Well, I just got that feeling. So I turn to my right to see who was watching me and it is probably the best thing I have ever done. A simple thing. It’s funny how simple things we do can lead to something extraordinary.
It’s him, the guy from Naomi’s party. It’s the guy that left the most desirable impression on me. I can’t believe this. If this was a movie a love song would have come on once our eyes met. Or screw a love song; it would be one of those movie love themes that play on Oscar films like the Notebook or Meet Joe Black.
I try to refrain from smiling, but I can’t. It’s like as soon as I turned around and saw him that fire in me suddenly grew again. Like a light bulb was turned on or something. I can’t help but to feel warm when I look at him. He slowly smiles at me in return. That same broad smile he gave me the first time we saw each other. His eyes are a bright blue and they completely consume me. They consume me so much that I feel sad when he blinks. I guess he’s blinking a lot right now because he’s as shocked as I am right now. He’s here at my school. He’s here sitting right next to me. Is it possible to feel this overjoyed over someone you barely know?
“Alright, you know the drill. Clear your desks except for a pencil. We are going to have a quiz to see if you know anything from two weeks ago. If you’re new, hopefully your last school taught you something.” I hear Mr. Dugan, but I can’t take my eyes off the boy next to me.
Okay, Claudia, stop drooling. Remember this guy didn’t call. But am I crazy for not caring about that right now? I just care that he’s here, smiling at me.
We both snap out of it as soon as Mr. Dugan gives us our quizzes. I want to hurry up with this quiz so I can leave and talk to the guy of my dreams.
During our quiz, we keep sneaking quick glances at each other. I’m blushing so hard right now I feel like I’m going to burst.
With only ten minutes left I finish the last question and grab my stuff and head up front. I pass the quiz to Mr. Dugan and glance back to see my guy not too far behind. I walk out to the hallway and lean up against the lockers.
I’m so nervous. What am I going to say? It’s been a year. A whole freaking year! It really feels longer than that.
I hear the classroom door next to me open and close. I continue staring down at the floor while he slowly walks in front of me. A pair of black combat boots step into my view. I look up to see the same blue eyes, staring at me with that same intense gaze they did that night. All I want to do right now is kiss him. God what is this? Everything I’m feeling now is the same as when I first met him. The spark is still there.
Okay, say something. Claudia, say something.
“Hi.” Thank God he said something first.
“Hey.” I say nervously
We continue standing silent probably for the next thirty seconds.
“Look, I am so sorry I never called. A lot happened that night and I lost my phone” Yes! I was right, he did lose his phone. “And it killed me, It killed me because as crazy as it is, I lost you, and...”
“I thought about you every day.” The words just come out of my mouth. “That’s crazy isn’t it?”
“No. It’s not because I thought about you every day too. There was so many bad stuff going on and the good things I thought about… included you. I thought about you all the time.” I sigh at relief.
He walks closer to me and drops his bag on the floor. He places his hands on my waist. My heart jumps at the feel of his touch. He looks the same, but also different. His hair is cut and his arms are a little bigger like he’s been working out.
I realize I’m not breathing because when he rests his forehead against mine, I instantly exhale a long breath. I place my hands on his forearms and close my eyes. I can feel his muscles through his coat.
This feels nice. It feels wonderful. We feel good together. I finally get a second chance. I get a chance to maybe get something I never knew I longed for in my life until now.
“Now can I know your name?” He asks softly.
I laugh at him and open my eyes to see his baby blues. Yes of course he can. I’ve been waiting for what seems like forever.
“It’s Claudia. My name is Claudia Stonem.” I say proudly.
My nerves kick in when his bright smile begins to falter like I just ruined his day. He removes his hands from me and steps a back like I’m the plague or something. What’s wrong? Why does his face look like someone just died.
“Your name is Claudia Stonem?” He asks as if he can’t believe it.
“Yeah, what’s wrong?” The bell rings. In an instant everyone walks out into the hallway.
Why is it bad that my name is Claudia Stonem? Why is he acting like this?
“What the hell are you doing?” I know that voice. It’s Ella Pierce, the pain in my ass.
I turn around to see her staring at me with her usual look like I did something to her. I really don’t have time for this.
“What do you want?” I rudely ask. I’m usually the bigger person here, but now is not the time.
“No, the real question is what are you doing with my brother?” WHAT?! “Donovan, what are you doing?”
I follow her questionable stare back towards him. His face is completely blank. No, this can’t be. He can’t be her brother. He can’t be him. Not him. Please, let this be a nightmare.
He is Donovan Pierce, the son of Roman Pierce.
Donovan
Claudia Stonem, the girl of my dreams, is the daughter of the man trying to destroy my father. How could this happen? Why is it happening?
“Donovan?” My sister gains my attention back. She’s wondering why I’m standing here talking to her, the daughter of one of New York’s top assistant U.S. attorney’s.
The same man I have hated ever since he and the cops charged in our home in Manhattan when I was younger and arrested my father during a family dinner. After watching him give my father a smug look that day, I knew he was the enemy, and I would forever hate him.
“Donovan” I snap out of my memory to see my sister staring at me angrily, waiting for my answer.
“Nothing.” Before I could gather the words to say, Claudia says it already. “We bumped into each other. That’s all.”
“Well, next time watch where you’re going.” My sister says in a very bitchy way.
“Yeah, of course.” I can see it in her eyes. She is as hurt and shocked as I am right now. She picks up her bag and starts walking off in the opposite direction.
“Are you okay?” Ella asks.
“Yeah” I lie. “I’m fine.”
I grab my bag and start walking. I don’t even know where I’m walking to. I just know that I feel like I got my heart pushed back in and ripped out again, and it’s only been first period.
Claudia
Why is this happening to me? Why does the first day of school have to be like this? I didn’t want any drama this year, none. Then things go from probably the best day ever to the worst. The guy I had an amazing night with is freaking Roman Pierce’s son! I thought they said he was out of town that night. I thought he said his father was a defense attorney. I thought a lot of damn things. What is this?!
“Claudia!” I finally stop speed walking to see Jade following behind me. “What was that? Why were you talking to Donovan Pierce?”
“You saw that?” What all did she see?
“Yeah, I actually saw more than his sister. You two were looking at each other like crazy.”
Oh Shit.
I quickly pull Jade into the first empty classroom I see. I lock the door and turn to face her.
“It’s him” I confess.
“What?” She asks looking confused.
“The guy, Jade! The guy I met that night at Naomi’s party, the guy I kissed.” I take a deep breath before I utter his name. A name I wish I could forget. “It’s Donovan Pierce.” Then again, I don’t wish that all.
Jade’s mouth quickly drops at my confession. Her eyes widen at me in utter disbelief.
“Holy
Shit! You freaking made out with Donovan Pierce?!”
“Would you not shout?” God the whole world probably heard her by now.
“Oh, my God, Claudia, he’s Roman Pierce’s son.”
“Obviously I know that now!”
“Well, are you sure he didn’t know who you were?”
“No, of course not.” Did he?
“How do you know that? He could have planned that all along. He’s a Pierce. All they do is scheme and kill or whatever.” She doesn’t even know him, she can’t say that.
“He’s not like that.” I’m defending him? Why am I defending him?
I don’t know why I’m so irritated by what she said. I don’t think Donovan would do that. Oh God I can’t believe I’m already personally referring to him by his name!
“Claudia, are you serious right now? You don’t know him. He is Donovan Pierce, son of the most notorious mob boss, not to mention the man your father hates. Also let’s not forget that his sister slept with your now ex-boyfriend.”
“Rub it in why don’t you, Jade” I mean really she just had to go there.
“I’m just saying, he is trouble and the best thing for you to do is to just chill and forget it ever happened.”
I close my eyes and sigh. “I know. You’re right.”
“Good, now let’s breathe in and out.” She sucks in a huge breath then lets it out. I do exactly what she does to calm my nerves. “Now, let’s go to the class.”
We walk out the empty classroom to see everyone heading to class. Its second period and Jade and I have the same class together.
As we are walking to class I can’t get Donovan out of my head. My heart keeps feeling sad and I hate it. I hate this feeling. I really just want to go somewhere and cry. What if Jade is right? What if he knew all along who I was? The only difference is that the guy I met didn’t seem that way. I know that’s naïve to say about someone I barely know, but I really felt like I could see him, like I could see his heart by the way he looked at me and talked to me. I don’t know. All I know is this day can’t get any worst.
“Ms. Stonem and Ms. Dawson, glad you could join us.” I look up to see Mrs. Hairston standing by our classroom door.
We smile and enter into the classroom. At first sight I see Eric. Sitting two seats behind him is Ella. I’m pissed! I forgot that I have class with my douchebag ex-boyfriend and Ella Pierce. This is advance American literature and seniors and juniors can take it together. Damn this school. I look at Jade who looks like she forgot too. She leads us towards the back past my ex and sworn enemy. I sit down and let out a huge sigh. This day still can’t get any worse.
“Okay, class. How is the first day back going so far?” Mrs. Hairston says. I love her, she’s really cool. She actually makes American Literature interesting. “Did we get all the Christmas shopping, along with teen angst, sex, and drinking out the way during break?”
Everybody laughs at Mrs. Hairston free spirit and laidback attitude. “Okay this semester we will be…”
Mrs. Hairston is interrupted by someone walking in late.
Shit. It’s Donovan Pierce. He looks at everybody in the class and sees me. The same look he got when he found out who I was is still on his face. The pain is still there.
“You are?” Mrs. Hairston asks him.
“Donovan. Donovan Pierce.” He says calmly. You can tell he’s not too proud to say his name right now, especially if he’s feeling the same way I’m feeling.
“Well, Mr. Pierce, lovely to have you. You may take a seat.” She says to him.
He walks to the first desk on the far right.
I watch him only for a minute. I watch the way he slouches. The way the sun shines on his beautiful golden hair and skin. God, what am I doing? Cut it out, Claudia. He is the son of the man your father plans to put in prison. Like Jade said, you have to forget about it. Forget about him.
Nevertheless, it was still official, this day sucked
Donovan
Well it’s official. My life sucks.
I found out her name and it’s a name that is not even allowed to be said in this house. She is a Stonem.
How could this happen? Why did this shit happen? I finally find her and I lose her...again. I’m glad Ella left it alone and didn’t nag me for the rest of the day.
It also didn’t help that I have two classes and lunch with her. All day I had to see her. Our lockers are even freaking by each other.
“Hey.” I look up to see my mother at my door.
“Hey.” I say lying in my bed.
“You okay? You were quiet during dinner.”
“Yeah I’m cool. I’m just really tired. I think I’m going to bed early.”
“Okay, well goodnight.”
“Goodnight”
“I love you.”
“Love you too.”
I watch her leave out. I know she probably wants to talk and stuff, but I just can’t. Too much is going on in my brain and I’m scared to tell her everything that is bothering me.
I grab my IPOD off my night stand and insert my headphones. I press the play button. All I want to do is get lost in the music. I don’t want to think about her anymore. I don’t want to be sad or angry anymore. This has awakened in me, all the emotions that I have been trying to keep away. I was happy when I saw her then I was sad when I lost her. Now I’m angry because I can’t have her. Another problem is if I don’t think about her I think about my brother. Thinking about my brother leads to numbness.
Claudia
“Dad?” I say standing in his office doorway. He’s sitting at his desk reading over paperwork.
“Yeah sweetie, what’s up?”
I walk in further and sit in the first seat in front of his desk.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Yes, whatever you want.” He grins at me.
So how do I go about this? I have to go about it the smart way. I can’t just say “Hey dad, I kind of have a crush on a Pierce. Are they really that bad?” Yeah that would make an interesting conversation.
“What do you know about the Pierce family?” I ask.
“I know a lot. Why? Did something happen at school today? Did they do something to you?” He asks angrily.
“No dad, I mean, Donovan Pierce, that’s his name right?” Wow Claudia, really smooth.
“Yes.” He confirms.
“Well, he started at our school today and he’s in two of my classes.”
“Really? So how was he?”
I immediately think back to our kiss and how he was really good at that. I suddenly start to think about how he is probably good at a lot of things. Snap out of it Claudia! Keep your mind out of the gutter.
“Um, what do you mean?” I ask nervously.
“Was he good in school? Bad? I know his sister has a reputation.”
“No, he was fine. He pretty much stayed to himself.”
“Then why are you asking me about them?”
Love and Hate (The Pierce Family Trilogy) Page 8