Duality

08

ACE'S POV

Love hurts. Everything about it. People say that love shouldn't be pain and it should be joy, comfort, love.
You should be able to look at the person you're in love with and not feel this tightening ache in your chest.

Yet, staring at Rion sitting at the table across from me, hurt. Looking at him hurt. Loving him hurt. Mostly, it hurt so much because Archer was there at Rion's table and making him smile and laugh. Love was also confusing; Rion kissed me a couple days ago but then something happened in between then to now and all that I know is Archer is there by his side yet again.

I will myself to look away from the scene in front of me and stare down at my assignment lying unfinished on the table.

WRITE A SIX WORD STORY - write from the heart!

Mr. M just seems to know when to assign the right assignments.
I chance one more look at Rion, him looking at Archer with a huge grin on his face then his eyes drift over to mine. I quickly look back down at my paper, picking up my pencil, to avoid seeing the pity I know that will be there in Rion's eyes.

I write down on the paper;

Maybe one day I'll be okay.

It's not just unrequited feelings but everything else in my life. Going through life with unsupportive parents and the very few friends I did have, I realized that I had to be the one to save myself.

Gathering up my papers, shoving them into my backpack, standing up while telling myself not to look over at Rion's table.
I made it all the way to my locker without Rion coming after me, not like I was counting on it. I grabbed my notebook for sixth hour, shoving it into my backpack as well, and closing my locker with a sigh.
I lean against my locker, closing my eyes and crossing my arms, free period should be ending soon.

"Waiting for someone?" A voice from my left rang out a few minutes later.
I didn't have to open my eyes to know who was standing there, "just getting some peace and quiet before class." I opened one eye "care to join me, madam."
Mila laughed and rested against the locker space next to me, "no need to be so proper, you see the barbarian I'm friends with." I smiled in reply to the brown haired girls comment.

We rested against the lockers for a few seconds before I heard Mila turn towards me, there was never peace or quiet these days it seemed.
I blinked open my eyes, adjusting my focus to Mila a couple of feet in front of me, her hair wild yet contained in a ponytail and her skin that seemed to look like she tanned endlessly glowed against her vibrant white shirt.
"So, what exactly is going on between you and Rion? And Archer, I guess?" Mila asks, cocking her head slightly.

I swallowed down the self hatred that was threatening to pour out of me. Mila was not exactly a close friend so I don't think she'd care to hear about my tendency to hate myself.
I feigned nonchalance, shrugging my shoulders, "I wasn't aware there was a me and anybody, and don't you think you should ask Wilcox what's going on between him and Archer? He's your friend after all."

Mila stared at me for a few moments before rolling her eyes and crossing her arms, I don't know her well enough but I know this is her first gesture she goes for before she starts an argument.
"Could've just said you were jealous and hurt since you clearly are." She then loosened up her stance a bit, "I asked you because he hasn't really told me much other than him seeming to really like you a couple days ago then now suddenly Archer is back in the picture."

"Was Archer ever out of the picture?" I question, not caring if the bitterness is detected.

Mila smiled softly at me, "yes of course," then she laid a hand on my shoulder "you were his mostly sometimes for a solid two weeks."
I let out a laugh and smile over at Mila, who is grinning proudly, "you're shit at reassuring someone."
Mila shrugs, still looking proud, "Dora hasn't taught me that yet and Judy Blume makes me uncomfortable. But I got you to laugh and smile, so I did something right."
"Well, you did something." I say laughing along with Mila.

I stop laughing once I see the person turn the corner, looking around the halls.
"Did Dora prepare you for this?" I ask Mila, nodding towards the direction of the intruder.
Mila turns her head to see what I gesturing to, once noticing she looks back at me, "Nope, don't think we covered this."
I look at Mila and she looks back at me, eyes wide, "maybe you should start reading Judy Blume."
Mila starts laughing and I smile, "don't think she wrote a book about this either."

"Mila, what the fuck? You left me in the library, bitch." Mila and I turn towards the person approaching where we stood by my locker.
"You looked like you were enjoying the predicament you were in." Mila states off with a smile towards Rion.

Rion glared at Mila then looked over at me, back towards Mila, then finally to the space or rather the lack of space between Mila and I.
I mentally scolded myself for how quick I would explain and defend myself or the situation leading up to now while Rion didn't refute Mila's earlier statement.

Mila taking note of Rion's expression on his face, decided to play into it, she leaned her back against my chest and brought her hand up to caress my cheek.
"We're best friends now."

Rion blinked away any trace of his former expression of possible jealously, he simply raised an eyebrow "is that so? How did that happen?"
Mila patted my cheek, "well, we're the same height so that's got to count for something" I frowned at the mention of my height "and we just seem to understand each other." I raise my eyebrows at this, unaware our small talk with nothing actually said had meant we understood each other.

Just as Rion opened his mouth to respond the bell sounded overhead, and the hall started to fill with students walking to their final class of the day.
I gently push Mila off of me and move slightly over a couple of steps.
"Where's your class, best friend?" Mila asks looking over at me while fixing her hair.

"You're his best friend, wouldn't you have already covered this?" Rion questions with a hint of a smirk on his face.
"Mila has a lot to cover apparently." I tease, smiling at Mila.
"Dora and Boots are too fucking slow so I end up changing the channel before the episode ends and Judy Blume makes everything uncomfortable." Mila rushes out, with an exasperated look on her face.
I let out a laugh, "right, anyways I have creative writing."

Mila nods like she expected me to have this class, I bid a goodbye to the pair, walking past Rion a burning sensation spreads from my wrist throughout my whole arm. I have to stop myself from taking my wrist in my hand and tracing the nonexistent line Rion's fingers drew moments ago.

Reaching the classroom and taking my seat, I stared idly at my wrist. It was so warm, Rion's touch was always so warm. I clenched my hand into a fist, willing for the burning warmth to stop, did Archer feel this warmth too?
If Archer felt the warmth, it was probably way more intense than what I felt. Archer and Rion were way more intimate than a few stolen kisses and had feelings that made my one sided love seem childish in comparison.

"Mr. Thoreau, you look like you came to a revelation." Mr. M snaps me out of my thoughts, he's staring at me thoughtfully.

Revelation: I was in love, he wasn't and never would be.