NOT HUMAN

Chapter 25 - Lovesick

"Come on, you got this, Nixon!" Andy cheered him on from the sidelines. The group was watching the two men standing face-to-face. To say it was a fair match was farfetched.

Nixon was a scrawny, petite guy. He had the smarts in order, but the muscle he lacked. He never enjoyed participating in any fights, or violent acts. But this was for the team, to learn self-defense was something essential for him and them all.

The Oculos were probably out on a search for them. Only did they know how close they were coming to finding them, to finding her: Lily.

Nixon stared at his opponent Trey. They eyed one another, unmoving, focused on each other, almost like they were trying to read one another minds. Nixon inhaled, and as he exhaled the first punch connected, catching everyone off guard.

Trey took a tumble a few feet back, still standing on his feet, but he was pushed back by the surprise mostly, not much force in that single punch.

He thought, well the little guy gave that punch his all. It'd only be right to return it.

While Nixon gulped taking a few steps back, his heart was hammering and Trey closed in the gap. They fought in a clear path of evergreens. While the rest of the group stayed back in the trees to watch their sparring.

Blade, Lily, Zane, Angelica, Andy, Cherry, and Jax all watched in anticipation. Nixon was taking hits left and right, he was on the defensive trying to block but failing horribly. Trey's stance was one of a boxer, and it was perfect. He used his height against Nixon. Nixon threw a couple of punches that didn't make contact. He missed, and Trey mocked him for it.

Trey was hammering down on the poor boy. He was raining heavy punches down on him.

"I g-give up!" Nixon finally cried cowering under Trey's hunky figure.

"Tough luck!" Jax laughed proudly.

"Fine, whatever, I'll let you forfeit, loser." Trey waved off, walking off.

Nixon licked his lips, tasting metal and salt. He wiped his face and saw red. He was bleeding no doubt. He was covered in scratches and bruises. That loss was mortifying.

"It's finally over..." Nixon sighed, falling to the earth but something soft caught him. He looked up surprised. Andy had caught him by his waist before he landed. She pulled him close, embracing his fatigued body.

"Here let me fix you up...-"

"I-I am f-fine...let me....go-" Nixon looked away from her worrying gaze and blushed.

"I let you go, but first let me help you."

"...If you insist...there's no telling you no anyways," Nixon groaned, letting her drag him to a tree.

"Did you bring a first aid kit?" Andy asked, Blade, he nodded pointing to the few items they brought with them. They were always prepared.

"Thanks." She took the first aid kit from him and Blade nodded a 'no problem' in reply.

"Here sit down," She helped Nixon take a sit, he laid back on the tree trunk and allowed her to do her thing. She had alcohol pads, bandages, ointments that healed open wounds faster, and pain relief medicine. She set the first aid kit down and took a few items out that were necessary, for cuts like his.

She applied it with tissue, and alcohol pads, and touched up his pretty face slowly. She apologized softly, every time he winced- which was quite a lot.

"Sorry...I'm nearly done." She hushed him by covering his mouth with her hand as she worked on his wounds scattering his arms and chest mostly.

"Hey..." He protested, as her hand didn't leave his mouth. The cuts, and bruises stung but Nixon had worse, mostly from bullies at his school who'd beat his ass for being smarter, they did despite him. They were dumb benzos, who had bad grades in school. They were simply envious of his good grades.

"It's fine, Nixon, I'm done." Andy removed her hand and smiled at him.

"Uh- thank you." Nixon nodded, shyly.

"Don't mention it."

She pulled him back up on his feet and he swore he never had anyone looking out for him like Andy, and then it happened that light feeling, and the butterflies. He felt sick, and too warm this close to her.

"...hey...you said you'd let me go...after...-"

"Oh, right sorry." She removed her hands off his shoulder.

She's just a good friend to him. Right?

He sighed in relief. No weird feeling. But there it was again? It wasn't leaving!

What was it, nagging at his chest? Causing his heart to race? 

"B-Blade I need some air..." Nixon breathed.

"You good?" Blade gave him a worried look.

"Yes, just need a break from this atmosphere."

"Alone time?" Zane inquired from the tree nearby them. "I get it, I'll come, we still can't risk anyone being 'too alone' with all the oculos on the search for us."

"That's correct, smart." Blade compliments, Zane shrugged and went with Nixon further back into the woods.

He leaned against a tall tree and gazed at the bright blue sky above. He could hear the tiny nerd muttering under his breath. He tried to give him as much privacy as he could. But Nixon was being quite loud, he kept going on about his heart being out of control and Andy not understanding what personal space meant.

"What is this horrible feeling! My chest is aching!" He stomped his foot pouting like a child.

"Uh, Nixon, I think I know what that feeling your talking about is..." Zane said, quietly. Nixon abruptly jumped.

"Y-you do?"

"...yes..." Zane turned, not used to talking about his feelings. It always made him uncomfortable. The feeling was a foreign language in his family. But he understood it when he met her. The girl he loved.

"It's a sickness-"

"Oh my god! I knew it! I'm sick that's it!" Nixon exclaimed excitedly.

"Not exactly, Nixon your sickness Is known as 'lovesick'"

That's when it hit him hard. His denial, his jealousy of Jax being too close. All of it. He liked Andy. He liked her a lot.

...

"Alright, let's finish up here. Everyone got a chance to fight, now we can rest and handle guns, and the salt tomorrow."

"Hey, you're finally back!" Andy shouted throwing herself at Nixon but he dodged quickly, feeling uneasy around her now. She fell to the ground and turned to him. "What was that?"

"...I'm still sore, you can't jump at me like that." He lied.

"...okay...weirdo..."

Hello, readers! I'm sorry it's been a while.

I'm planning on doing biweekly or bimonthly updates. Sorry, for being so slow. Hopefully, I can start making faster updates. Until next time! Have a wonderful day!