Strawberry Blonde

三十一

Laurence wrapped a fuzzy blanket around me as we both munched on sandwiches and listened to the music.

We were continuing the game we played in the Arcade with all the questions and the back and fourth responses.

" Okay okay, so where's one place you have on your bucket list that's a must visit ?" He asked giving me the phone so I could select a question.

" Hmm....definitely Japan ! I always loved Japanese movies growing up, I used to watch them by myself all the time. Plus trying different food should be on everyone's list of thingys to do!" I answered.
" Ooo this one ! If you had a billion dollars what would you do with it ?" I asked handing him back the phone.

" Oh that's an easy one, stop global warming and end mass poverty by redistributing my own wealth. Alsooo open a business so my wealth doesn't run out so that way I can keep on helping the planet." He said while scrolling.

I couldn't help but to smile at that. I knew he was charming and deep but these are all new sides that I'm seeing from him and It's doing one hell of a job reeling me in.

" How about this one. What three weird fears do u have ?" He asked while handing me the phone again.

" Three weird fears ? Stuffed animals creep me out a little bit, The Leprechaun movie, and probably bell-bottom jeans."

The sound of his erupted laughter startled me
" Whats so funny !?" I huffed.

" Stuffed animals, The Leprechaun, and Bell-Bottom jeans !?" He said hysterically laughing.

" DUDE, those little button eyes on teddy bears are evil ! I seen the leprechaun when I was a kid and it scarred me for life, I can't even look at a box of lucky charms the same. Bell-bottom jeans don't necessarily scare me, I just always think they're going to cause some final destination kinda scene near whoever they're worn by. It just gives me bad vibes." I said while scrolling and laughing a little bit.

" Actually can I ask you a question that's not on here ?" I said putting the phone in his lap.

The unknown to what I was about to ask made him gulp and steady his laughing.
" Sure go ahead I'm an open book."

" Why did you move here ? Was it because of Jason's vandalism or something ?"

The hearty laughter and smile quickly dissipated from his face which kinda made me feel unease.

" It's actually an ironic story" he paused.
"Hassan.." he said trailing his eyes off into the ocean.

" Yeah ?" I said smoothly

" I really trust you and I really REALLY like you. I never felt what that L word was unless it came from family but from what I feel in my chest right now I think I feel it for you." He said connecting his eyes back to me.

" It's okay, you don't have to say the word if you're not ready. Frankly I'm not ready to say it just yet either but I feel the same exact way."

That seemed to reassure him as he fully turned to me and folded his legs criss cross.
" Okay so growing up in Tennessee it was a really odd experience. Just the demographic of everyone was extremely rigid and they all were carbon copies of each other."

" Remember how I said that I never felt this way about guys before and you're the first ?"

I nodded my head in anticipation beckoning him to continue.

" Yeah that's entirely true but people thought otherwise. It was later in freshman year and my bestfriend at the time came from a really religious background. We use to go out everyday, me and him were friends from elementary and our families were even well acquainted with each other. It was one day while I was sleeping over that.."

His hesitation made me tilt my head.
" That what ?" I asked.

" He kissed me."

A growing soreness in my chest started to spread as I realized his voice was getting a little shaky.

" I really had no affinity for guys at all back then and I get it. Ending the first year of Highschool, hormones and self questioning runs rapid in the prepubescent mind so I don't blame him. It's just what happened after that. His two older brothers who were seniors at the time walked in and the situation turned real brutal. I know not all people of faith are like that but they were so hateful and that fear made him throw me under the bus instantly and I was basically kicked out of his house. The next day at school in our small town, rumors spread quick and after school I got jumped really badly."

His words stung me as I tried my best to fight my anger and sadness that I felt for him.
"Thats....that's so sick.." I muttered.

" I don't know if you noticed but my left eye isn't actually real. When they jumped me, one of the kids broke a glass bottle over my head and it shattered into my eye, the one I have now is just glass. I also suffered from a cracked rib, a minor concussion and slight hearing loss for a week as well but I'm just grateful to still be alive after that. I didn't go home that day and I was just left god knows where when my brother found me later in the night. I told him what happened and while I was in the hospital resting he spray painted the entire church my ex-best friend went to but he was caught by the towns police."

" After I healed and him now bailed out we all packed up our things and moved here!" He said now with a re-emerging smile.
" It's kinda funny how glass deformed me but now it's the reason for me looking normal."

The emotions on my face shocked him.
" Hassan are you alright !?"

" Why is it that you had to go through something like that ? And then to come here for a better life and have your brother now villainized and still be be treated like outcasts !? It's just not fair ! People are so fucked up and evil and if anyone knew the actual story nobody would say SHIT !" I yelled with tears struggling to stay in my eyes.

He simply smiled and shrugged his shoulders.
" It brought me to you though"

His words released the tears from my eyes which slowly dropped down my cheek.