One Step

Rules

(Rat POV)
What was I doing? If I waited any longer I was going to be late. It was apparent that Shion didn’t want to be my friend. What else was new? I had hoped…I sighed. It didn’t matter. Kicking at a rock, I left his driveway. It was like everything else in this town. Just one more reason not to stay. I would be eighteen in three months. I had to survive until then.
Glancing back I looked once more at Shion’s drive. There was no sign of the white haired boy. I swung back around. Just forget him, I told myself. I pulled my head phones out of my pocket. Untangling them I stuck them in my ears. Turning the music up past the safe level I marched my way to school.
I shouldn’t have tried to invade the new kid’s space. When the mother, aunt whatever she was had come over to ask my foster mom if I could walk him to school, I gave her every reason not to. She still insisted. I had given in. Look where that got me. Moping on my lone walk to school. My heart hammering in my chest because I knew I would see him in class. I would day dream over him. Most likely he would be the source of my attention for the next few months. Just until I could get away.
I was almost to the first stop sign when a hand grabbed my arm. Looking down, I saw Shion clinging to my arm. He was out of breath. Gasping for air he tried to say something. I pulled the head phones from my ears.
“Shion, what are you doing?” I asked. Slamming those walls up, I wouldn’t get hurt again. I couldn’t let him in.
“Ssorry.” He gasped out still fighting to get his breath back. I glanced back toward his house.
“Did you run all the way?” I asked. He nodded. His fist was still clutched onto the sleeve of my jacket. I pulled out a bottle of water. Handing it to him, he took several long sips.
“Thank you.” He said. He stood up straight. “I was yelling your name…” Those red eyes didn’t meet mine.
“Sorry.” I swung the ear buds around my finger. “I listen to the music pretty loud. Drowns out everyone else.” I told him. He nodded. Those eyes found mine. When he saw me looking at him, they darted away again.
“My uncle stopped by this morning.” He said. “Had to talk to him. I tried to get outside before you left.” He shrugged. I gave him a small smirk.
“Well if you don’t want to run all the way to school, I suggest we get walking.” The white head bobbed. I saw a tiny smile curving his lips. Shrugging I replaced the music player back into my backpack.
We didn’t talk, but it wasn’t awkward. I watched as Shion looked only at his feet. Every now and then his hair would blow the right way and I would see him peeking at me out of the corner of his eye. I hide my face in my hood so he wouldn’t see me smile.
“Rat?” he asked just as we reached the school. The same trio of girls were waiting for us. like they did everyday. I looked over to Shion.
“Yeah?” he had said my name pretty loudly. The girls hadn’t taunted me yet. Maybe they were waiting to see what the silent boy was going to say. He pointed one pale finger at them.
“Those are the same girls from yesterday, right?” I nodded giving an muhmm to him.
“Do they wait for you everyday?” he asked. I saw them huff. I smirked.
“Pretty much.” I said.
“We don’t wait for you. We just happen to get here at the same time.” The leader stated haughtily.
“No, Rat and I are late today. You were setting on the stone railing.” Shion pointed out. I snickered.
“We were talking. It’s something friends do.” Another one said as they cut us off on the steps once more. They marched before us to the front doors.
“I think you like Rat.” Shion said. “That’s it right?” he asked turning to me.
“We do not like that fag!” The last one shouted. “You know what that means right?” She spun to put her face in Shion’s He took a step back waving a hand in front of his nose.
“Um yeah, do you know what toothpaste is?” He asked eyes wide.
“How dare you!” She screamed. Her friends came to back her up.
“If I were you, I would stay away from Rat.” The leader told Shion. “You will get the same reputation as him. You wouldn’t want that. Right?” She mimicked his tone. Shion slowly shook his head. I could see his smile.
“No, I wouldn’t but then I guess it’s better than being the one that had the hots for him. Let me see you asked him out? I saw the pictures of the Sadie Hawken’s dance. That’s where the girl asks the guy?” he looked up to me for confirmation. I couldn’t speak as I was trying hard not to laugh. I only nodded.
“Hmm. That was about the time Rat came here.” He smirked at the blonde leader. “You thought you would get the hot new guy, but he turned you down cold.” His cute lips turned into a frown. Then he laughed. Reaching out he snagged my hand, lacing our fingers together
“Too bad for you, but it was great for me.” With that Shion dragged me past them. He was laughing so hard he was nearly doubled over. I had to help him open the door to the school. Tears running down my face as Shion turned to wave his free hand at the open mouthed girls.
We raced down the hall, hearing the final bell ring as we slipped into our seats. We hadn’t gone to our lockers. I grinned over at him. He was laughing back. It had been fun. As I sat there I knew he would get more flack for what he had done. I frowned. They weren’t going to go easy on him.
After English we went to our lockers. “Shion?” I said. “Mmhmm?” he answered emptying his backpack.
“Um, you know they are going to think we are dating with that stunt of yours?” I asked.
“Mmhmm,” he said his head inside his locker.
“Oi Shion!” I slammed my locker shut. “That’s not a good thing. I’m already an outcast here. Not that it matters. But you had a chance.” I looked at the ground. “Find your own way.” With that I took off down the hall. I wouldn’t bring him down with me. I had three months. I told myself as I ran into the boys bathroom. The bell rang as I locked myself into the stall. Curling up onto the seat I buried my face into my knees.
The teachers wouldn’t miss me. I hardly went to class any way. Maybe if they saw I wasn’t with Shion, maybe if he apologized. Tells them I made him do it, maybe he could have a future here. I told my self. My body shook with the tears. They fell from my eyes silently. I wouldn’t let anyone know the pain I walked around in. It was my hell.
There was a light tap on the door. Looking down I saw white sneakers. They turned around. Good he would leave if I didn’t say anything. The door shook a little as he leaned back against it.
“You might as well come out. No one else is here.” He said. I didn’t answer.
‘Just go away!’ I screamed silently at him. He started lightly banging his head against the door.
“I’m not leaving. I don’t care if they think we are dating.” He said, his voice like a wisp of wind. He shifted his feet. A soft chuckle reached my ears as I listened for any sound. “It would be just my luck that you aren’t really in there.” He said. “I mean I think you are since the door is locked from the inside.” He added. “But that’s ok. I talk to myself anyway.” He paused again.
“Ok let’s put this together.” He said. Clearing his throat he went on. “You dragged me all over yesterday. Felt pretty sorry for me, thinking I was special or something. I was the one that kissed you. After you told me you were gay.” He pointed out. I could imagine those pale fingers held up. He would be the kind of person to count these things off. I smirked at the thought.
“In case you didn’t notice I told them you were hot, twice.” He added. “I even asked you not to hide those beautiful eyes from me, which you did, all the way here.” He added hitting the door lightly with his fist. “Come to think of it I should be the one in there not talking to you, yet here I am trying to get you to speak. Maybe I should call you dog instead of Rat.” He added.
“You wouldn’t dare!” I cried. The laughter that reached me was so sweet I just wanted to hug him.
“Ha, you talked you have to come out now!” He crowed. Sighing I unfolded myself. Unlocking the door I stepped out. He smiled up at me.
“Hi, I’m Shion. I like you. There are things I won’t be able to tell you about myself for awhile, but….” His voice trailed off a bit. “…but I like you. I would like to be your friend, for now.” He said those red eyes never leaving my face. I gave him a twisted grin.
“Ok.” I said. Hitting me with his arm he gestured toward the door. I shook my head.
“Not this class. We can skip.” He nodded. We sat on the counter of the bathroom sink.
“Tell me your rules.” I said. He looked confused. I sighed. “You said there are things you can’t tell me. So what can I ask you about?” He shrugged.
“I can’t give you anything specific. You know about my past, about why I’m here.” He said pulling at his sleeves.
“Ok, anything else?” I asked. He swiped at his face.
“I um,” he cleared his throat wiping at his face some more. “I haven’t told anyone about you know…. Them” he added. I placed a hand on his shoulder.
“I won’t ask, just know that if you want to talk about it, I’m here. No pressure.”  He nodded.
“Your rules?” he asked me. I smiled.
“You can ask me anything. I will decide if I feel like answering.” He chuckled a little. Shuffling his feet around he pushed himself up against me. He laid his head on my shoulder.
“What about this?” he asked. I had to swallow hard before I could talk.
“What do you mean?” I didn’t know where he was going with this questioning. He didn’t talk for a long time. Instead he threaded his arm through mine. He sat there curled against my side like a little kid. Breathing slowly. I had a feeling he hadn’t slept well. After about five minutes he spoke up.
“I guess since you haven’t pushed me away that this is ok with our friendship.” He squeezed my arm.
“Yeah, its ok.” I told him. I wanted more. I wanted to pull my arm free of him. Wanted to wrap it around those thin shoulders. I wanted to pull him tighter to me. Keep him safe tucked in against me. The next words I heard had my heart racing.
“The kiss?” he asked. I swallowed again. My mouth suddenly dry. He had been the one to kiss me. What did he want? Thin fingers started to play with my shoe lace.
“Can I …” he stopped talking.
“Kiss me?” my voice cracked. I felt his head nod against my arm. He buried his face into my sleeve. Reaching out with my free hand, I pinched his chin in-between my thumb and finger. Tilting his head up to look at me.
“I wouldn’t advise it in public.” I said those eyes locking with mine.
“Alone?” he asked. I saw the hope swell in his eyes. He really wanted me? He was a certain kind of special. I felt my lips curve at the ends. I gave him a tiny nod. He moved so quickly I couldn’t stop him. His lips pecked at mine before he ducked his head back into my arm.
“Sneak.” I whispered. I felt his laughter. The bell rang. Jumping down I dragged him with me.
“Come on, lets not be late.” I pulled him into the hall.