Basil and the Slumbering Emerald

School Dazed

"Basil... Basil... Basil..." A faint voice echoed as Basil sprinted through a dark forest on what appeared to be a moonless night. He needed to find the voice. He had to, something in him demanded it.

"Basil!?" His mother's voice shook him awake and he sat up startled, his head pounding as if it had been bashed in. It took a second for him to realize he was in the nurse's office with Gram, his parents, and nurse Davidson. He looked at his parents confused as to why he was here when it suddenly came back in waves. He was attacked. There was a fire. No. He made the fire. No that couldn't have been it. His brows furrowed and the more he tried to rationalize the more his head hurt. "Basil, what happened?" His mother asked concerned, looking at him intensely.

"Some guy... jumped me. He wouldn't let go. I tried to get him off, Gram did too but he was so strong... Then... I don't know-how but his jacket set on fire. That sent him running. I... I think I did it?" Basil held his head in his hands, his ears were ringing. His parents shared a look of surprise before his father put his hand on his shoulder, his voice deep and velvety.

"Don't think about it too much son. It's alright. We'll handle it. For now, I think Gram should take you to class. Wouldn't want you to miss your first day of school." His father said calmly. Nurse Davidson nodded and agreed, the two shared a look before letting him go. Gram wrapped his arm around Basil, helping him up and leading him into the hall carrying his book bag on his shoulder.

"You're okay Basil. Don't worry about it. That guy must have had some lighter in his pocket or something. Don't stress over it." Gram soothed and Basil listened, focused on how close together he and Gram were instead. He felt his headache ease and his face flush. Gram had his arms around Basil's waist letting him lean again him. Gram's touch was warm like his body still held the heat of a long summer in it. He let himself indulge in the closeness resting his head against his shoulder. Gram turned his head to Basil and smiled. "Comfy?" He let out chuckles that bubbled like liquid sunshine from how bright and nice the sound was.

"Very," Basil admitted honestly and nuzzled his cheek into his shoulder. They arrived at class late with a note, but it seemed that word of Basil's attack had already spread through the gossip friendly school. Everyone was looking at Basil with worry or surprise. He and Gram thankfully had the first period together, English so they sat together in the remaining chairs towards the middle. Feeling better than he was five minutes ago Basil took out his yellow notebook, color-coded with his yellow folder which he used for English, and started taking notes and highlighting things as the course syllabus was passed around. Basil was an avid learner and soaked up new information like a sponge. He wasn't a Brainiac, but he was definitely considered smart. His grades through school were straight A's.

Sadly after English Gram and Basil parted ways. It was during AP Calculus that Basil noticed the young man from that morning sitting in the tree outside the window watching him. He wanted to focus on anything else but he kept looking at the young man. Admittedly he was attractive, sharp features, sea-green eyes, shoulder-length black hair pushed to the side, and a fit body as well. He was about Basil's height which was relatively average. He watched Basil watch him and by the time Basil realized the young man had suddenly disappeared the bell rang for the next class. Thankfully the next class, French, was with both Becky and Trisha.

Both Becky and Trisha spent the entire period playing mom to him, constantly checking on him and watching him out of the corner of their eye as the reviewed everything from the past three years in a lightning recall practice. Basil loved the way French slipped off his tongue, It almost felt natural to him despite not having any French ancestry. He assumed he just simply loved the way it sounded enough that it felt natural to him. Regardless it was another subject Basil excelled at.

Next came lunch. The trio spotted Gram who waved them down. He saved them a seat at his table. Some of his hockey buddies were already at the table. Basil zoned out, getting lunch robotically, his mind stuck on those sea-green eyes. Something in them felt familiar but he couldn't quite place it. Gram nudged him out of his thoughts. "You haven't eaten, and half the period is over. I thought your parents told you not to worry about that guy?" Gram pouted seeming to want Basil's attention, seeming to grow under it and shrivel without it. Basil shook his head.

"I know, I know but... I saw him outside the window of calc and he was watching me." Basil admitted. Everyone seemed to shut up and listen, wanting the juicy details. Gram shot his hockey buddies a withering look and they went back to discussing the upcoming game. He wrapped his arm around Basil smiling.

"Don't worry I won't let anything happen to you. Say the word and I'll be there to beat him up." Gram puffed out his chest a bit loyal and proud. Basil laughed at how silly he looked.

"Alright, superman." Basil teased "Enough worrying the distressing damsel." He flipped his nonexistent long luscious hair, and both laughed.

Next was gym class and Basil was not looking forward to it. The gym teacher stunk of the worst cologne or aftershave, per usual, and was always harder on the athletes than on the rest of the students. Which meant he was harder on Basil. Coach Hall was a pain in the ass. They sprinted around the gym in laps, Basil in the front, as usual, outrunning most everyone with ease. Gram was fighting to keep up with his sore legs. It eventually turned into them playing football, and Basil hated football. He mostly stood off to the side pretending to care for the whole period.

From then on, all thought of the mysterious young man who attacked him was completely gone. He was focused on getting through the day and going straight home. He had enough excitement for one day. Basil drove, Gram, Trisha, and Becky home before heading home himself. To his surprise, both his parents were home already. Both should have still been at work. He parked and headed inside confused by what was going on.