Four

Crystal sighed as she gathered her books and arranged them in her bag. It was recess already. She suddenly felt a headache. She bowed her head on her desk as she pondered on what had happened in the class just a minute ago.

~

The Accounting teacher, Mrs. Hudson had just left the class and she had quickly gone through the notes they had taken during the class. She could not wait to go to the library and see him.

She could still feel his hand on hers, his hand on her skin, his eyes on hers.....they were still very fresh in her memory. Remembering everything that had happened back in the office made her to surprisingly miss him. Miss his eyes, his touch.....damn! What was wrong with her?

Why could she not think straight?

What was he doing to her?

How does he affect her so much even if he was not even there....present with her? She unconsciously hugged herself as she bit her lips.

"What are you doing to me Justin?" She thought as she sighed. If she does not see him now she felt she was going to turn mad. Why? She was certainly going to the library. He said she should be there....

She must be there.....

Someone shouted her name, jolting her out of her thoughts. Looking up she saw Martha heading up to her with two days girls behind her whom she knew were Sophia and Heather. There were no words to describe them. She could only say they were also like Martha.

Annoying...irritating...disgusting.

What does she want now?

"Hey Crystal. How are you witch?" She asked as she leaned on Crystal"s desk, bringing her face closer to hers. Now she had to put up with looking closer at her bleached face, four layered lip gloss and over powdered face.

"Oh i forgot, the witch is dumb. Mind if i beat you up to open your mouth huh?" Martha said as the two girls behind her laughed, Crystal not understanding why they laughed.

Crystal had never opened her mouth to insult or talk back at Martha. To her it felt like a waste of time. When she and the thin broomsticks behind her which she calls her friends are done with their show, they will leave her in peace.

"Now listen to me and listen very carefully. I never want to see your filthy bitchy self anywhere close to my Justin again. You won't want to know what i would do to you but trust me, you really don't want to find out. I won't repeat myself anymore because if i do, you my dear Crystal will regret it. Let's go girls, i have a library meeting to attend"

Crystal watched as they made their ways out of her class.

She came all the way to tell her just that?

~

Now she had a headache, listening to all her nonsense.

Why did Martha come to warn her to stay away from Justin? She had not even had a talk with Justin yet and she is already saying she should stay away from him? She had only seen him closely for the first time in three years and she said she should stay away from him?

But why?

Looking up at the time, she noticed that ten minutes from recess had already gone. She was ten minutes late to the meeting which was being scheduled in the library for the students partaking in the competition. Putting her bag behind her chair, she picked the book she wanted to use just in case there were notes she ought to take. Standing up from her seat, she made way to the library.

For now she will not have to worry. She would see him....and then all her problems and sorry will go away.

~

He was there when she had arrived. Students sat round a large table, looking into their notes. Sitting on the chair far away from him to the left, she opened her book and started trying out on the problems she had set for herself. She could feel his intense gaze on her.

She wanted so much to avoid him, not wanting to have any trouble with Martha. She knew she had to get herself in check and stop caring about this boy.

This boy with intoxicating blue eyes.

Oh how bad she wanted to look up and meet those eyes of his...how bad she wanted to stare and never take his attention away from him. Why was this so hard on her? Why does she feel this way?

Does he even feel what she feels?

No.

She was sure he does not. For three whole years she never mattered to him....for three long years he never looked her way...but for three long years she wanted so badly his attention.

Why would he suddenly start feeling what she feels for him when he barely even notices her?

Trying to get him out of her thoughts, she continued to solve the Accounting problem which was given as an assignment by Mrs. Hudson. At least something else demanded her attention. Closing her eyes, she tried to think of anything....just anything.....other than this boy and his bewitching blue eyes.

When she thought her mind was free of him....free of his bewitching eyes and unearthly handsome face....free of all his thoughts and attractiveness, she opened her eyes.

She almost fell out of her seat when she saw those blue eyes again so close to her. He was leaning so close to her that their chests were almost touching. Why was he so close?

Why so close?

"You were late" He said, looking nowhere but her eyes. Being so lost in those eyes of his, his voice jilted her out of her trance-like state. She was trying so hard not to touch him.....not to feel him.

"Are you okay?" He asked softly, coming closer...so close that Crystal thought he would be able to hear her racing heart.

.

"I....i am so sorry a...about being late. I...i had to do something after....after class which made me late. I....i will not come late again" Crystal stammered, turning away from him, hoping he would just live her in peace despite the fact that there was a part of her which wanted him to still be there....which wanted to just continue the conversation.

She wanted his attention.

"Are you hungry?" He softly asked, tilting his head to the side to look at her face more clearly.

"N...no i am...i am not. Th..thanks for asking" She stammered as she bit her lips in nervousness, trying so hard to stable her breathing as she tightened her hold on her skirt which she did not know she had been holding.

She felt so relieved as she released her breath when he stood up and walked back to where she had seen him sitting when she had entered the library. She put her right hand on her chest as she stabled her beating heart.

Why does he affect her this much?

Why does she react to him this way?

She closed her eyes and opened them again. She was shocked when she saw he was coming back....with his chair.

'Why is he coming her way?' She thought. But she knew no answers as her heart which she had tried to pacify had started beating faster than before.

That was when she noticed Martha. She had been sitting at the left hand side of Justin all along. She saw the anger in her eyes....and revenge.

If he sits with her he is going to cause her problems. She had to do something if he decides to sit close to her.

And he did.

He pushed his chair so close to hers that there was no space left in between both chairs. He sat down on the chair and his shoulder touched hers, making her jolt as she felt something more like an electric shock the moment they made skin contact.

"You do not need to sit close to me, i am fine on my own and i do not require any help sir" She said quickly, trying so bad to make him go back to where he sat before. She really did not want any problems, neither had she ever wanted to be noticed. She just wanted to lay low and stay out of some people's way.

People like Martha.

"Why say that? You do not want me to be close to you?" Justin asked as he removed her hair from her face so he could see her face clearly, making her more nervous.

"It is not that....it is not that.....it is just...."

"It is just what?"

She bit her lips as she could not think of an excuse as to why he should leave her side. Inwardly, she could not deny the fact that she loved being so close to him...as if that is where she belonged.

"I never asked if you were not fine Crystal. I just wanted to sit close to you. You do not mind do you?" He asked, but did not wait for her answer as he put the books and the food flask which he was holding besides her books. He then removed his jacket and put it on his chair.

Reaching out for the food flask, he opened it and put the food in front of her so she could see it.

"Eat" He said, but it sounded more of an order.

Crystal looked at the food and then looked at him, confusing written fully on her face. She did not understand why he was giving her his food. Why was he giving her? She said she was not hungry despite the fact she was.

She could not go to the cafeteria due to the meeting that was held at the moment and she had planned to eat after school when she was back home.

"Wh...what?"

"I know you are hungry Crystal. Take....eat" He demanded, pushing the food closer to her.

"I....i can't"

She stammered as she could feel every single person staring at her. Now she was the center of attention.....one thing she hated the most.

"Oh! You want to go to the cafeteria then?" He further asked.

"No thank you"

"Why?...Oh! Okay...let me feed you then!" He said as he took the spoon and was about to feed her when she said;

"N...no"

"I know you are hungry Crystal so it is either you eat or i feed you okay? Don't worry, i cooked this food myself and trust me, i won't even try to poison you Crystal if that is what you are thinking" He said as he smirked, his blue eyes filled with fascination.

It was not the fact that he could poison her that made her not to eat the food, but the fact that Martha was staring daggers at her. If looks could kill then she would have been dead by now.

"Or are you shy to eat?" He further asked as he smirked, somehow finding her expression fascinating. He looked around and ordered the students to face their books and mind their business.

"Are you okay now?" He asked again.

Crystal knew he would not leave her till she ate the food, and she also knew Martha was going to make her life miserable if she accepted the food. But what could she have done at the moment?

She could not say no to him....it was hard to.

Reluctantly, she reached for the food flask and took the spoon from his hand, her gesture not even making him to take his attention off her. It was like he could not get enough of her, but Crystal did not understand that....instead she thought that he was planning on how he would made fun of her if she did not eat his food.

Wanting so much to get out of where she was....away from him.....away from the silent glares she was getting from Martha.....away from the attention....she took a spoon of the Chicken Tikka Masala and ate.

"You have any problem?" He asked again, leaning closer.

"N..no...no I'm good" She stammered, hoping he would lean back to his seat. But he did not. Instead, he used his left hand to support his head as he continued to stare at Crystal making her even more uncomfortable.

Why should he be staring at her like that? Is he making fun of her?

She continued eating, silently enjoying the food as it tasted sweeter than she had expected. If he really cooked the food then he really is a good cook.

He kept staring at her, looking more fascinated as she ate. Each spoon of food she brought up into her mouth he noticed.

Crystal tightened her hold on the spoon as she kept wishing for the ground to just open up and swallow her. She felt so embarrassed and so nervous at that moment that all she thought of doing was to scream.

But that was the last thing she supposed to be thinking of doing at that moment. She could not see Martha since Justin's head was in the way and she was thankful of that.

But she still felt her steady killer gaze on her which made her constantly shiver.

She finished the food and covered the food flask, hoping after she had given him the food flask, he would leave her alone and finally let her be. Putting the food flask in front of him, she nervously sighed as she thought of what to say to him.

"Thank you" She whispered as she looked ahead, preference looking anywhere but at this boy sitting beside her.

"Water?" He stretched out a water can which she did not know he had with him before. She bit her lips as her hold on her skirt tightened.

'Why is he making this hard for me? Why does he not just go away?' She asked herself in her thoughts as she reached out for the water can and he gave her, still not looking at him.

She drank from the water can and gave it back to him.

"Thank you" She said again, still not looking at him.

"Do you need help in any subject Crystal?"

"Oh no! Not at all. I do not have problems on any subject at all. Thanks for your concern" She answered as she flipped a page of her book, thinking of how to escape from him.

"I was hoping i could be of help though. I shall leave you to your study then" He said and then stood up, picking his books.

"But if you have problems, you know where to find me"

She nodded, not looking up as he walked away from her. She breathed a huge sigh of relief as she raised her head, looking in the direction he went. He stood at the front of the table in which every student participating in the state competition sat.

Crystal took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing heart.

'What are you doing to me?' She asked herself.

But again, no answer.

"Now listen up. I wanted to make this clear to all of you. No one is an enemy here and everyone should be respected as equally. It will not be always necessary to meet here every recess but if there is any information that needs your attention, it will be forwarded to you directly. I have a meeting with a teacher in five minutes and i will not mind at all if you take your leave right now. Have a nice day"

He said, picking the books he carried again. Everyone started standing up as they gathered their books, wanting to leave the library. Without looking anywhere else, she watched him as he made his way out of the library, his steps too graceful to be ignored.

Her eyes followed his retreating back and when he was close to the door, he stopped. She knew she was supposed to turn and behave as if she was no looking at him but for some reason, she could not.

It felt as if her eyes were glued to his figure, not able to tear her gaze from him at all.

And then he looked back.....at her.

She bit her lips as he smiled at her, making her heart skip a beat. She was not able to see those blue eyes from afar as well as she does when he was near but she could tell his eyes were sparkling.

For some reason she always wanted to see him smile.....she never wanted to see a line of worry on his face....he was too beautiful for that. Her young heart continued to beat faster as they continued to look at each other.

He was a stranger but yet, he could affect her this much.

Why? Why does he affect her this much?

What does he have that makes her body and heart respond to him willingly.

Why did he feel so special to her?

He turned and left the library, making her heart steady its beat. Now she felt a void which needed to be filled.....it felt she was empty.

She wanted to run after him....she wanted so much to hug him and tell him not to leave her. Crystal turned back in her seat and stared at her book.

What was he doing to her?

It felt she was always going to feel this way no matter how bold she wanted to be in front of him. For some reason she felt a pull towards him, and she was responding too easily to this pull.

"Did i not tell you to stay away from my boyfriend huh? Why do you not stay in your lane?" Martha asked, anger evident in her eyes. Crystal, who had jilted at the sudden outburst of Martha looked up to Martha's green eyes.

Her hands were on her waist as she stared daggers at Crystal who wanted to get away from her if she even had the chance to.

"I...."

"Now listen to me and listen very clearly you low life, i never want to see you close to Justin again. If i see you even make a move towards him, i will make sure i make your life in this school miserable" Martha said, pointing her index finger at Crystal.

"You see me here, i am everything Justin wants and who are you to come in the way of our relationship. Stay out of my way Crystal Garcia"

Hissing, she turned and walked out of the library. Crystal Palmer her face as she took in a deep breath. Everything was just happening so fast that she herself did not understand how.

What has she gotten herself into?

Attracted to a handsome guy whom she does not even know despite the fact they had been in the same school for three years.....crossing path with a bully who would not let her go scot free if she does not stay away from her boyfriend.

It is not that she was stealing her boyfriend away from her was she?

All she had to do was get herself in check and stay the hell away from that boy who somehow affects her and makes her damn crazy.

She removed her hands from her face and noticed she was the only one in the library.

Good! She was okay with that. She needed sometime to herself for awhile.....even if she had to miss the next lesson. Her head was spinning with thoughts that she had to diminish....her body was slowly accepting someone and she had to take proper control of her body.

She just needed some moments to herself.

And even in trying to get her self straight, his thoughts still haunted her.....

His face....his eyes....his body.....everything about him are clear on her mind.

What is wrong with me?

She steadied her breath and stood up in shaky legs, picking her book as she kept taking deep breaths.

"It is going to be alright" She kept repeating to herself.

She turned around and unconsciously hit the chair beside her which fell on the ground. She cursed silently as she oicked the chair and put it in its place.

And that was when she saw his jacket.

It seemed he had left it here.

Picking it from his chair, she looked at the jacket and then brought close to her chest, feeling the soft fabric on her chest. She held it so tightly as if it would disappear if she does not hold it that way.

For some reason she felt at peace...she felt at peace.

She held the jacket on her left hand and walked out of the library. She could not help it but unconsciously held his jacket again close to her chest and it felt so....soft.

She knew Martha will be on her tails from now on....and she had to put up with her.

It did not matter at all. For some reason, nothing mattered but him at that moment.

She could not help but smile.

She was smiling.....because of him.

He caused her to smile.....the boy with the tempting blue eyes.