Chapter Nine

—Warning: this chapter contains a sexual scene further into the chapter, if it triggers you and\ or makes you uncomfortable please skip towards the second red dot. It’ll mark the end of the scene you wish to skip.—

Andrew’s p.o.v.

My eyes went over his duo eyes, drowning in the clear lakes of blue, and the way his fair eyelashes still gathered thickly to frame his eyes furthermore despite the lightness. His high cheekbones the prettiest rose shade I've ever seen, and the glow that emitted from his pristinely clear skin had me wondering just how soft his skin was. Flawless. His nose shaped perfectly to match his ethereal aura, and his reddishly tinted lips were hostage to his teeth as he continued to bite into them. I wanted to pull them free, tell him no one was allowed to bite those sinfully full lips except me. But... I’m not gay, so why am I thinking this way.

He’s the most beauteous individual I’ve ever come to see. His pale complexion just added to his appeal, and I wondered for a second if he was sent down from heaven, for one person to hold this much beauty in his face, for innocence to be the one thing you could see in his eyes, is simply… mythical. I looked him over and over as if trying to commit it to memory, as if this was the only time I’d be able to look at him from this perspective.

My eyes went to his eyebrows, drown inwards in concentration and his eyes returned their reflection of worry, hidden behind his thick glasses and I can only say it added something to his cuteness. But even with his weird sense of fashion, just looking at his face took my breath away. And I had to hold back from the raw need of devouring him. I saw his lips move but I couldn’t concentrate on anything but the way his lips jutted forward with each word, appearing more appealing and inviting.

“—drew? Did you hear me?” I looked up, realizing I was spacing way too far, but I didn’t do anything, waiting for him to repeat, “I said, I’m sorry for delaying you, and that if you could please step back so that I can get out?—” I wanted to close my eyes to bathe in his voice as it ringed in my ears, smooth and airy like a caress of rose petal.

“— I don’t want you to get detention because of me, so If you—” I would gladly miss math and go to detention if you’ll keep talking. That thought suddenly brought me back to him, his backpack in hand and him looking at me with a waiting and questioning gaze, I then realized I had gone into another trance, and was halting his path. I discreetly cleared my throat and stepped back and simply stared at him as he so easily got out of the car. Taken aback by the sudden change in his behavior, guilt-trip worked after all.

I wanted to have thoughts similar to ‘I wish I knew that prior and used it in the beginning’ and ‘that would have cut me some slack, now I have to run to class.’ but I didn’t. And I found myself thankful as thoughts of missing hearing his voice, or seeing his flawless countenance had that happened, filled my head. I shook my head quickly and blamed it—once again— on the lack of sleep. I can’t be thinking about a guy in this manner. If a whiff of this got to Matt he’d never speak to me again. And it wasn't fair to Helen either. I shouldn’t think of anyone else in a similar manner when I had my nice and lovely girlfriend. I’m not gay.

I blinked, trying to calm my beating heart without seeming too obvious. All that went in vain when I felt his hand slip in mine, it was soft and warm and fitted perfectly in the slots of my palm. The shade difference in our skin was comical, while I was on the paler side, he was so whitish to where I suspected him never got under the sun. He waved his goodbyes to his mother and I found myself reciprocating his actions dumbly as he pulled me along to the school's gate.

I saw utter surprise on Emily’s face at the 180 flip in Kyle’s outer persona, his eyes were shining in innocent excitement, and all traces of anxiety and worry gone. His body was in hyper mood as his every move seemed overdosed with energy, his every step was almost a skip. I felt hurried eyes follow us as we walked towards somewhere unknown but I couldn’t focus on that when I was experiencing butterflies-like flutter in the depth of my guts.

I allowed him to pull me along empty hallways and I didn’t struggle to pull my hand away from his. Instead, I studied his form, from his golden blond locks bouncing with his every step, it was a bit too long, especially at the back of his neck but I found myself not minding the length on him, he had this pump in his back that I didn’t notice before, either from the fact that he was setting against the back of a seat or this huge jacket of his. Now it makes sense I guess. Was it why he was so hesitant to step out of the car? I don't blame him. The students are heartless when it comes to new students and would nitpick and find things about them that they don’t even know to make someone’s life miserable. I never understood their actions and I never took part in the ‘fun’. It went from his shoulder blades and came together at his waist. His hunchback will be their first mock.

I crashed into his back at the sudden halt, why did he stop? And why is his back softer than I thought? “Where is it?” his hands had wrapped around me to steady me and I hastily stepped away from the embrace, “Where is what?” I was still trying to get rid of the heat that suddenly engulfed me and thankfully my voice came out steady.

“Your classroom? I can’t let you get detention because of me, so where is it?”

“Don’t worry about that, I won’t get detention if I’m helping you.” Because I won’t even attempt to appear to class. “Now come on, let’s get you to the front office.” I smiled when he didn’t look convinced, he then nodded so I turned around, and left some space between us as I walked him back all the way to the principal’s office.

We kept silent as we walked, and I felt his eyes bore into the side of my head, but I ignored it, I tried to think of random things to avoid looking at him, but I could only think of blue eyes and pale complexion. We got closer to the office, so I hurried my steps and left him with the secretary with the excuse of getting to class. My mind filled with the intention of cutting off the small tie that held him to me. I’m not gay and I can’t be near anyone who made me feel otherwise. I have to steer clear of his enchanting presence no matter what. As I turned around, I had to refrain myself from sprinting away from there and instead walked calmly. The picture of him waving at me, with a doleful expression on his beautiful face, and his pouty lips when I announced my departure imprinted in my mind.

******

Kyle’s p.o.v.

My eyes followed Andrew as he walked slowly down the hallway. I found myself pouting more when he rounded the corner and completely disappeared from my sight. While guilt surged through me, for causing disrupt to his day, I found myself upset when he didn’t turn around. It’s not all that serious but I had this gut feeling that he won’t be the same after this morning. Was I too extreme?

The secretary looked at me in concern, when I slumped down in the provided chair. I only knew that because it’s the same look my mother would give me at times. I tried smiling but I was too into my head to actually give one. I felt like I had already ruined my golden day; bursting out crying in the middle of the lobby in front of the principal’s office would just amplify the embarrassment. So I kept it in and tried to organize my emotions all into separate folders and neatly tuck them away in the back of my mind.

The clock ticking was too loud in my ear as I waited for the secretary to let me in, she said it should take a few minutes and other than asking me if I was okay when I clearly was near tears, she didn’t say anything and resumed to typing on her device. She seems nice. The aura around her homey and calming. Her short hair and petite physique were inviting. Her looks aren’t the type to make you want to run the other way.

“Okay dear, you can go in now.”

She gave me my papers back and threw me an encouraging smile, I smiled back and made my way to the oak double doors at the end of the otherwise short hallway. I stood there for a second, debating if maybe I should just fly back home and forget all about this… “You’re strong.” my mum’s words from this morning came back to me and I found myself double knocking on the door before I could back out.

A soft ‘come in’ came from behind the double doors that weren’t as soft to my ears, I slowly opened the door and stepped in. it was a nice and clean office. I couldn’t smell dust anywhere and it was quite organized. Most of the furniture was a mahogany color and the only other color frequently presented in the room was yellow, hmm, cheerful. “Mr Kyle, please come in, and sit down.” I realized that I had stayed by the door inspecting the room, so I awkwardly tried to smile and shuffled to the armchair furnished at the opposite side of her desk table.

I gave her the file that contains all my papers, the ones my mum spent an entire morning and afternoon getting legalized and ready. I didn’t understand the fuss, I was her son and I live here… why all those extra nonsense? “So your mother told me about your case, I’m sorry to hear that, kid. You can come to me with any issue if you faced any alright?” she paused from flipping through my papers and signing them to look at me and I nodded immediately.

At first, I thought my mum told her about my wings. Which set me on high alert because a lot could go wrong with her knowing, but then she apologized and I realized, she meant the cover story we came up with. My mum said that it was important to lie just this once, because if everyone knew I was living with her all along they would become too curious as to why I have never been out to be seen anywhere before, so we came up with a fake story that I was living with my dad while my parent’s fought for custody until I was old enough for the judge to call me forward and ask me whom I wanted to stay with. That I chose my mother because I’m closer to her despite not living with her and that I wasn’t under the best conditions while living with my father.

When my mother first laid it out in front of me it kind of hurt me to think like that. I don’t know my father. My mother never speaks of him. She’d mention him on a few rare occasions but would never tell me who he is and what he was like. I didn’t want to think about my father like that. And while he’s awful for leaving us. Having him painted in other’s minds as this awful person who put me through bad things, doesn’t sit well with me. And have him painted in my head as my mother’s divorced ex. makes me feel sad because I’d like to think that he didn’t leave us by choice. That one day he’ll come out of nowhere and maybe I’ll be able to forgive him. Constantly saying that I know my father and that he just left us like that, hurts.

“Alright kid. All your papers will be enlisted into the system by the end of the day. Here’s a map to help you around, and your schedule,” she gave me both, one printed on a harder paper, I’ll have to make multiple copies of that when I get home because I’ll defiantly lose it one way or another. I looked at the map and it gave off the main layout of the school, but it’s kind of… complicated. “You’ll be excused from being late for your first week only until you figure your way around. Don’t take advantage of that.” I nodded repeatedly when she sent a half glare at me. “Good. This is your handbook, the rest will be in your locker, now wait by the front desk, we have assigned a student to tour you and help you around for your first day.” I smiled and mumbled a quick thank you, grabbing my hefty handbook, I made my way to the door and out before I can overthink the encounter. The principle was nice. Very similar aura to the secretary, similar features too. They share the same curly ginger hair, the only difference was their height and outer style. The principle had high formal fashion. While the secretary kept it simple.

I was back at the front office and I thought I had to wait, but there was already a tall boy standing by the secretary’s desk. A new student too, maybe? My attention was on his hair though. It was blue. Very vibrant blue with magenta streaks running through it. It was very cool! I just have very boring blonde hair. I couldn’t see his face but I was more intimidated by his tall frame, cladded in a black hoodie and skinny jeans.

“Kyle!” the secretary, Mrs Lilian, smiled my way when she noticed me, cutting her chatter with the tall boy, making him spin around to face me as well, I thought I’d be scared out of my wits once he looks at me and tower over me. Which he did tower over me but not in an intimidating scary way... More like that’s just his built. I took a suggestion that his hair under the dye is chestnut-brown if his freckles that dusted his face lightly were anything to go by. He had brown orbs that were shining so bright and welcoming along with his wide smile, “Hello Kyle! I’m Albert! Today must be your lucky day since you got this handsome boy as your tour guide!” his voice was light and teasing as he gestured to himself. “Stop flirting Albert, you’ll scare him for life. You still have a class to get to.” Mrs Lilian giggled and rolled her eyes at him.

He led me out of the waiting area and we took a few steps before he spoke again, “So which school did you transfer from?” thank goodness I already had a reply prepared. “I… uh, I did online schooling.” Which was true.

“Oh why?” he asked as we rounded another corner, this time the hallway’s walls were all lockers, but he kept walking so I did too. I didn’t know what to reply because I wasn’t expecting him to ask further. I can’t just blurt out ‘I have wings’ and hope for the best so I tried to look around in ‘astonishment’ to buy me some time. “I’m here for my mother. My… uh, my father didn’t allow me to.” Here it was again. Blaming the father I never knew.

“Oh. Sorry to hear that. Are they, like, divorced?” I was about to open my mouth despite not knowing what to say but he spoke again, “Wait! don’t answer, sorry I asked. Anyway, here is your locker ‘011’ it’s by the exit door and this is the only one on this floor, the principle gave you the combination right? You’ll find your books—” he was cut by a ringtone, and I tried not to wince at the loudness of it.

He smiled apologetically at me as he fetched his phone from his back pocket. I could see his panic and hear the exact moment his heartbeat picked up when he held the sleek blue device closer to his face. His eyes widened in an unnoticed way and his breath stopped for a short moment. “I– I have to take this excuse me!” he stepped away from me and I felt bad because I was still able to hear him. But I tried to tune him out. I could still hear his fast heart and the urgency and panic in his voice.

He turned to me with a flushed face, “I’m sorry Kyle! Something came up. I have to cut our tour short.” He took a look at my schedule, “your class is on the second floor through the left-wing, down the lobby to the fifth door on your right. Again I’m so sorry but— shit, I have to go!” his tone was wavering and the gloss that shone over his eyes told me his need to cry. I wasn’t upset. Just shocked as I watched him leave me in front of my locker, clueless.

I kept looking at the empty hallway still unable to shake the off feeling I got after his nervous outburst, I turned to my locker, my head tilting to the side, how does this work again? Oh! I need to enter the combination. It’s a bunch of numbers written on a slip of paper that Mrs Lilian gave to me. Should I, like, rotate the thingy for each number? I guess so. I read over the scribbled numbers and realized it was my locker’s number and my birthdate. Quite easy to memories. Was everyone’s combination the same? If so I can easily access them… I shrugged and continued entering rotating the lock until it unlocked I smiled in success and looked at my schedule, I had math for first class… that’s easy I took math online classes too. I hope we’re on the same track though. I pulled my math textbook and stuffed it with the rest of my notebooks in my backpack.

I closed the locker, then I remembered that I hadn’t put my book inside, I pulled the door but it won’t open? Wait, I have to put the combination each time? God that’s too complicated! Still, I won’t carry this hefty book everywhere with me! I reopened my locker threw the handbook inside and slammed it shut. Regretted it instantly after the sound echoed harshly in my ear. I winced, okay we won’t be doing that from now on.

Okay, now where are those stairs? I pushed my lips together and walked somewhere random to see if I'll find the stairs. But I came to a dead-end that reeked of sweat, I scrunched my nose and quickly walked the other way. The whole place smelled bad but it was more dominant behind those doors that lead to who knows what. It was hard to control my senses, there were too much. I reached the end of the hallway which split into a foyer of some sort. To the front, it was another hallway but to the right, there was a double staircase and to the left big white double doors which I assume are the main doors. Which floor did he say again? The third. No, no the second. I went up the stairs and I was met with the same open foyer and two hallways to each side. Right-wing he said? Agh I don’t know…

I saw a student walking out from what I assumed to be the bathroom. I opened my mouth ready to ask him but as soon as he became near, I froze. He gave me a weird look and continued walking past me. I tried to focus my hearing to see if I could hear anything related to math and follow that, but I couldn’t focus enough. All the voices were muffled together and I couldn’t distinguish any of them.

My head rang when all the noises hit me at once, so I quickly tried to block them away. I decided to go up the stairs, but four steps up, I changed my mind. Just then another student passed me and stopped when I raised my hand, I felt my hands shaking in an unnoticeable way, and my heart quickened. I shook my head when I couldn’t formulate a word and he frowned at me before continuing with his path. I decided to go to the third floor, maybe I’ll find my class there.

I was slightly winded when I reached the last step of the double-case and as I fought to catch my breath I hoped my class wasn’t on this level. Goodness, I spend too much time flying rather than walking. My wishes must be heard because the whole floor was deserted. I could smell dust particles everywhere. I focused my hearing to see if I’d catch anything, but nothing. I spun around ready to go to the main floor and demand to be taken to my class through this damn maze of a school. But as I took the first step down, I caught it. A mewled hum and a gasped whisper of his name.

I turned around, and focused my hearing more, receiving more of those noises. What was he doing here? Shouldn’t he be in class? I should check… just in case. I began walking, following the vibrations and echoes of his voice down a few hallways. The dust scent amplified the closer I came to the side-end of the hallway. I rounded the corner, and was faced with a closed door, the sign ‘art class.’ hanged aside the door. I blinked twice, still very confused about why this part of the school was super dusty. The door had no window to peep through, but the wall next to it had a big cutout for a window. I walked along the curtained ‘window’ to find a hole to peek through. Curiosity killed the cat, thank god I’m not a cat then.

The curtain missed one tiny spot by the end of the window, it was a narrow slit and it was kind of hard to see into the darkroom, but with my enhanced eyesight, I saw everything just fine. And I wish I hadn’t. I quickly averted my eyes when I realized what I had just witnessed, but I re-peeked right after. “Ah- Julian, can’t we do this somewhere private, please?” I was very surprised at the sound Albert had let out. I was half glad that I found him because I’m seriously lost, but just as I thought of barging in, the head that was shoved against Albert’s neck resurfaced. “I want it now, if you’re unwilling then just go. I can find someone who would quite easily. Girls are lined up to be in your position.” I furrowed my brows at the harsh words. The guy’s —Julian— expression was smug but hidden under an un-content mask. I could see the blood draining away from Albert’s face and I couldn’t understand why.

“No! I– uh, I didn’t mean it! I’ll– I’ll do it.” I hated the quiver in Albert’s voice. So different from the confident bubble I met just minutes ago. My eyes widened when the guy just flipped him backwards and bent him against the table, Albert’s face was aligned with mine but he couldn’t see me. I could see the evil glimmer in the guy’s eyes, and for a second I wanted to step in. but something told me that Albert won’t appreciate it. My eyes widened, even more, when Julian just yanked Albert’s jeans down, unzipping his pants at the same time.

•

I watched as the guy thrust himself into Albert, I saw pain contouring his face and I heard it when he winced. I felt livid, and I knew I should have looked away but the tears gathering in Albert’s eyes each time he slammed into the table from the rough treatment made me unable to look away. I don’t understand why he was so obedient, taking the assault just like that.

It went on for a few more minutes before the prick—Julian— let out a loud moan and then a second later, the stench of semen filled the room. I scrunched my nose in disgust when the guy just simply pulled out and fixed himself. I could hear Albert’s fast-beating heart and for some reason, I knew it wasn’t from pleasure. Julian just walked towards the door, not even helping Albert to his wobbly feet. He stopped in front of the door, hand on the handle, then he looked back at Albert, “that was fun, let’s do it again sometimes.” I wanted to punch the smugness out of him, and the wink he gave only fueled me further. I’m not entirely sure what had just gone down, but from the tears that flooded down Albert’s face after Julian said that, I knew it was wrong.

•

My shock doubled when the guy just walked away, not even checking if anyone—me— just saw what he did. I’m half glad he didn’t notice me as he walked in the opposite direction, but I felt so angry towards him and I couldn’t explain it. I’ve never felt this much hatred towards someone, for someone. Except for, maybe, my mum. I looked back at Albert and saw him cleaning himself, I looked away and waited for a few moments for him to collect himself, and maybe his dignity as well.

“Why’d you let him?” I had entered the lowly lit, dusty room, finding Albert huddled to the corner, his body folded into itself and his face shoved into his knees. But I could still hear his sobs loud and clear. I sat beside him on the floor, he spared one glance at me before he cried harder.

“Y–You saw?”

“Yes.”

“The whole thing?”

I caught the spasm-like shake that was so slight, that I wouldn’t have noticed have I not been so close, he frowned at me, and I already don’t like receiving that look from him. “Wha– it’s not nice, spying on people. Especially if it’s intimate! Only creeps do!” I felt heat creep up to my face along with the guilt, “I’m sorry… I didn’t know it was wrong…” maybe if I acted dumb he’d forgive me?

He turned his face towards me, eyes wide and face red “are you one?” I couldn’t set apart if he was angry, surprised, or embarrassed. I hated how he looked at me, and I felt unnecessary panic surging through me. “I’m so sorry Albert! I didn’t mean to watch!!”

“Then why did you?” I was taken aback by his question, so I held my tears in and thought of an answer. I could almost hear the judgmental things he was saying about me in his mind. But he’s the closest to a friend I’ve ever got, so I’ll tell him the truth.

“Because– it didn’t seem like it…” I murmured lowly, trying to avoid his eye but still waiting for his reaction. His face twisted in confusion as he looked at me through squinted eyes, his head aligned to the side, his tone was faint and slow.

“Like what?”

“Intimate… It seemed one-sided.”