Grayson Carter giving me his jacket? Before he'd pull back his hand, I timidly took it from his grip and held it in both my hands. 

I didn't know what to do with it, so I snuck a peek at Grayson. He was still looking at me with that signature hard stare of his. Although, just like Anderson, his whole body became less tense and he blinked, scanning my face with a questioning tinge in his features.   

As if he were deep in thought, his stare went from my blue eyes to my pink, flushed cheeks. Then he regarded my lips piercingly, though still with a hint of sadness in them.

Sadness? Why would he be sad? I shook my head internally. Josephine, of course! 

But something inside me told me different. It wasn't the same emotion he wore when she died, it was divergent. He looked at me as if he knew me, personally. A yearning begging in his eyes, like he was pleading to see that person again. It kind of broke my heart to look at him this way.

"Thank you," I said, it involuntarily coming out as a tender whisper. He broke out of his trance and came to reality again, searching my eyes. It would become too awkward and silent, so I smiled clumsily at him. 

When I felt someone else's penetrating eyes boring two holes into the side of my head, I turned my neck, coming to face with Anderson. His face was now concentrated and all affability had vanished. 

When Grayson fixated Anderson's gaze, it appeared as if a powerful connection between the two existed. I only witnessed it, but I was certain they felt it. Did they just do some telepathic magic with each other? Oh my God, am I even hearing myself right now? I really am turning crazy...

While the two were regarding me with piercing stares, Jacob didn't even notice what was going on, his mind was somewhere else. Kyle, on the other hand, did behold the little exchange they had, but he avoided my eyes.

I shuffled on my feet and that made them both turn to me again. I didn't know what else to say or do, so I just did what I do best; apologise and thank people. "Uh... sorry, I need to go now," I mumbled, hardly perceptible. "But thank you...for the jacket."

I didn't wait to see their reactions and just marched right away through the double doors. When I put my first foot down on the stone, hard ground, I inhaled deeply, the fresh air entering my lungs. I temporarily shut my eyes and thought about what had just played out before me.

Nothing. That's what happened, nothing. I guess boys this age really are strange, maybe it's puberty, I chuckled to myself and shook my head. 

I let out a long breath, pulled on the his black, leather jacket, and I only then noticed that his last name was imprinted on the back. I was actually wearing Carter's jacket. I smiled almost triumphantly and started walking toward the bleachers, where I saw Evie and Bella sit. 

I wonder how they'd proceed...

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A/N: This is a filler chapter, sorry!

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