Beautiful Hearts

7

Emaline

The next day at school I got the surprise of the year. Unpleasant surprise, If I may say. Lana and Phillip were in my History class. Last year we didn't run into each other, this year we were obviously unlucky. I could see that she had noticed me too, she had a tense expression. It was as if she wanted to look at me, but she wouldn't dare. No one knew we were relatives except my closest friends, and apparently Hannah. Until now, I thought the reason was her hatred for me. Now that I knew it was more serious, I couldn't stop being weird around her. She was being weird too. Someone with a sharper eye could tell for sure that there was tension between us. I somehow wanted to relieve this tension. Maybe I should tell her I don't plan on revealing her secret. And we could continue like before - not noticing each other.

I can't say that It wouldn't be interesting to be in the same class as her. Last year I happened to see her grades while aunt Sophie was checking them out. Lana had only A's and B's and I was a little bit shocked. I know it's not good to judge someone by the cover and I thought I don't do it, but she really didn't look and act like a person who cared about his success. Honestly, I think she had even better grades than me.

I looked around and saw a few vacancies. One was next to Lana. I chuckled.

Yeah right.

I headed for the back seats and sat down next to Mike. The guy was a blast, but I'll have to put up with him. I accidentally looked at Phillip, who was scanning the room at the time. His eyes stared at mine for a moment before continuing. Then, as if it clicked, he looked back at me and rolled his eyes in displeasure.

Oh, well.

I managed not to pay more attention to Lana and Phillip. The class was interesting and it could easily become my favorite this year. We were on a block schedule and after my second class for today I went to lunch. I sat at a table, waiting for Kate, and scanned the cafeteria. Phillip, Hannah, and a few of their friends were already in, sitting at their usual table. A couple of minutes later Dec and Lana came in, lost in conversation. Although they passed our table, neither of them saw me. Staring at them, I didn't realize when Kate had settled in front of me, along with several of her friends.

"Hey, Earth to Emaline!"

Snapping out of my thoughts I turned my head to her, a second later noticing the expressions of the other girls, who had clearly seen where I was staring.

"Stay away from Phill, he's mine!"

I stared at Natalia, one of Kate's friends and my look of utter amazement made Kate burst into laughter.

The girl looked at Kate surprised.

"What? If no one of you likes him, even better.

"Who were you looking at? Declan? Last year you said you don't like any of them."

"I still don't like any of them, Lucy." Realizing how that sounded, I quickly tried to explain. "I mean I don't like them the other way." She made a confused face and I couldn't blame her after I just said last year that I didn't like them. At all. In any possible way.

Before I could explain, something caught their attention and I turned only to see Declan was approaching us.

He stopped beside me, bending slightly and resting his hands on his knees. "Hi ladies." There was a general hello, and he turned his head to me, smiling familiarly. "Em, would you like to come to lunch with me?" I looked at their table as if on command, and I didn't miss the frowning looks of his friends and Lana's very worried look.

"I... I can't. I don't want to disturb you guys. Maybe another time." I was going to invite him to our table, and I was sure the girls wouldn't have anything against it, but It would be a double standard.

He looked at his friends and I followed his gaze. Every one of them moved their gazes away. Declan frowned, looked down, and returned to his table. I went silent and stared at my hands. I heard giggles and looked at the smiling faces of the girls. The next second I realized what they were laughing at. Declan sat down to my right, setting his lunch on the table. I stared at him in bewilderment and he grinned. My lips curled into a smile, I couldn't resist his charm.

Declan got along with our friends easily. He kept the conversation going and made them laugh. When we finished, he winked at me and said he would be waiting for me tomorrow after training, which wiped the smile from my face.

Later, when I got home, I decided to talk to Lana. This new tension between us was starting to tire me, and since I had no intention of revealing her secret, I preferred to tell her. And I wanted to know if Declan knew we were cousins. I would have to tell him or it would be weird, considering they were friends.

I went upstairs and knocked on her door. I hoped she was home.

"Come in." I cracked the door open and peeked inside. She was sitting on her bed looking at her notes. When she saw it was me, a frown formed on her face.

"Can I come in?" She sighed, still frowning but nodded. Strange, but I haven't been in this room since they moved in. She made it look nice.

I stood in the middle of her room awkwardly.

"I know what you told your friends."

Surprise, astonishment, and finally anger appeared on her face.

"I don't know what you're talking about!" She threw her notebook and pencil on the carpet and began to move nervously around the room. "Lana, I don't care what you're telling your friends. I'm not gonna tell them anything. But... Aren't you afraid?"