Relax/Divide

[1] Clear Thoughts

That guy keeps looking towards my direction.
Why? Is there something on my face?
Is it the acne scars or something?
I waved to him and smiled. He was surprised for some reason but waved back.

I looked towards Aeron, he glanced at me then continued talking to his insufferable friends.
I took another look at the guy who continued reading his textbook.
He seemed stressed and concerned about something but I didn't know what.
A part of me wanted to walk up to him and talk to him. However, Aeron would start getting pissed off and probably pick a fight with the poor dude.

I think when I'm away from Aeron, I'll confront the guy tomorrow.
______

"Hey!" I burst out loudly.
The guy jumps and drops the textbook he was reading.
"Wh-um I-"

It was clear from the moment I looked at him, he wasn't cut out for social interaction at all.

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare you like that." I reached out for his textbook to hand it back to him. He glanced at me and turned away immediately.
"I-its fine. I just didn't expect you or anyone really to be saying hello to me. I guess."
I return the textbook and he lets out a relieved sigh.

"You don't really have a lot of visitors do you?"
He shakes his head.
"Well then I suppose I'm your first! Anyways let's start over shall we? Hi, I'm Oleander." I offer my hand to him.
He looks at me, a bit wary at first but then grabbed my hand, "Hello. I'm Vincent."
"Nice to meet you!" I grinned, trying to make him feel a bit more comfortable.
He tries to smile but doesn't do a very good job at doing so.

I sat next to him.
He looks at me and asks, "So why did you come to me for? I don't have anything to offer other than my school work."
I chuckled a bit, I knew he wasn't trying to be funny but I couldn't help but laugh a little.
"I didn't come for an offer or anything, I was just wondering about yesterday. You kept looking at me. Why?"

He then had a sudden look of dread in his eyes.
"I-I wasn't looking at you specifically. Your direction yes but it was... Something else."

I didn't understand what he meant.
"What do you mean?"
He turned away, "I don't really want to share."
His response surprised me, you'd think he'd just make up a reason why or something and lie about it but he was blunt about how he felt.

I wish I was like that.

"I won't force you to tell me anything but what doesn't make any sense to me is that this isn't the first time you've given glances towards me."

He sighed, "I'm sorry. It's not that I'm trying to make you uncomfortable or anything, but I don't know. Something about you is different.  I can't say much and I'm sorry, but I won't bother you anymore."

Different?

I got a little bit frustrated but I didn't want to seem rude. I got up and looked towards him.
"Well, if you ever decide to tell me just come up to me okay? I'll be around. See ya Vincent."

I walked away from him, not upset but more concerned if anything.
He doesn't seem to mean any harm, and he isn't too strange like most creepy dudes are on campus, but something was off and I didn't know why.

After walking a few minutes someone yells my name.
"Oleander!"
A hand reached out and touched my shoulder, it was Vincent.
He huffed, seemed like he changed his mind on just letting me go like that.

"Listen-" he breathed, "I suffer a lot from hallucinations but when I look at you, nothing is near you. Nothing touches you, and everything around you is clear and I never understood why."
His eyes shifted, "I know it sounds like something someone crazy would say but you're different. You're the first person those things won't touch. It's hard for me to be around anyone without freaking out but with you it's not like that. I'm sorry if this scares you, I don't want to do that but I just can't explain it."
He looked straight towards me, his red tired eyes just consumed me. 
We looked at one another for a moment then he told me,

"Things are just clearer with you around."

I was surprised, more flustered if anything.
Then an arm wrapped around me.
"Ollie babe, who's this guy?"
My heart stopped.
"A-Aeron! I-its my friend um, Vincent."
"Friend?"
Vincent was nervous. He fidgeted.
Aeron already didn't like him, just as I predicted.

"Well baby, you tell your 'friend' to go and continue being in his own little world." He grinned.
I looked down, feeling hurt. I felt bad.
But I knew if I didn't listen he would hurt me later on.

"Vincent, I think you should go."

And with that he turned away and left.

______

"Why the fuck did you go to him for? You know you're not allowed to hang with guys like him." Aeron growled.

I was tired of this, "Look, you don't control me Aeron! We were just talking, that's all!"

He raised his hand.

I covered my face.

"You know damn well not to talk to anyone without my permission."

I felt my whole body shaking.

He reached out for my hair and I jumped.
"I love you Oleander."
He grabbed my face and pulled it towards him. He saw that I was crying. 

"I'm sorry baby, but I'm only trying to protect you from those who may harm you. I'm doing what's best for you."
He kissed me.

"Do you understand my Olive?"

I nodded, sobbing quietly.

He yanked my hair back.
"Good. Then don't you fucking dare disobey me again."

He let go of me and left the room.
I couldn't stop crying.