The love that binds us

Untitled Part 6

'What happened?' Mr Blanch was a tall broad man; he had greying hair and was always stern with his students, now was no different. 'Who bit you?' I didn't want to answer, if my dad found out, Tyler would be in trouble but I'd really get it.

'No one.' I muttered and the silence made me uncomfortable. Mr Blanch sighed out and continued to look me over.

'Well someone obviously bit you, so explain yourself now.' He crossed his arms and leant back slightly.

'I can't.' I cried. 'Please, don't tell my dad.' I looked at him with tears racing down my face and he just looked at me, taking a deep breath. He walked over to the door and locked it with his staff key.

'You are not leaving this bathroom until you tell me exactly what happened.' Even in my panicked state I thought this was a little weird but I didn't protest, I think part of me really wants to tell someone, but if I did that then other people would find out and I can't afford that happening.

'Please, Mr Blanch, I can't tell you, if my dad finds out-'

'I am not going to tell your father, but I need you to explain to me why, you have a bloodied bite mark and why you're crying.' I sobbed a little more, trying to rub my face and calm down but I was scared.

'I can't tell you.' My voice sounded terrible, whiny and hoarse.

'Then we're not leaving.' He said moving to the sink and turning the tap on and doing something.

'Please, Mr Blanch-' I began to beg but he cut me off with a quiet tone.

'I'm gay, you know.' I flinched and looked up at him. He didn't turn around or look up at me from the mirror, just continued what ever he was doing. 'I'm married, to a wonderful man; he's very smart but can be a complete idiot sometimes. We met when we were both in college, I was studying to be a chemistry teacher he was studying law. At first we just watched each other in the library, for weeks I would stare at him confused about my feelings, focusing on one feature and memorizing it so that I wouldn't have to think about how I felt and for weeks he would look at me, obviously not at the same time, I'd glance at him and catch him looking and vies versa, the both of us too afraid to say anything to one another because back then it was definitely not the right thing to do. Not so much today, but in small towns like this I suppose people haven't really caught up with the times.' I stopped crying and watched him, he wasn't stern now, his tone was soft and he looked like he liked the memory he was recalling. I could remember that he only moved here at the end of last year, no one really knew much about him because he didn't talk about his personal life, plus he was a teacher so we didn't really care that much. But now that I think about it, if I see him in the grocery store he's usually with a man about his age, I'd always just thought they were friends, brothers even.

'One day, it was raining terribly and I'd gone to the library,' he pulled me back to the conversation and I listened carefully. 'It was a Saturday night, the library was always open until late because of up coming exams and for those people that needed the extra time, most of my friends were off drinking, to scared to face the results of their exam's just gone. By the time I reached the library I was soaked to the bone and I slipped on the marble floor in the library's lobby, I lay there for a moment thinking about everything and then he was standing over me, at first I thought I was imagining it because in all honesty I'd only gone to the library that night to see him. He asked me what I was doing, he had his own smile of sorts, something that still makes me feel warm inside today, I got all embarrassed and fell over my words as I stumbled to my feet, but he just simply smiled and he said to me, I'll never forget because I always thought it sounded really weird, but now that I'm older I know different. He said to me; 'I shouldn't have said anything, because this might have been my only chance to lie next to you'. My face went bright red and from there we started dating, it was in secrete due to the times but we still had fun, weekends at the beach and movie dates to the drive in but now we live in a nice home, we're considering adopting or fostering kids soon.' He smiled down at his hands; it was such a genuinely happy smile. I felt tears rolling down my cheeks again and he turned to me, his smile a little smaller now.

'I don't know what's happening.' I cried and he looked at me surprised but said nothing. 'I met this guy the other day in the woods, and he scares me, he does things I don't understand and he hurts me, but I'm not sure if I love him or if it's just convenient because I never thought I'd get to be with someone like this until I was in college and... and I don't want to be horrible like that, I don't want him to be a convenience to me but he scares me sometimes, like really scares me, I mean he bit me so hard that I bled and his brothers, they scare me too.' I cried rubbing my face as I blubbered along.

'Do you like him?' Mr Blanch asked in a simple tone.

'I only met him like yesterday, the day before, he does things when I tell him not to but he's protective, I really really how protective he is, no one's ever been like that for me, but if my dad...'

'I see. And when he does these things, the things that hurt you, do you hate him for it?' I looked up at Blanch and wiped my face.

'I don't know, he warns me sometimes that he's going to do them but I pushed him this time and he bit me. So it's probably my fault.' I muttered, dad's voice telling me that this was definitely my fault, for being a fag.

'No, don't blame yourself entirely, if it's who I think it is that isn't your fault, they just can't deal with the emotions like normal people and it manifests in physical actions.'

'Y-you know? Does that mean other people know?' I asked panicked once again.

'No, I'm just quite attentive, Don says it's a flaw, I use it as a strength.' He chuckled but shook his head. 'I think that you should understand more about Tyler's behaviour, because to me, what he did to you, is actually an act of love or romance between dogs. When a wolf marks there partner they bite them, scarring them so that other members of their pack and other wolves know who they belong to.' I frowned down at my feet.

'He's a wolf?' I muttered confused and Mr Blanch scoffed.

'No, this isn't some twilight knock off, you have to remember that Tyler was living by himself in the woods since he was five, his animal instincts would have kicked in and who knows, maybe some wolves took him under their wing and raised the boy. What I'm trying to say is you can't rush someone like that; you have to help them develop and work on their language and emotions. Get to know one another, and don't push so hard.'

'I was doing that... the emotions thing...'

'And it lead to kissing, he said stop because he wanted more and you kept going and he bit you? Sound about right?' I nodded; it was kind of creepy how accurate he was.

'Think about it, you pushed him towards something that he was scared of, he's scared of hurting you and you pushed so he hurt you so he could run away and not be in that situation for fear of hurting you more.' I nodded. 'I understand that you're scared, but he probably is too, he's probably experiencing something he's never felt before and that is a scary feeling. So just calm down a little, go slowly, you guys have the rest of your lives and if you're not rushing things then you won't become careless and people won't find out.' I nodded and he handed me back my shirt, the blood gone. I nodded, pulling my shirt back on and he moved to the door. 'Zach, I want you to know, that if you ever need someone, someone to talk to about this, you're welcome to ask me any questions, if you ever need any help as well just ask.' I looked down at my hands as I rung them over, is that really okay? He wouldn't offer if he didn't mean it right?

'Thanks.' I said quietly before we both walked out, I went to my next period and as soon as the final bell rang I ran for the woods, I ran around looking for him, eventually I found him sitting on the tree trunk and I sat down next to him. 'I've been looking for you.' I muttered nudging him with my shoulder. He shifted away a little but not too far. 'I'm sorry for pushing you.' I muttered and he sat there quietly.

'I not... I not want to hurt you.' He said quietly and I sighed, sliding across the mossy tree trunk and lacing my fingers in his. His hand was warm and I pulled it across so our hands were resting in my lap. He seemed nervous but not uncomfortable.