Cole sat nervously at the dinner table next to the transformed Reece. She was still breathtaking, her big brown doe eyes with the long lashes and her full lips, but he wasn't sure how her parents would react. It was hard, and a sudden, truthful change that would be like a slap in the face.
A shaking, small hand clutched his, and glanced at her. She had shallow, scared breaths as she watched the kitchen, where her father was draining the pasta and her mother was prepping the plates, both talking softly.
"Hey, it's okay." Cole said reassuringly. "It was bound to happen, right?" The girl nodded, slipping her hand out of his to place it in her lap. He felt a brief flame of disappointment before he snuffed it- she was scared and sick and probably sore. A shatter made him jump and focus.
Reece's dad had dropped his plate, scattering sharp porcelein and home made chicken stir fry.
"What the hell happened?" He stuttered, his face blanch.
"It was going to happen anyway dad. Might as well get it over with," Reece stood. "Do you need a broom?"
"Sit down. Just... sit." He replied shakily, and she obeyed with a hurt look. Cole looked away awkwardly.
At all the commotion, her mother came in and her hand flew to her mouth that was in a tiny O shape.
"Reece!" She gasped. The girl sitting next to Cole suddenly scowled and stood, her chair smacking the ground. Her cheeks were red and her eyes watered, which startled him. It seemed out of character to be this upset, and it made his heart lurch.
"Look, let's not pretend that I'm not sick- that I'm not dying! Because, face it, I am! I'm tired of pretending I'm not, and it was easier if I were in control. I want some sense of control in the whirlwind. You think you're scared? I'm terrified! So don't 'Reece' me!" Her outburst was sudden and seething, as if Cole had been dropped into a pot of boiling oil in the middle of winter. Tears slipped down her cheeks and she turned, running up the stairs to her room.
After a clear of his throat, Cole himself stood. "Thank you for having me over, but I think I'll be heading home." He said as he grabbed his keys. He didn't get a reply- not that he was expecting one, and he left, watching the light of the girl with doe eyes go off from upstairs as he pulled out of the driveway.
~*~*~*~*
The next day was Saturday, which meant no classes. A lazy roll and an anxious check proved empty when he saw there was no text from Reece. The boy sighed, sitting up.
It was a beautiful day, and his mother had offered to take him to the market today if he wanted. He blinked sleepily at the dancing sunbeams that floated throughout his room. A hand ruffled his hair and he yawned, getting up and pawing through his drawers as he picked out jeans and a Crown the Empire shirt. He slipped on the familiar dogtags, shuddering at the cold metal kissing his chest, thumb brushing over the raised surface of the letters.
His hands were fumbling as he pulled up his jeans when he heard his mom call up, "Are you going with me in a bit, hon?"
"Yeah, hold on." Quickly he threw on his shirt and brushed his teeth, shoving on socks and vans. His feet pounded the stairs as he met his mom there, who grinned sadly at him.
"Arms?" She asked, and he sighed angrily, revealing them.
"I don't self-harm, mom." Cole hissed, snatching his wallet as they headed out the door. She flinched, and he felt as if he had just kicked a puppy, but didn't apologize. Guilt, disgust, and anger coiled in his healing stomach like a snake, and he was trying to ease it when his mom spoke.
"I'm just worried, dear."
"Don't be." He muttered as the car started, and she sent him a dirty look as they turned out of their driveway to go to Joe's Market. He turned up the radio to hint tht he wanted nothing to do with conversation, since all she ever brought up was his "issue" now. His mom picked up on this as she frowned. It served more as white noise, really, as his thoughts drifted to the stunning girl who had waltzed into his life. She was beautiful even without her long locks, but he wasn't sure how to tell her that without making a fool of himself. He was still trying to figure it out by the time they arrived, and Cole hopped out of the car, putting distance between him and his mother.
"I have my phone. Meet me back at the front here by the used bookstand at lunch." She called, and he tossed up a hand to show he had heard her. His taller frame darted inbetween people that he often sees in town or large tourists who tiredly looked on at stalls with blank, cow-like stares. He boredly glanced at each stall, before he paused and turned around.
He had just passed a cloth stand with intricate scarves and shirts. He shoved through a family who tossed him an ugly look to get closer. He was looking around when a scarf caught his eye. It was a sweet, rich red that faded into soft pinks in places like the sky at dawn, circular patterns stitched in golden thread that glinted in the Sun.
"Excuse me, how much is this?" Cole's bass-tone caused the young cashier to look up, and her eyes widened as the bubble she was blowing popped. She looked as if she could go to his Uni- she fit the style most college girls wore. Her bleached hair was tied up, and her shirt looked constricting, as did her skinny jeans.
"T-ten bucks." She said as she raked her blue eyes down his frame. He was slightly irked as he slapped down the bill and grabbed the garment, walking off and muttering about hormonal girls, hoping he could find something that could keep him busy until he had to meet his mom at the book stand.
