Kim's POV:

It was extra cold that Thursday morning and I found myself wishing I had the warmth of my absentee table mate next to me, despite having both a chunky sweater and a thick dark green rain jacket on. The small Reservation school that I currently resided in didn't exactly have all the funds in the world to spend on the heating bill. Therefore, the air blowing from the vent onto my back wasn't necessarily warm. If anything, the…let's say… 'lukewarm' air did more harm than good. It was currently softly blowing at my very wet feet. Why are they wet, you ask? Well, I made the mistake of wearing the new sneakers my father bought me for an early birthday present instead of my usual trusty boots and it just so happened that there were a couple of puddles in the parking lot that had a vendetta against me. The water had sept all the way down to my socks and the cool air was doing nothing to help my freezing toes. So far, this was a pretty bad day for me. Blame it on my Taurus sun sign but I wasn't the kind of girl to like anything less than comfort.

Though, I was pulled out of my thoughts of soggy socks, zodiac signs, and cool breezes when I felt steady warmth seeping into my right side. The same right side of me that had been vacant for the past two and a half weeks. 'Oh gosh no,' I thought to myself 'Jared must be back.' My stomach came alive with a whole swarm of butterfly's. Had he said hello? He normally says hello to me. Had I missed it? Oh gosh Kim why do you never pay attention? I took a deep calming breath and closed my eyes tight before I decided I better say hello just in case. So, I turned to him but to my surprise, he was already looking at me. His light brown eyes looked almost transparent with the morning sunlight from the opposite side of the room filtering through them. They stared back at me with the emotion of– awe? No, it couldn't be that, could it? Our staring contest lasted a second more, so I was able to notice how mature he now looked. His eyes didn't hold the same innocence, his cheeks were more hollowed out, brow bone and jaw both sharper, no more were his adorable chubby cheeks, and his once long dark hair was now messy curls at the top of his head. Adorable class clown Jared had turned into a GQ model in the span of just two weeks!

I knew I needed to say something and that our staring had gone on for a few too many beats. But, I couldn't. I was shocked about how much he'd changed, yes. But what was more shocking was this burning pressure in my chest. It was a feeling of total delight or attachment and I couldn't, for the life of me, understand why. The greeting that was in my throat was struggling to get passed the pressure. But it did, unfortunately. "Heyllo!" I blurted out. Instantly wanting to slap myself.

An amused smile formed on his lips transforming his face into a glimpse of the Jared I remember. "Heyllo to you to Kim," He said with a chuckle. "How have you been?" He said gently, never taking his gaze off my face. The past moments had finally caught up to me and the embarrassment set in. Suddenly, his gaze was too much for me, so I diverted my red-hot face forward to the almost full class in front of us.

"Uh, I've been…cold," I said light heatedly thinking back to my previous thoughts. When he didn't answer I glance back over at him to find a look of horror and worry on his face.

"Really?" He said while taking off the sweatshirt he was wearing, "Why didn't you say something sooner! Here, take this it'll warm you up. Are you feeling okay? You're not sick, are you?" He pushed his sweatshirt my way.

"No, no Jared I was just kidding." I laughed, "I don't need your sweatshirt. It's just a little cold in here is all. You keep it, you've only got a t-shirt on. I should be the one asking you if you're feeling okay. You've been gone for weeks."

Jared waved me off and draped the warm sweatshirt over my lap like it was a blanket. "You use the sweatshirt; I don't need it. But, yeah Kim, I'm good…" he paused and looked into my eyes "I'm really great actually." The smile returned to his face.

"That's awesome," I said back breathlessly and returned his smile. I was about to say more but our teacher stared class with his usual morning address. As usual, we were silent for the rest of the class. I couldn't complain though, I think that was the most I've talked to my lifelong crush in years. The burning pressure in my chest could help but want these conversations to happen more often. To my dismay, the class went by all too fast. Yet, the many times I caught Jared glancing my way will forever be burned into my mind. It seemed as though every time one of us moved it had an effect on the other. But I'll bet you a hundred bucks that just me wishfully thinking. When the bell eventually rang for us to head to our next classes I reluctantly took his sweatshirt off my lap. Right away, I missed the beautiful warmth if had offered me. I set it on our table while I packed up my stuff and pulled my backpack on. Turning to give it back to Jared I found him in a conversation with Isi Rivers. She and Jared hung around the same crowds at school and I knew them to be friends. However, it didn't help my confidence too much to see my crush talking to one of the prettiest girls on the reservation. I waited patiently for a moment, trying to turn away so it didn't seem like I was listening in on their conversation. Though, I couldn't help my stomach from dropping when I saw her hand run down his newly buff arm.

"Uh… that's nice Isi maybe another time." I heard him say almost uncomfortably while he glanced my way.

"But Jared we haven't seen you–"She started as her eyebrows rose with concern.

"I really have to get to class Isi, another time." He then quickly turned to me and gently grabbed my elbow. He pulled us out into the hall and far away from Isi. I couldn't say I was too hurt about that…and oh gosh he was holding my arm. Tingles erupted all over my body. Radiating outward from his touch.

"Uh, Jared here's your sweatshirt back." I tried handing to him

"Keep it."

"I'm not cold anymore you can hav–"

"I said keep it Kim, you need it more than me." He laughed like there was some inside joke I didn't know about him and sweatshirts.

"Okay but–" I began when we made it to the doorway of my next class. Wait, how had he known I had art now.

"Look, Kim," he said bending his head slightly to look in my eyes "I'm probably going to be gone the rest of the day."

"But it's only second hour." I said looking up to the hallway clock to make sure I wasn't in an alternate universe.

He chuckled, "I know, I just have some stuff to deal with. But you'll be okay the rest of the day, won't you?... and warm." He added at the end.

"Uh yeah, as okay and warm as one can be at school I suppose."

He smiled, "Good, then I'll see you tomorrow." And with a light squeeze to my elbow, he made his way to the front doors of the school.

I was completely and utterly baffled. What the actual heck just happened. It was too much to even think about. So, I didn't. I didn't think about his beautiful brown eyes looking at me, his lingering touch that still left tingles on my skin, or even the sweatshirt that he had so kindly given me. I didn't let these thoughts enter my head for the rest of school. It wasn't until after I had done my homework, taken my pills, and got ready for bed that I finally let my heart remember the past day's events. Laying in my comfortable bed with only the sounds of my empty house and my dog, Cassie, laying across my legs to keep me company. My heart fluttered with the memory of his laugh and beautiful face. I cuddled into his sweatshirt to welcome Jared's scent of wet grass and pine. I sighed peacefully and fell into a warm, peaceful sleep.