Page 57

Run

Heat burned down upon us.

We were masochists for doing as our teachers demanded. We ran without the shelter of trees; most of us ripped our shirts off. My shirt was soaked through, as I had ran through the sprinklers, and discarded in a pile.

As I ran, I heard the whispers of those behind me. My tattoo was something to marvel; I was the only one who showed it off.

"Like the tat," came from in front of me.

My eyes, once staring at the ground, caught sight of the black wings in front of me. 'I like yours too' was on the tip of my tongue, but I swallowed the words.

"I can feel you staring," came from the other side of where he ran past. Startled, I nearly tripped in my haste to step away from him. Too close.

"Just appreciating a different tattoo," I replied between my ragged breaths.

"Most people are afraid to show 'em off. Makes me wonder why they have 'em in the first place," he snorts. He covers his mouth, snickering along. "Oops, I'm talking aloud again."

And then he was gone. For a moment I thought my brain was sun fried, and even if it wasn't; no one just disappeared like that.

- – —

"Huh."

I started from my chair, slamming my laptop closed. My cheeks were flushed, and I turned slowly to the black winged boy.

I stifled a groan.

"I didn't peg you as a homosexual."

I raised my brow in a challenge, crossing my arms across my chest. "I didn't peg you as a peeping tom."

"Guilty," he replied earnestly. "Let's take this situation to release a little tension."

Then his lips were on my throat, and my hands were in his hair. Both of our shirts were off, and somehow we ended up on my bed.

The morning after was the worst.