“You do like him,” Kotey chimes, obviously he hasn’t heard the cough.
“So what if I do?” my voice comes out at tiny when I want it to be strong and defensive.
Kotey laughs and my cheeks heat more. The owner of the cough moves forward, heavy footsteps making me turn round. It’s Sergio and he doesn’t look well.
His face is pale and I see the pain he’s trying to hide. It’s only in his eyes though and the rest of his face is blank. I’m staring at Sergio’s face but Kotey has focused on his arm.
Sergio holds it awkwardly and I can’t believe I missed it but the entire sleeve is coated in blood. I want it to be the dog’s but by the way he grips it I know he is hurt.
“What happened?” Kotey asks, rushing over to his friend.
“Stupid dog rushed me. I’m fine,” Sergio waves his friend’s concern away.
“You don’t look fine,” I say, watching as Kotey pulls Sergio over to the sofa.
Sergio humours his friend by going over and sitting down. Kotey makes me sit next to Sergio, as if I could stop him from doing anything or even force him to do something he doesn’t want to.
“What were you talking about?” he asks, he can’t keep all of the pain out of his voice.
“Nothing important,” I lie.
I know how I feel about him but I don’t know how he feels about me. He doesn’t press me to elaborate so I don’t, I’m not sure if I even want him knowing how I feel.
“So who do you like?”
Instead of answering him for fear of embarrassing myself and trying to explain why my cheeks are on fire I stand up. Intending to find Kotey, but Sergio grabs my hand.
“Tell me?”
“You,” I whisper.
“And you told Kotey before you told me?” He laughs but the movement tugs on his shoulder and an edge of pain enters his voice.
“He guessed and I didn’t say he was wrong,” my cheeks are steadily growing hotter, but at least he’s not laughing at me.
“So why didn’t you want to tell me?”
“I was scared you wouldn’t feel the same way or would laugh at me.”
“I wouldn’t laugh at you,” Sergio says softly. “Not when this is something so personal.”
“Found it!” Kotey shouts suddenly.
He jumps up waving a faded red box with a white cross, at least I think it’s white. It looks more yellow than any other colour. I know that Kotey won’t hurt Sergio but the sight of that box fills me with apprehension.
My memory is still a swamp that I am not going through alone but I know that the box brings pain. I tense up and Kotey notices. He comes closer, still holding the box, making me back away.
“Blair, I’m going to need your help,” he says. “I can’t do this by myself.”
“And your fingers are more slender than Kotey’s,” Sergio chimes, trying to make me feel more okay about this.”
“Fine,” I sigh. “What do I have to do?” I even roll up my sleeves, finally accepting my new life.
Out of the corner of my eye I notice Kotey doing the same. Despite being an outsider to this life I get caught up in the boys’ comradeship. They don’t treat me any different and the feeling of being welcome gives me a sense of fulfilment.
YOU ARE READING
Project: Hero
Teen Fiction"You might be a killer, but I don't think you're a monster." The government has taken over the nation in a totalitarian state. But there are a select few who stand in its way. And that is those with the moon Tattoos. Each possesses a strange power a...
