Ever since Asher asked me out, my stomach had been in knots since Sunday. I couldn't help but smile like a lunatic in front of my sister and annoy her at her shop. I even made her buy me donuts.
I just felt like I broke a barrier. A hefty big barrier between us and it happened in a way that made me think about it too much. What if he regretted how he treated me? What if he believed in a change?
What he had gone through was brutal, per Vera's words, he saw his sister burn and he heard her screams. Leslie was a heartless jerk, he almost raped her and when he didn't have it his way, he burned the house down with her. He was a monster under disguise, till this day, I couldn't register this in my mind. I thought that it would never be him because we grew up with him.
We never really recognize peoples' intentions and what they hid. They continued to surprise us.
As I thought about Asher, I didn't realize I had bumped shoulders with a guy, but politely, I turned to him to apologize.
"Sorry about that, I was in my head." I awkwardly excused.
He had a kind face that included dimples and hooded hazel eyes, he wasn't that tall, around 6 ft with a plain white hoodie that showed his average muscles and washed jeans.
"It's alright, we all do that sometimes," He chuckled and offered his hand as he introduced himself, "I'm Ren, new to this school."
I shook his hand with a small smile on my face. "Kalina. Always been in this school."
His eyes brightened at me.
"Anything I should be aware of?"
We started walking towards the entrance of the school.
"Jocelyn."
"How do I know who's Jocelyn?"
"You'll definitely know her." I joked and he laughed before he slid his fingers through his black smooth hair.
We got in class and I glimpsed at Asher who ditched as he stormed to the library ahead.
No, Kalina, no stalking and you have class. My brain warned but I couldn't help it.
"I just got something, I'll be back." I waved to Ren and ran to the library.
It was hard to miss Jocelyn's honey-like hair through the space of the books, I settled at the history section as the smell of books entered my nose, he was with her, her arms around his waist and I gulped down my heavy feelings, maybe she was playing with him. I tried to dismiss it but the way he pushed her hair back just made me stumble as my back hit the books and they shifted their gaze from each other to me.
I felt like the ground could shatter any moment as they stayed there and looked at me. I had to get out of here, the clear liquid went down my cheeks as I ran out of the library.
I thought they didn't know each other that well. Their close proximity meant something else.
He could go to hell, he could die. I wouldn't care anymore, whatever attraction I had been spell-bound to him just flew out the window. He was sick minded enough to invite me and made me believe that he had an illness, next thing I saw was him with her.
I was livid, I was a shaking storm. I sped up towards the park as I breathed in the cool air with my black cardigan around my body.
An arm was wrapped around my shoulder and I thought it would be Asher. But it was Ren, he looked concerned for me as another gust of wind danced by us. His other hand swiped the tears off of my cheeks as he stroked my tendrils to the back of my ear, I needed to forget.
So I placed my lips against his. He held my jaw as he moved his mouth softly and slowly, warmth invaded my body as we made out in the frosty weather. My back was against the building's wall as the tingles went along the back of my spine. He kissed me back with equal passion, his hands rested on the sides of my hips, his lips tasted like cinnamon and I liked it.
It took all the power of me to pull away from the make out. Both of our lips became swollen.
"I sure don't know you yet, Kalina. But you are a good kisser."
I giggled at him as we fixed ourselves and got back into the school. Ren was nice and he made me forget the other guy.
"What's your favorite season?"
"Is that how you start after the makeout?"
He held his hands up in surrender.
"It wasn't me who started it. Besides, I think it's a fairly good question."
"How?"
"Weather tells you about the person. I like Summer, because I like the beach. What about you?"
"I think Autumn. I like seeing turning leaves and the darkness of the night."
He winked. "I knew it."
We grinned at each other as we ditched class to go to the lounge.