CONSUME

[20] everybody knows

***

kameron springfield

"Axel's not here today?" Cole asked me, leaning on the side of my desk. I was unknowingly biting the inside of my cheek pensively, tuned out of the present moment. Cole's voice caught my attention, stopping my paintbrush from moving. I looked up from the canvas before me at his face. His curly hair looked shorter than usual.

"Did you get a haircut?" I asked. 

In less than a second, Cole's brown eyes grew wide with a bewildered stare. His porcelain skin blended into a pink color. "U-Um, yeah."

"Nice." I said, raising an eyebrow at his reaction. "The short looks good."

"Oh." Cole smiled bashfully, bringing a hand up to the back of his hair. "Thanks Kameron."

"Sure." I responded shortly. I placed the brush down into the cup of paint-water that was on my desk before asking, "Sorry-- what did you ask me before? I was totally zoned out." 

"Right," Cole dropped his arm back down and then crossed both of them over his body, the action folding creases into the fabric of his black hoodie. He looked over his shoulder at the empty desk that is typically filled with a certain someone. "I asked where Axel was. Isn't he here today? He didn't come to the meeting on Monday, either." 

I rubbed my lips together, looking at the vacant chair. Biting on my bottom lip and then releasing it I said, "Yeah, he's..." I sighed softly. "He's sick. I don't know when he'll be back."

"Mmhm," Cole shrugged. He looked over my face properly once more, "Okay." 

I nodded, and Cole walked a few short steps back over to his respective desk, where I could see a white sheet of paper and some colorful pastels. I don't know what he's been creating for the past few weeks but I should probably do an evaluation of everyone's works sometime soon. 

I clenched my jaw, scanning my eyes across the classroom before they landed once more on the empty desk. 

After our make-out session on the roof of his house last night, Axel is nowhere to be seen. I didn't catch a glimpse of him at school during the day, and he clearly isn't here right now. So it's safe to assume that he skipped classes altogether. I sighed, a blush creeping onto my face. 

Somehow, yesterday I proposed the idea that Axel and I begin some sort of hook-up arrangement. All I said was that we should 'do more,' but still it feels like I've agreed to something scandalous. We parted ways from the roof and I went back home last night totally flustered and nervous for what this all means for us. I mean... are we like, hooking up now? Friends with benefits? Or-- acquaintances with benefits? 

People-who-dislike-each-other-and-don't-want-to-be-friends-but-still-want-benefits? 

Something of that nature. 

Either way we haven't spoken a word since then. Therefore I'm not entirely sure when we're going to... hookup next. Gosh, I sound crazy! Me, Kameron Springfield, hooking up with someone, no strings attached! I'm totally a whore. 

But I can't help it, because Axel is so addicting. There's nothing I can do but fantasize about what it is to experience him. And... what if I end up experiencing all of him? Is that going to happen? Am I going to lose my virginity to Axel fucking Conynghim? 

Clearly, I've let go of all rational thinking. I'm not evaluating this situation ethically, or by considering exterior factors like our families and the entire school. Everybody, and I mean everybody would freak out if they knew about this, and rightfully so.