was that my heart?

[Lia Juarez]

Lia waited by the oak Christophe had specified for lunching under. She had a blanket laid out and some pasta salad and brownies. She nibbled some carrots and celery while she waited, but she really hadn't expected to be stood up. After all they had only been dating one day. That was fast even for her. She opened a book and began reading, She looked foolish siting out there by herself and she began to hunch down as she reviewed what their parting words were last night. There had been nothing to intimate that he might not show. Each minute that ticked by made her heart ache more. She fought crying, but it was a losing battle. "I should've known. Losers like me don't get happily ever afters."

The curiosity of other students felt like knives, but there was no place to hide. She began to eat in self-defense and decided to skip the rest of the day. She wasn't up for a pep rally, that's for sure. After finishing the salad, she packed up and took the basket to the car. She went to look for Saint, unwilling to leave him without a ride. She actually passed Christophe, but he was busy and she turned away, walking faster.Getting her older brother, they left swiftly.

[christophe]

He'd been delayed in his last class and so was running late. Typical. He bolted for his locker and then the boy's washroom, huffing a breath of sheer irritation when he had to wait in line. It was always this way at lunch time. Finally he'd finished and after a hand wash was on his way to the main quadrangle and the tree where he and Lia had arranged to meet.

He could see her beneath the tree... Was he THAT late? He frowned when he saw her start to pack away her picnic and he increased his pace...

A boy from his first afternoon class stopped him, wanting to know something about the set homework. Christophe replied as best he could, politeness forbiding him from telling the boy to get out of his way so that he could see... Where did she go?

He looked first left and then right.

She'd been here moments before. His frown deepened. Maybe something had come up and she'd had no choice but to leave?

He nodded to the other boy and vaguely smiled at his words of thanks before he headed back inside the building.

It didn't even come close to weird and he hoped nothing had happened to either Jandro or Saint.

Christophe made his way into the cafeteria, not relishig eating what he'd brought for their picnic. Not alone. Perhaps she'd decided she didn't want to see him again?

He keyed a short text asking if she was ok and then wandered into the lunch room. Most of the good stuff would be gone by now but fingers crossed he'd at least find a salad!

[Lia Juarez]

Lia was moving too fast and Saint finally gave in to his frustration. "Llyria Rose Juarez, slow the fuck down. I am either going to end up flat on my face or Coco will bite me in her confusion." He yelled loudly to get her attention.He adored his little sister, but this was too much for him. He had lost track of where he was and Coco was barking, drawing attention to them. He knew she was upset, but there were limits to such behavior. Between her and Jandro he was about to have a nervous breakdown.