Room 234's VIRGIN

28. Different

Song : Chandelier - Sia.

***
      It was Wednesday, three days since I saw either brother. I had spent sometime thinking about all Nathan had said and avoided going to the orphanage to allow me some time to think. I decided not to ask Lexis on his relationship with Nathan and to let the date situation slide. After all he never promised me anything.

I was in a study room in the library catching up on some reading of Shakespeare, when life threw questions at me I ran to Shakespeare for answers. I was currently reading Hamlet, most people loved Romeo and Juliet and deemed it the greatest love story but for me that title was for hamlet. I turn the page as a hand snatches the book from my hands. I look up not realizing someone had stepped in to the sight of Lexis looking at the book. I unconsciously break into a smile. I missed him and all his troubles.

"Shakespeare?" He says raising an eyebrow.

"My favorite," I answer smiling.

"Most girls choose Danielle Steele or Nora," He says.

"I'm not most girls," I say as he sits in front of me.

"Plus Nora writes horribly and Danielle kills everyone, it's like she delights in killing people," I say.

"You do realize Shakespeare does the same right?" He says an eyebrow up.

I chuckle,

"Yes but he is different," I say.

"How so?" He asks.

"He uses old English and has the courage to kill not just one of the main love interests but both," I say.

"So you have a thing for English men?" He asks.

"English accents," I correct and gasp realizing that Lexis had one and I might have just indirectly admitted to liking him.

He grins.

"Are you depressed by any chance?" He asks.

"What?!" I say perplexed as to why he'd think that.

"You love a depressed writer," He answers.

"Shakespeare was not depressed!"I state quickly coming to his defense.

"Was too," Lexis replies.

"I know my shakespeare and I have never read of such absurdity," I insist.

"Have you read shakespeare?" He asks.

"Is this some sort of joke?"I reply.

"Like really read shakespeare, beyond the lines. His greatest works were filled with murder, suicide, and death in horrible manners all for love either from a relationship with a woman or family. Shakespeare obviously was going through some serious personal things," He says leaning on the chair.

"That's not enough basis to conclude that he was depressed," I say loving this conversation.

"All art stems from somewhere, it's mostly founded on emotions and ones personal feelings or experiences," He says.

"Okay let's take for example hamlet," He continues, tapping on my hamlet copy.

"Did you know his dad and good friend both died prior to his writing it?" He asks.

I didn't know. And I was supposedly Shakespeare's biggest fan.

"No," I answer reluctantly. While curious to know more.

"He wrote merchant of Venice right after losing his only son and heir Hamnet. That book is filled with signs of anger and darkness that showcases just what he must have been going through at that point. Not just that but he wrote hamlet right after losing his good friend to execution and then his dad. He wrote on hamlets suicidal tendencies, Shakespeare probably thought of committing suicide himself but writing was his suicide because he got locked in a world away from his that was filled with pain and tragedies. He couldn't write happily because his world was turning upside down so he did the same to hamlet," Lexis says.

I stay silent, he did have a good point. Especially hamlet, he wrote it after he lost his dad and good friend. Could it be true? Especially considering most of the greatest works from artists stems from their darkest moments?

"But there's no proof written anywhere someone would have noticed don't you think?" I say.

"All the proof you need is in the book, look beyond the lines, think of it. Not everything you see is to be taken at face value, some truths are covered by layers that need to be seen with a different perspective," He says.

I smile.

"Wow, who knew you read?" I say.

"I don't but I've heard enough on him to know he was not a happy man, sometimes people in great pain hide and numb it beneath smiles, drinking, or like Shakespeare writing, it helps them cope otherwise they are dead, just floating," He says two fingers rubbing his lips.

Otherwise they are dead just floating...I suddenly remember something Lexis previously said to me;

"I'm just living, but those few seconds of what you call suicidal acts, are the moments that remind me I'm alive...otherwise I'm dead just floating "

So basically he is saying he understands Shakespeare because he has been through that too? That his behavior was all to hide the pain beneath. I wanted to embrace him in a hug to help take away his pain. He just told me a little about himself in an indirect way.

"Shakespeare found an outlet to help him cope, writing, instead of racing why not allow someone help you cope?" I ask Lexis looking him in the eye.

He slides his hands through his beautiful long hair and chuckles.

"Why are you acting like I'm Shakespeare?" He says and waves his hand in my face.

"Come back to earth, I was telling you about Shakespeare not me," He says banging on the table lightly before putting his hands through his hair.

It was obvious he didn't want to really talk about it, so I decide to let it go. Shaking my head I smile.

"I love this," I say.

"Hmm?" He says looking distracted, two fingers on his lips.

"Us, talking with no tears, screaming, fights just two friends casually talking and having fun," I say smiling.

"So we're friends?" He asks.

"I'd love to be, why can't we just be like other normal people?" I ask.

He stands up and walks to the door, stopping, he looks back.

"Because we are not normal and you're not other people, you're different," He says before stepping out shutting the door behind him.

***
Bonding moment! I loved this moment. I just want to give Lexis the biggest hug ever! Who agrees with Lexis on Shakespeare?
Don't forget to vote :-)