My Solution (Jelix)

Chapter 5

*Felix's POV*

I tried not to skip class a lot. I really did. But sometimes I just couldn't handle another hour of Mrs. Hughes's rants about the botanical structures of plants. I took this science class to learn about animals, but according to Mrs. Hughes 'all forms of life are equally important,' or some hippie crap like that.

I made my way through the empty hallways as quietly as possible, taking in the blissful feeling of being alone. It was almost as if your footsteps echoed softly against the metal lockers as you snuck around. My relaxing break, however, was interrupted when I heard muffled noises coming from a nearby hallway.

My instincts fought as I tried to decide whether to hide or to investigate the noise. I held my breath and creeped my way to the source of the noise before looking around the corner. What I saw, though, wasn't a teacher or staff member waiting to bust me; it was two other kids. I instantantly recognized that the smaller boy was none other than Jack.

The taller boy was holding a binder out of Jack's reach, laughing and shoving him back whenever he tried to reach up and grab it. While bullying was common in this school, it made my blood boil everytime I saw it. Nobody deserved to be treated like crap by someone stronger than them.

"Hey! Leave him alone!" I growled.

When the bully looked up and saw me, his entire face went white and he backed away and spouted apologies. I didn't know why people were so scared of me; I was just a kid in a letterman jacket.

"I don't care that you're sorry. Just go."

The tall boy gave the binder back and sped away quickly. Jack looked in astonishment , then quickly darted his eyes to the floor when he noticed my gaze.

"A-Are you going to torment me now?" he stuttered nervously.

"Of course not," I frowned softly. How often did he get picked on?

"Then why'd you scare that guy away?" he never lifted his eyes off the ground.

"Because you don't deserve to be treated like that."

"I-I..thanks."

"Why would I be mean to you? Especially afteryou helped me with my math?"

"I don't know. You guys don't usually have a real reason," Jack shrugged.

"Who are 'you guys?'" my brow shot up in confusion.

"Y'know, Chris, Andrew, Chad, and most of the athletes."

"Jack, I'm not like those assholes. Hell, I'm not even friends with most of them."

"R-Really?"

"Really," I gave a reassuring smile.

I cupped his face in hands and gently lifted it up, forcing him to look into my eyes. He winced slightly at my touch, and I could almost feel the heat transfering through his cheeks into my hands. His skin felt soft against my palms, and it took all of my strength not to rub circles into it with my thumb. His beautiful blue eyes were staring at me like soft ocean waves crashing onto the pale white shore that surrounded them.

Why couldn't I stop staring into them? They were just eyes. Sure, maybe they were the prettiest shade of blue I had ever seen, but they were just Jack's eyes.

"Jack," I sighed, "what do you want to be when you get out of college?"

"What?"

"Just answer me."

"I don't know. Maybe a sound engineer? But what does that-"

"Exactly, Jack. You're highly intelligent and you will be able to get that job no problem. Do you know what Chris and the others want to be? They want to be professional football players, but that's not going to happen, now is it? You're the real winner in the end here."

"You really think so?" I could hear the disbelief in his voice.

"I know so. Believe it or not, but I'd rather have good grades than be another mediocre quarterback who peaks during high school."

"I've never really thought of it that way," he admitted.

"Sometimes you just need a different perspective."

As I let go of his face, I couldn't help but notice how empty my hands felt without him in between them.

"Thanks, Felix. Really."

"Of course."

"Well," he fixed the collar of his shirt," I'll see you at tutoring tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow, Jack," I grinned as I watched the green haired boy dissapear from my sight as he walked down the hallway and around the corner.