Touch Me While I Taste You

45 Arabella Rivera Monday had rolled in quickly. | hated Mondays, in fact, | think that was the only thing the rest of humanity and | had i n common.

I also didn’t get much sleep last night, seeing that my parents were roaring at each other the entire night. The shattering of glass as it hit a hard surface, wasn’t something | could get out of my head.

The sound had replayed over and over in my head every t| tried to succumb to my exhaustion last night.

Apparently, father worked overtand had not bothered to inform his wife, my mother.

Something so little brought on such rage that they invoked insomnia in their daughter without even knowing. Or maybe they did, and just didn’t care.

“Arabella.” A nudge on my shoulder has REDMI NOTE VS groaning. Another nudge and | QUADCA vertemplated if to curse or kill the person slowly.

| squeezed my arm around my face as | try to get comfortable on the desk. At any moment now, sleep would consme and | didn’t care that | was in the middle o fclass and was supposed to be jotting down......what again? Crap | can’t remember.

“Arabella.” Another nudge nearly has my head rolling off my arm. | hissed but refused to get up or spare him a word. | was tired, exhausted, sleep-deprived and all the other words that resonated with it. Can't a girl get srest? “If you keep this up Mr. Boyd would have you out of the class.” Christian grumble.

“Yeah what he said. Wake your lazy sexy ass up.” A slap on the back of my head hadsnapping up and pinning Gwen with a nasty glare. She quickly points at the corner of her mouth and mouths drool.

| swiftly wipe the corners of my mouth, indeed feeling the wetness of my own saliva that somehow trickled down the corners of my mouth.

Suddenly a heavy feeling of being swidenly a heavy feeling of being watched laps over me. My eyes, without any warning, draw towards the piercing eyes | could sense from across the room. Brown. Deep. And calculating.

Something tightens in my stomach and snakes all the way down to my core. | knew that feeling A feeling Haiden only seemed to invoke i nwhenever he is near. | suppose that’s a lie seeing that he doesn’t have to be nearanymore to have the feeling affect me.

His eyes tear away from my face and settle on Christian who chose to sit neartoday.

Haiden’s jaw ticked and the dark looming shadow of annoyance colored his eyes quickly. He snaps his head to the front and for the rest of the class doesn’t spareanother glance.

His actions were confusing, irritating and very immature. | can’t keep up with his cold attitude then his hot. It's like he intentionally wants to mess with my head and sadly my betraying body.

Why talk toone day than the naut neau anu saury my beraymy vody.

Why talk toone day then the next, treatlike | was the spawn of Satan? H e was complicated along with chaotic.

Certainly those were red flags to stay away from.

Most of the students had packed up and left as soon as they heard the ding of the bell. But Gwen and Christian waited for m e to pack up. | could sense Gwen's urgency as she wanted to get out of Mr. Boyd's class as soon as possible. But | was too tired to move quicker in packing u p my stuff. And probably a little grumpy. But wasn’t | always? “Con slowpoke. | know the turtle won the race but that’s pushing it. | mean how is that even possible? Did Mr. Turtle magically grow a set of rollerskates under his belly or did he use ssort of magic trick?” She voiced out seeming to be getting lost in her head.

“You definitely lost the moral of the story. The turtle won because he used his brains. He was smarter than the cocky rabbit.” Christian shrugged.

rabbit.” Christian shrugged.

Gwen rolled her eyes, pursing her cherry glossy lips. “Great another genius like Arabella. Will | always be named the dumb blonde in the group?” She exasperated | narrowed my eyes at her face while swinging the bag strap over my shoulder. “No one calls you that.” | pointed out, She clicks her tongue. “How would you know? You never listen to anyone or pay attention!” “Will you teenagers get out of my class! | don’t want to hear your teenage problems or your obtuse conversation. If | wanted t o hear and stupid talk, I'd go to the cinema or the bar.” Mr. Boyd snaps as he loads a stack of papers in his binder.

Both Gwen and Christian looked utterly lost and dumbstruck by Mr. Boyd's use of words. Honestly speaking, it wasn't the worse he could say.

His pinched face looks at me. “Arabella, cto this class when your last class is finished. I'm having trouble with the boy t o agree with the arrangement. Hopefully, by then, he’ll cto his senses.” I nodded while walking towards Gwen and Christian, who stood beside the door. “Sure Mr. Boyd.” | barely got to finish the last words when Gwen's fingers circled around my wrist quickly and tugsout of the class.

“Jeez did you want to dislocate my arm from its socket?” | grumble, prying my hand out of her grip.

She turns to pinwith an impatient glare. “Well if you weren't taking so long t o pack up then | wouldn't have to.” | rolled my eyes and began walking.” Then maybe you should've helpedpack up. Then we both would be happy.” | grumble. | wasn’t exactly in a cherry mood today. In fact, the sound of everyone walking the hallways madepicture myself stabbing my own ears.

| needed therapy.

“Hey are you okay?” | turn to Christian who fixedwith a look of worry. | tried to smile. I really did, but | swore | heard my mouth creaking like a rusty wrought iron gate as they forced to crack open.

Torced to crack open.

“Yeah just couldn’t really sleep last night. “It was partly true. But | rather keep most away from anyone. | don’t think mother or father would appreciatetelling anyone that they were having problems.

Christian nods. “Oh, I'm in the sboat. | couldn't get a wink last night or Saturday night. Something to do with Haiden coming hlate and always spotting either a slash on his face or a bruised eye. Charlotte really let her anger known both nights.” He cringes.

My ears piqued in interest. Christian was right, Haiden did chlater than usual. In fact | barely get a glimpse of him nowadays. Unfortunately, | found my eyes always looking for the tall brooding boy.

“Right | forgot you're Haiden Cross’s step -brother. How's it been living with the Cross’s?” Gwen's question piqued with curiosity. | was curious too, but | didn’t want it to be known.

Christian frowns. “Can | say | hate it so much that I'd willingly dig my grave?” mucul uildLI VIDELN5oy D 0- “Wow that bad huh?” Gwen asked again. Why is she so interested in all of this? Didn't she hate anything that had to do with Haiden? Christian nods. “Yep. That bad.” “What about your dad? Are you getting along with him at least?” She questions, furrowing her brows in thought.

“There's one thing I've gotten to know about my father. Is that he’s never home. | only saw him for a couple of hours and that was it. But from what | gathered, he and Haiden don’t exactly get along.” Christian answers.

Why was Haiden’s life sounding exactly like mine? Were we not so different after all? “Are you sure you don’t wantto wait for you? | can wait-" “No it’s fine. You need to babysit your cousin and besides, | can take a bus. | don’t think Mr. Boyd would keepthat long anyway.” | interrupted Gwen while shrugging Exactly! Which is why | should wait.” She huffs.

| rolled my eyes. “Gwen just go. I’m sure your cousin is running impatient since her shift is starting soon. I'll be fine and I'll text you when | get home.” “Ugh fine. But promise to textwhen you get home?” Gwen demanded.

| nodded. “I cross my heart and never to die.” She sighs, nods then turns around to walk to the entrance of the school. “I can stay if you want?” | lift my eyes to Christian. “She’s your only ride. Besides, | don’t think you'd enjoy riding the bus. A little secret. It always smells of perspiration and fart.” Christian cringes. “Well in that case, adios.” He waves and starts walking backward. “Have fun on the bus. Oh and textwhen you get home.” He sends m e a cheeky smile, winks and turns around to catch up with Gwen.

| turned around to walk towards the literature class. Everyone had already left terature class. Everyone had already left except for a few lingering teachers and students.

When | entered the classroom, Mr. Boyd had been packing up his stuff. He looks u p from his briefcase when he heard the opening of the door. “Oh, you're already here. The boy should be here soon.” | nodded and walked in further. Guess he succeeded in talking the boy into getting tutored.

The door opens harshly a second later, slamming onto the opposite wall with a loud crash. “Speak old man.” I know that voice.

A shiver snakes down my spine as | turn around to get pinned by the brown swirls that unnervedin many inappropriate ways. Haiden’s eyes gleamed with shock before he locks it away quickly.

“Fucking great.” He curses.