The Mixed Kids

Blanket of Fire

Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock.

I stared long and hard at the clock up on the wall in the classroom, waiting for it to reach 3:45PM. I felt like I had been in school for a million years when it hadn't even been a full year in total.

"Come on, come on. Lemme leave this place already.." I mumbled under my breath.

A student came running into the classroom, panting slightly.

"Matthew, it's almost the end of class, and almost the end of the school day," the teacher spoke loud and clear. "Why are you so late this time?"

Matthew was late to this class almost every day. And each time the teacher asked why, he had a smart-ass excuse. But that's just Matthew for you: your average bad-mouthed teenager with an attitude. But he can be sweet. You just have to get close to him to see that part of him. That kid constantly has a lot on his mind- even I can't explain the things he tells me sometimes.

"Well, you see," he went on as the whole class watched him. "Somebody told me to go to hell.." Matthew looked around the classroom slowly, almost as if he was examining the whole room as a detective.

"And?" The teacher questioned him, sighing. Mr. Tireman shouldn't have asked anything. He should know Matthew by now, how he constantly talked back or made up excuses for things he does wrong.

"And I got lost for awhile but now I'm here, so it's all good."

The class started laughing. I only smirked, shaking my head at him and his eyes caught mine. My face flushed who knows how red and he stuck his tongue out at me.

RRRIIINNNGGG.

The bell rung throughout the whole school and students started rushing out the classroom. Matthew started making his way to the door when the teacher stopped him.

"Mr. Coleson, detention in my room during lunch hours on Monday! Be there or be gone. Either show up to school and go to every class, or stay home." The teacher talked with an irritated sound in his voice. Matthew only shrugged and left.

"I mean it, Coleson!" He shouted down the hall. Matthew flipped him off and left the building.

About 3 hours after school was released. 7PM

I sat alone on a log that was placed a few feet away from the ocean shore. I looked out at the water as it sparkled in the fading light of the sun.

That color. That blue green color, it reminded me of something. But what?

"Zander!" A voice shouted in the distance.
That's what the water reminded me of. Matthew's eyes. The way the tints of green faded into the crystal blue.

I looked around, spotting nothing. Suddenly my body went into panic mode and every hair on my body stood on end. It was his voice, but where was he? Where was Matthew?

"BOO!" Matthew had come up behind me and had his hands on my arms.

I was still catching my breath when he started chuckling at my reaction, patting my back gently, yet playfully.

"Gotcha, boy!" He said with a grin. I shook my head a bit, smiling myself as I put my hand over my chest to feel my heartbeat. He always did that, it was one of his favorite things to do: scare people. Especially me, considering I'm really easy to scare.

"Nearly scared me to death, Matthew." I chuckled, putting my hand back down in my lap. I felt my heart beat quicker than it did when Matthew had scared me, all because his hand was now on my chest, over my heart.

I thanked the lack of light for hiding the flush of pink that spread throughout my face. I could tell I was blushing because my whole face felt hot, even in the cold air. Why did he make me feel this way..?

"Oh dang, boy, you're right! I got you pretty good- your heart is beating a hundred miles an hour." He started laughing at this, looking straight at me.

Matthew's hand dropped from my chest, just barely gliding against my own hand before he removed his completely from me and put it in his lap. Goosebumps spread throughout my whole body, causing a shiver to shoot down my spine like a bullet going through a window.

My teeth chattered a bit and I realized that I had forgotten a sweatshirt. I let our a shallow breath, not knowing any way to warm myself up.

"Fuck.." I muttered, putting my hands over my arms and rubbing them to try warming up. I sighed into the cold air, watching as my breath made a smoke affect.

"It's alright, I didn't bring a sweatshirt either. And, I'm no sweatshirt but, hey I'm better than nothing." Matthew said sheepishly. And with that, he wrapped his big arms around me. I was so small compared to him. Like a mouse next to a middle aged cat.

I didn't know his body would feel so warm against mine. He said he was cold, but when his skin touched mine, it was like a blanket of calm fire wrapped itself around me. Who knew love would feel so astonishing?