I've Been Waiting For You

Chapter 5

  Morning met him in the armchair by the window, his back and legs aching from the cramped position. Sunlight infiltrated his room, making it a totally different atmosphere from last night.

  The sound of pans banging against each other told him his mom was already awake, and probably had breakfast ready. He went into the bathroom and took shower. Ten minutes later he stepped out and went into his bedroom. 

  He opted to wear a simple black jeans, black denim jacket over a white t-shirt and black converse.

  Raven blinked at him from her perch on the head board, licking her paws.

"Don't you like my look?"

  She jumped from the bed to the floor, moving around his feet. He bent to pick her up to gently rubbed her head. He heard another banging from downstairs.

"My mom sure makes a lot of noise. I'll see you later Raven."

  Mitchell made sure to leave out some food and water, before heading downstairs to the kitchen, where his mom was busy at the stove.

 "I have to be at work early for a meeting. So, I'll drop you off by the football field."

 "Don't worry mom, I'll be fine." 

  He scooped some scrambled eggs and sausage onto two slices of toast, then started eating as he got his bag from the rack. He went to wait for her in the vehicle.

  Outside the chilly air blew his hair across his face, as he was making his way to the car. He got into the passenger seat and waited.

  His mom came out a couple of minutes later.

  The drive to the school took about thirty minutes. The car came to a halt in front of the fence, separating the huge football field from the parking lot.

 "Make sure to grab something to eat before heading home. I'll be home late tonight." Sarah told him as he exited the car.

 "I will. See you later."

   Mitchell watched students made their way into the red brick building, without drawing attention to himself. He looked around at his surroundings hoping for this day to end. 

  He walked through the doors, down the noisy hallway to his classroom. Inside, students were idling while waiting for the teacher to arrive. Mitchell kept his eyes ahead and walked straight to an empty desk that was in the middle row.

 "Sorry but that seat's reserved."

  He turned to find a guy sitting at the desk across from him. 

"Then you should have posted a sign."

"I don't need a sign. Everyone knows where I sit, my girlfriend Susan sits."

 Mitchell pulled out his work sheet along with a book, staring at the guy as he placed them down.

"Get over yourself." 

"Maybe you didn't hear me."

  The guy got up and stood in front of him but Mitchell just stared back at him, waiting to see what he would try anything. 

 "He heard you Kev, he just didn't care."

  Mitchell looked towards the door to find himself staring at the guy from the supermarket. The thick black hair and lean build gave him away. 

 "Hi, I'm Markus Graves. Welcome to Pine Crest."

  Mitchell looked at him again, and his breathing faltered when he realized how close he was standing. 

  Dark hazel eyes stared at him with a penetrating gaze. Even though he wasn't touching him, a curling sensation deep in his belly.

  He wanted to look away.

  He couldn't.

  Although they were surrounded by other students, it felt like they were alone. There were no words or easy explanations, just the exquisitely silent communication of their senses.

  When his gaze drifted almost imperceptibly to his mouth, Mitchell felt warmth spread through him like a raging fire, weakening his limbs, priming nerves.

 "Mitchell Wilkins."

  Markus took the book from his hands, giving it a once over.

"Palm reading. You into this?"

"I'm into a lot of things. It's a big world." Mitchell told him, taking back his book with a smile. 

"Do you really believe in this though?" Markus asked, leaning closer towards him.

"I believe in a lot of things."

"You can't really tell about a person just by looking at their palms, right?"

  Markus pulled his charm chain to look at it and sensations danced along his skin, where those fingers briefly touched.

  Mitchell took the chain from his hand with a serious expression on his face. Golden sunlight flooded the room, enveloping them both in its midst. He was caught there for a moment, in Markus's gaze, but he averted his eyes for a minute.

  He put down his book and grabbed both of Markus's hands, turning them until his palms faced upwards, moving his gaze from one palm to the other before dropping the left one.

  "I'd say you're a jock, probably football." He leaned closer to look at his hand. "And this line right here... this line right here says that you drive a black SUV."

 Markus stared at him silently for a moment then, pulled his hand away. He glanced at Kev, who shook his head at him.

"How did you know?" Markus asked.

  Mitchell lifted the book. "It's in the book."

"Where are you from?"

  Mitchell smiled at him. "A distant land called Los Angeles."