7. Celestia

Mrs. Tillman's words about Macbeth were boring me out to an extent that I had to put all the effort in my body to keep my eyes wide open. One moment of weakness  and I'd fall down, snoring. And I didn't snore.

I didn't understand what it was really. Was it her monotonous bored voice or maybe the fact that I had already read Macbeth, I'd never know. One thing I was sure about was that I couldn't really decipher Shakespeare. Sometimes he'd give a happy ending like The Winter's Tale, sometimes he'd write something as gory as Macbeth.

But even though my brain was at the minimalistic activity, there was something pricking me at the back of my mind and it was the fact that Ardia had completely ignored me in the morning.

When I saw her, I had waved at her but she went to her class pretending she didn't see me. I was thinking of confronting her in chem. I thought that I sounded desperate but it kind of didn't really matter when you are the new girl in your new school. Not to mention, half of the school population didn't want to talk to me because I was seen around Ardia. Like what the heck.

I heard the bell ring and I controlled myself to stand on my chair and scream 'freedom'.

Mrs. Tillman asked us to keep up with our reading for the upcoming quiz the next week and multiple groans echoed around the class. I placed my folders in my bag and sprinted for the room to Chem. In my haze and utmost urgency I found myself to be the first person in the class. I felt irritated but I took a seat and placed my head on the table above my arms.

Closing my eyes, my mind drifted off to a certain pair of splendid green eyes. His beautifully contoured face and silky dirty blond locks took over my imagination.

Ryan, the boy, because of which I had written a slimy history essay for my homework because I couldn't keep my brain off him. Everytime I thought I'd concentrate, I'd start thinking about him again. It seemed to me that he had a certain pull over me. Like, I just wanted to be in his presence. And it was to an extent that it creeped me out.

Sure I had crushes before but it was so surreal to think about him. I was still probably mad at him. But there was something, like there was something inside me telling me to break free and just be with him.

I was pulled out of my thoughts as I heard Mr. Abalone beginning the class. Everyone was seated and I took out my folder, jotting down the notes as Mr. Abalone continued his lecture on the crystal field theory. I kept glancing at the door waiting for Ardia to come but after twenty minutes I gave up and tried to listen to the teacher in the front. Mark my words I tried.

A few minutes later Ardia came at the door. She was wearing high waist mom jeans that were highly ripped and a loose black t-shirt and her dark hair were messy. As her eyes met mine they widened a bit but she looked away.

"Late as usual, Ms. Wellington. Detention after school.", Mr. Abalone said as he sighed. Ardia scanned the room and her eyes landed on the seat next to mine which was the only empty one. She gave me a tight lipped smile and I found myself uncomfortable. She sat beside me and Mr. Abalone continued his lecture.

I listened carefully but I was determined to confront Ardia about her weird behavior. As my mind was processing these things I felt a faint noise of sniffing. I turned to look at Ardia only to see her trying to smell me.

I leaned back.

She leaned in.

I leaned further back

She leaned further in.

It seemed to happen a couple of times more until my torso was at almost 180 degrees with the ground.

"What is going on?", Abalone asked with a confused look on his face which, I had no doubt, matched mine as well.

"Sorry.", I said but Ardia just shrugged. Mr. Abalone shook his head and tried to regain the class' attention.

I hissed at Ardia, "What is wrong with you? First, you ignore me and now this!"

She looked a bit taken aback but then she rolled her eyes and took a list out of her bag and crossed out a couple of things.

"What's that?", I asked her.

"You want to know the truth or something that won't creep you out?", she asked with a smirk on her face.

I wanted to slap it off.

I didn't because it would take her a millisecond to strangle me to death.

"Forget it.", I told her and tried to bring my attention to chemistry. After some time I was able to understand almost everything and it seemed pretty interesting to me. On the other hand, Ardia was dozing off to my side.

Someone had a rough night I guess.

Midway through the period I felt a burning sensation in the pit of my stomach. The same kind I had felt a day before. I closed my eyes tight and felt a smooth bead of sweat run down my forehead. I suddenly felt my body temperature rise up to an extent that I could almost feel it and my head throbbed. I tried to control but a light whimper had already escaped my mouth.

Ardia looked at me her forehead creased, "Are you okay, Celestia?", she asked me.

I opened my eyes and nodded my head vigourously. My palms had become sweaty and I could feel sweat accumulatimg in my feet so I pushed my sneakers off my feet. Just as I thought that I was going to pass out, the burning sensation faded and all that was left was me being a sweaty mess. Slowly, as the sweat started to evaporate I felt coolness and heaved out a sigh.

Ardia gave me a questioning look once again but I ignored her. As the bell rang, Ardia got up in a jiff before I could say anything to her. I felt a bit of disappointed but I simply wore my shoes back again and paced across the hallway for my other class.

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Almost all of my lunch time was spent in the school infirmary, trying to tell the nurse about what happend but she simply gave me a paracetamol. I gulped it with some water, thinking that I would atleast help a bit with headache because it was not fever that I had. I was pretty sure of that.

My next class was biology and I internally cringed at the thought of Mrs. Weatherby and a little bit more nervous about the fact that Ryan was in it as well.

It was a bizzare feeling to be honest, I wanted to see him but at the same time I wanted the earth to swallow me in. I shook of my head trying to get out of the haze and dragged my aching feet to the dreaded classroom.

As I entered the first thing I saw was that all the seats were almost taken. I saw the infamous trio in a heated discussion and how they abruptly stopped and stared at me as I entered, probably looking that I was run over by a truck. Monster truck, to be more metaphoric.

Ryan gave me a smile and I was pretty sure I wanted the earth to gulp me in. I motioned towards a red headed girl and asked while pointing at the seat beside her, "Is this seat taken?"

She glanced at Ardia who gave her a curt look and she quickly shook her head in denial. I glared at Ardia who glared back. So, I did what any sane girl of my age and built did.

I looked away and begrudgingly sat on the only other available and empty seat.

Beside Ryan.

Oh, just eat me earth, just eat me up.

As I sat down his bicep gently touches mine and I felt a tingle across my while body to the depth of my stomach and back. He had an effect on me. A kind I liked and hated at the same time.

"How you doing?", he asked me. Andy gave a smirk to Ardia she pushed her lips to prevent some sort of laughter escaping her mouth and pushed Andy's beanie off his head. Andy muttered a few curses and Ardia seemed pretty proud of herself.

I wanted to answer back saying that apart from occasionally burning up with some internal body fire, I was fine. I decided not to sass up for he would probably ask me some questions which I would have no answers to.

"Fine.", I told him.

Mrs. Weatherby came in with her permanent scowl on her face which I didn't think can be deepened, but it did as she saw Ardia giving her a toothy smile.

"I'm ready to learn, Mrs. Weatherby.", she said.

Three groans were heard across the room. From Ryan, Andy and of course, Mrs. Weatherby. This made Ardia giggle out which our teacher ignored and started her lecture.

Sitting beside Ryan meant that I would have to do extra effort in this chapter and go home and try to understand everything again while reading the book because I could not understand one bit what Mrs. Weatherby was saying.

It was as if Ryan had an invisible, powerful aura around him which was constantly trying to lure me in. I peeked a glance at him, he was wearing a black shirt with a couple of buttons open and his sleeves were rolled up. His dirty blonde hair were swept to the side and I wanted to sweep my fingers across them.

It felt that there was something inside me telling me to always keep Ryan in front of me but my mind kept on telling me that I was a complete idiot to develop an instant crush on him. He kissed me for crying got loud and seriously, who does that. It was exploiting my privacy.

But at the same time I could not deny the fact that it felt hazardously amazing to feel his lips on mine. His touch made me have a blissful trip to oblivion from which I never wanted to return. And I wanted to devour his touch again until my skin burned from his.

My mind was foggy with my 'Ryan thoughts' when the sudden burning sensation started again. This time it felt that it took a toll on my chest and moved all the way to my stomach. I clutched myself and wished for it to go away.

I had paracetamol, but who was I kidding. I knew it wouldn't do a thing. The heat had started to radiate all through my body and my limbs felt that they might fire an inferno any minute.

I whimpered out and the pencil fell of from my hand. Ryan gave me a worried glance and his eyes crinkled as he saw beads of sweat rolling off my temples.

"You're burning up.", he simply stated but his face had a worried expression. I was pretty sure my body had resembled a heater and was radiating heat that he might feel.

My stomach churned and the little amount of breakfast I had in the morning seemed to come out any moment. I groaned loudly and Ryan threw his hands on my shoulder. He flinshed a bit as he touched my hot skin. Tears had started to ooze out of my eyes and I sobbed as my head had started to throb and my vision became blurry.

"Ms. Hales are you alright?", Mrs. Weatherby asked and just as the words fell out of her mouth the tubelight just above the board bursted and the shards of glass fell.

I couldn't take it anymore and I rushed out of the class to the nearest girl's washroom. I couldn't see anything clearly and my feet ached a lot. I felt strong hands around me which tried to drag me in some other direction.

I screamed loudly at Ryan but he didn't say anything and just picked me up in his arms and took me to a familiar hallway. He felt cold under my touch but that was probably because I was burning up. I groaned loudly again and the feeling of nausea was overpowering all my senses.

Ryan pushed open a door and I somehow was able to cognize my surroundings as boys change room in the gym. He gently placed me on the ground and turned on the shower.

The cool droplets of water fell soothingly on my body and it felt calming. I looked at Ryan and he was pretty confused. I couldn't take it anymore. I felt pathetic and completely helpless. I didn't understand what was going for with me and made me so frustrated that couldn't take it anymore. And I cried.

I cried so hard. Even though, the water seemed to bring my body back to normal, I was pretty sure whatever I was suffering from wasn't. Ryan came and pulled me in his arms.

"It's alright, Celestia. You're fine now.", I wanted to push him away because I hardly knew him and his close proximity didn't feel right. Also, he was wetting his clothes.

But, at the same time, his touch made me feel relaxed instantly. I slammed my face in his chest and sobbed some more. He gently stroked my wet hair and murmered in my ear saying I was fine.

And I felt fine with him. I felt protected in his arms. I don't know how long we stayed there under the shower, tangled with each other. But I never wanted it to end.

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Author's Note-

And I want to make this very clear to you, due to the lack of any romantic physical action in my life which may include holding hands or kissing or further on 😂...I suck at these feelings thingy so guys go easy on me if I made it sound too creepy and less cheesy. I really was trying for cheese to be clear.

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