Chapter 14: The Airplane Boy
After Betsi skipped away in that happy and delusional way of hers, I decided to stay at the willow tree and watch the clouds while wallowing in a puddle of self-pity. Two weeks ago I was happy, I had a great relationship, and I was still a cheerleader. Now I have Carson's psychotic ex who's out to get me because apparently I'm a man-stealer, two guys who gives me nothing but headaches, and a blog about exactly how bitchy I am. How the hell did everything get so messed up?
I was watching a cloud when a paper airplane landed beside my head. I picked up the airplane and looked around, trying to locate its navigator. I saw a boy looking at me with an apologetic but shy smile. His dark black hair blowing in the air and his gaze avoiding mine when I walked towards him. Where have I seen him before?
"Is this your airplane?"
He stole a glance at me, then looked away quickly. "Yes," I waited for him to reach out and take it from me, but he offered me silence instead of a hand.
"Here.," I said, offering him the airplane. He took the airplane, but still managing to avoid touching my fingers.
"Thanks," He almost whispered. I started walking away when suddenly he said, "Um, are you okay?" I'll admit I was surprised that he said more than one word in a sentence, but I don't think I can handle explaining everything to someone without breaking down first.
I turned around, choosing my words very carefully. "I could be better, but thanks for asking," I responded, straining to sound genuine.
"If it helps, I think Diane may have a huge zit on her forehead."
I gave a small laugh, appreciating his effort.
"You know what they say, laughter is the best medicine." He told me with a cute little smile. But he still wouldn't look at me in the eyes. I realized that I still don't know his name yet.
"Hey, thanks for cheering me up, I'm Scarlett." I offered my hand and he took it ever so gently.
He kind of smiled at me and our eyes made contact for a brief second as I noticed the sparkling blue of his eyes, before he muttered a quick, "Um, I have to go." And swiftly hurried away with his books, leaving me still unsure of what his name was.
~~~
By the time I got back inside the lunch period was ending in 3 minutes. Crap. I had completely lost track of time outside. I had wanted to check on Carson before class started but judging by the time it'd take me to find him and the time I need to get to my next class it seems like it's better to shoot him a text. The bell shook me out of my thoughts as I sprinted towards the biology lab, making a mental note to text Carson during break.
I arrived just on time and rushed in just as Mr. Whitmoore started taking attendance. Thank god. I took my usual seat and waited for Susan, the sweet girl who sat beside me to arrive. She was always late. She bolted into the classroom a minute after and mumbled a quick sorry to Mr. Whitmoore, who didn't look pleased.
"Susan, you're late," He said, not bothering to even look up from his desk, "Again, I might add."
Susan rushed to get her book and pencil case out and apologized, "I'm really sorry, Mr. Whitmoore."
He still looked displeased. "Just be glad I'm in a good mood today." Wow, if he was in a good mood right now I'd hate to see him in his bad mood. "You see class, today when I was at the breakfast table with my four year old son, Jack, I asked him what would he die for, and he said his teddy bear, Sir Newton Fluffy-pants the third. So that gave me an idea of a new project, which we will be doing for the next 4 weeks." He paused for a moment, letting the information sink in and giving us that dramatic effect. "You and your partner will take whatever it is that your willing to die for, and let's keep in mind that it has to be an object, and find out why it is so important to them. Then you will both write a perspective essay about why one might die for it. This project will be worth 40% of your final grade, so do it well."
What? What does this have to do with chemistry?
We all looked at him as if he was crazy. He chuckled darkly at our reaction. "And since you teens always make horrible choices, I decided that I'd save your hormonal butts and assign partners!" The whole class started to laugh, then they all groaned when they caught on to the second part. Mr. Whitmoore stood up and grabbed a piece of paper and commenced reading from it.
"Jackson, you're with Sally."
They both started to protest but was silenced by Mr. Whitmoore with a deadly stare.
"Donna, you're with Brooke."
They both groaned and glared at each other, then at Mr. Whitmoore. I was scared to find out who I was paired with, since Mr. Whitmoore made the worse partners ever. Jackson and Sally had one of the nastiest break ups ever, Donna and Brooke used to be best friends but it ended when Donna found out Brooke had slept with all of her boyfriends, especially when they were still dating. What if my partner hates me? I was so glad that Diane and Ariana wasn't in this class with me. I waited anxiously for Mr. Whitmoore to announce my partner.
"Scarlett, you are with Noah." What? Who was Noah? I looked around the class for the person who was going to be my partner for the next 4 weeks. I skimmed from one side of the class to the other, until my eyes connected with two radiating blue eyes for a brisk second. Airplane boy was in this class? He collected all of his things and started walking towards me, so he was my partner.
He waited until Susan collected her things and went to sit with her partner and sat beside me and fumbled with his loose papers awkwardly. To avoid conversation, I assume.
"Well, Noah, it's good to properly meet you. I thought I was going to have to call you Airplane Boy." I joked, trying to break the awkwardness.
The corners of his mouth formed a small smile, showing me his dimples. "I'm Noah." He introduced.
"Nice to meet you, Noah," I replied, letting the smile lift my eyes, "So, Noah, what would you die for?"
He thought for a moment and replied, "My sister." His blue eyes looked sad for a second, and I wanted to see his dimples again.
"Okay, but it has to be an object. So?" I tried to elude the subject of his sister.
He thought about it again and answered, "Her guitar." Mission failed. "What about you?"
I thought about everything I owned, my laptop, my iPod, my clothes and came up with nothing that I would risk my life for.
"Is it sad that I have nothing to die for?" I turned to look at him, and just as I looked at him, he looked away.
"What about love?" He said it so quietly that if I wasn't so close to him I wouldn't have heard it. Would I die for love?
We both entered in a weird stage of complete silence.
That is until we heard a rough voice coming from behind us. "Jones, Pierce, everything good here?" Mr. Whitmoore strolled by us like a police watching his prisoners.
I was the one to reply since Noah stayed mute. "Yes, everything's swell." Oh look, there's that word again.
He looked like he wasn't going to believe us but he just shrugged and walked away chuckling in that dark manner that he always does. I don't think the school should be allowed to hire psychopaths.
We sat around for another minute in silence and I was about ready to scream when he turned to me and said, "What would you die for?"
"Does nutella count?" I replied, answering with the first thing that popped into my mind.
"Only if you're willing to run through a burning house for it."
"Okay, so that goes off my list." I raked my brains for another object. "My iPod?"
He shook his head.
"My phone?"
"No."
"My computer?"
"No."
"My copy of Us Weekly?"
"That's a new low."
I sighed, "I give up." I turned my attention back to my notebook and started doodling. I didn't even notice him turning towards me for the first time until he cleared his throat in an uncomfortable way.
"Maybe um, you should think about something that um, has a sentimental meaning to you."
I tried to look at him in the eyes, and once again, he redirected his gaze to his sneakers.
"Okay." I agreed reluctantly.
Sentimental meaning.....hm.... I thought back to when my parents were still happy. Everything was so serene and perfect. I remember once when I was 7, it was Christmas morning and I ran downstairs, only to find Nate poking and shaking all of my gifts. We were all in bliss back then, and we all sat around the fireplace as my mom made us cookies and my dad told us the story of how he met my mom for the 100th time. Nate and I still listened, and it got better and better every time. But it always had the same plot: He was crushing on her for 2 years, she never noticed him, and they met at a party, when they were both locked in the bathroom.
They started to talk and get to know each other and when the owner of the house came to unlock the door the next day, they were both found asleep, with my dad's arm protectively over my mom. It was such a beautiful moment that owner took a picture of them asleep like that and then gave it to them for their wedding gift. And to this day, my mom still has that picture, on top of the fireplace. I smiled at the memory.
"I got something." I announced.
He still hasn't looked up yet. "What is it?"
"A photo." I smiled at him and he looked up from his sneakers. He saw me smiling and couldn't help but smile back at me. A real smile. With actual eye contact. And all we did was smile at each other for about 10 seconds. Then we saw a flash. We both turned towards where the flash came from: Savannah, who was standing in front of us, with her camera that she always carries around. Noah started to look uncomfortable again and looked down at his sneakers again. And I couldn't help but laugh at his reaction.
"Sorry, it was such a beautiful moment, I just had to take a picture! I'll send it to you guys later!" She gushed and went back to her seat.
I looked at Noah with an amused smile. He slowly looked up from the floor and made eye contact again.
"Wow, you made eye contact with me, twice in one day! I must be breaking some kind of record." I teased him and he actually laughed. It was a laugh that made me all warm and tingly because I was the one to cause it. And in that moment, I knew this was just the beginning of Noah and me.
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AN:
Picture of Noah above!
Okay, don't kill me! I know you're all saying, "BUT WHAT ABOUT CARSON AND COLE?" and "YOU'RE JUST ADDING A NEW CHARACTER BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH CARSON AND COLE." But that is not true. This character's here for a reason, and it wasn't just a "spontaneous idea" that we came up with last minute. But anyways, I'm personally on Team Noah because he's just so cute. And shy. Love him.
Thanks for reading and PLEAAAASEEE comment or vote!
~ Jess