CHAPTER TEN

CAN'T YOU STAY?

Later after the first class, Kate left the nursing room to go on a walk, then she saw Ethan sitting on a bench

"Hey" she smiled and sat beside him then he looked down at her knees, having a worried look on his face then Kate smiled, knowing what he means

" It's fine now, I'm okay," She said and Ethan smiled.

" Thank you for saving me earlier, and I apologize for bothering you on your first day at school. Moreover, thank you for not holding a grudge against this person that hurt your knees" she said and they both smiled. He stared at her, he almost got lost in her smile, he got the urge to bring her in his arm and make her his. Then he shook his head, chasing away the thoughts

" Don't forget you owe me then" he said instead and Kate nodded. Then they went silent for some while before Kate looked at him abruptly as if remembering something important

" Right, this is the second time we met, and you know my name?" She asked curiously and Ethan smiled,

" I'm Ethan Norman, aren't I? I can know what I want to know" Ethan said and they both smiled.

After the class, Jace went to the nursing room but didn't see Kate, he searched everywhere, in the class, corridor, and garden, but nowhere to be found. He was about to check on her again in the class when he saw her smiling with someone. He was furious to see her smiling with Ethan. He went there, almost two steps, and quickly grabbed Kate's hand, yanking her up. She looked at him immediately, surprised.

"Jac…" She was saying when Ethan stood up immediately, making her stop,

" Class president, where are your manners? Don't you see we are busy?" Ethan, rather in mockery and angry tone.

" Newbie, don't you know you are talking to someone who has yet to recover well?" Jace said, and they both held each other's gaze for a while. Kate could feel a tension rising in the air between the two, and she was about to say a word when Jace turned to leave with her, holding her hand, then Ethan grabbed her second hand. Jace looked at him meanly and turned to him.

" What are you doing?" Jace asked, his eyes blazing with anger.

" You don't have manners, do you? You can't just take her away, we have the stuff to discuss" Ethan smirked and Jace moved closer to him,

" Take her from me if you can," Jace said, dragging her to his side.

" You mean it?" Ethan also dragged her to his side.

Kate was so frustrated, and she whipped her hands away angrily.

" What's wrong with you guys!" She ranted, and she left angrily.

Jace moved closer to Ethan with a cold face,

" Know Your Place, Ethan, I'm not the same thirteen-year-old child that begged you to back off. Now, I won't stop you, let's see how it ends" Jace said and turned

" I'm now more curious about the end. Oh, I'm scared, you just scared me with your threats" Ethan laughed, rather mockingly,

" I'm more curious about my little brother's changes. Right, let's see to the end" Ethan said, tapping his shoulder. He shrugged and Ethan left, grinning.

At break time, Jace went to the deserted part of the school with his food flask and opened it, he remembered the expression of his mother this morning when wanted to give him. He took a spoon and tasted it, remembering the expression of sadness, emptiness, and longing on his mother's face. He wished he could take his mother away and make her find happiness. It's been a while since he saw a smile on his mother's face, all he could see was worry, sad, longing, and emptiness. Tears blurred his vision and looked up to control it from falling when someone tapped his shoulder. He was shocked, caught off guard, and looked at the person with the mind of seeing his joy killer friend, Donald, but instead, he saw Kate, he was surprised. He thought she was mad at him because of what happened this morning between him and Ethan.

" Are you crying?" She asked and Jace quickly wiped his tears,

" I'm not…."

" No need for excuses, it is not like you to want to be alone. I'm sorry, I think I disturbed you, I will see you later" She said and wanted to leave when Jace quickly grabbed her hand,

" Can't you stay?" He asked and Kate looked at him, surprised

" I thought you wanted to…"

" Can't I be alone with you?" He interrupted, and Kate's heart skipped a bit.

' How can he be so straightforward? She thought and looked at him, he wasn't himself. Then she sat beside him, and Jace smiled at her.

" Thank you. I'm sorry for what happened earlier this morning" Jace said and Kate smiled, she was frustrated at first, but she also enjoyed the fact that he was jealous, and he would rather not see her with another man. She smiled,

" Huh?" Jace looked at her as she smiled

"Apology accepted," She said and they both smiled again, and he offered her food, but she understands the situation that he wanted to be alone just with the food, though it sounds silly to her, and didn't know what it means but she just wanted to understand. Then shook her head and smiled. She watched him as he eats the food alone and his handsome face is making her have a dirty thought. She stared at his lips and her eyes brighten, making her look away, her heart is beating like crazy and it is hard to control it. She just wanted to always be alone with him all day like this, watching him cry and eat, but she was afraid that couldn't happen, her mother, will transfer her again when she heard she is dating, and she wouldn't be able to see him again nor even hear his voice, the thought frightened her, and she sighed sadly, she didn't know her sigh was loud until she felt a warm hand on hers, and she looked at him immediately, he had finished eating. He smiled at her,

" All will be well, please keep in mind I'm always here, huh? And my shoulder is always there for you to cry on" Jace said with a smile and as if adding fuel to the fire, she burst into tears she has been suppressing. Jace hugged her, patting her back gently as she weeps loudly on his shoulder, feeling her hot breath. He tightened the hug and patted her hair, his heart scrunched up as he wished he could share her burden and make her happy. He wished he could make a world free of sadness, worry, and hatred. He wanted to keep his loved ones there. He was surprised to see Kate's hand wrapped around his neck, she was still crying, and he stared at her, though he could not see her face, she has covered her face with his shoulder. He just wants to make her his.

Donald sat on the school bench, with his headphones. Nala sat beside him, and he removed his headphones

" Jace and Kate are nowhere to be found," Nala said

" Just leave them, this is the time for Jace to tell her how he feels, Ethan is here. Before he ruined everything," Donald said and Nala looked up.

Donald looked at her

" We too, should also spend more time alone" He mumbled to himself, Nala looked at him.

" Are you saying something?"Nala asked and Donald stared at her instead of replying. Nala felt awkward because of the stare and stood up, turning to leave, then Donald grabbed her hand and stood up too, and looked at her straight in the eye

" Can't you stay?" He said with a low voice, almost talking to himself. Nala looked at him, not able to form a word and they both stood there, staring at each other.

Kate released herself from Jace's grasp and looked at him, her eyes, nose, and ears were red because of crying. Jace wiped the remaining tears gently with his hand and also stared back at her. They were staring at each other for a very long time and Jace gently cupped her cheek with his right hand and moved closer to her, he stared at her and their faces were just an inch distance from each other. Kate held his cloth and stared at him, then he moved closer to her face and she felt his wet lips on hers. He brushed his lips on hers, and she was shocked, she wanted to push him back but instead, she felt her hand encircle his neck. The kiss made her leg weak and they trembled slightly. Butterflies fluttered from her throat down to her stomach, sending a shiver through her core. It was a gentle kiss, his lips were so warm against hers. She could feel her heart thumping out loud, and she almost got carried away by the new feeling that was immersing