𝔅𝔩𝔞𝔠𝔨𝔟𝔦𝔯𝔡 𝔖𝔦𝔫𝔤𝔦𝔫𝔤

𝕀

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DESMOND

"Hey, don't cry!" Desmond hugged Nox. She was sixteen, almost an adult but she still reached only his shoulder when they hugged.

"I'm not." Nox said, wiping a tear from her eye.

"Is it because you are scared?" Desmond tried joking, to make Nox laugh, but to no avail. His little sister, always the rebellious one, the one who sneaked food from dinners for him when he was punished to go to bed hungry. His sister was sobbing.

"No, it's nothing. Let's not talk about this. We are supposed to be all excited today." Nox was not scared, she was angry. She was angry because her brother chose this shitty college because of her. He could have run away, like he always wanted. She was angry that their father would hit Desmond every week in his hissy fit. She was angry that Desmond chose this college so if he stayed nearby father wouldn't hit her. It was the rule, father only hit her if Desmond was not around.

"You promise to call me if father gets even a slightest fit of rage?" Desmond asked. He was the rational one.

"Yeah. I will." Nox said breaking the hug. She pulled out a box from her bag and handed it to Desmond, "Here's your moving out gift, Art! The wrapping is shitty but just open it."

Desmond felt nice when Nox called him Art, it was a nickname she gave him because of his art skills. They weren't allowed to use that nickname at home, father wanted him to focus on his medical degree rather than stuff like paint and colours. The first time Nox had called him that, father peeled all the paintings he had stuck on the wall and threw them in the trash. She had cried a lot that day.

He opened the box. To his surprise there were all the paintings their father had thrown. "Oh my god, Where did you find these?"

"I have my ways." Nox shrugged. Desmond swooped her in another hug and planted a kiss on her forehead. "Take care, okay? Stay out of father's way. Don't do stupid. I love you."

Nox hugged him harder and murmured a soft 'I love you more'. Then she got inside in the car and sped away. Nox was like that, full of emotions; but always trying to prove she was all tough.

Desmond hated himself for moving into college, the one which required students to stay there. Even though his home was only a few miles away, he couldn't trust anyone with Nox's safety. He tried to push these thoughts away and entered his new room. It was for two people. Nox had helped him set up his side. His roommate was scheduled to come in probably any minute now. Desmond grabbed some tape and started sticking his paintings on the wall.

"Those are cool, man," called out an amused voice. Desmond turned around, staring at the guy, shorter than him by inches, with a mob of unkempt blond hair. He made his way around, dumping his only rucksack on the other bed.

Desmond walked to him and raised his hand for a handshake. He had a firm grip for a short guy.

"I'm Xephyr Alvarez, and before you comment about it, the name is unisexual." Xephyr flashed a crooked grin.

Desmond actually liked the name, it had a nice ring to it; and even if he didn't like the name, he wasn't someone who would actually say it out loud. He had learnt to keep his opinions to himself.

"I'm Desmond Carter Logan. You can call me Art." It was nice to say the nickname out loud. It tasted like freedom.

"You want people to call you Art cause you can paint? Isn't that a little self boasty?" He said while emptying his rucksack and throwing his clothes in the cupboard.

"It's meant to be ironic. My sister calls me that." Desmond said, eating the protein bars he had grabbed on the way.

"She's hot?" Xephyr asked and next minute Desmond had grabbed his collar and was about to punch him but stopped midway realizing what he was doing.

"One comment about her and you are dead." Desmond said releasing him.

"Dude what the fuck. You gay or what?"

Desmond didn't respond. He resumed sticking the paintings on the wall and ignored him. He wasn't gay, obviously. He had one girlfriend in the past. Nothing too serious,normal high school shit. He wasn't brave enough to bring her home, he couldn't trust his father's reaction. Desmond wasn't gonna justify anything to this over friendly roommate.

"I'm sorry. Okay? I won't comment about your sister. Got it! But if you are gay, I have no problem with that whatsoever. I have had gay friends in the past. Just don't stare at my chest when I come out of the bath-" Xephyr started ranting.

"I'm not gay, okay? Do you always talk so much?"

"I'm a writer, when I don't have a paper and pen or a keyboard; I talk instead. What's your major?"

"Human biology."

"You want to be a doctor? I can't picture you as a doctor. Imagine how it would look on your degree- 'Dr. Art'."

Desmond didn't wanna take Human Biology either, anyone who knew him could see that. It wasn't like he had a choice. His father had told him in one of his meant to be inspiring speeches- "Be a doctor, kiddo. Don't be such a selfish snob. Whose life can you benefit by painting?"

Xephyr saw him hesitate for a bit. Then out of the blue he started full on staring at Desmond, eyes narrowing a bit, as if his life story was written on his face.

Desmond waved a hand in front of his face, but Xephyr only widened his eyes, still dazed. No luck! Feeling conscious, Desmond started working on his wall again.

After full two minutes Xephyr relaxed to his normal stance. Desmond decided not to say anything about what just happened.

Xephyr broke the silence by asking, "You want to check out the campus? We could have lunch on the way?"

"I thought you were going to continue your full on no shame research on me." Desmond joked.

Xephyr looked at him weirdly for a second and then said "There is plenty of time to do that, we are roommates after all. You coming?"

Normally, Desmond would have stayed in his room, he wasn't the partying type; he was hungry though, so he said yes. " Can we go to the canteen, first?"

Xephyr nodded, and went in front of the mirror and styled his hair into waves, "Aren't you gonna dress up? Style your hair, wear a new shirt to match your eyes? Wear some stylish shoes to impress?"

Desmond scoffed at him, brushing his hand through his dark hair, then opening the door. "And you said I was gay?"

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