Fire & Ice

He cares?

Chapter 2~ He cares?

My eyes were blinded by salty tears that ran down my cheeks to the corners of my mouth and down my chin. my bag bounced harshly against my back as i ran out of the busy hallways of college students going to their classes. i pulled up my scarf so that no one could see my tears, but its not like they would care if they did. my scarf softly brushed away the drippings on my chin and caught the oncoming river falling from my cheeks.

  once i felt i was far enough from the class i sat down on a nearby bench and rested for a minute to collect my thoughts. the images of them laughing at me. it sent me back to middle school and high school. i thought college was different. that  we all are adults here, but i guess not. i leaned forward on my knees and allowed my hair to fall into my face.

     it hurts not having someone around to comfort you in situations like this. but no one likes a " different" as everyone puts it. everyone avoids me because im cold. not in a mean way but, literally im cold. freezing even. the slightest touch you get this ice cube like feeling right after. iv always been like this sense i was a child. no one accepted me because of it. i never had a friend, never had a family. i have always been alone. wait, no i take it back. i had a friend once. in elementary school. i dont remember his first name but his last was Phoenix. he was my best and only friend.

     whenever someone treated me harshly and he didnt like it he jumped in and risked himself for me. it felt good to have someone to care for me,and from what i remember he knew about my.. difference, but he didnt care. he was always quiet and mean looking but he was very kind and gentle to me.

       Remembering my old friend brought a smile to my face. i readjusted my scarf under my chin and wiped the rest of my tears with the back of my hand. i need to man up. crying like a child in college is embarrassing. as if being gay and having to hide from everyone isnt enough already. the bell rung to end the last period of the day and dismissed its students from their classes. i just skipped an entire hour of lessons. i sighed sarcastically before picking up my bag and heading for the front gates. " jack." a voice called out my name i stood up and looked at all the bobbing heads of the students pass me by.

        Who called me? i looked around curiously before realizing it probably was another prank someone was trying to pull. i was a bit disappointed. i actually thought for a second that someone was calling to talk to me.  i began walking into the crowd of people but was stopped by a warm hand on my shoulder. i flinched and closed my eyes waiting for a punch or something painful to hit me, but instead i was released. i slowly opened my eyes to see Marcus standing in front of me.

   " m-.. Marcus.." i shuddered. i was happy to see him. and actually talking to me! but, i was still embarrassed about earlier. my cheeks began to burn red again and i focused my gaze to the ground. he cocked his head slightly and lifted up my chin. i jumped slightly shocked and placed my hands on his wrist. he gazed down into my eyes with those beautiful red rose colored eyes of his. he stared intensely at me as if he were looking right through me. i shivered and closed my eyes for a moment. it felt as if time had stopped between us. no one was around  it was just us. but i had a bad feeling that something was about to happen to me. i pulled down on his wrist as hard as i could but it seemed to do no good. his hand was stationed under my chin until he decided to move it. i let out a shaky sigh and relaxed myself by his touch " you were crying." i opened up my eyes

and stared at him confused. he looked at me very sternly. he showed no emotion. i couldn't tell if he was being thoughtful or if he was trying to make me cry again. wait how did he know i was? i made sure i hid my tears. im positive i did! he continued to look down at me

with his daring eyes. i hesitated before parting my lips to speak. " its fine, i'm fine" i answered a little shaken up but i did with as much confidence as i could. he released my chin and brushed the corner of my eye with his thumb. he sighed sadly and handed

me back my notebook. i stared at it for a moment before taking it and throwing it in my bag with such force it nearly took my bag off of my shoulder. i refused to look back up at him so i stared at the ground and thanked him. he was silent and didnt move. i was about to step around him but he grabbed my arm and slightly tightened his grip

     it frightened me but i showed no sign of being scared. that would only fuel him to do something much worse. " was there something you needed?" i asked him as i take a step back in front of him. he pulled a piece of folded paper from his pocket and handed it to me. i unfolded it and stared blankly at the drawing in the middle of the page. it was of me hugging him under an umbrella and him kissing my forehead. i felt my cheeks get hotter and hotter and i was about to crumple up the paper and throw it but it was snatched from my hands.

      i looked at marcus with glossy eyes and tightened my hand into a fist. did he show me that to tease me? something else to laugh at? why? what did i ever do to him.

  " what are you showing me this for? as a joke? im not laughing. i was stupid to even draw that i apologize i didnt mean to-" he cut my off giving me a small chuckle. he released my arm and gave me a gentle smile.

" i just wanted to know if i could keep it." my eyes widened in surprise. keep it, but why?

" i like it" his smile faded as he looked back at my picture and then to me. i didnt know how to answer but i just nodded in agreement and he gave me a reassuring smile. i blushed again and his smile didnt fade. "Marcus let's go, we're going to be late!" the stand still ended when Caleb's voice bellowed in the court yard. my fist tightened again as i saw him wave towards marcus. marcus nodded and turned back towards me. i kept my eyes fixed on caleb i wanted to punch him so bad for what he did. he humiliated me. in front of everyone,including Marcus. i felt a burning in my chest like something wanted to just burst out and explode but the feeling changed when i felt marcus warm hand on top of my head.

       i stared at him stunned and he was still smiling. " hes an idiot. let it go" .. let it go.. how can i let that go?   everyone thinks im a stalker now that entire notebook was full of drawings of marcus and i. and now everyone knows.. everyone. i removed his hand and turned to leave. i have had enough for one day and i didnt need to stick around any longer. i readjusted my bag strap and strolled across the courtyard. i could still feel marcus's burning stare watching me as i walked away. why did he want that picture? he said he liked it but why? does he have feelings for me too? noo, i shook my head at the thought of marcus actually falling for me. i highly doubt that but... he acted as us he really cared about me.  i wonder...

i wonder why