Ghost (Second Edition)

Chapter Six--Flickers of Affection

Luis

For the first time, Luis found he couldn't get Nathan off his mind completely. He was always there, always a bit of a bright star in his never-ending darkness. He didn't know why he was even hoping and dreaming of a future with him. What rich kid would want a dirty, smelly, skinny poor kid when they could have a clean, pretty girl?

Luis glanced at Nathan who sat next to him, head bent over his book as he copied the notes off the whiteboard, his blond hair falling over his face as he frowned down at his curly script.

Why would he want me? At all?

He wasn't even sure why Nathan wanted to be his friend, to help him. He was thankful for it, but he felt confused and tortured.

He wanted to tell Nathan how he felt but didn't want to ruin all of it, not when he finally had a friend.

Nathan looked up then and smiled. "Yes?"

Luis blushed and looked back down at his messy workbook. "Sorry."

"No, it's alright. History is boring, and I am the best thing to look at in here," Nathan murmured with a smirk.

Luis snorted. "Don't get full of yourself, there's always Mr John."

Nathan chuckled. "Ah, yes, Mr John, catching all the ladies since 1800."

Luis smiled and tried hard not to laugh. Their History teacher was old, skinny, and winkled, many joked that he came from a very old time behind his back. Luis didn't mind the humour himself.

Nathan bumped his shoulder as he looked down at his workbook. "You missed a date in the timetable," he murmured, pointing to the gap.

Luis picked up his pen and quickly fixed his mistake, though the answer looked more like a messy scribble, it was just readable.

"Well done," Nathan murmured.

Luis smiled, his heart swelling.

"You're blushing," Nathan whispered, smirking as he rested his elbow on the table and his head in his hand.

Luis blushed harder and looked away down at the textbook between them. They were the only pair working, everyone else was leaning back in their seats and chatting amongst themselves. Luis was positive he would get one of the highest grades in the class, second to Nathan and the nerd in the back.

"We're up to the 1800s, want to take a break?" Nathan asked, keeping his voice low.

"I do have to use the bathroom," Luis mumbled, flushing in embarrassment.

"Go and ask," Nathan murmured, nudging him.

Luis looked at him, then raised his hand.

Mr John looked up over his thick spectacles. "Yes... What's your name... Luis?" His voice was slow and drowsy.

"I... I need to go to the toilet," Luis said, slipping out of his seat.

"As do I," Nathan murmured, following him.

Luis hid his shock; he hadn't expected Nathan to bother coming with him.

Mr John just sighed. "Alright, off you go."

The halls were empty and silent, making their footfalls echo as they walked down the hallway to the boy's bathroom. As soon as they reached it, Luis rushed into the first cubicle to do his thing, he heard Nathan slip into another.

When he was finished, Nathan was drying his hands, he looked up when Luis emerged and went to wash his hands.

"Feeling better?" Nathan asked with a smile.

"Much better, thanks," Luis murmured, placing his hands under the cold, running water, he looked up at Nathan. "Why did you come with me? I only had to pee."

Nathan shrugged. "I had to go too," he said, "besides, we don't have to head back to class."

"My bag—" Luis cut himself off when he saw his limp backpack hanging from Nathan's shoulder. "Oh."

"I normally skip History," he said with a shrug, "come on, I want to show you something," Nathan came over and clapped Luis gently on the shoulder as he left the bathroom.

Luis looked after him for a second before following him, catching up quickly as Nathan had waited halfway down the hall.

"Are we skipping school?" Luis asked as he matched Nathan's slow stride.

"No, there's just a small place I want to show you," Nathan said, doing the up buttons of his trench coat.

Luis raised his eyebrows but said no more. He followed Nathan down the halls and through the massive back doors that led to the school oval, instead of heading over to the large patch of mowed lawn, Nathan led him off to the right and down the small hill there.

There was a small indentation in the side of the hill, and inside that little hollow was a basket.

Luis looked over at Nathan in confusion. "What's this for?"

"I thought we could break some ice," Nathan said, leading Luis down the hill.

Luis felt his heart flutter against his ribs. "You want to get to know me?"

"Know you more," Nathan corrected him as he sat down on the soft grass, "I know you a little, and I know about your homelife... or some of it—"

"I don't want to talk about it." The words were out before Luis could stop them, he looked away, hunching his shoulders. "I'm sorry."

"No, that's ok. I won't ask, you can tell me in your own time," Nathan murmured gently.

Luis saw something flash in his blue eyes. Worry? Concern? He couldn't place it, but it didn't seem to be hostile. He slowly sat down.

"I want to get to know you, Luis," Nathan said, leaning back against the hill.

"There isn't much to know," Luis mumbled, pulling his legs up to his chest and resting his chin on his knees.

"What's your favourite colour?" Nathan asked softly, looking up at the sky as the wind pushed little fluffy clouds across the grand expanse of blue above them.

Luis thought for a moment, looking up as well. "I've always liked blue," he murmured.

"Blue? It's a nice colour," Nathan looked over at him, "it suits you," he said with a smile.

Luis blushed. "What about you?" He asked, "What's your favourite colour?"

"Hmm," Nathan looked back at the sky, "I've found I like green."

"Green? Why?" Luis asked, looking over at him and resting his cheek on his knees.

There was a light red colour on Nathan's cheeks. "I don't know, I just do," he said softly.

"Are you a cat or a dog person?" Luis asked softly, lying back against the soft grass.

"I like cats, they are just so soft and cuddly, and they don't lick a lot," Nathan murmured, turning his head to look at him, he smiled. "What about you?"

"Cats," Luis said at once, "my mother has an awful, moth-bitten rag of a dog at home. It doesn't like me."

Nathan chuckled. "It doesn't sound like a very nice pet."

"I wouldn't call it a pet," Luis muttered.

Nathan let out a bark of laughter. It was a warm sound, heartfelt and genuine. It made Luis's heart sing. He smiled slightly. How badly he wanted to tell him, tell him everything about how he felt, but he just couldn't do it. He wanted to stay in the moment, to cherish this.

After all, he didn't know how long Nathan would be interested in him, it probably wouldn't be for long.