The first thing that people notice is my height. I’m 6’4” with a muscular build thanks to my time in the gym. I have black hair that I always forget to get cut on time so it tends to be just a touch too long. Right now, it’s brushing the tips of my ears and hanging low over my forehead. It almost hangs in my eyes. My eyes seem to be the thing that everyone sees and comments on. They’re green and bright like a Christmas tree.
I finally reach my classroom and I’m able to leave the girls and their innate chatter behind me. I reach out and pull the door open, keeping my head down and ignoring everyone as best I can as I make my way to my desk in the back of the room next to the window. I drop my backpack next to it and turn my head to look out the window. I do my best to discourage conversations with other people.
The teacher stands and begins to read the announcements as I continue to stare out the window. Suddenly, there’s a commotion at the door and my eyes snap to the front of the room as a tiny angel steps into the room.
She walks up to the teacher and hands her a piece of paper before the teacher introduces her to the classroom.
“Boys and girls, please meet our newest student, Auden Glaser.”
One look. That’s all it takes and I know that she’s different from everyone else in this boring town and now, I’ll stop at nothing to make her mine.
Chapter 3
Ryker
* * *
I stare at her for the entire homeroom class. I’m desperately trying to understand these new feelings and racking my brain for something to say to her. Time flies by and I still haven’t come up with anything to talk with her about. Before I know it, the bell has rung and my girl is out of her seat and halfway out the door before I jump from my seat to follow her. I lose her in the crush of other students. I think I catch sight of her turning a corner and I take off in that direction but I’m stopped when three girls step in my way. I try to dart around them but one reaches out and wraps her hand around my arm.
“Hey, Ryker.” The lead one sings at me. She has this annoying baby voice that a lot of girls seem to use. I don’t know why. It’s not sexy, it’s annoying.
“Sorry, excuse me.” I say as I push past them.
By the time that I make it to the corner where I last saw her, she’s long gone and most of the hallway is emptying. I curse as I turn on my heel and head in the opposite direction for my first class. I’m going to have to come up with a new plan and keep my eyes peeled for her. I’m sure that I’ll see her at lunch and I’ll make my move then.
Lunchtime comes and goes and my girl never shows up. I scoured the lunchroom, looking for her but she never showed. I’m starting to panic, growing uneasy at not having my eyes on her for so long. I’ve been looking for her in the hallways and in each of my classes but there’s been no sign of her. I’m starting to think that I just hallucinated her.
It’s the end of the fourth period, two more classes to go and then school is out and I won’t see her again until tomorrow morning. I make my way to my fifth class and search every face in the crowded hallways for my girl. My last class is a study hall so I really only have one class left since I usually leave after my fifth period.
I walk into fifth period, my English class, and take my usual seat in the back of the room. I’m trying to decide where the best place would be to sit and wait outside in the hopes that she walks by and I can see her again, maybe talk to her, when she walks in the door. I sit up straighter in my seat as she introduces herself to the teacher and then turns to find a seat. The seat next to me is the only open seat in all of my classes and this one is no different.
I’m like a little kid on Christmas as she makes her way down the aisle towards my desk. She settles into the desk next to me and I see her glance at me out of the corner of her eye. Her cheeks flush as her eyes meet mine. I smile to myself as her eyes quickly dart away from me. She’s so freaking cute.
I go to introduce myself to her but the teacher starts her lesson then. I have the worst luck today. I growl at the teacher under my breath as I watch my girl pull out her notebook and a pen. I bide my time watching Auden take notes and read along from the book with the rest of our classmates.
“Next week we will be starting our poetry module. That means Shakespeare, Frost, and Plath, of course, but also some lesser-known poets like Coleridge and Auden. Oh, Auden! Class, our newest student is Auden Glaser! Are you named after W.H. Auden?”
“Yes, Ma’am.” My girl replies.
I file this information away for later. I want to know everything that I can about this girl. The bell rings and just like last time, Auden is out of her seat before anyone else. I’m ready for her this time though, and I follow her out of the room before I stop her with my hand on her elbow. She turns big grey eyes up at me and I start to drown in them.
“Can I help you?” She asks as she starts to pull her elbow from me.
I tighten my hold on her slightly, not wanting her to get away from me again.
“I’m Ryker Holden.” I say as I step in closer to her as the hallway starts to fill with students.
“Auden.” She says. “It was nice to meet you and all but I really need to get to my next class.”
She tries to pull away from me again but I block her path.
“What’s your next class? Maybe I can show you the way.” I offer, only a little desperately.
“Um, it’s a study hall. In the library.”
Finally! Finally, my luck has changed and I can spend some time with my girl.
“My last class is study hall too. I’ll walk with you.” I say as I start to lead her down the hall and to the library.
Normally, I would bail on study hall and just head home but I know that my girl isn’t going to leave school early with me, so study hall it is. We enter the library and head for an open table. There’s no teacher in this class, just the librarian, and she’s pretty relaxed on the rules. We can talk amongst ourselves quietly and pretty much do homework or play games on our phone for the hour. It’s a pointless class, which is why I usually just leave but if it means spending time with my girl, then I’m staying.
Auden takes a seat across from me and I immediately move to the seat next to her. She glances up at me shyly as she takes some of her books out of her bag. She starts to work on some homework as we sit there. Is she really just going to ignore me? No one ignores me. Usually, I would be ecstatic that people were leaving me alone, but with this girl? I’m desperate for her attention, for anything this girl will give me.
“So, you’re new here?” I ask, trying to make conversation and get her to talk to me. It doesn’t work. She glances to the side at another table of cheerleaders who are sitting nearby before nodding at me distractedly. I watch her as she goes back to her homework.
This routine continues with every question that I ask. After the third question, I see what’s happening. Those snobby cheerleaders give my girl dirty looks every time I try to talk to her. My girl doesn’t seem to like attention and I know that she won’t answer me when she knows that others are watching.
School ends a couple of minutes later and like before, my girl is up and out the door before anyone else. I keep pace with her as she heads down the hall and stops at her locker. She turns the knob and pops it open, stuffing all of her books inside before she slams it closed and is forced to acknowledge me.