SPELLBOUND

𝚎𝚙𝚒𝚜𝚘𝚍𝚎 𝚝𝚠𝚘

I stared down at my hands as I returned to Liberty High, being directed through the empty halls containing a soft ambiance. On my right, Mr. Gallagher occasionally uttered an "It's fine" or a "You're okay." Behind me, Val was very much alive and conscious and being directed in the same way by Mr. Combs, who looked as if he was gripping Val's arm tighter than Mr. Gallagher was with mine. At that instant in my life, I didn't know how to feel, but with how I was behaving now, it was clear that I was going insane. While approaching a four-way intersection of hallways, Mr. Combs and Mr. Gallagher went in opposite directions, likely because of the prominent tension between me and Val. Of course, I wasn't complaining, but knowing the damage at stake, Val wouldn't be healed so easily since the hallway I was walking down was home to the nurse's office. Unfortunately, that wasn't Mr. Gallagher's plan as I was taken into his classroom and forcefully sat at a desk in the front, causing me to pay attention to whatever he did next.
"I don't want to do this to someone like you, but it seems to me that you deserve a detention," he explained, leaning against his desk and crossing his arms. "I hope you understand what we're trying to do here."
I nodded, attempting to slow my breathing. "Where did Mr. Combs take Val?"
"Donovan's room, just so we could separate you guys. It was the least we could do, you know? If I hadn't been there, I don't know what could've happened."
"And these?" I displayed my injuries, feeling appalled. "What are we gonna do with these?"
"Look, Eros, I don't know. Your injuries aren't severe enough to be hospitalized, and the medication and med kit are locked in the nurse's office. Even if we got the key, they're still locked somewhere, so you'll just have to deal with it until you get home."
"And how long will that be?"
He shrugged. "Roughly three hours, but Donovan should be making a call to your mother. For now," Mr. Gallagher turned to collect his bag, "chill here with Mr. Zhang. I have a meeting at 3:30 and can't miss it for the life of me." When he made it to his door, he turned his body to the side to say one last thing, "Oh, and please don't try and leave. Mr. Combs will be outside Donovan's, not to mention that the doors have alarms and will notify us if anyone other than staff tries to. Have a great evening!" I sighed and twisted back around as the door closed with a rumbling thud.
"Rough day?"
I glanced behind me to see Dao eye-smirking kindly, modeling his daily mask. "Obviously, or else I wouldn't be here." My face deadpanned, making him snort.
"Alright, I'm sorry." He paused, still eye-smirking at me, even after emitting such a shocked tone. "I have some bruise gel in my bag if you'd like it."
"No thanks." I turned to examine the board in curious boredom and crossed my arms, doing my best to ignore the total freak of nature behind me.
"Are you sure?" Dao asked, a hint of tease in his voice.
I huffed, shaking my head. "Yes, I'm sure."
"Are you sure you're sure? I've got it right here, sitting on my desk." He brought the bottle down onto the wood with a weak bang as if he were presenting it in a 90's infomercial, generating a sigh out of me. For a moment, I contemplated but did not succumb to how concentrated my brain was on the idea of just standing and shamefully walking over to snatch the gel. Truthfully, it was the most difficult thing I could do in a lifetime, and I was left sweating and anxious. Dao sighed himself. "Do you have a reason why you're rejecting it?"
"I don't like you," I directly blurted, relaxing my eyelids as the sensation that I might cry encompassed me. Somehow my insecurities were initiating this feeling, and I couldn't help but feel dissatisfied with how little I was compared to Dao and his hundreds of fans.
"That's a first," he responded, chuckling. "Am I being too forward or something?"
"N—Not necessarily," I stuttered, releasing a shaky breath before caving in on myself so I wouldn't end up shedding a tear or two in front of His Majesty.
"Then, what's wrong? I'm open to your criticism." Dao's cheeky remark made me want to pull my hair out if not peel off my skin, with no clear reason at all.
"I—I don't..." I tried to articulate a sentence, but every time I opened my mouth and closed my eyes tighter, the first word began as a stutter, and it all ended with a trail-off which was even more embarrassing than not.
"Hey." A gentle comment reached my ears, encouraging me to flutter my eyes open to find Dao kneeling at the foot of my desk with his elbows crossed on it while his chin lay on them. Weirdly enough, I had the sudden urge to pet his well-kempt, jet-black hair and slide my finger across his pierced eyebrow. What left me increasingly more baffled yet flattered all at once was how the corners of his eyes raised into an accepting, genuine eye smile. Dao hummed at the sight of my stunned face. "Do you remember that time in the library when you were all freaked out and disassociated?" I gulped, still managing a nod. "Well, it was the first time you met Maryam who helped you meet Atlas. Don't you know I was the one who encouraged her to do that? To help you through whatever was going on?" My mouth went ajar and my eyes softened, which gave him his full-fledged answer while influencing a pleased sound to pass his lips. "So, do you want the gel now, or do you still not like me?" Dao stood when he didn't achieve an immediate answer, only causing me to want to say something.
    "I'm really sorry."
    "I know," he retrieved something and abruptly dropped it into my hand, "just don't act like I'm the bad guy and we'll be cool." I looked down at my hand while he walked away from me, seeing the small transparent gel bottle that I instantly snapped open to put to use. However, without a mirror, I started to think there wouldn't be much use for it anyway.
    "Dao?" His head perked up the second he heard his name, meeting eye-to-eye with me with another charming eye smile. "Do you mind helping me? I don't think there's a mirror close by."
    He put his tongue into his cheek as evidenced by the sudden bump on the side of the mask, having a half-expression I couldn't quite put my finger on. "Sure." This time, I stood up, heading toward his desk to which he replied by standing and staying still. I handed him the already-open bottle before he squirted a reasonable amount on his finger. Willingly, I took the hem of my sweater with both hands and lifted it until it was just under my chest, taking into account that we weren't a few centimeters apart. Dao hesitated before delicately rubbing the gel into my battered skin, his eyes focused as they analyzed my bruises. "I should've asked if you had my consent to look at your naked torso."
    I snorted, gazing at his hair again, specifically at the upper crown of his head. "Didn't we already do that? Plus, we're both guys—I know you can handle it." Dao revealed his subtle crow's feet, resorting to that same expression I couldn't quite decipher. "So, what put you in here?"
    "I pulled a knife out on some creep who tried to hit on one of the girls."
    "Shouldn't they have given you mercy?"
    "I still pulled a knife out on school grounds, didn't I?"
    I clicked my tongue, raising my eyebrows for a split second. "Touché. Did he go to jail?"
    "I don't know yet, but we did report him. Hopefully, he will be." Dao began to rub the last bruise after squirting another amount on his finger for the third time. "Anyway, I have this hunch that if this town wasn't so messed up, then maybe we'd get away with escaping out of here."
    "Seems fair," I replied, smirking at him as he finished his work and assisted me in pulling down my sweater.
    "There you go," he whispered tenderly, providing me another justification as to why he's so adored.

    The next day was a Friday, and I could hardly wait for the final bell to signal my departure. I found some solace in the fact that it was currently lunchtime, providing a welcome distraction. However, my enjoyment was dampened by the presence of Dao Zhang sitting across from me. Surprisingly, I didn't mind it as much as I thought I would, especially considering that Maryam and Atlas, who were both highly empathetic, seemed at ease in Dao's company. It seemed that Dao had earned an unofficial permit to join our lunch table.
    "What happened to those guys you always used to sit with?" Maryam asked, taking a large bite of her macaroni. "You all looked like you were having fun being the loudest in the room."
    "Nothing's changed," Dao answered, using a fork to play with his salad. "I just figured it'd be nice to become friends after helping Eros that one time. And 'those guys,' they're all fine with it, as long as I come back once in a while."
    "Are you thinking of joining any sports?" Atlas entered the conversation. "Your friends are all jocks, right?"
    "Yeah, they are, but I don't think sports are my thing. It's annoying when I get flirted with already, so why would I risk getting flirted with more? I'm pretty sure a lot of the girls like the jock type."
    Maryam chuckled. "That's a good point. I'd sure hate it if I were you. As an avid studier, I'd want to move schools."
    Dao snorted, pulling on a part of his mask to easily bite a tomato. "I almost did, but my mom insisted I stay because of the opportunities this school offers."
    "Yet you're a Junior without a club?" Atlas wondered, coming off as if he was trying to prove a point.
    "Correct... unfortunately."
    Maryam then finished her macaroni, pushing her tray off to the side. "There's almost fifty clubs here. Why not get a sheet from the office and check 'em out?"
    Dao went silent, enduring one last bite of his salad before making eye contact with me. "Eros, what club are you in?" He immediately cut off Maryam, leaving her looking repulsed.
    "Photography," I informed innocently. "Today we're going to a greenhouse to take pictures of flowers for this semester's final project. Of course, you're never required to do it, but she does give out grades which makes me feel better."
    "Sounds nice," Dao smoothly rolled off the tongue. "Do you have a signup sheet?"
    "Yes," I responded, unzipping my bookbag and retrieving what he wanted. "Just sign here and put your name at the top. You don't need a parent's signature." I pointed to where Dao needed to sign before he grabbed a pen from his bag and did so. As he signed the document, I could feel the intense, burning gaze of Maryam and Atlas on the side of my face, silently wishing for me to stop. "Thanks," I uttered when he handed me the paper. "I'm confident you'll love Mr. Ramirez!" Before Dao could gather his thoughts to respond, the piercing sound of the ancient bell interrupted him, marking the end of lunch and the beginning of Study Hall.