To Fall So Deep

When school was let out, Nina and Kathleen met Corrine in her classroom. They were about to walk through the door when they came to a sudden stop. The door was closed tight, and through the small rectangular window, they saw Corrine sitting in one of the desks while Headmaster Talbot spoke to her.

Headmaster Talbot was a small, old woman with thick circle glasses. Her hair was white and pulled into a tight bun; her eyes were dark and beady; and her nose was sharp. The stern expression she always had on her face resembled a hawk, always watching and waiting for the right moment to take her prey.

About 10 solid minutes of waiting in front of the classroom, Headmaster Talbot walked out the door. She stopped for a moment to glare at the girls through her glasses, and her presence was so intimidating that Nina didn't know what to do but bow. Headmaster Talbot shook her head in disapproval before walking away.

"Did you really just bow Ate?" Kathleen asked.

"I-I-uh, she scared me. I didn't know what to do!" Nina still felt the nervousness that Headmaster Talbot's presence evoked.

"You could've just smiled," Kathleen suggested, walking into the classroom.

Corrine was packing up her bag, "hello girls."

"What was the Headmaster doing here? With the door… shut," Kathleen questioned.

"She came to discuss the forms of punishment for tardiness in my class. Word got out that I let Mr. Styles slide for being late yesterday, and she didn't like that I wasn't prepared with an acceptable form of punishment," Corrine explained.

"Really? So what did she suggest you do?" Kathleen asked.

"Send all tardy students to her office," Corrine answered.

"So she can hand out the punishments?" Nina stepped in.

"I think it's more than that. She thinks I'm too lenient. And I am in some ways, but I think she's just waiting till a number of students come into her office for being tardy to my class so she has a reason to strike me out and sack me," Corrine expressed.

"Couldn't you just lie, and not send your students?" Kathleen proposed.

"I guess, but there's a few moles in my class, and these moles report back to Headmaster Talbot," Corrine zipped up her bag and pulled out her keys. She slung the bag on her shoulder and turned off the classroom lights.

"Is the mole Jezabelle Nixon," Nina asked, "and her posse?"

"I'm not going to say yes on that, but I'm not going to say no either," Corrine uttered, closing the classroom door and locking it.

They walked out to the parking lot and towards the car. Again, the staring, the whispering, and the pointing. Nina knew what they were all gossiping about, and she was pretty sure that Corrine and Kathleen did too. Right now it was just petty gossip, something for the school to talk about for a moment before the next controversy pops up. The majority of Ashford Academy believed that Leo Dela Vera had no chance against Desmond Styles, but until Leo starts showing some fight, that's when the real shit-talking will begin-- and Nina knew this.

In the car, Corrine turned the key in the ignition, the car starting. The same top-40 radio station was playing, and before Corrine backed up her car, she turned to look at Nina,

"Your dad called me earlier. Doctor Gavin has submitted another prescription to refill your medication and is ready for pickup. We'll go ahead and retrieve it right now."

"Okay, sounds good," Nina said.

Corrine parallel parked in front of a drugstore similar to a CVS that Nina was so used to going to when she still lived in Monterey County. She let her mind drift about her hometown, and wondered how everyone at her old high school was doing. After the accident Nina was immediately pulled from school, and finished her junior year from the break room of the CPS building in San Francisco before being flown to England. She lost all contact from her old classmates, and forced herself to let go of Joleen-- she was obviously poison. With deactivated Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram profiles, Nina basically disappeared from the face of the Earth, and she often wondered what Monterey High was told about the smart, awkward girl who roamed their halls.

Nina entered the drugstore and headed towards the back where the pharmacy was located. She weaved in and out of the aisles, glancing at the different products they carried-- most of them were familiar to her, brands that were also in the U.S. but some brands however, were only found in the U.K. As she waited in line behind three people, she noticed someone step behind her. Nina didn't think anything of it, until she heard a very familiar morning voice.

"Nina Dela Vera,"

She turned around and before her, was none other than Harry. Nina stopped breathing for a moment, surprised by this unexpected encounter, "Harry, hi."

"Meeting your dealer, I see," Harry raised an eyebrow, gesturing towards the pharmacy technician behind the counter.

Harry wasn't in his school uniform-- which confirmed her thoughts about him ditching school early. He was simple in style. Black jeans, a grey v-neck that was slightly tight-fitted enhancing the muscles in his arms, and a black beanie. Nina still couldn't fully look him in the eye, and her gaze went towards the ground where she noticed his shopping basket. Bags of potato chips, dark chocolate, juice, and a few DVD's were all in the basket. Movie night?, she thought.

"Uh yea. You too I see. Looks like we have the same dealer," Nina pointed out. Harry softly chuckled.

"What are you picking up?" Harry asked.

"Flintstones vitamins," Nina whispered. Harry held is hands up in defense,

"Whoa there gangster. Doing the hard stuff I see."

"Of course, I'm from America aren't I?" Nina smiled.

"Maybe you should calm down with the drugs California? It might be the reason why you keep falling," Harry smirked. Before Nina could say something, he quickly added, "but I guess I don't mind catching you all the time."

He winked.

Again eye contact was diminished. He made Nina nervous, and she wondered if he could see that-- a little girl whose heart would suddenly beat faster whenever he was in her presence. She pointed at his basket of goodies,

"Movie day with friends?"

"Something like that," he replied. Nina furrowed her eyebrows and cocked her head to the side in response to his vague comment. "Movie and junk food day. With a pretty lady."

Nina's stomach dropped, and her mind immediately flashed to the morning conversation with Jezabelle in the bathroom. Why she was a little jealous, she didn't know. After all, she's only known this boy for two days, two and a half if she counted the first time they met at Vitale's Place. Maybe it was because of the observation that Leina mentioned earlier-- about Jezabelle's sudden urge for intimidation because she saw a change in Harry. Or maybe it was Elissia's suggestion that Nina could be the good girl to change him. Whatever the reason, Nina realized that her new friends were talented in clusterfucking her mind with crazy ideas.

It was Nina's turn to retrieve her prescription refill. She stepped up to the counter and gave her name to the pharmacy technician who stared at her for a few seconds when she mentioned her last name. He walked away to the back and searched up and down a particular shelf. He grabbed the familiar bottle of pills and placed it into a small bag. Nina smiled and thanked the employee for his help. She turned around, and when she did, Harry was standing there.

Breathe Nina, she thought to herself.

"I'll see you around gangster," Harry smirked. He licked his lips, and Nina was filled with so much nerves that her mind went into idle mode.

Nina didn't know what to do but to wave goodbye, scampering away. She was still in earshot when she heard the pharmacy tech greet Harry and sent his regards to the Styles family. She then remembered: no distractions, and no fraternizing with the enemy. Nina walked out of the drugstore, and back into Corrine's car where the radio was on. She heard a voice that she did not know. This voice was deep, stern, and authoritarian.

"Mister Leopold Dela Vera does not intimidate me. His sudden decision to run for Mayor clearly shows his lack of judgement, and rash thinking. That isn't the type of person who should be leading this town. Candidate Dela Vera does not have the potential, the tools, nor the support to bring Ashford into greatness-- he will only bring it down,"

It hit Nina from that moment who the voice belonged to: Desmond Styles. Politics were something that she was educated in, and knew that belittlement of the other candidate was only natural during elections. Slander was bound to happen, and Nina knew she had to be prepared to help pick up the pieces-- after all, it was her idea that Leo run for Mayor in the first place. But the slander that was about to come out of Desmond's mouth, showed what kind of game he was playing.

"Candidate Dela Vera's home is an unstable one. He recently lost his job when the Piers Advertising Company shut down, and instead of searching for a new means to support his family, he put them on the back burner. His wife, who teaches English at Ashford Academy where my son attends, is unorthodox in her teaching methods. Her students do not take exams, they do not study literary classics. Her curriculum is unacceptable, and if this is the type of woman Candidate Dela Vera married-- his second marriage, may I add-- then it is obvious where his mind is in our children's education. And speaking of children, he has also taken in his two teenaged daughters from his first marriage, one of whom has been in therapy since her arrival,"

"What the hell? How'd he know that?" Nina's jaw dropped.

"He's a powerful man who has several connections," Corrine changed the station, and cheery electric dance music escaped the speakers. "Girls, I need you to be strong, and to keep your head up, okay? Desmond Styles is sly, and will use whatever information he can get on your father, and about this family, to divert all votes to himself. Mentioning you two, and therapy, is only the start of it, I'm afraid."

Corrine's eyes trailed from Kathleen and Nina, to the boy walking out of the drugstore. Harry carried a plastic bag of his movie day items, and a paper bag like the one Nina had on her lap. His was much larger however, and looked full of medication. Corrine turned to Nina,

"I know I'm not your mother, and I will never try to replace her. But I genuinely care about you girls, and your safety," Corrine started, "I don't want to tell you what to do, nor dictate who you can be friends with Nina, but be cautious around Harry Styles."

Nina didn't know what to say. She just nodded her head in obedience. Corrine gave a half smile, and proceeded to back the car out of its space. She drove home in silence, and when they arrived they were greeted by a team of people. The living room, the kitchen, and the halls were littered with posters, flyers, buttons, and stickers.

"Hi honey," Leo said, giving Corrine a kiss. Nina waited for her to mention Desmond Styles' interview, but it never came.

"Tay, what is all this?" Kathleen asked setting her backpack down on the couch.

"Since the advertising company shut down, we had all these extra supplies that were going to be wasted away. We decided to take advantage of them," Leo explained.

"And I'm glad we did Leo," a man said. He was a bigger man, mid-40's, and had a mustache. He held up a sign that said 'vote Dela Vera.'

"Me too Henley," Leo said back. "Oh, Nina anak, this is Gregory Henley. You mentioned that you know his son, Robbie?"

"Ah, so you're the Shaksepearean partner!" Gregory exclaimed. He held out his hand, stubby fingers and all. Nina shook it.

"Yes sir, I'm Robbie's partner for English class," Nina confirmed.

"Nice to meet ya, lass. I should bring Robbie aboard this campaign committee. You two could team up," Gregory suggested.

"I like that idea. Robbie is a good guy," Leo winked at Nina.

Nina was taken aback for a moment. The thought of having feelings for Robbie was a little odd to her. Though, she did agree that he was nice, and good looking.

She climbed the stairs to her bedroom, shutting the door behind her. She crawled into her bed, and rested her head down on the pillow, wanting to rest before dinner. She thought about her encounter with Harry today. With a pretty lady. A pretty lady? Who? Jezabelle? Another girl from school? Another school? Nina drifted into a nap as the thoughts swirled in her mind.

Nina ran through the halls at school. Her hair was a mess, her shirt wasn't fully buttoned up, and papers flew out of her school bag and fluttered onto floor. She was late to class. Really late. The corridors were completely empty. It seemed like the halls grew longer with every step. She turned the corner, not paying attention to where she was going, or her surroundings. She tripped on one of her own fallen papers, feeling her body catapult towards the ground. Muscular arms caught her, and she was staring face to face with the boy who held her protectively.

Harry Styles gave Nina a cheeky smile, as he brought her back upright. He towered over her, as she looked up at him. He pushed her messy bangs behind her ear, and continued to look at her as if she were piece of artwork. He bit his bottom lip, and Nina's breath became slow. Harry gently held her face in his hands, and moved his closer to hers. Their foreheads touched, and Harry closed his eyes, his breathing heavy. Their lips were only a few millimeters apart, and any sudden movement could cause their lips to touch.

His warm breath soothed Nina, and made her feel more calm. The nerves disappeared, and as Harry tilted his face inward, their lips grazed. That tiny touch was like lightning; enough to make Nina's knees shake, and her heart to beat fast. She wanted so bad for him to just kiss her; to feel his lips on her's; to taste him, and to taste him again. Her heart continued to race, and suddenly she could hear it. It was like her heart was plugged into a speaker. Louder and louder it grew, until her heartbeats didn't sound like heartbeats anymore, but urgent pounding.

Nina's eyes fluttered open with the sound of pounding on her door. She turned to her side, and noticed the time. It was 6:30pm, and was asleep for two hours. She slid off her bed, and opened the door. It was Kathleen.

"Time for dinner, Ate," she informed.

Notes

Thanks for reading everyone! Please send me feedback if you have any. Don't forget to vote, comment, and/or subscribe if this story is your cup of tea!

Thanks,

-Erica Jaine <3