Page 9 of Autumn Secrets

“Well?” Lexi asked insistently.

“Well, what?”

“What do you think about Julian?”

“He’s…”

“Hot, gorgeous, you name it. I told you.” She giggled, and I couldn’t help but giggle with her.

“Yep, I do remember you telling me that.” I grinned.

I had to manage the rest of my morning classes without Lexi’s support, as we had different electives. My last class before lunch was visual arts, one of my favourite subjects. As I studied my map of the school, I realised that I was in the complete wrong end of the building. I turned and started to walk the other way, just as the bell rang. Everyone disappeared quickly into classrooms, and suddenly I was walking all alone in a long corridor. That is until I heard that smooth, deep voice from somewhere behind me.

“Aurora.”

The mere sound of his voice sent my heart spiralling out of control. I spun around and saw him stride towards me with a wicked smile on his lips. My mouth went completely dry.

“Adrian.” I blushed, right on cue. His piercing pale eyes rested comfortably on me for a second before slowly travelling down my body, then up again. He locked his gaze with mine and my legs felt wobbly. How could he make me feel like this, every time we met? This was just insane.

“Do you know where you’re going?” he asked. I shook my head and swallowed once, then twice. Surely, I could try to pronounce at least one syllable in his presence? That wasn’t too much to ask,was it?“What class are you in?” he tried again.

“V-visual arts,” I stuttered.

“You’re on the wrong side and the wrong floor. Come on, I’ll show you,” he said and put his hand on my shoulder to lead me in the right direction. As he touched me, I felt a jolt of electricity travel through my body. My head snapped up to meet his gaze and the gleam in his eyes told me he knew exactly what his touch ignited inside of me. Did he feel something too? I searched for an answer in his eyes, but there was nothing. I stopped abruptly and his hand fell off my shoulder.

“You don’t have to do this – you’ll be late for your own class,” I tried.

“I know I don’t have to, but I want to. Besides, I’m on the same floor. Come on.” This time his hand landed gently on my lower back for a brief second. The light touch sent tingling sensations through my body and I shivered slightly. There was this overwhelming feeling of yearning spreading through every part of my body like wildfire. I wasn’t sure what to make of all these intense emotions that kept appearing as soon as he was close. “How was your morning?” he asked, as we started walking towards the other end of the building.

“It was all right. What about yours?” Those were probably the first sentences I’d been able to produce in his presence, and I mentally gave myself a pat on the back.See, Aurora, that wasn’t so hard, was it?

“It’s been very…interesting. Awakening, you might say.”

I looked up at him and he gave me a secretive smile.

“How come?” I asked.

“Well for starters, you’re here.”

I blushed and looked away. He was joking with me, right? He looked like a supermodel, just as Lexi had described him, straight out of a fashion magazine. And me? I was just…well,me. Plain, ordinary me.

He laughed softly and when I looked back up and met his gaze, I got the craziest feeling that he had read my mind. I felt a sense of unease. I tucked my hair behind my ear nervously, as I realised how bizarre that sounded. I shook my head in disbelief.Mind-reading? Don’t be stupid, Aurora, get a grip on yourself!

“What’s wrong?” he asked quietly.

“Nothing, I just… Nothing.” I was looking ahead of me instead of at him, trying my very best not to get so distracted. We walked up to the second floor and Adrian showed me the classroom I was supposed to be in. “Thanks for helping me out,” I offered. “I would probably still be downstairs wandering, if it wasn’t for you. I hope you don’t get in too much trouble with your teacher.” I stopped outside the classroom door.

He grinned. “That wouldn’t be my biggest concern right now.”

I had no idea what he meant, so I just gave him a smile back. “I might see you at lunch then?”

“Maybe.” He smirked and walked away.

I took a deep breath and reached for the doorhandle to another new classroom. I loved it straight away. I absolutely loved it. It wasn’t a normal-sized classroom; it was enormous. I’d never seen anything like it, and I’d been to quite a few schools around the globe. There was plenty of natural light penetrating through the big windows in the back. Further down in one of the corners were desks with computers, and at the other end was a big open space with dozens of easels holding blank canvases.

I saw some people down by the computers, and a few other students in another adjoining room. I had no idea what they were doing in there, but my guess was it was a darkroom. Everyone was too busy noticing me though, thank God.

“Aurora?”

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