If it wasn't for his fitting glare or mostly silent conversation you'd think he's better suited at an Oraline. Surprisingly not. His melting eyes in the most beautiful shades of blue and ocean green.
If it wasn't for the mischievous glint in every one of them you could pass him off as boring. Average.
His shaved overcut brown hair, he was big but not massive, enough build to be intimidating despite the smiling mask, the dusty blue and white uniforms his school provided, but he wasn't extraordinary... To anyone but me.
As he hit the ground, his boots packing the soft dirt under him. After a quick glance at his surroundings and a long minute of listening while the others made their way down. I took a few steps to stand next to him. My hands somehow found their way into my pockets. The clinging of metal, hitting shoe, hitting pole was almost relaxing. But they were taking their sweet ass time up there and I was bouta go up there myself.
"Come ON-!" I hissed quietly. Allen turned his head, with the moon behind him I could just barely see through his wire mask. It was obvious he was looking at my mask. Almost looking through it. It's hard to say if he thought me weird, or liked me as much as I liked him. His quiet composure made it hard to tell. His movements and words seemed to contradict how he felt. Or maybe they were exactly what he meant.
Soon a few bodies dropped. My attention was pulled away from him and there they were.
Adrien or AA, Kade, and Page. Another Oraline.
Page was.. Page. Borderline trans, definitely butch... Maybe. Short spikey hair, tan skin, sharp teeth and quite the attitude. She even paid extra to wear pants instead of the stupid plaid skirt they required. That kid could take alcohol like water and still wake up for an exam the next day.
And Ace it.
She was a mystery. Ran on her own time. Her own clock and schedule.
"Sooo... Can we go now? Odds are with how long you guys took to get down we only have another 20 minutes" I huffed sarcastically.
Adrien, the long hair punk wanna be was the first to speak up.
"Yeah yeah cool it. It isn't our fault you got into a shitty school that doesn't care about it's kids" his "witty" remark was actually kinda stupid.
"At least I can leave"
Kade groaned in annoyance.
"It hasn't even been 5 GODDAMN MINUTES. can you two save it for WHEN WE ARENT ON SCHOOL GROUNDS" despite his harsh tone, he was rather quiet. Not wanting to get caught and basically poached.
We all agreed and made out way out of their ditch. Now on our way to the town of sad ass underpaid teachers and guardians. Hopefully we were slick enough to get around unnoticed. We seemed to be previous times and I can't see why this would change.
As we walked Kade stayed to the front of us. He was the oldest, and definitely the biggest. His light blond curly hair glinting in the cloudy moonlight. We all seemed to glow a little. A soft ultra ray covered everything. Their masks at contrast with mine. Bright white compared to my dark turquoise skull.
Soon we were nearing the main road. It would take a good 30 minutes from here to get to town, a few minutes to stock up on random stuff probably shop lifted unless Adrien had money, and that would take at least an hour, and another 30 minutes back, then I'd have to make it back in time for nightly check in.
When guards would walk around and check on everyone in their dorms. Then get my 3 hours of sleep, go to class, get breakfast, go to class- blah blah blah.
I thumbed a coin in my pocket. I dont even remember having it a moment ago. All I knew was now the threads on it were the most interesting things as me and Allen walked side by side.
I could see his breath pool out of the nostrils under his chin.
He had to have known I was looking at him. I had to turn my head. He might have even been looking back, along with a few other things. His hands stayed out of his pockets and lightly swung as he walked. It was almost obvious he was refusing to turn his head near me. If he did I'd be able to see into his mask, the moon just at the right angle. Then I'd know just how many of his eyes were looking at me.
I turned my head to the ground below me. Looking at my feet keeping rythem with each step. My heartbeat slow and cool as the night air.
Then his hand touched mine.
My hand was quite a bit smaller than his. His palm warm and calloused. My left foot hit the back of my right and I stumbled a little. He had to have known he was going to touch my hand. That doesn't just happen on accident. He was almost definitely paying attention to everything! He always was. I hadn't realized I picked up pace and was now nearing Kade. Adrien taking my place and trying to joke with Allen. My heart rate was through the roof!
It was so perfect. How small my hands were, how his were warm and strong, how snug my hand would fit into his.
And here I am. 3 yards away breathing way heavier than I should be.
"What's up with you kid?" Kade nudged me.
"Oh you know. The stress of being a single father."
A long silence. I could hear the two behind me, Adrien being a nuisance and Allen playing along.
"What?" Kade turned his head.
"That was funnier in my head I swear" I say awkwardly chuckling to myself.
"Right" Kade remarked with a bit of snark in his voice.
