Avalon

by Lana Davison

  Henry and Rachael walked away, leaving me on my own. I watched them go and thought how thoughtful Henry was. This confirmed one of the reasons I was still going out with him, he was so nice and would never break my heart. Henry was as good a guy as I was ever going to meet and I genuinely believed that.

  I smiled to myself as I thought about good old Henry and turned around to talk to Jess, Em, David and Hugh who were all gathered beside me. They all began to talk about their holidays and I listened to each one of them as they took their turn.

  “And this is my girlfriend, Holly,” Henry said tapping me on the shoulder. “Holly I want you to meet my room-mate.”

  I smiled turning around to greet Henry’s room-mate, and suddenly everything slowed down, the noise around me quietened, my eyes grew wider, my pupils dilated. What the hell was going on? It felt as if we somehow, somewhere in time had known each other. It was the strangest, peculiar, yet most wonderful feeling I had ever felt. The person in front of me, standing so tall, so strong and unbelievably handsome; with his grey/blue eyes, dark thick almost black hair and perfect kissable lips, was like some kind of God. He had a presence about him, like he could command people’s attention, a leader. I gulped and thought I was going to faint, I fell forward, and he caught me.

  “Are you all right?” he asked concerned. I opened my eyes to the sweetness of his voice and for some reason, in that brief moment, I wanted him to stay. I looked around as both Rachael and Henry peered down at me concerned. I had forgotten for a moment that they were there, but as soon as I saw their concern I almost felt embarrassed that they had seen me fall forward like that.

  “Holly,” Henry said, stroking my long dark hair off my face. “This is Leo, my room-mate.” He looked at Leo as if to say ‘hand her over’, as I was still in his arms.

  Leo gently passed me over to Henry. “Nice to meet you Holly.” He smiled, his beautiful eyes were happy. The way he spoke perfectly, masculine, so deep and strong sent shivers down my spine.

  “And you,” I said trying to understand what was happening.

  Leo turned on his heals and began to walk away.

  Henry held me in his arms and rubbed my back, concerned that I might be unwell. I placed my head neatly between his chest and his upper arm, so I could still see the person I had a need to know more about. Leo turned and glanced back at me, his dark piercing eyes held my gaze, giving me a message, telling me he had felt the pull too.

  Chapter Eight

  I didn’t sleep well that night, thinking intently about my meeting with Leo. It had hit me like lightening and made me feel out of sorts, but not in a bad way. I lay in my bed with my brow fully creased in deep concentration as I tried to make sense of my emotions. Seeing him tonight for the first time was like seeing sunshine on a rainy day; an unexpected wonder. Something about him felt so right, so complete. It reminded me that perhaps on Earth I could meet someone that would make my stomach flutter, someone I wanted to be with all the time.

  I had always been told I would feel special with my chosen one, but I hadn’t felt that way for Marcus, at all. I was confused by everything that had happened this evening but couldn’t help wanting to know more about this beautiful stranger. The same feelings and thoughts kept going around in my head, and I knew I would not get to the bottom of it in one night. I rolled over and looked at my bedside clock, it was one in the morning and I needed to get some sleep. I shut my eyes and let my mind slip into a deep slumber.

  *****

  Our bedroom door opened, it was matron, “Girls, time to get up.”

  “Oh no.” I mumbled into my pillow. I could do with some more sleep. I pushed the pillow over my eyes to make it dark. “Emily, tell me when five minutes is up.”

  “Come on, get up.” She laughed and threw her pillow at me.

  “Oh, all right,” I said dragging myself out of bed in slow motion.

  We walked to the showers, washed and dressed. I tied my hair back in a loose pony tail for ease. Emily linked arms with me as we found our way to the dining room. My heart skipped at beat at the thought of seeing Leo again. I pushed open the double doors and scanned the room as quickly as I could but I couldn’t see Leo, or even Henry for that matter. Where were they? I followed Emily to the food counter and collected a tray and bowl into which I put some cereal and milk. Turning around and watching my tray I knocked straight into... Leo.

  “Oh dear, I am so sorry,” I said embarrassed at my clumsiness. “I can’t believe I did that, I’m such a clutz. I really should watch where I’m going.”

  “It’s no problem, don’t sweat it.” He smiled endearingly.

  His smile I sent a flurry right up my spine and I didn’t quite know how to respond. I looked away unable to think of anything to say and rushed to the dining table, looking for respite. Rach came over with her warm breakfast of sausages and eggs and perched next to me. She was doing exactly what I was doing; looking at the gorgeous new boy, Leo.

  “I really like him, Holly. I think he is so hot, have you seen his body? So fit,” She paused for thought, tilting her head, as she looked him over. “Look at those rugby thighs and his broad shoulders. I’d love to see what’s underneath his uniform.” She playfully shoved me. “And he is so nice. Even Henry likes him.”

  “Where is Henry?”

  “I think he’s up at the counter getting some breakfast.”

  And he was, I was so preoccupied with Leo, I had forgotten about Henry. I would love to have helped Rach secure Leo, but there was no way I could when I wanted him for myself. I would, of course, never tell her that. I pretended to be looking at Henry but really I couldn’t keep my eyes off Leo, and I think he knew it.

  Henry walked over to our table bringing Leo with him. He sat across from me and Leo sat next to Henry across from Rachael.

  “Morning Hol, have you finished?” he asked looking at the empty contents of my bowl.

  “Um yep. Sleep well?” I asked them both hoping my face wasn’t red from blushing.

  “Yes, I did actually,” Henry replied.

  “I had my mind on something, but eventually I fell asleep. You?” Leo said.

  “Yeah, I also had something on my mind, but eventually I fell asleep,” I said looking at him briefly. His deep dark grey/blue piercing eyes looked directly into mine like there was so much more he wanted to say.

  “What brings you to our school, Leo?” Rachael asked.

  “My parents are living in the Isle of Wight, so I’m at boarding school.”

  Rachael asked more and more questions while Henry tried to have a conversation with me. I was trying to concentrate on my conversation with Henry, but kept looking over at Leo from time to time, being careful not to alarm either Henry or Rach. I didn’t like being sneaky and I had always been a good friend, I would never hurt anyone intentionally, I’m a healer for crying out loud. But breaking hearts is different, matters of the heart ware so sacred in Avalon that ruining a heart meant all kinds of problems. I didn’t believe in a chosen one anyway, but what was it I was feeling towards Leo?

  Henry and Leo got up to go back to their dorm. As Leo stood up I was certain his gaze fixed on me for a little longer than necessary, just like he had looked at me last night. I wondered if anyone else could see that, could anyone else sense the immense attraction between us?

  After they left, I left the dining room, walking straight over to my new classroom. A list of student names was placed outside the classroom door, I read Leo’s name, along with my own. He was in my form class, while Henry was placed in the classroom next door. Leo walked into the classroom about two minutes after and walked over to me. I felt both excited and apprehensive at the sight of him. Excited because I wanted him to be close to me, apprehensive because I didn’t understand my crazy emotions; I had just met him.

  “Do you mind if I sit here?” Leo asked.

  “No, please do.”

  Our teacher entered the classroom with a folder and a book in his arms and sat at the teacher’s
desk at the front of the room. Leo and I both sat at our desk in silence and both started to speak at the same time which resulted in us laughing at each other.

  “You go first,” he said.

  “Oh it’s nothing. I just wondered if you liked it here so far.” I can’t believe I said that. He’s been here all of five minutes but I guess it was my way of making small talk. “What were you going to say?”

  “You’re interesting. I’m intrigued.”

  Thankfully our teacher began to address the class, because I didn’t know how to respond to that. Our teacher handed around a sheet with a list of topics he would be teaching this term. I looked it over and asked Leo, “Did you learn any of this at your old school?”

  “I’ve covered a lot of these subjects. I was home schooled.”

  “Me too,” I said. “Before I came here, I mean.”

  “You didn’t comment on what I said before?”

  I thought about it for a moment. “I find you interesting and intriguing too,” I said.

  “I want to know all about you, Holly.”

  Well he doesn’t seem to be holding back much, I had to admire him for that.

  “I bet you say that to all the girls,” I laughed, trying to find out if I was on the right track.

  “No, I don’t say that to all the girls, just you.” He looked me directly in the eye.

  I blinked at his comment and self assurance.

  “Right you two, over there,” Mr Davis, our teacher said, pointing at us both. “Do you want to share your conversation with the whole room or do you want to be part of this discussion? I was telling the rest of the class that we will be reading Einstein’s Dreams, but seeing the two of you cannot be bothered to listen, I am assuming you have already read it. Do either of you want to tell the class what this book is about?” he asked holding a metre ruler in his hand and using it like a cane for support.

  “It’s a fiction novel by Alan Lightman if my memory serves me right; a modern classic focusing on the early nineteen hundreds when Einstein was living in Switzerland and working in a patent office. It’s about Einstein’s many theories on relativity. I found it to be inspiring and it opened my mind to the connection between art and science,” Leo remarked.

  “Well... Um. Well, yes.” Mr Davis coughed into his fist having nothing to say to that. He looked around the class with his eyebrows raised then managed, “And Mr...?”

  “My name’s Leo, Leo Regent,” he voiced back to our teacher.

  “Well, Leo Regent, that is correct.”

  “When did you read that?” I whispered, looking straight ahead, hoping Sir would not see me talking.

  “When I was being home schooled,” he whispered back covering his mouth with his hand.

  “I think you learned a lot from being home schooled. One on one learning, no distractions.” I cupped my hand over my mouth and whispered again.

  We were given another sheet with our time table, and handed some other sheets to keep in our folders, too. Sir told us all to use the next ten minutes before the bell went to familiarise ourselves with our classroom schedule. This gave Leo and I the perfect opportunity to talk. I felt safe talking to him freely in the classroom away from Rachael and Henry.

  “So you’re going out with Henry?” he stated.

  For some reason I wanted to lie and say I wasn’t, just so I could show him I was available – available to be with him. “Yes.” I shrugged as if it was unimportant, not realising I had given Henry and my relationship such little value.

  He nodded. “Shame.”

  “Pardon.”

  “Shame,” he said confidently.

  Yes it was a shame, but who was this creature in front of me turning my world upside down. “We’re really good friends,” I told him.

  “Is that all it is?”

  “Well no... not exactly. How about you, do you have a girlfriend?” I said, changing the subject.

  “No, not at the moment,” he said reading my face for a reaction. “But I’m very interested in someone and I hope she’s interested in me.” He continued to read my face.

  I blushed, fiddled with my fingers and looked around the classroom, I didn’t know what to say. How could I escape this guy? On one level I wanted to get away from him, because I didn’t know what to say and on another level I wanted to be right where I was, near him. Was he talking about me?

  “You could be dangerous for me,” he continued.

  “What’s with the cryptic statements?” I asked attracted to his mysteriousness.

  “I want you to know me, Holly.”

  “I’m getting to know you, Leo.” I said looking down at my hands. “But I don’t understand some of the riddles you speak in.”

  “I’m not supposed to be with you.”

  “I know, because I’m going out with Henry.” I said.

  He nodded.

  I felt his disappointment, “Yes, but like I said before, we are mainly just good friends,” I said reducing the value of my relationship with Henry again without meaning to.

  The bell went and Leo got up from the desk and held out his hand to help me up. “You don’t have to help me up.”

  “I want to.”

  “Leo be careful, people are watching.”

  “So?”

  “So you’re new and people will see you as launching on someone else’s girlfriend. Your room-mate, for that matter.”

  He brushed off my comment. “I can’t help it. I want you.”

  I gasped. “Leo you can’t talk like that.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because you can’t,” I said firmly.

  “If you want something, shouldn’t you just say so?”

  I gulped. “Yes you should. But there are ways and means.”

  “OK. You can give me some lessons.”

  We walked to our next lesson, maths. Leo took his seat next to me again. I didn’t mind, but he was a distraction. We didn’t have an opportunity to speak again as the first maths lesson for the year was an exam.

  *****

  After lunch our whole year gathered for physical education, I stood in my PE uniform at the back of the auditorium behind a row of students thinking it might shield me from the cold. Our teacher announced that we would be doing athletics today, the sport I was really good at. I found myself looking for Leo, wondering what he might look like in his PE kit. I caught his gaze and he smiled and gave me a small nod of acknowledgement. I smiled back.

  We continued to keep our eyes on each other as we segregated into male and female groups. Following the girls I knew I should take the first opportunity I had alone with Henry to end my relationship. Even if it was the first day at school, I knew that I didn’t want to be with Henry, at least not in the same way I wanted to be with Leo. The thought of Leo left me excited, exhilarated, on fire and I knew I wanted to be with the person who was responsible for that and it wasn’t Henry.

  The girls gathered in a messy bunch for a 400 metre race, the gun went off and I began to run. My legs worked like robots, with a mind of their own. I had done this run so many times I didn’t even have to think about what I was doing. I saw the boys gather to watch the girls’ race, they would be running next. I was running first with little effort, and saw Henry wave to me, nodding as he recognised my lead in the race, expecting nothing less. I waved back and caught a glimpse of Leo, his piercing gaze watching my every move. The excitement of seeing him watch me made me run even faster. I could see the finish line and ran over it before slowing down. I stood stationary with my hands on my hips and began walking around in a small circle as I caught my breath and slowed my breathing. The other girls passed the finish line and we patted one another on the shoulder telling each other we had done a good job.

  I knew Henry would win the boys’ race hands down. He had been the fastest timed runner at our school ever, breaking the school record and also the record at last year’s regional race.

  The girls cleared the track and congregated at the sideli
ne. The boys stood in a group at the starting line, the gun fired and the boys took off. This was an easy run for Henry, who certainly had a career in running if he wanted to. He looked at ease, his legs striding fast. Leo ran up behind Henry in second place and also looked incredibly at ease. He was about two metres behind Henry and maintained his position and pace. Was Leo also good at running? Leo caught my eye as he ran past, and I could have sworn he gave me a brief wink. As they approached the last hundred metres, Leo took off, like lightening. Henry noticed but it was too late, he had thought the race would be an easy win and hadn’t prepared himself for the final sprint. Leo went over the finish line about three metres in the lead and Henry didn’t look happy about it.

  “Did you see Leo win the race? He actually beat Henry.” Emily announced.

  “Leo’s mine... I bags him,” Rach said playfully, jumping up like a cheerleader. “Yay, Leo,” she joked. But I didn’t like it.

  “You can’t bags someone,” I said.

  “I can,” she said playfully, wondering why I was bothered.

  “He’s not a toy,” I said realising I was defending an innocent comment.

  “OK. Don’t get your knickers in a twist. Just because he beat Henry!”

  Phew... I got off lightly. “Sorry, I didn’t mean anything by it.”

  *****

  Our last period of the day was for study and as it was the first day of term, we hadn’t been given anything substantial. I walked out of the girls’ changing room and saw Henry leaning on the fence waiting for me. He walked over to meet me.

  “I can’t believe I didn’t win that race. Did you see Leo? He completely surprised me.”

  “It’s not your fault, you didn’t expect it. You’ll probably win next time.”

  “I’ve never had to really compete to win. Leo’s really fast, he kept that one in the bag. He should have told me.”

  “Did you tell him you were the regional champion?”

  “No, I didn’t,” he said thinking about it.

  “So don’t be annoyed. It might be good for you to have a worthy contender.”