Beautiful Hearts

12

Emaline

In my Science class, I got bombarded with familiar faces. It was as if someone had grabbed all my acquaintances with his hands and dumped them here. It was overwhelming.

Declan and almost all of his friends were in this class - Phillip, Hannah, Mabel, Scott and Andy, and of course Lana.

Thank God Kate and Connie were also here.

The worst thing? Just as I was coming in, my eyes immediately found Dec and Lana who were speaking ear to ear and when they saw me entering the room, they stopped. Declan looked irritated and didn't take his eyes away from me all the way until I found a place to sit. Of course, almost every seat was busy, so I settled in with some strangers.

I tried to avoid looking at them but it was impossible. I glanced for the hundredth time and Declan started to get up off his seat, Lana caught his hand, saying something, and then Ms. Cohen came in and he had to sit down again.

The class went well, although I felt under pressure. I wondered what Lana had said to Declan to make him so angry at me. When the break came, I felt so uncomfortable that I flew out of the room like a cork from a bottle. Just a few steps later, I felt someone grab my hand and I turned around. It was Declan.

"What was that?" He was frowning, looking confused and irritated at the same time.

"What was what?"

He released my hand and raised his eyebrows. "Have I offended you? What's going on?"

Now I was the one confused.

"No, you didn't…"

"You don't even say hello."

"I saw you were angry...and..."

He raised his eyebrows again in confusion, then looked thoughtfully.

"You mean when you entered the room? I was angry at Lana, not you."

"Oh, I thought she told you something about me, and since you were looking at me..."

"I was angry because of something she said, yes. But it has nothing to do with me looking at you."

"Ok, I'm sorry I didn't say hi then." I grinned and he smiled at me with that sweet smile I liked so much.

"Why don't you sit with us..."

"No!" I shook my head in horror and he laughed.

"I'm the one going to always compromise, aren't I?"

"What? No, I mean..."

"Where were you going?"

"Nowhere, I just wanted to get out of the room..."

We talked for a little more and then got in class for the next period. Before I knew it, the boy next to me switched places with Dec.

As he laughed at something, my eyes fell on Connie's and my laughter stopped. Declan followed my gaze and Connie's murderous look transformed into a friendly one. They greeted each other and he turned to me.

"You and Connie were friends, right?"

"We're still friends."

He looked at her meaningfully.

"Does she know?"

I laughed but nodded. "I'm awful. It's not funny at all. You know some people have a rule about exes... Although we're just friends, she's a little bit jealous."

"Well, I hope she overcomes her feelings because she'll have to get used to our friendship."

"Yeah..." I murmured.

I wasn't sure If she would... I thought about Lana and her feelings for my friendship with Dec, but I didn't think about my own friend.

"It's your fault..." He looked at me in disbelief and I continued. "Why do you have to be such good boyfriend material...?"

"What?" He grinned."Am I?"

"Don't act innocent. You know what everyone says about you."

"What?"

Ms. Cohen saved me from answering this question. As If he didn't know he was everyone's favorite. Including teachers.

I thought he would join his friends at lunch, but he walked with me all the time to the cafeteria and when he spotted Connie, he grabbed my hand and dragged me to her.

"Hi, Connie. Mind If we sit with you?"

"Hey, Dec!" Someone walked past us and slapped him on the back in greeting.

"Sure." Connie made an awkward face while looking at me and Dec and I pulled my hand off his. I sat next to her while Declan sat against us. Some other guy came and greeted him and Connie used the moment to turn to me and ask what was going on.

"I don't know." I murmured.

"So... How have you been." Dec was looking at her with a wary expression.

"Fine. How have you been?" He looked at me for a second and then stared at her again.

"I'm fine too. Look, Connie. I just wanted to be sure that my friendship with Em doesn't make you uncomfortable. I told you when we broke up, I want to stay friends. That hasn't changed. Back then you refused. What do you think now?"

She looked at me and then again at him and frowned.

"Of course. I have no problem with your friendship or our relationship."

"Dec, would you mind If I stay to have lunch with Connie? Alone?"

"Not at all. Glad to see you, Connie."

"Same to you." Declan winked at me as he got up, and I tensed again. I knew Connie well and I knew that what she told him was not true.

When we were left alone, I stood and sat on Declan's seat.

"Honestly, I don't know what to say. Did you tell him I may have a problem with your friendship?!"

"He looked at you and told me he didn't believe we're still friends. You could kill with that look." I laughed when I saw the burning red on her cheeks.

"I'm sorry. I envy you. Truly. Declan may say he wants us to be friends as many times he wants, but I know it's just words. We have never had a real closeness and common things."

I looked at her in amazement.

"Then what did you do together?" She raised an eyebrow with a pleased countenance.

"Ew, never mind."

"Only you can say 'ew' when it comes to someone like Declan." Connie looked at me like I was crazy.

"You should be happy I see him just as a friend." I was just teasing her, I was sure I wasn't the type of girl Declan would make a move for. Even the fact that he liked my perfect cousin was indicative. I was far from fit and gentle. But I also didn't care about appearance.

"Anyway. Em, honestly I'll probably continue to be jealous of your closeness to him. But you don't pay attention to me. I love you and that won't change. Declan was a dream but it's over and I know I won't have him again. Maybe not seeing him was not a good strategy. Maybe I'll get used to his presence and it will be easier for me to move on."

"Thanks, Connie. I really hope so."

Then the conversation continued as usual. Connie told me about an upcoming trip related to her music. Her father was her agent and he arranged a performance of one song in some new open bar.

When we finished lunch, Connie was the first to leave, and shortly before I left, caught my eye and pointed to the large clock in the room, and I read on his lips 'I'd be waiting for you'...

Oh, that damn workout ...