Rise of the Hearts

By Antoine Bonner

Nathaniel's always been a loser—his only friend is his sister, and girls don't want anything to do with him. But when he's given a miraculous gift that allows him to attract the girl of his dreams, he begins to realize that a gift can also be a curse.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Jan 22, 2018
• ISBN: 9781543923575

Book preview

20

Well, if it isn’t my favorite sister, Kim, I say as she walks into the kitchen.

Kim washes her hands and joins me at the table. Well, if it isn’t my dorky, glasses-wearing, messy-brown-haired brother, Nathaniel.

That was a little harsh. I give you a compliment, and you stab me in the heart with insults?

It’s too early to hear your nonsense. Of course, I’m your favorite sister. I’m your only sister.

I smile. Mom did say Dad slept around with many women before he turned gay. So, there’s a strong possibility that I have more than one sister out there, I say, trying to hold in my laughter.

How could you joke about something like that? Mom’s depressed because of that. Dad’s probably turning in his grave right now!

I shrug. All good jokes contain truth.

Whatever! I hope college treats you well. I won’t be there to protect you from bullies and scheming women like I did in high school.

That’s a good thing! It was embarrassing having my puny little sister fighting all my battles.

It may have been embarrassing, but at least you’re alive. You should let me show you how to do this before you leave. She puts her fist up and starts throwing punches towards me.

I laugh and put my hands up. No thanks, Ronda. I’m a lover, not a fighter.

What are you going to do about the girls? Every year in high school, a new girl made you believe that you two were dating. They only tolerated talking to you so you could do their homework, or give them lunch money. Kim slams her hands on the table. I wish I could go back in time and knock out some more of their teeth.

You live, and you learn. Thankfully, I’m not that gullible anymore.

The problem is, you still are. Kim places her hand on her forehead. You need to start thinking with your brain and not your heart.

I get up from my chair. Well, if more people thought with their hearts, there would be fewer heartaches in the world. With that being said, I need to get out of here before I’m late for my first day of college.

I walk toward the door.

Make sure you stay away from drugs. Mom started in college, don’t follow in her footsteps, she yells.

Class starts in five minutes and I’m stuck in the parking lot, trying to find a vacant space. With all the spaces available, I didn’t think I’d be waiting it out with another car, fighting to see who was going to get the next open spot. Usually, confrontation makes me nervous, but I’m more scared about being late for class than being beat up by the person in the car.

Nathaniel? Is there a Nathaniel here or not? the professor asks as I walk through the door.

Here, I say, panting.

Everyone in the class laughs. I look at the professor, who doesn’t look amused. He gives me a stern look and tells me to go and take a seat. I take the only open seat, in the back of the classroom. Not my preference, especially when there are giants blocking your view. The only thing I have a clear view of is the door, and that’s because there’s one more empty seat diagonal to me. Other than that, all I see are human backs.

As I’m taking notes about microorganisms, the door of the classroom suddenly opens, and a girl walks in. She’s even later than I was, by around twenty minutes.

Excuse me, young lady. Who are you, and why are you disturbing my class? the professor asks, giving her the same stern look he gave me.

Hi, my name is Amanda, and I am so, so sorry. The girl, Amanda, puts her hands over her eyes and cries.

Okay, I will let you in this time, but the sweet voice, puppy-dog eyes, and tears will not work next time. Now, go find a seat, the professor says.

Thank you so much, Amanda says gleefully, before walking to her seat.

The only seat available is the seat diagonal to me, making me excited. This girl looks amazing. Amanda is beautiful. She’s probably about average height, with long brown hair, hazel eyes, and a beautiful smile. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that her jeans are hugging her curves amazingly.

Amanda’s glaring at me as she takes her seat. I pretend not to notice. I don’t want to make any awkward eye contact; plus, I can’t tell if she’s giving me the come talk to me look or the don’t even think about speaking to me look. Now that Amanda’s in her seat, I can see her out of the corner of my eye. She’s still staring at me. I don’t know what to do or say, so I smile, grab my notes on microorganisms, and reach over to share them with her. Amanda’s eyes grow wide and she smacks the papers away from her, causing my hand to bang against her desk. The professor and everyone else in the class pause for a second. All eyes are on me and Amanda.

The professor clears his throat. Now, where was I? he asks, going back to his slides.

Smooth move, nerd, the tall person in front of me says.

The girl sitting behind me tries to hold in her laughter. Amanda finally stops looking at me, and is now paying attention to the professor’s lecture.

Class is a grueling two hours, and we’re only halfway done. After an hour of non-stop talking, the professor’s words start to sound like a foreign language. I feel my eyelids getting heavier and my head starts to nod up and down. I pretend to take notes while nodding in and out of sleep. It’s not like he can see me over this tall tree sitting in front of me, anyway. I’m not sure what I’m jotting down, but I feel my hand moving. In the middle of a nod, I’ve drawn a pink heart on my paper. I sit in my seat, confused, trying to figure out where I even got a pink pen from. As I stare at the heart, it moves in quick circles on the paper, then starts to extend out from the paper until it is directly in front of my eyes. Amazing. I reach to touch the heart, but suddenly, it explodes into pink dust and goes into my eyes. I scream as my eyes start to burn. I close my eyes, rubbing them with my palms. When I open my eyes again, they’re watery, and my vision is distorted. I look around the class, but it’s empty…except for one student that’s on the opposite side of the room, right across from me.

What happened to everyone else in the class? I yell across the room, my eyes still burning. I must be hallucinating. It seems like this person has pink, glowing eyes. I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to get rid of the tears.

Can you hear me? What happened to everyone? I ask, still squeezing my eyes shut. When I open my eyes, my vision is a lot clearer, but still a little blurry and burning.

It’s clear now that the person across the room is a girl. Her skin is bright white, like a full moon. She’s wearing a black, dirty, raggedy dress with holes in it, scuffed white tennis shoes, and a dirty white button-up shirt with holes in it. Her hair is covering her face, so I can’t make out any features.

Suddenly, the chairs explode in several different directions across the room, leaving only the girl’s chair and mine untouched and perfectly aligned, with nothing in between them. Her chair starts to inch closer to mine.

I’m shaking. I can’t move. This is unreal. Hey, what’s going on?

Her chair slides all the way over to mine. My fight-or-flight response kicks in, and I’m ready to take flight. I try to get out of my chair, but I’m stuck in the seat. I wiggle around in my chair to no avail. I can’t leave. The girl turns to me and puts her face directly in front of mine. Even though her hair is still covering her face, I can see a glimpse of her eyes through the gaps. She has pink irises. I look harder, and it’s clear that her irises are also shaped like hearts. The girl swipes the pink pen off her desk, then begins aggressively writing on it. Chips of wood fly everywhere in an earsplitting way. I cover my ears and turn my face, avoiding the wood chips. Suddenly, the noise stops. I slowly turn back to her, and the girl is pointing to her desk.

You want me to read that? I ask nervously.

She nods.

I lean forward, looking at her desk. In big letters, covering the entire desk, are the words: No one’s going to love you like I do!

When I lift my head up to ask her what she means, her face is directly in front of mine again. She’s so close that our lips almost touch. Nathaniel, wake up, she whispers.

What? I ask.

Nathaniel, it’s time for you to wake up! she belts, shattering the windows in the classroom.

Nathaniel, wake up, someone says, shaking my shoulder.

My eyes pop open as Amanda continues to shake me. She slaps me across the face for good measure.

I think he’s awake now, the girl behind me says, giggling.

Amanda slaps me again. Now he’s awake. Class is over, she says before releasing me and walking away.

This is probably the most embarrassing moment of my life. It’s probably best that I get out of here before I make a bigger fool out of myself. Before I can make a quick getaway to my next class, someone yells behind me, Hey, you! I stop in my tracks. I’m going to kick your ass, she continues to yell.

It’s been a while since someone has said those words to me, I say, smirking. When I turn around, I’m face-to-face with Amanda. Look I’m sorry I made eye contact with you in class and grossed you out with my repulsive looks. I’ll never look at you again.

What? Amanda asks, scowling. You cut me off in the parking lot, you ass. You made me late for class. Amanda’s hand is on her hip, and she places a finger in my face.

I hit my forehead and shake my head. Yeah, about that. I’m sorry. If I could take back my actions, I would. I pull my book bag off my shoulders and grab my notes from class. You really should copy my notes. You can catch up on the things you missed, I say.

Amanda gives me a long, hard stare before snatching the notes out of my hand. What was wrong with you in class? Do you always act out your nightmares?

No, I had no idea I was acting out anything. I shrug.

Yeah, that was pretty freaky, another woman says, approaching us. Hi, I’m Tonya. I sit behind you, she says.

Right, the girl who was laughing when Amanda was slapping me? Nice to meet you, I say, rolling my eyes.

You two were pretty hilarious in class today, Tonya says, flipping her hair over her shoulder. Are you two a couple?

No, that was real hate that you saw, Amanda says, giving me a fake smile.

I highly doubt you hate me. You just met me. I frown.

I don’t hate you. I just want to use your head for batting practice, Amanda says with a sinister smile.

You guys are so funny. How about we form a study group with just the three of us? Tonya suggests.

Yeah, I’m down for that, I answer, shrugging.

How about you? Tonya asks Amanda.

Sure. I like to keep my friends close and enemies closer. Amanda looks at me suspiciously.

Fabulous, we can be the Three Amigos! Tonya says, smiling and giving us a wave. I’ll see you guys tomorrow.

I wave back as Amanda replies, Bye girl!

Amanda gives me the middle finger before walking on top of my foot as she leaves. I ignore her attempt to rile me up, and head to my next class. The first day of college was starting off pretty good. Sure, I’d had a nightmare in class in front of everyone and met a girl who might want to kill me, but you know what they say—it can always be worse.

This girl totally likes you, bro. Girls hit guys when they like them, Kim says confidently as we sit at the kitchen table.

Do you see this red handprint on the side of my face? I ask after swallowing a spoonful of cereal.

Kim touches the side of my face.

Ouch, it’s still tender. I slap her hand away. This doesn’t feel like love to me. I point to my bruised cheek.

"Well, I didn’t say ‘love.’ I said ‘like,’ bro. She pats my shoulder. Trust me. It’s a girl’s intuition. I know she likes you."

So, what should I say or do? I’m not good with women.

Kim stands and looks me in the eye. Brother, you’re smarter and much more charming than you think. She makes her way to the front door. You got this. You’ll figure it out!

I follow her lead to the door. I hope you’re right. I’ll tell you how it goes when I see her later.

When I make it to campus, the parking spaces are full, just like yesterday. Luckily, I find one within minutes. As soon as I park my car, it starts to rain. Maybe I can wait it out since I have fifteen minutes before class starts.

Amanda’s car is parked behind me. She’s searching all over her car for something. Maybe she doesn’t have an umbrella. This is the perfect chance to get her to like me.

I get out of my car and run over to Amanda’s. When I knock on her window, she jumps. The bottle of water she was holding goes flying and spills all over her blouse. It’s not exactly how I was hoping my day would start with her. She gives me a cold, hard look. I smile and point up at my umbrella, waving for her to come out. Amanda rolls her eyes but gets out of the car.

Can I just have a good morning without you ruining things? Amanda snatches the umbrella out of my hand.

So, you got a little water on you. You would have been wetter if I hadn’t shown up with this marvelous umbrella, I say proudly.

Yeah, an umbrella that can only cover one person, Amanda counters.

"And you’re the one under the umbrella. It truly feels like I’m drowning right now." Water pours down my face, into my eyes, and inside my nose.

Amanda giggles.

Can you at least escort me to class? I seriously can’t see, I say.

Sure. I would feel bad if you got hit by a car.

Amanda and I lock arms and run through the rain, laughing at my misery. We laugh all the way from the parking lot to the classroom. Before going inside the classroom, we make eye contact. I think she may be giving me the boy, you better get over here and kiss me look, but I don’t know the rules about kissing. I don’t know if I should wait until she leans in and grabs my head, or if I can dive in with my tongue out. As soon as I decide to go for it and pucker my lips, she walks into class. I missed my opportunity.

I spend another two hours of class full of daydreaming (with no nightmares), and boring lectures. At least I’m able to stare at Amanda the whole time. That girl gets more gorgeous by the minute.

After class, we exit the classroom and I open my umbrella, putting it over Amanda’s head. We begin walking together.

Aww, that’s so sweet! Tonya says, catching up with us. She has her own umbrella, and it’s big enough to fit two people. She puts it over my head. There, now we can all stay dry.

Now you get to take two beautiful girls to their car, Amanda teases.