The Prince

Part 21

A week later, Skye was leaving his classroom when Tsukasa came up to him.

"Have you seen Noah, by any chance?" He blushed slightly, not sure what was going through Skye's mind. This was their first real interaction with each other, and it was only out of necessity.

"No, I didn't..." he started, but noticed Noah walking by surrounded by a group of students. "Wait, I see him," he corrected himself and started following the group, with Tsukasa in tow. They walked to a deserted passage and stopped just out of sight to hear what was going on.

"So, you've been hanging out with Skye a lot, I see," a skinny boy with bleached blonde hair and an obviously very expensive smile stopped in front of him.

"I have, so what?" This was a strange conversation to have, but he supposed that when it came to Skye's fan club, there wasn't anything they didn't know about him.

"Well, that's great," he said in excitement, with a stiff smile.

"It is?" Where was this going, he wondered.

"Yes, we've been dying to find out what his type is, so next time you see him, make sure that you ask him that,  okay?" He had a simpering look that didn't quite reach his eyes. The students behind him buzzed with excitement, nodding to each other.

Listening to them, Skye was about to step out and get Noah out of the situation, when his response surprised him into silence.

"I'm sorry, Skye said that he wasn't interested in dating anyone at the moment. So, for  the sake of my friend, I can't help you." He stood defiantly looking at the group who looked like they were about to perform a death ritual on him.

"Listen here kid, I don't think you know who you're talking to."

"No, I think you need to listen. Leave Skye alone or you'll have to deal with me!" His mouth was much braver than himself and he hoped that they weren't about to call his bluff.

"I think we should get going now," Skye's voice made him jump in surprise. When did he get there; did he listen to their whole conversation and what was Tsukasa doing in tow?

Fearfully looking up, he wasn't much surprised to see Skye's bored-looking face peer at him. But there was something different in his eyes this time. Before Noah could make out what it was, his expression was closed off again.

"Why do you always get into trouble?" Skye asked, grabbing his wrist to pull him away from the others.

"Hey, can you hold up already?" Noah pulled himself out of Skye's grip, looking at the two boys in front of him, Tsukasa looking more confused than ever.

"Were you two listening in? What exactly did you hear back there?" He hoped that they didn't hear anything, but Skye could be difficult and not say anything.

"I promise, I wasn't trying to eavesdrop," Tsukasa immediately assured him.

"I was," Skye responded, taking a seat on the sloping lawn

"Why am I not surprised," he shot Skye an accusatory look.

"Stop your grumbling, I was only trying to say thank you."

"You were?" Noah couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Are you an alien and what did you do with Skye's body?" He mocked.

"You're still as annoying as ever, but at least you're not completely hopeless," he grinned at Noah, watching as the other two sat down. He was surprised by what the other boy had said and felt moved by how vehemently he spoke. For an oddball, he wasn't that bad.

"Okay, don't look, but one of your fan clubs is giving me the death stare," he said conspiratorially.

"It must be Tsukasa's." Skye snorted, thankful that there was a chance that he might be left alone.

"What?"

"Fan club," Noah clarified again. "All the popular kids at school have a fan club of diehards. Well, only you and Skye at the moment. They are a  different breed of student," he shook his head, watching as Tsukasa turned around to look at the students milling about.

"I have a fan club?"

"Yes, they'll probably be stabbing pins into a doll that looks like me."

"You're not serious, are you?" His eyes were wide with shock.

"He's being daft, ignore him," Skye interrupted.

Noah had to admit that having lunch with the two boys was fun, even if trying to talk to Tsukasa was stressful in its own way. Having Skye around was both a blessing and a curse. He would let long periods pass by without saying anything, watching the other two. After a while, Noah looked at his watch and hastily grabbed his bag.

"I've got class!" he shouted, scampering over the grass to the school building.

 "Have you known him for long?"

"No," Skye responded not in the least interested in having a conversation with Tsukasa. Seeing the other boy frown, he sighed softly before continuing.

"We only recently became friends." Getting up, he sprinted off to class without giving their conversation a second thought.

Tsukasa didn't quite understand what was happening between the two, but it didn't look like it was romantic. And although he'd never had much luck in that department, it didn't mean that he couldn't keep trying. Now he only needed to find a way to speak to Noah again.

Walking home with Skye later that afternoon, Noah came to a very difficult decision.

"Hey, I was thinking that I should probably pack up and get back to my old life."

"Okay, when?"

"Well, I might as well go back this afternoon. No point in prolonging the inevitable, is there?" He didn't know what to expect from home, but it had been more than a week and by now the party should be over.

"If you're sure," he briefly looked at Noah, wondering what was going on in his life.

"Yip, I'm sure. If it doesn't work out, I can always move in with you and become your stepmom," he laughed but stopped when he saw Skye's stony expression. "Geez, it was a joke. You really need to lighten up some."

"Didn't you see, I was laughing on the inside." he had a small smile on his lips

"I don't think there is anything going on in your insides, which would make you a medical miracle." After some pondering, he turned to Skye again.

"Thanks for everything, I don't know how to pay you back."

"You don't have to thank me, life happens to the best of us," he should know, when life throws you a curve ball there's nothing you can do but roll with it.

"Thanks for everything, anyway. And you don't have to say anything, just keep on being your miserable self," he chuckled at Skye's expression. "Come on, you know you like to be all dark and miserable, or did I get it wrong?"

"It would be easier to count what you got right since that would be a shorter list."

"Was that a joke? I think I feel the earth shaking," he laughed, going to the guest room to collect his things.

Going back to having to do everything yourself was not something he was looking forward to. It had been too easy at Skye's where everything was done for him and the only difficult decision he had to make was whether to sit next to or opposite Raymond at the dinner table, to get a better look.