A Baseball Field
1296 Words
Come Monday morning I’m dressed in my black pleated skirt, dark red vest (with a white short sleeve button up) and a pair of high stocking under some black pumps. The school ordained uniform was one of the reasons my stepmother had enrolled me in the wretched Academy. She knew just how much I hated it.
“Good morning Madam,” Charles knocks on my bedroom door. “Breakfast has been served.”
“Thank you, Charles, but I think I’ll take it to go.” I rush out throwing my knapsack over one shoulder and clutching my cellphone in hand. “I have a meeting with the student council president regarding the school's budgetary issues. And then right after I’m assisting the maths department in their issues.”
As a daughter of the Laxon family, my responsibilities at school are borderline insane. However, as a Laxon I do my job with due diligence and vigor.
I run through the apartment's kitchen and out into the foyer only to stop short when I spot a familiar mop of pure blonde hair sitting on one of our loveseats.
“Eugene.” My smile turns acidic. “I didn’t know you were picking me up.”
“I thought I texted you.” He doesn’t raise his head from his phone. “Charles said you had some important thing to do so I should pick you up early?” His blue eyes raise up and he stares at the piece of toast in my hand. “Is that really all you’re eating?”
“Is there a problem with Geraldine’s cooking?” I snap imaging the cook listening in from the kitchen.
“Of course not,” He stands coming over to me to flash that dashing smile. “I just want to make sure you’re eating enough.”
“Thank you for your concern. Now let's get going.” I smile sweetly at him before spinning on my heel and rolling my eyes.
Oh, what I wouldn’t give to have the ability to snap his neck every time he opens his mouth. But alas Eugene and I were engaged, and that means I have to put up with his buffoonery. According to father…well, let’s just say I’m receiving no sympathy from any direction.
We walk outside, me a bit further ahead since I can't be trusted to not shove him, and he opens the door to his red sports car for me.
“Thank you,” I take my seat and he jogs around the front of the car to get to his.
He plugs in his aux cord and we drive the whole way listening to a EM music.
#
“Thank you for making time for us on your busy schedule Lia.” Mrs. Harrison walks me outside of the meeting room.
“It’s my pleasure to help improve the lives of my fellow students. If you ever need me again I left my number on those complimentary mugs.” I smile at her. “Just text me at any time.”
“Thank you so much.” She says again. Waving to me as I start making my way back to the regular campus.
It’s a solitary trek that winds through the tennis court and the baseball field. The longer way being the road Euguene had taken when he’d dropped me off. But the i***t was already long gone. Probably trying to get the attention of some poor freshmen.
“Your shadow isn’t with you today?” Oryn is leaning against the bleachers as I make it to the baseball field. I study him warily.
“What do you want?”
“What? Is it a crime to take a walk?”
“I don’t know you. And this could be considered stalking.”
“We go to the same school.”
A blush flourishes in my cheeks. “Still. Can I help you?”
“I don’t know…yet at least.” I can tell his eyes are scanning me from head to toe. The force of his gaze leaves a trail of fire on my skin. “But I’ll find out, soon.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” I remember the mace hidden at the bottom portion of my backpack and curse myself for not taking it out earlier.
“I don’t know,” He shrugged pushing off the bleachers. “You need an escort?”
Now usually I would tell him to go escort himself off a cliff and call Charles. However, something was telling me to let him.
“Seems to be a lot of things you don’t know,” I tell him as I continue walking. I hear him follow after me.
“Yeah,” He chuckles. “One of those being your name.”
I stop. Turning on my heel I gasp. “You’re kidding!”
“What?”
“You don’t know who I am?” Very rarely did I meet someone who didn’t know of me in some way or another. It made for a deplorable social life.
“Should I?” I sense he’s raised an eyebrow in a quizzical fashion.
“Aurelia Ophelia Laxon, daughter of Richard Laxon? Laxon Holdings.” I threw my hands up. “Nothing?”
“Sorry princess, I have no idea what you're talking about.” He drawled. “And Ophelia?”
“My mom was obsessed with Hamlet.” I shake my head. “You seriously don’t know?”
He shrugs and continues walking. “If I told you my last name you wouldn’t know me either.”
“Well, what is it?” I hurry to catch up with him and for a second I think I spot a flash of gold when the wind pushes the hair out of his eyes. I knew every name and every face of every family that had ever attended the balls hosted by the rich and pampered.
“Ásta.” The corner of his lips turns upwards into a small grin. “Sound familiar.”
“Not at all.” My brow furrows as I rack my brain. I hadn’t ever met anyone named Oryn either which by itself is strange. I know everyone at school. “My boyfriend said there were some nasty rumors about you.”
He hums in response.
“Did you really burn down your old school?”
“Are you trying to confirm my background Ms. Laxon?” He asks in a joking tone. He laughs. “You that interested in me?”
“No.” A blush travels up the base of my neck. “No, I mean—”
“Ah, here we are.” The doors to the back entrance of the school were suddenly in front of us. I blinked at them before turning to Oryn.
“Are you a magician?”
“Hm?”
“That walk usually takes twenty minutes, we couldn’t have been talking for more than two.”
“They say time flies when you’re having fun.” Oryn shrugged and paused. “This was fun Ophie, we should do it again sometime.”
Then he pulled the door open for me. I gaped at him but started in.
The bustling halls distract me for a fraction of a second but by the time I turn to look for Oryn he is already gone.
- Writer
