Chapter 5

“Hey have you seen my math textbook?” I asked dad while I packed my lunch into my school bag. Mom had left for work so dad was trying to reorganize the newspaper. He hated how she didn’t bother to properly realign the pages. “I left it right here on the table. Remember I was asking you that one thing about quadratics?”

“Oh yes. Your mother put the book on the coffee table. Would you like some toast or that before you leave?” He was putting two slices of bread into the toaster.

“No can you just hand me a granola bar? I’ll eat it on my way.” Dad tossed it to me and I shoved it in my bag. My watch was telling me I was running late but I had set it a little fast. Once I found my math book I put my shoes on and said goodbye to dad. Outside the cool September air hit me unexpectedly. The clouds were a murky grey, as fast as I could I ran back inside and grabbed my hoodie. Luckily I made it halfway down the street before it started to rain. Running was fun for me. It was the only thing that seemed to come natural. One foot after another briefly each off the ground. The cool air rushing past you the different breathing patterns. Every year I had been on the cross country team and had come in the top 3 for the city. Right, left, right, left. Breathe in, out, in, out.

Becca was standing at the front doors of the school. She held out an umbrella for me. “Thanks. Sorry I’m late.”

“No problem. James just got here. Ms. Henry is setting him up with a locker. Seems the one he was supposed to have was given to another student.” Becca casually said as we both walked down the hall towards guidance. Since my hoodie was soaking I took it off and placed it on the coat hanger in the office. “You can set your bag on the chair. James will be out in just a moment. I hope you two will get along. Its tough for someone to come to a new school and a new city. Please try to make him feel welcome.”

“I’ll do my best.” I answered. A tall women entered the room, she had fuzzy white hair and round glasses. “Hello Ms. Henry.”

“Oh, Hello Ellie.” Ms. Henry had a soft kind voice. “Becca, James is waiting for you in your office.”

“Thank you. Ellie you can follow me.”

Becca’s office had more stuff in it now. The bookshelves were lined with books, magazines and CDs. She replaced the visitor chairs in the room with a brown leather couch. A boy was sitting at one end of the couch. Becca walked over to her side of the desk.

“Ellie you can sit down.” she gestured. The boy’s head spun around to stare at me. This was James? No this had to be wrong! My heart sunk. Sitting on the couch was Evan. The same Evan who kissed me three nights ago. Evan from Halifax. My feet wouldn’t move, they were glued to the ground. Seconds passed as I stared directly at Evan who was staring back.

“Hey El.” there was his voice again. The voice that sang throughout my ears.

“Hey Evan” I managed now able to move my feet.

“You two know each other?” Becca asked watching us carefully.

“Yea, we were neighbours in Halifax. We had dinner on Friday.” Evan said

“Well, isn’t that convenient. We no longer need to waste time with introductions. Unless you two want to.”

“No” Evan and I said at the same time

“Jinx.” He murmured. Which made me giggle.

“ Ellie, if you wouldn’t mind showing James where his classes are you have twenty minutes before school starts. That should give you enough time.”

“ I prefer Evan, if you don’t mind.”

“And this is the Art room. Mrs. Earl is cool. She lets you talk and everything during class. Just don’t eat. That’s her one rule.” I said as we entered the empty room which seemed so much smaller without people in it.

“ We should talk” Evan’s voice quiet was loud in the empty room. He sat down on a chair and started spinning in circles. “Sit”

“I’ll pass. What do you want to talk about?”

“How about Friday?”

“What about it?” I didn’t want to assume he was meaning the kiss.

“You know, right before I left” He was staring up at me through his tousled blonde bangs.

“When you kissed me?” it was hard to keep my voice at a normal volume

“We could start there. Or if you want…” He stood up and leaned in close to me. Placing his hand on my forearm. Slowly he tilted his head to the right and kissed me again. This time it was even slower our lips slowly glided across each other’s. “I’d prefer to start here”

My arms were wrapped around him and his hands were firmly on my waist. Kissing him was the best thing that had ever happened to me. If we had stayed in Halifax I’m almost sure Evan and I would have become extremely close friends and kissing would have made everything awkward. While we kissed I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to have my eyes open or closed. This was in fact my second kiss ever so I was unaware of the procedures. Opening one eye slowly I saw his eyes were closed, forehead relaxed and is hair poking into my eyes.

“Ellie. Might I ask what you are doing in here with this boy?” Mrs. Earl said dropping a bag on the desk across from us. Evan and I quickly parted from each other.

“Ugh… I…was… uh.” I couldn’t concentrate. The words were set in my mind but unable to lead to my mouth.

“Hi. My name is Evan Thames. I’m a new student and Ellie was supposed to show me around so I could find my new classes easier.” Evan calmly said.

“Well it is nice to meet you Evan, but I’m almost certain that showing you around does not mean playing tonsil hockey in my classroom. Now if you don’t mind leaving?”

“Sure. Sorry Mrs. Earl” I said squeamishly

It was still raining when more students started to show up at the school. I had told Evan everything there is to know about Harshwood Catholic school; from the student who supposedly disappeared in 1986 to last weeks story about Jeanie rumored to be pregnant. Evan seemed amused with the ins and outs of the school. A gush of wind came barreling through the door when I opened it to walk outside towards the religion portables. There was two rules that were in place for the mornings. Meet each other outside religion portables, if your sick text someone so they can tell the others, and the second rule was in any weather condition wait at the portables until everyone is there. Right now I was hating that second rule because all I had on was a pair of jeans, a t-shirt and a hoodie overtop. Hoodie’s aren’t as warm as you think they would be. After five minutes of standing beside Evan waiting for everyone to show my teeth were already chattering and I was shivering badly.

“If I had a coat I’d offer it to you” Evan said. He was worse off than I was. Evan had on a black t-shirt with jeans that were ripped on one knee. He didn’t seem cold at all. “I could sit here for hours.”

“How! Ittts….freezzzinnngg!”

“Easy. Mind over matter. If you can pretend its warm then it is warm. Plus I like the rain” He stood behind me and his arms wrapped around my shoulders and I smiled.

“Ellie?” Kera asked coming through the rain with a bright pink umbrella. “Is that Evan with you?”

“Yea, cc-can we go in now?” I was at the point of freezing I couldn’t feel my fingertips.

“Here. Your dad told me to give you this.” Kera unzipped her backpack and pulled out my blue coat. Right now I was glad dad had gotten the paper fixed or he wouldn’t have known it would rain, and that I’d need a coat. Evan grabbed it from Kera’s hands and draped it over my shoulders.

During math class Evan was sat in the back row so the teacher could speak with him independently and see what he was taught compared to us. Halfway through the class Logan tapped my shoulder and I turned around to face him.

“Yea?” I whispered

“Whose that?” he was pointing to Evan

“The new kid, Evan he’s a friend of the family”

“He looks like he’s more than just a friend” Logan smirked

“What are you talking about?” I asked

“He keeps looking over at you, see right now” I glanced at Evan, Ms. Lynch was standing beside him pointing at the paper and Evan was starring directly at me “You over me that quick Ellie? Otherwise you’ve got a stalker on your hands”

Lunch came faster than expected. Even though I was supposed to be showing Evan around and helping him make friends he was sort of able to do that on his own. In art he got along great with Nathan they talked about sports and stuff I wouldn’t know or care about. Kera was waiting for me at the library entrance. We had decided that from now on we’d meet each other for lunch at the library. Nathan and Evan were standing with her talking and laughing. There was a jealous bone in my body that was about to break seeing this. Sure I wanted Evan to make friends and yes he already had had two girls ask him out he declined them of course.

“Hold on. You guys go on and get us a table at the cafeteria. I need to talk to El.” Kera explained as I advanced down the hall towards the group. “Let’s walk to your locker okay?”

“Sure, what’s this about?” I asked walking down the stairs beside Kera

“Evan”

“What about him?” I wondered

“Well, he’s been asking a lot of things about you. I think he’s planning something.” she stated

“What has he been asking about?”

“Stuff like, what sports you are into which I said none, hope you don’t mind but its true Ellie. Your favourite movie, band, class, book. Now from those I just thought he was curious about you. Like trying to get to know you as a friend more. Personally I wouldn’t mind him as a friend at all he’s hot El. But then he asked your favourite flower. I didn’t know so I said ask Ellie yourself, and he said but Id like it to be a surprise. El, what happened with you two on Friday? Or today even. You guys looked pretty close with that whole jacket thing. El” Kera stopped us in front of my locker she put her hands firmly on my shoulders forcing me to focus on her “Why didn’t you tell me anything?”

“Well, I don’t know I thought I dreamt it all!” I stammered

“Dreamt what?”

“Ok well Friday we didn’t really say much to each other maybe a handful of words but as his family was leaving he came up to me and kissed me. Then he rushed off. You know how I was supposed to show him around the school? Well this morning I was and we stopped in the art room and we started kissing again like make-out kissing and Mrs. Earl caught us. Seriously this sounds stupid when I say it! I don’t really even know him but I want him. This sounds stupid doesn’t it?”

“Aw! Ellie! You got your first kiss!” Kera wrapped her arms around me and pulled me into a tight hug “My wittle Ewie got her first kiss. I remember my first three years ago with Ben McCrae. Anyways Evan seems really sweet we were talking for like ten minutes before you showed. He really seems interested in you El. Promise me two things though. First take it slow don’t rush anything and I don’t mean just sex but like get to know each other before you dive into this. Secondly if he hurts you I get to kick his ass.”

“Deal” I said sticking my hand out and Kera shook it.