beLIEve

The Venomous and the Pulsed

"Everyone always says 'hate' is a strong word.  What about 'love?'  People throw that word around as though it is nothing..."

It was a quarter past seven by the time the morning's dim enchantment shifted through the blackened curtains that hung on shafts, which overhung on the two windows that lined the space in which he slept. 

The new light drifted across the floorboards of mahogany and made their perch on the face of a placid youth.  His skin seemed to shimmer dully as the light reflected from his ashen complexion as his eyelids twitched but remained shut, his legs pulling towards his chest; the cave of heavy bedding he developed around his form twisted into a cocoon of resistance as a lowly groan escaped the lips of the boy who used their comfort to conceal himself from the sunlight; as though it would burn him if it rested on him to long.  

As the snooze deactivated; the boy threw his nest of hoarded comforters from his body as he stood from the mattress; throwing his arms behind his back and listening to each joint crack and complain with the new-found motions.  He twisted his hips and flipped the switch beside his pillow; the room becoming enlit in a bright glow from the hanging lamp that intertwined with the ceiling fan.  A sigh was released from his lips as he lowered himself to a crouch and hurtled from his sleeping domain; landing in his same crouch as his bare feet met the rough patterns of the antique oriental rug that rested atop the mahogany boards that served as the foundation for his bedroom. 

He raised his joints; rising to his standing position, shifting his neck to glance upwards at the loft he had just jumped down from.  The mattress was supported by a frame of opaque metal that was supported itself by the eggshell drywall that the mattress was pressed against.  He avoided the ladder; not wanting to waste his time by clambering down the 'easy way.'

His stiff posture shifted into a sloth-like hue as he dragged his feet to the bathroom that rested on the opposite side of the loft; on the far wall, beside the door that entered into the hall.  He cracked his neck and dragged a comb through his straight blonde locks that resembled more of a white.  The hair extended to the mid of his neck, and swept across his forehead in natural layers.  He glanced at his reflection; a pair of cold slate eyes glancing back at him dully. 

He returned to the bedroom and strode evenly to the couch that made its place beneath the loft's outcrop; snatching the garments he laid out the night before.  He slid a white t-shirt over his bare chest and slid on a pair of opal straight legs over his boxer shorts.  Over his t-shirt he pulled on a plaid dress shirt that was primarily black, but held traces of grey and white that complimented his undershirt and faded irises.  On his feet; he slid on a pair of ankle socks and pulled on a pair of pitch DC sneakers with muted silver detailing.  It was unclear why he selected this matter of dress, however, for the dark hues just made him appear more pallid then he actually was.

He rolled the sleeves of his dress shirt to his elbows and unbuttoned the top two clasps before rushing through the silent hall and down the enormous staircase, winking at himself in the mirror as he passed through the foyer and out the front door.  He did not bother to say 'goodbye' to either of his parents, nor take a bite to eat before his gait carried him across the street and onto the campus of his high school. 

The autumn air was frigid; and he hurried up the marble front steps and through the double doors which had him positioned in the halls.  Several turned to look in his direction as he slung his backpack over his left shoulder; the straps pulled tightly as the bag itself remained light, as though only one or two binders were within.

A group of girls pushed their lips forward, as if sending him a kiss with their pulsed lips, others giggled and whispered to one another before blowing a kiss in the boy's direction.  He himself, smirked and outstretched his hand, as if catching the affection and placing it in his back pocket; patting it as he did so.  He winked towards them and shifted on his feet... sliding across the tiles with a haughty step that gave him a confidant and somewhat egocentric stride.  He turned his neck and delivered an intimidating glare towards a group of lanky and ectomorphic boys before taking a stomp forward, the three flinching away with his gesture.  His laughter filled the halls as he knocked the books out of the red-head's arms and placed his palms on the two brunette's foreheads and thrusting backwards, the back of the two boy's skulls crashing into the blue frame of the lockers with a loud eruption that echoed in the halls.  The boy twirled his keychain around his pointer finger and rose his eyebrows in an arrogant taunt before strutting towards the cafeteria, whistling a cheerful tune as the strained pants of his victims rang behind him.