Ice Cold

Chapter Twenty

          Connor gave me a smile, with dimples and two perfect rows of white teeth, before Mrs. Henson walked in. She gave us all a new lecture that I didn't pay attention to, once again. I was too busy thinking about Connor. I would have to ask him why he wanted to be partners later.

          When the bell rang, Jade and I walked back to our lockers to get our English 12 text books. "So when did you and Connor Pierce get so close?" Jade asked.

          "We aren't," I said.

          "Yes you are, you two didn't act like strangers today," Jade said.

          "Well, he stopped by once after the incident with Hannah to make sure I was okay," I said, giving her part of the truth and coming up with the other half of the story.

          "What happened? Did you guys talk for a while?" Jade asked, waiting details.

          "We talked for a couple hours," I said, coming up with a time.

          "Did he kiss you?" She asked and I looked down, getting ready to lie to her once again, until she gasped, "you guys did, didn't you?" Jade exclaimed the question.

          "No," I said and Jade's smile grew.

          "Don't lie to me, Lex, I can tell when you're lying," she said and gave me a pouty face, "dang it, Lex, you get all the boys," she said and then smiled again.

          "Fine, yes, but you cannot tell anybody," I said, "and no I don't," I said, acknowledging her last statement.

          "Trust me, I won't," she said, crossing her heart.

          I nodded and then felt someone beside me. I looked up to see Connor. He glanced down at me and then back forwards. Connor towered over almost everyone here except for Hayden and a few basketball and football players. I was barely an inch above his shoulder. Jade smiled at me when she saw him walking beside me and I rolled my eyes.

          When we got into the classroom we took our seats as everybody seemed to be anxious, practically bouncing in their chairs. At least, I saw coming from the girls in the class. When Mr. James walked in he got straight to business.

          "I want a five-page paper, along with a presentation, about the lives of your favorite authors. The only difference is you will be picking a partner to do this assignment with and it is due next Wednesday," Mr. James informed and then paused, "you may pick your partners now," he said and the classroom erupted into havoc.

          I heard about six girls say they wanted Parker, five girls say they wanted Chase, and about eight that said they wanted Connor as their partner. There were a few other names mixed in but the new students were the majority of the preferences. The boys of the class sat in their chairs and didn't say a word.

          The girls who called out Connor's, Parker's, and Chase's name rushed up to them. All three of them looked shocked and prepared to fight for their lives. Parker was sitting in his desk with the girls in a circle around him, tapping his shoulder and pulling at his sleeve or messing with his hair. The same thing was going on with Chase and Connor.

          Chase was staring up at the girls in a daze while Parker was presenting himself as calm but you could tell he was on edge. Connor looked more annoyed than shocked. They all began pushing girl's hands away and trying to get out of the circles that were made around them. I noticed Jade sitting in the desk beside me, looking at all the girls in shock as well.