Boys Will Be Cats

Ch 1: Navin

I smile like an idiot when I'm talking to you. It doesn't matter if it's in person or by text or anything else. I just smile because it's you.
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To tell the truth, I've always had a crush on the school's star. But in the same I never thought he'd like me. Of course a big factor is that I'm a guy. Now that I've graduated high school, I figured I could escape the pain of looking at him and knowing he would never share my feelings.

Slightly more cheery at this point, I trotted onto campus looking for my dorm building, and just exploring. I passed the Cafeteria, Auditorium, and the frat houses with the couches in the front yard. I sighed and headed off jogging twords the athletic fields and buildings.

As I jogged past the football field I saw a bunch of guys practicing. It reminded me of him, so I turned away and zoned out. Soon I ran into somebody and was knocked back.

           "Ahh! Owwww." I said as I rubbed the back of my head as it hit the concrete sidewalk.
"Shit! Sorry dude you alright." My legs were bent beneath me and slightly spread. My thick plastic glasses were askew and my hoodie had partially fallen off reveling my overly large neckline on my shirt and my collarbone. I nodded and continued to look away. I touched my cheek and winced as my finger hit my new scrape. I figured the guy had left by now so I started to compose myself.

"No you're not!" The guy grabbed my face and inspected my scrape. I looked at him and jumped back with surprise.

His shaggy sand dune waves of hair looked familiar. His bright sea blue eyes reminded me of the one I loved. His tanned skin showed off his muscle. Great. Now I was hallucinating, thinking this was him.

"Wait a minute. You look familiar. Are you Navin Sumki?" He asked. Shit. It was him. It was Bryant.
I nodded.
"Navin!! Its me Bryant! We went to high school together!" He smiled as if we were best friends reuniting after many years of being apart. I was blushing furiously as he was still holding my face. He let go and stood up with his arm out to help me up. I ignored it.

"I know who you are Bryant. I umm, I gotta go." I muttered as I stood up and turned to leave. I ran, only slowing down to make sure he didn't follow me. I headed to my dorm room to unpack.

When I got in my room my room mate was already unpacked and sitting on his bed with his laptop in his lap. When he noticed my presence he looked up and gave me a small wave. I waved back and started making my bed and getting out my school supplies.

"Hey. You. Freshie. Helloo." I looked up from my box at my roommate.
"Name's Andrew. Whats yours?"
"My name is Navin. Nice to meet you Andrew." I said before quickly going back to unpacking.

Andrew left later that night and I stayed in the room, writing a story on my laptop.
As I started to zone out, there was a knock on the door. I went over and cracked the door to see who it was. Andrew.

"Hey. I forgot the room key." He grabbed the key and left.

I headed over to the mirror to inspect myself. I sighed. My hair was a dark messy waterfall ending just above my yellow-green eyes and was swept to the side like a wind swept field. If I was muscular my milk chocolate skin would define the muscles like the chocolate on an almond joy. Instead my skin defined the scrawny noodles my body claims as my arms. I looked closer at my eyes and inspected my too-long eyelashes. I readjusted my clothes and my yin-yang necklace.

I started to think of Bryant, so I shook the thought out of my head and left to the Cafeteria. When I got there most of the tables were full and the line was long. I got in line and ordered my food. After I got my rice and general Tzo's chicken I walked to an empty table and sat down. As I ate someone sat down next to me. I looked over to see Bryant leaning on the table looking at me.

"Hello Navin!" He said, smiling all the while. I felt my face heat up and looked away, pulling my hood up to cover my face. I finished my chicken and rice and stood up to get rid of my tray. Bryant followed and attempted to make conversation. After a while I gave up and started to talk to him.

It was small talk, like how the weather  was, and how our summers were.
By the time we left the cafeteria, my heart was thumping and I couldn't think straight. I had loosened up enough to give coherent responses.

He walked me to my dorm and we finished the conversation in front of the building. When he left he smiled and waved good-bye.

When I got in my room I curled up into a ball under my sheets on my bed. I cried and remained in the fetal position. God I was weak. Less than and half hour talking to him led to this. My pathetic crying under a blanket. I sobbed and fell asleep.

That night I dreamt of him.