PHASES

Episode 1: The Birthday Boy

Justin Rockwell was staring absent-mindedly at the only boy that he had ever loved; his best friend Mark. Who was in-turn, was staring romantically into the eyes of the dark haired girl who was sitting on his lap, like they were the only people in existence.

Justin watched as Mark slowly pushed the girls long locks from her face while looking intently into her eyes. The girl was Maddy McKenzie; his girlfriend. A student of a private school in the city, she would often drop by after school or come with the rest of her school when they matches with Nu'Est High.

Mark happened to be on the school's basketball team. He played some important position, that Justin would soon forget the name of as soon as Mark was done reminding him, in the school's basketball team.

He was a lean youth of seventeen, with coal-black short hair and brilliant brown eyes. A little shorter than Justin, an inch or so, he was noticeably shorter than his other teammates but was better than most. He had even been voted MVP for several matches and hoped to make captain for his last and senior year at Nu'Est High, the following year.

A gentle tap on the shoulder woke Justin from his trance. It was Zoe. His other best friend sat right next to him, just behind his right shoulder. The group was seated a little away from him at their usual small oval table in the school cafeteria, that sat at the north western corner between two windows.

Justin saw the last of Mark's teammates and friends disappear behind the cafeterias double glass doors, as they spilled out to the hallway beyond. They had all stayed behind after the school match against Maddy's school to discuss the final details of Mark's birthday party that was scheduled to start in a few hours.

"We should be going too" said Mark, already on his feet his left hand curled around Maddy's slim waist. "Zoe don't be late. Juss' I'm now placing you under Zoe watch; it's your responsibility to get her there on time."

He turned and led his lady alive out the glass doors.

"You should really stop doing that. One of these days you are going to bore holes into his face" said Zoe giving him a bored-disgusted look.

She was almost the same height as Mark, with long curly chestnut brown hair (which was now in a pony tail) and simple brown eyes. Zoe was one of those girls that had developed a bit earlier than her peers, giving her more of a woman's body than most of the girls her age. And her mind had matured along with everything else.

And she was right. Justin had recently developed this habit where he would stare absent mindedly at Mark for long periods of time. Losing himself in his facial features; his freshly cut black hair, his dark ebony eyes and soft thin lips. And this mostly happened when Mark himself was looking at his girlfriend.

"Why do you do that to yourself?" She said, grimacing. "Why don't you just tell him?"

"We're are not talking about this..."

"Fine but this can't continue then, or you will go crazy" she said packing her Student Council files, for which she was secretary. "In situations like this it is hopeless to hope"

A silence fell upon them as she stuffed the reluctant file into her already full bag.

"So are you gonna come to my house so we can get ready" she said suddenly cheerful, after a while.

"We'll see" said Justin, staring at the twin doors Mark had disappeared a while ago.

*****

Justin arrive a little later to the party than he had intended. He and Zoe had concluded with the arrangement of her fetching him when she was ready because she was notoriously slow and often the last one out of the door. But after two full hours of waiting and endless calling, Justin had called it and left without her.