Eclipsed Star

Chapter Five

So far human school had been mindlessly boring but at least it went by quickly. The rest of my classes were about what I expected, the occasional jab from some human dimwit and a lot of classes that weren't going to be much of a challenge. These humans didn't work very hard. We'd done most of the stuff on the syllabus last year.

I didn't have a chance to talk to Jake again, despite having a few more classes together. Other than one girl, he mostly kept to himself and as much as I tried to ignore his presence, every time we were in a room together I couldn't help but listen for his voice.

In the hall after lunch, he passed by and without thinking I reached out and grabbed him. "Can you talk?"

He looked at where I touched him, then over to the girls he'd been running to meet.

"Fine," he snapped. He strode away from me, leaving me alone with my thoughts and wandering eyes. His walk was strong, confident, but his eyes held the innocence of someone younger. What was it about him that had me so preoccupied?

After talking to the girls, he turned and smiled at me. I caught my breath, his smile was luminous, his features... the only word I could think of was beautiful. That was it. He was beautiful. I felt drawn to him because of our past, but it was his beauty that had me fascinated. His soul was kind and his body...

Shit, I knew plenty of Atrians who were attracted to the same sex. As a people, Atrians didn't limit ourselves by gender, but I had never felt that way before. The only person I'd ever been attracted to was Teri, but who wouldn't be, she was gorgeous. It never occurred to me I might feel this way, but the tightness in my chest and the way my hands fidgeted, unsure of what to do as he approached had me tied up in knots.

When we were alone, he turned on me before I had a chance to say anything.

"You're supposed to be dead," He said. His voice the same one that had been echoing in my head the entire day. Confusion distorted on his face, his dark hair framed his eyes perfectly making him appear younger again so I could see superimposed the image of the boy who saved me.

"Sorry to disappoint." I shrugged my backpack up on my shoulder. "Can we find somewhere to sit? I couldn't handle being in the lunch room any longer. It was so loud and so many people were staring at us. I was just waiting for the moment when the eggs would start flying again"

"That's not what I meant." He stepped closer to put a hand on my arm to keep me from walking away.

His hand lingered against me, even though I didn't move away and the attraction I felt light up under his touch. My markings would give me away if he noticed.

"So what happened back there? It was like you got lost for a while? Should you tell the coach? He said something about a doctor..."

His hand pulled away from me abruptly, leaving me cold in his wake. "I'm fine."

"You weren't. Why would the gym teacher need to talk to your doctor?" I pushed even though it really was none of my business, but I had this nagging worry.

"I was in the hospital for a while and then I was homeschooled. My Dad didn't trust me to stay safe in the regular schools but I guess he figures I'm well enough now." His face closed off as he spoke and before me he transformed into a vision of the man he'd become. Hard lines, powerful obstinance and an inner strength that tugged at my heart.

"You were sick?"

"Yeah for a while but I'm better now so don't worry about it."

"What was wrong?"

"Nothing."

I sighed, not wanting to nag him, but the idea of him sick or hurt, killed me a little inside. "Okay if you don't want to talk about it that's fine. Just know I'm going to have to worry you'll get sick again and I'll be left to brave the horrors of human high school alone."