Older and more mature, he was quite possibly the most beautiful creature I had ever seen. His jaw was strong, perfectly defining his Scandinavian face. His cheekbones were prominent, but not in any way feminine, and a light dusting of blond stubble graced his chin and cheeks. The constants, I discovered, were those dark-blond eyebrows furrowed over his almond-shaped bright-blue eyes.
The eyes that even the distance of four thousand miles, and a timescale of two years, could never erase from my memory.
But that gaze, the gaze that was currently boring through mine, didn’t belong to the Rune I knew. Because it was filled with accusation and hatred. These eyes were glaring at me with unconcealed contempt.
I swallowed back the pain that was clawing up my throat, the pain of being on the receiving end of such a hard stare. Being loved by Rune brought the heady sensation of warmth. Being hated by Rune was like standing on an arctic ice shelf.
Minutes passed by and neither of us moved an inch. The air seemed to crackle around us. I watched as Rune’s fist clenched at his side. He seemed to be mentally warring with himself. I wondered what he was fighting inside. The look on his face grew darker still. Then, behind him, the door opened, and William, the hall monitor walked through.
He looked at Rune and me, serving up the excuse I needed to break free from this too-intense moment. I needed to gather my thoughts.
William cleared his throat. “Can I see your hall passes?”
I nodded and, balancing my books on a raised knee, went to hand mine over, but Rune shoved his in front of mine.
I didn’t react to his blatant rudeness.
William checked his pass first. Rune had been picking up his class schedule, that was why he was late. William handed back Rune’s pass, but Rune still didn’t move. William took hold of mine. He looked at me and said, “I hope you feel better soon, Poppy.”
My face paled, wondering how he knew, but then I realized the pass had said I’d been to see my doctor. He was simply being kind. He didn’t know.
“Thank you,” I said nervously and risked a look up. Rune was watching me, only this time his forehead appeared lined. I recognized his expression of worry. As soon as Rune saw me staring at him,
reading him correctly, the worry was quickly replaced by the scowl he had previously worn.
Rune Kristiansen was way too handsome to scowl. A face that beautiful should forever wear a smile.
“Go on, you two, get to class.” William’s hard voice pulled my attention back from Rune. I pushed past them both, and rushed out through the far doors. As soon I was through to the next hallway, I glanced back, only to find Rune staring at me through the large panes of glass.
My hands began to shake at the intensity of his gaze, but then he suddenly moved away, as if he was forcing himself to leave me alone.
It took several seconds to gather some composure, then I hurried to my class.
I was still shaking an hour later.
* * *
A week passed by. A week of avoiding Rune at all costs. I stayed in my bedroom until I knew he wasn’t home. I kept my curtains drawn and my window locked—not that Rune would have tried to come in. The few times I had seen him in school he had either ignored me, or glared at me like I was his greatest enemy.
Both hurt in equal measure.
During lunch periods I stayed away from the cafeteria. I ate my lunch in the music room and spent the rest of the time practicing my cello. Music was still my safe haven, the one place where I could escape the world.
When my bow hit the string, I was transported away on a sea of tones and notes. The pain and grief of the last two years disappeared. The loneliness, the tears and anger, all evaporated, leaving a peace I could not find anywhere else.
Last week, after my awful hallway reunion with Rune, I’d needed to get away from it all. I’d needed to forget the look in his eyes as he glared at me with such hatred. Music was normally my remedy, so I threw myself into intense practice. The only problem? Each time I finished a piece, as soon as the final note faded and I lowered my bow, that devastation cut back through me tenfold. And it stayed. Today, after I finished playing at lunch, the anguish haunted me for the rest of the afternoon. It weighed heavily on my mind as I exited the school building.
The courtyard was bustling with students making their way home. I kept my head down and pushed through the crowd, only to turn the corner and see Rune and his friends sitting on the field in the park. Jorie and Ruby were there too. And so was Avery.
I tried not to stare as Avery sat beside Rune, who was lighting up a cigarette. I tried not to stare as Rune began to smoke, his elbow resting casually on his knee as he leaned back against a tree. And I tried to ignore the flip of my stomach as I hurried by, Rune’s narrowed eyes briefly meeting mine.
I quickly averted my eyes. Jorie jumped to her feet and came running after me. I managed to get far enough from Rune and his friends that they wouldn’t hear what Jorie had to say to me.
“Poppy,” she called as she stopped behind me. I turned to face her, feeling Rune’s watchful gaze settle on me. I ignored it.
“How are you doing?” she asked.
“Fine,” I replied. Even I heard the slight tremble in my voice.
Jorie sighed. “Have you spoken to him yet? He’s been back over a week.”
My cheeks blazed. I shook my head. “No. I’m not real sure that’s a good idea.” I drew in a breath and confided, “I have no idea what I would say anyhow. He doesn’t seem to be the boy I knew and loved for all those years. He seems different. Looks like he’s changed.”
Jorie’s eyes flared. “I know. But I think you’re the only girl that sees that as a bad thing, Pops.”
“What do you mean?” Jealousy sparked in my chest.
Jorie pointed to the girls gathering around where he sat, aiming to appear casual, but failing epically in their endeavor. “He’s all anyone is talking about, and I’m pretty sure any girl in this school—except you, me and Ruby—would sell their soul to the devil for him to even acknowledge them. He was always wanted, Pops, but well, he had you and we all knew he wouldn’t leave you for anything or anyone. But now…” She trailed off, and I could feel my heart deflating.
“But now he doesn’t have me,” I finished for her. “Now he’s free to be with whomever he wants.”
Jorie’s eyes widened when she realized she had once again put her foot in her mouth. She squeezed my arm in support, wincing apologetically. I couldn’t be mad at her though, she was always speaking before she’d thought it through. Besides, everything she said was true.
A moment of awkward silence passed, until she asked, “What are you up to tomorrow night?”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.