Chapter 17
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"When are we going to class?" I asked Rixton impatiently, flicking him in the head with a finger. Maybe not a good idea, but he wouldn't pummel me into dust; right...?

Sure.

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes and instead glanced away from Rixton and then pulled out my schedule, the one my mom had picked up when she first registered me in.

"What's your Study Hall class?" I asked Rixton, and a part of me secretly hoped he'd be in the same class as me.

"Mr. Geo," Rixton muttered, looking irritated as he glared at me, but I shrugged the looks off easily.

"I have him, too!" I said excitedly, shoving my schedule almost literally into his face.

"Gah!" Rixton exclaimed, pushing my hand waving my schedule in front of his eyes away. "Ever heard of personal space?!" he snapped.

I shrugged, feeling a bit guilty, but tossed the thought aside.

"You know you love me!" I chided, causing Rixton to scowl. "As if," he muttered angrily, and a part of me (my... fangirl side) screamed in despair.

I smiled at Rixton instead. "You'll learn. We're going to be best friends, just wait," I told him solemnly. "I swear it on the River Styx."

Rixton scoffed. "Sure. I'd rather go to Azkaban than be your friend," he said scornfully, causing me to gasp.

But not out of hurt; no, I was used to his little jabs.

He actually made a Harry Potter reference!

"Rixton!" I said excitedly, grinning from ear to ear, "Did you just make a Harry Potter reference?!"

Rixton frowned, looking confused, then turned deathly pale, which made his skin seem as white as a ghost. I saw a thin girl, her mousy brown hair braided into a ponytail, gasp and scamper away from us, even though she was five tables away.

What had Rixton done to make everyone so terrified of him? Did he cook the class pet and eat it or something?

Ew! Gross!

What?! It could have happened...!

Seeing where my gaze was leading, Rixton stiffened and then snorted.

"What's so amusing?" I asked, turning my head to look at him curiously.

"These people," Rixton replied sourly, though a smirk played on his lips. I felt my heart flutter, as if it had wings, and my brain kind of-- faltered, for a minute. As if my whole world stopped just seeing him give the smallest of smirks.

Beautiful...

Ew! I'm the gross one?!

I nearly choked on my own spit at my brain's revolting thoughts. Instead, I merely frowned at Rixton.

"Did you kill somebody? Why are they all so... jumpy around you?" I asked him cautiously, knowing I might be treading on thin ice.

Rixton glanced at me, and for a mere second I thought I saw sadness glint in his oblivion-colored eyes before it was gone, as quickly as it had come.

But it was there. I know it. And it sent a stabbing pain through me knowing Rixton was sad. It was weird. I think I really am getting sick.

With lo--

Don't finish that sentence!

Ve.

I hate you.

Such foul words!

Good!

Good!

Better than good!

Whatever.

Ha.

I smirked in triumph, then quickly felt it wash away when I looked at Rixton again.

He was playing absentmindedly with the end of his black jacket, seemingly deep in thought.

"If I told you," he began slowly, his voice carrying a darker tone to it now, "You'd be scared of me."

I laughed. Like, laughed. I laughed so hard my sides hurt, my chest ached and heaved for each breath, but I couldn't stop. The laughing kept coming, and I swear I felt as if I was choking, tears forming in my eyes.

Rixton gave me a baffled 'What the?' look, but I just kept on giggling.

Finally, I managed to compose myself, taking deep breaths, clutching onto the table for support before wiping the tears from my eyes and turning back to Rixton.

"Do you honestly think I'm scared of you?" I asked him curiously, suddenly becoming serious.

Rixton shrugged, as if people being frightened of him was a natural, everyday thing. "Kind of. Everyone is," he replied gruffly.

I felt my heart melting, dripping into my stomach and spreading a warm and tingling feeling through my body. I ignored it and instead faced Rixton, taking a deep breath as I looked straight into his seemingly endless black eyes, searching him.

"I'm not scared of you," I told him sincerely. "Quite the opposite, in fact. I'm your friend. Friends look out for each other, friends stay friends through thick and thin, friends don't care what other people think. And yes, I realize I just met you about two days ago, but you can make a best friend in a day, and build a bond up overtime. It just takes patience, and learning to know the other person better. And I'm not telling you to spill out your life's secrets to me; you can do that when your comfortable. But I will become your friend, whether you think I'm annoying, too talkative, nosy, bossy, or all of the above. I'll be there. I'll be loyal to you; I'll be by your side. Because believe it or not, Rix, you just got a friend. And I know it may seem as if we're still strangers, but we're not. We have things in common; we both like the same books. And though in other things we are different, everyone says opposites attract, do they not? So please, stop blowing me off; stop being so blunt; start saying more than one sentence. Because I'm going to keep coming, whether you like it or not."

(A/N: Tada. Another chappie! I hope you all liked this one, because I enjoyed making it :)

Ariana: I am quite proud of my little speech.

Rixton: It could be better.

Me: Oh, please Rixton, we all know you were fangirling on the inside ;)

Rixton: *blushes a faint, faint pink* No!

Me: Mhm... I'm the author, sweetie, so I know all ;)

Rixton: Not creepy..... O.O

Haha well let's end that conversation there!

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