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Until they burned.
Until everything burned.
And the smudges and marks, they started to fade.
And some of her shine faded along with it.
Or maybe her eyes were just too burnt to see it anymore.
7
Raven
Despite Dixie Maythreatening me and that dude dropping a note on my desk, first period ends up not being a total bust. I got to know Jax a little bit, and I managed to complete an assignment that was complicated for me.
By the time the bell rings, I don’t feel too awful as I gather my books and stuff them into my bag, including that stupid note. Jax gathers his stuff, too. Then, instead of leaving, he waits for me.
“Well?” he asks once I’ve gotten my stuff collected.
“Well what?” I ask.
“I saw you writing,” he says. “The emotion thing work for you?”
“Actually, it did,” I tell him as we make our way toward the door. “Thanks for the tip, oh epic writer.” I do a little bow.
He chuckles. “I’m not an epic writer. I just like to write.” We pause for a group of girls walking out of the classroom, and then we exit, too. “It’s therapeutic for me.” He tucks the pen he’s holding behind his ear, and I find myself pressing back a smile.
Not a writer, huh? ’Cause he sure does look the part.
The hallway is fairly crowded, but that’s normal for high schools between classes. What isn’t normal is how much staring is being aimed in our direction. Sure, I’ve gotten stared at before, mostly because Dixie May spread the awesome story of my past. But I’ve never gotten gawked at this much, and the staring is more in confusion instead of mocking. It kind of doesn’t make sense, since that note someone dropped on my desk clearly means she’s told people.
“So, is everyone staring right now ’cause I’m walking with you?” I whisper to him with my gaze sweeping the hallway.
Jax is texting on his phone and distractedly glances up. Then he grimaces. “Probably.” He stuffs his phone into his back pocket. “Sorry about this. I can tell it makes you uncomfortable.” He dithers, chewing on his lip as he studies me. “If you want, we can give you your space. Personally, I don’t want to do that, but I get it if this is too much.” He gives a subtle nod at a group of girls sneaking peeks in our direction.
I could say yes. For all I know, this little friendship will be over soon anyway, once the guys learn everything about me. But again, the idea of going back to being alone doesn’t sit well with me.
“Nah, it’s fine,” I assure him.
He visibly relaxes. “Good.”
I playfully nudge him in the shoulder. “You wanna be my friend, Jaxon?”
He shakes his head, struggling not to smile. “You’re lucky I do, or I’d have to teach you a lesson about calling me Jaxon.”
I can’t help thinking about what Katy said to me yesterday, about Jax being a scary mothereffer or whatever. Besides a few subtle remarks here and there that could be a little bit uneasy, I just can’t picture him being scary.
Why do these rumors get started? Are they just rumors? Or is there truth to it?
“What’s your next class?” Jax asks, drawing me from my thoughts.
I dig my schedule out of my pocket. “Math. Blah.”
“Math definitely sucks.” He leans over to look at my schedule, getting so close that this hair tickles my cheek.
He smells good, like cologne and mint.
An arm suddenly loops through mine as someone steps up beside me. “What’re we doing?”
