I looked at it like a blessing and now it's just a curse..
I managed to catch up to him when he's about to enter the bathroom. An awkward silence appears when he notices me.
"Hi.. Oliver? I'm Alec. I just have a quick question if you don't mind?"
He smiled, dimples at full display. "Sure thing, bud. Ask away."
"I noticed your.. uh.. tattoo." I cough awkwardly when his smile disappears. "My dad.. he had the same one."
Oliver stays quiet for a minute or so. I'm guessing he's trying to remember my dad in my features. His eyes widen and I notice his hands begin to shake slightly.
"Oh.. Zach. You were so young." Oliver mumbles out.
"You know my real name?" I question.
"Of course I do!" He brings up his shaky hand to his hair, running them through it. "You're one of Michael Lloyd's kid. He is- was.. was one of my best friends."
I stay quiet, all questions disappear as the sadness consumes me.
"I'm so sorry about what happed." He places a hand on my shoulder squeezing it slightly.
"It wasn't your doing." I say.
"I'm guessing you know?" He asks.
I nod.
"Malphas has not been active since then, kid. I don't know where he is."
I look at his eyes and see sympathy. The same eyes I always see at every foster home. Those damn sorry eyes.
"I'll find him even if it kills me." I state.
I start heading back to the ring. If Oliver wasn't going to help I'll have to track down more of those Serpent tattoos.
—•—
"Well if it isn't the infamous, Zachary Lloyd." Rose says.
I'm currently in photography and another project has been assigned to us by Mr. Oliver. This time we could choose our partners and surprisingly Rose chose me of all people.
"If it isn't, flower." I answer back.
"That was the worst comeback I have ever heard. Go home." She giggles.
Oh that giggle.
I smile and shake my head. "I'm already home when I'm with you, Tulip."
Rose's cheek flushed at my comment, but she dismisses it by punching my shoulder in what I think she believes is soft.
She then changes the subject quickly. "What's the project this time. I was too busy hearing Alexa Harrison gossip about Jake Richard's party. I was invited, but was busy.. you know." She winks at me.
"Do you remember Mr. Oliver's lecture about symbolism?" She stares at me confused. I sigh and turn my body towards her. "Back in the day photographers would take pictures of swords to symbolize male parts and flowers for female parts." She nods so I continue. "We have to do something similar, but with originality to it."
"Just pull down your pants and take a picture, Lloyd. It's not that hard."
I couldn't tell if she was joking or not.
—•—
It's after school hours. I had to wait for Rose to get out of detention so we could do the project for photography. Today just happened to be the only day she had free. I sigh at the boredom I was going through. Nothing but my car's music to entertain me.
30 or so minutes must've passed until I saw her walk towards my car. She wasn't alone.
"Zach, this is-"
I cut off Rose. "How's it going, stalker girl?" I extend my hand for her to shake.
She rolls her eyes. "See you tomorrow, R." She gives Rose a quick hug and starts heading back inside the school.
"You know, Nadia?" Rose asks.
I shrug. "You could say that."
Rose gets inside and I start the car, driving off to her house.
—•—
"It's only fair if it's you this time, Lloyd. Come on!"
I shake my head for the 20th time. Rose was trying to convince me that I should be the subject and her the photographer.
"Why not?" She questions.
"I'm not photogenic." I answer and look away embarrassed.
"Lying is a sin, Zachary." She grabs my face, squishing it. "You're a very good looking guy."
I yank my face away from her grasp, hiding my immense blush.
"Fine! Fine.. as long as you come up with the symbolism."
She squeals in delight and begins to explain all her ideas and how they are fitting to me. I don't really pay attention. Her beauty distracting me from doing so.
"It's you in school but the background is your other self: illegal street fighter-"
I do manage to hear that and shut it down as soon as she said it. "No way."
"But-" she tries, but I shake my head.
"You're no fun." She huffs and lays down on her bed next to me. "I don't have any good ideas, Zach. We're going to fail if I choose the symbol."
"You got this, Rose. If I didn't believe you could do it I wouldn't have told you to choose it." I grab one of her pillows and hit her gently with it. "Think, Daisy. You got this!"
"Lloyd."
"Yes?" I gulp.
"Run."
My loud laugh breaks the silence of the empty household as I run away from a very angry Rose. I'm not sure if it was the change of names or the pillow, but I knew if she caught up with me I'd be a dead man.
