Deleted Scene: Nicole and Blake in Ceramics

This scene happened in ceramics class, the day that Darius told everyone about the mandatory comet-viewing. I took it out because I felt like it slowed down the pace of the book. But it’s a cute scene, so I hope you enjoy reading it!

“So, are you going tomorrow night?” Blake asked as I took my seat next to him in ceramics.

“I didn’t think the comet viewing was optional,” I said. “Unless we want detention for a month. So yeah, I’m going.”

“Yesterday, you didn’t seem sure about staying in our homeroom,” he said. “But if you’re coming tomorrow night, I guess you’ve made your decision.”

“I’m curious about the comet.” I lowered my voice so no one could overhear, even though the comet was a well-known celestial event that everyone knew about. “Everything we talked about in homeroom is interesting, even though I’m not sure if I believe it or not.”

“Well I’m glad you decided to stay,” he said simply.

“Me, too.” I reminded myself to stay focused on the conversation and not on the fact that Blake was looking at me so intensely that I felt like I wanted to melt into my chair. “I was wondering though … yesterday when we talked, it didn’t seem like you believed that the legends were true. But you sounded confident about it in homeroom this morning.”

“It’s not impossible, but aside from a claim or two from the Head Elders, no one’s had communication with the gods for a while.” He shrugged and leaned back in his seat. “We’ll just have to see if anything happens as the comet passes by tomorrow night.”

“Do you think anything will … happen?” I arched an eyebrow at his strange choice of words. “The world’s not going to end or anything, right?”

He laughed, smooth and melodic. “The world’s not going to end,” he said. “But if it does, we’ll all be together. Maybe we could even find a way to stop it.”

“Because saving the world is exactly how I planned to spend my Friday night.” I rolled my eyes.

“Don’t get your hopes up,” he said. “We’ll probably all just be hanging around, talking, taking pictures, and doing everything we usually do.”

“Right,” I said. “Except we’ll be watching a comet that hasn’t passed by in over three thousand years.”

“Yeah.” He smiled. “There’s that.”

“If anything, it does sound mysterious.”

“That is does,” he agreed. “And who knows—maybe something crazy will happen.”

“Maybe.” I smiled—but not in anticipation of the comet. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I was excited for the comet.

But I’d smiled because I loved how easy it was for me to talk with Blake.