Changing My Ways For You

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Grace’s POV
           I ran through the school parking lot as fast as I could. I had slept in this morning so I looked a mess. I was going to be late if I didn’t find it in me to run faster. When I finally reached my locker, I grabbed my books and was off again, this time in the direction of my homeroom. I spun around the corner and wham! Out of nowhere I run straight into some guy. The guy I ran into didn’t even seem to register the fact we had collided, much less I was now sprawled on the floor, my books and papers scattered all around me. I bit my lip, trying my hardest not to cry, as I knelt on the floor, picking up what I’d dropped as people stepped on and around me.
       

    People were just so inconsiderate. They didn’t even realize I was there, and just stepped on all my books and papers. Great, I thought as a big, brown boot came down on my history paper. Doctor Mendolin will love the shoe print effect on my research paper. I sighed, reaching out to grab the last of my papers. I saw a pair of Nike tennis shoes heading straight for me. I hoped they wouldn’t trample more of my papers. Instead, they stopped right in front of me. The guy wearing them bent down so that now we were eye-to-eye.
        

   “I think these are yours,” he said gently, holding out a book and some papers, a small smile playing on the corners of my his lips.

           “Uh, th-thanks,” I stuttered, taking my things from him.

           He stood up, offering me his hand. Still slightly shocked he had helped me, I took it and felt him pull me to my feet. He smiled, but didn’t let go of my hand. His hand was rough, but warm. Strangely comforting, actually. He just stood there, looking into my eyes. Some distant part of my brain was telling myself to move, to speak, to blink, just do something, anything. But I couldn’t remember how to do any of those things. I stared into his crystal blue eyes, I felt myself getting pulled in to him, and his deceiving ways. He looked familiar, but I didn’t know a lot about him. He looked like that type, though. The type to love and leave you. You didn’t have to tell me that, I just knew by looking at him.

           This realization snapped me out of it.

           Because if I got pulled in, that would mean getting hurt. And I didn’t need that, not now, not ever. I was so cautious and cynical when it came to love, but I didn’t care. I was just trying to make my life easier with out it.

           I shook my head, and quickly pulled my hand out of his. An indistinguishable look-was it hurt?-clouded his eyes for a second, but he covered it quickly and was smiling at me again.

           “I’m Austin,” he said. I opened my mouth to tell him my name, but shut it just as quickly. Him knowing who I was was just me getting one step closer to a broken heart. I’ll admit it. I’m cynical when it comes to love. But I’m a logical person.  You hear about so many people being torn apart by love. My solution to the problem? Stay away from love. And that includes guys. Period. No buts. No exceptions.

           The late bell sounded.

           “And I’m late.” I turned on my heels and went to class, leaving Austin standing in the middle of the hallway, his jaw on the floor.

           The day drug on and on. I just couldn’t get Austin off my mind. I was so confused and frustrated with myself. One part of me was saying, ‘Why weren’t you nicer to him when he helped you? He really does like you!’ The other, more rational part, was saying, ‘You silly girl! Stay away from him!’