Page 12 of Between the Flames

CHAPTERSIX

Almost a month had passed since our victory against Crestview High, and the buzz surrounding the football team had officially worn down. We were just a few weeks away from winter break and our presidential committee was already decorating the school in festive reds and greens. The hallways were starting to hum with excitement about the almost three weeks off from school we were about to enjoy. There were rumors of parties and meet ups, and the promise of drunken nights and relaxation in friends’ basements. I wasn’t sure if it was just that I wasn’t into it or if I was feeling defeat over the lack of run-ins with Ryder, but I kept my head low going from class to class, counting down the minutes until the days were over.

Having a free period in the middle of my day was both a blessing and a curse. It gave me the chance to work on assignments during the day, which lessened my load in the evenings—but man was it tough to regain motivation to continue my day of classes after taking almost an hour and a half off. I typically fled to the library, which was where I currently was, staring down at a blank notebook, willing my brain to think of something to draft for my essay. I pinched the bridge of my nose in frustration as my eyes blurred from my lack of blinking.

Writer’s block was a real pain sometimes.

The faint sound of a door closing from across the building caught my attention, and I took in my surroundings, peering at who else was around, finding myself alone. I reached over to grab my phone as a distraction when suddenly the air went thick with electricity. I could hear footsteps drawing near, but nothing could have prepared me for who it was. My breathing hitched, and I straightened my back as my eyes connected with the shade of green that had begun to haunt me.

He said nothing as he slumped into the chair across from me, leaning back with his arms folded across his chest as if sitting together was the most natural thing in the world.

The only thing I could do was stare at him in shock.

“Tell me, Elle,” Ryder spoke softly, leaning forward with his elbows propped against the wooden table. “Why is it that no matter where you seem to be, I find you?”

I felt naked under his gaze. My heart beat wildly in my chest and, although apprehensive, I mimicked his posture and tried to play it cool.

“I’m not sure what you mean, Ryder.” His name fell off my tongue as smooth as honey, but I tried my best to lace the tone with salt.

“Oh, I think you know exactly what I mean, but I’ll be blunt. Why is it that no matter where I am in this piece of shit school, there is a small tug inside me I can’t ignore, and when I follow it, it leads me straight to you?”

There was no laughter in his voice; I sensed no sarcasm or mockery. He was serious. I had thought the woods were a one-off, but he just put it into words. He was as drawn to me as I was to him.

I stared at him completely at a loss for words. The air surrounding us crackled and I could feel the sparks jolting through my body, straight to my heart and my core. I would be putty in this guy’s hands if I wasn’t careful, and he knew it. Shifting in my seat, I recrossed my legs, clenching my thighs together.

He smirked knowingly.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I held my head high as I played ignorant. I was choosing to guard my heart and protect my friendship with Lily. Speaking of… “Where’s your girlfriend, Ryder?”

A flash of irritation coated his eyes before disappearing, leaving me wondering if that question had bothered him or if I was projecting to bury my guilt. He sat his hand down on the table less than an inch away from mine, and I fought the urge to reach over and touch him. Instead, I stared down at the largeness of his hand, studying the masculinity of his freaking hand, and blew out a breath to steady myself. Even his hand was attractive to me.

I was unprepared for everything that I felt when I was around him. The magnetic pull was too strong for someone I hardly had more than two conversations with in my entire high school career, but somehow, I couldn’t separate the logic with the lust. This was lust, wasn’t it?

It felt stronger than that.

“Look at me.”

I fought the need to do as he asked.

“Elle…” he rasped, lacing his pinky with mine. My eyes snapped to his, a whimper escaping my traitorous lips.

“Do you feel it too?” I asked, my voice shaking. I was fighting back tears, the magnetism too much for my brain to understand and process.

“Yeah.”

Pulling my eyes away from his, I stared down at a divot in the table's wood, unsure of where to go from here. So much had been conveyed with so little of words; my mind was reeling with questions that I wanted to ask while my heart was begging to be guarded. I pulled my hand out of Ryder’s grasp, breaking the contact, hoping it would clear the fog my mind had formed.

Just as I found the courage to ask the most important question I could muster, the bell rang, and I watched as Ryder stood from his chair. He offered me a fleeting look filled with hope just before he slipped between bookshelves and disappeared from view, leaving me with an even bigger ache in my heart than what was there before.

* * *

Shadow Hills High’smain building housed all the core academic classes; English, Sciences, Math, and History were all under one roof of the school’s three level building. The basement was small, only four classrooms were down there, all history classes.

I started down the staircase toward AP History, but my footsteps slowed as the sound of whispers grew closer to me. I was early for my class. It was still lunch and most kids were in the cafeteria or the quad, so the sudden company had me confused. As I quietly inched down the stairs, I peeked around the corner and caught sight of Noah. I relaxed and was about to hurl myself down the remaining three steps when he shifted slightly and Lily’s tiny frame came into view. Her back was against the locker and Noah was caging her in with his right hand propped against the locker behind her. I couldn’t make out what they were whispering about, but I stared with a bit of shock and confusion at the fact that Noah and Lily were down in the basement together. I didn’t realize that they talked outside of the few times we all chatted together in the hallways or the times when Noah had shown up at my house when Lily and I were racing to put finishing touches on an article that needed to be published. This conversation didn’t look like friendly chit chat in passing, so I stayed hidden and watched, trying to make out any words I could hear, feeling mildly guilty about eavesdropping, but not enough to walk away.

“I thought you were going to break up with him, Lils. What the fuck?” Noah hissed, likely more loudly than intended. I watched as Lily’s head bowed and she stared at the ground.

Lils? He had a nickname for her?

---