Chapter 11: 10. LUMINOUS

Birth of the Milky Way, Rubens, 1636

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"Isaac! Get up, you're late!"

Isaac was startled awake by Ash's face unpleasantly close to his, body shaken vigorously.

"Huh?" he murmured half asleep.

"You missed morning attendance."

He shot up. "What time is it?"

"It's already half past seven!"

"Hell," he groaned, "I thought Beckett would at least have the common decency to wake me."

"Prefects have to meet thirty minutes earlier with the teachers. He probably thought you'd appreciate more sleep."

"Or he wanted to sabotage me," he grimaced.

"Stop accusing him and get your arse out of bed already, dammit. You're going to miss breakfast completely otherwise."

"Fine!" he shouted as he threw his covers off. Cold air met his skin."At least let me change first."

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Isaac entered the dining hall like how their breakfast eggs were prepared—he scrambled.

"Care to explain your tardiness, Harley?" Charlie Franz confronted.

"Actually, I would!" he said. "A certain perfect prefect couldn't even be bothered to wake his hungover roommate."

"Are you talking about Josiah? Surely you're not blaming him for your own incompetence."

"Perhaps I am."

"Well perhaps you shouldn't. Grow up Isaac."

He walked to the seat beside Ash visibly agitated. "What's his deal?"

"Charlie? He's actually quite nice once you get to know him."

"How so?"

"I don't have specific examples of him being nice. He just...is, in a casual setting at least. Plus, he's got a killer taste in music."

"What is it with you and your obnoxious love for prefects?"

"I don't love him, I just think you're being too judgmental without actually getting to know him, that's all. You did kind of delay attendance." His words were muffled as he ate his bagel. "How about we swap roommates tonight?"

"Buzz off. You may say that now, but I better not hear about your new crush in the near future."

"Don't worry! no one will replace Josiah's spot as Eton's hottest prefect in my heart." he said, gulping water to wash down his meal.

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"Watch your step everyone, the hill is steep," said Josiah as he led the other students through their morning—well, now midday—hike. "Also remember to keep an eye out on the wildlife and record your sightings, I promise it'll help with the assignment."

After trudging up the hill, they stopped to take notes and sketch.

"Hey," said Isaac walking towards him, "Let's talk about the topic of our project."

Josiah stopped, mid-sketch of a red squirrel. "No need. I'll handle it on my own."

"What?"

"I'll do the whole thing, I just need you to help out with the presentation because that's what we're being graded on. You're free to do whatever you please in the time being."

"Um, are you sure about that?" asked Isaac.

"Of course." he answered. Isaac only shrugged and turned.

"But uh...about this morning. Charlie told me what you said. I just wanted to ask." Suddenly, Josiah found himself struggling to confront what's been clouding his thoughts all morning.

"...Did you really think I left you on purpose?"

Isaac tugged on the sleeve of his sweater, as if suddenly embarrassed about his public outburst. "I did at first. In case you forgot, we don't really have a history of being nice to each other."

"Oh, I remember alright. I cried after you destroyed the confidence I had in my sexual abilities." He cocked his head and smirked, "granted, last night did prove that it was all one big, sexually frustrated act."

Isaac scowled.

"So we're good then?" he said, extending his hand as an offering of a truce.

"I suppose we are—but only for this morning." Josiah felt a soft, warm hand in his own. "For what you did last night by the lake, I'm definitely getting you back."

"In what way?" Josiah asked, hiding his excitement.

"We'll see." He gave a smug grin before leaving. Gosh, everything about the boy was seductive, even his walk.

To Josiah, Isaac Harley was a series of mysteries. His attitude could go from cold as ice to hot as magma within a few seconds, as well as confident and hard headed to rather submissive and fragile with a few caresses. He used to think the boy was incapable of feeling emotion, but he learned one night that for reasons unknown the boy merely chose to suppress everything. Still, it was these mysteries that made Isaac the most interesting aspect of his mundane life. He was like a spark, triggering fire and chaos throughout Josiah whenever they touched. Isaac Harley was completely erratic, the very first person he couldn't control—something he usually couldn't stand. But Isaac wasn't 'usual'. He's always been an exception to everything.

"—Earth to Josiah!" shouted Charlie.

Josiah snapped out of his thoughts. "What?"

"What was that whole scene with Isaac just now?"

"Scene?"

"The scene involving the shaking of hands and intimate gazing."

"That was just an apology."

"Apology? In what world does he deserve an apology? What the hell is going on between you two? You've been acting strange since Monday."

"Nothing is going on."

"Really? because the look on—"

"Charlie, give it a rest." he said. "You should be wise enough to know not to meddle in my life. Don't tell me now that I'm overestimating your capability."

Charlie grimaced. "I was just curious, no need to be so defensive."

"Well you should control your curiosity. After all, it is said to be lust of the mind.

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that your body alone has already proven several times to be a sinner; I recommend you don't let your mind become one too."

"Whatever, I won't ask about it again."

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"He told me that he wanted to do the entire project on his own!" Isaac complained to Ash after their hike.

"Isn't that a good thing?"

"Yes...but no. I can't help but feel guilty."

"You? Guilty?" scoffed Ash. "I think you drank too much last night, it's clearly still in your system."

Isaac flung himself onto his bed.

"If it's any consolation, consider who he is: Josiah Beckett, ranked number one in academics at Eton. He probably does this with all of his group projects in order to ensure full marks."

"I guess," he mumbled.

Ash sat down beside him. "You know what would make you feel better? Coming out again tonight. Get wasted, maybe hook up with somebody else to get your mind off of Josiah and this guilt."

He removed his face from buried in his pillow. "Fine, but I'm definitely not inviting him again."

"He wouldn't go anyway, being too busy working on the entire project by himself all night..."

Isaac groaned. "Why must you hurt me like this?"

Ash rolled his eyes. "Same time, same place, got it?"

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Several hours and several drinks later, Isaac found himself pressing a nameless redhead against a tree with his tongue down her throat. While she was really into it, he was not. The kiss felt slimy, her moans were obnoxious, and she was far too timid for his liking.

"What's wrong?" she asked with a soft voice.

"I'm sorry, I think I had too much to drink. I need to sit."

"Do you want me to join you?"

"No, that won't be necessary," he told her, without even a glance back.

What the hell was wrong with him? He had an attractive girl with him, but he wasn't the least bit stimulated. Something about her touch was just...wrong.

He escaped to the lake, spying a girl whose hair reflected the silver moonlight in the same fashion as his. She jumped at his sudden arrival. "Is this seat taken?" he asked, referring to the spot next to her.

"I wouldn't necessarily consider the floor as a seat," she laughed, "but it's definitely open."

They sat together in the sand, enjoying the sound of crickets and the smooth flow of water. The night was warm; however, this was most likely an effect of the dozens of drunk teens nearby dancing horribly around a large fire to ABBA, not the incoming summer breeze. They enjoyed each other's oddly peaceful company, silently agreeing to give each other time and space to think. She broke the silence.

"If you don't mind me asking, are you by any chance Isaac Harley?"

"In the flesh."

"My friends have been talking about you since they got on the bus."

"Have they?"

"All good things, mainly about your face. You're quite infamous."

"I guess I am," he said, although he had no idea people talked about him in other schools.

"So...what's a popular boy like you doing out here sitting with a loser like me? Judging from what my friends said, I'd think you'd have plenty of people to choose from."

"Shouldn't I also know your name? Before we dive into sob stories, that is."

"Charlotte," she said.

"Charlotte...I like it. It rolls off the tongue beautifully. Charlotte, Charlotte, Charlotte..." He continued to repeat her name. "For the record, Charlotte, I don't think you're a loser."

"Really?" she asked doubtfully. "Can you please tell that to the guy who completely rejected me?"

"What pathetic bastard would hurt a pretty flower such as yourself?"

Charlotte stared at the night sky. Away from the crowded city, Isaac noticed that stars glittered more prominently and beautifully in isolated areas. Tall buildings didn't hide their existence, industrialized lights didn't overpower their glow.

"...I really liked him. Do you mind if I rant?"

"Of course not, I think we've bonded so much in the five minutes we've known each other."

"When my father told me he'd arranged a date for me, I was furious at first. But when I laid eyes on the guy he set me up with, blimey, I think I fell in love at first sight. His eyes, oh his eyes! They were marvelous, just like this lake we're sitting in front of. I wanted to dive right in, but when I did, the water turned out to be so cold! I now shudder whenever I remember his gaze. Tell me, if eyes are the window to the soul, why couldn't I see the hatred he secretly felt for me?"

"I'm sure he doesn't hate you."

"He ran out during our dinner! Am I that unappealing, Isaac? Am I hideous? Do I smell?"

"Like a wet dog," he said sarcastically, "kidding."

"Love is such a bitch."

"You can say that again. If there's anything I've learned, it's that I will never bother with it again. Ignore what optimists and hopeless romantics say. There's only one outcome: misery and pain."

"Is that why you're out here? Were you rejected as well?"

"Actually, no...to be honest I don't really know why I'm here. I had a girl with me, but...I wasn't into it at all."

"Maybe you like someone else, and you were subconsciously comparing her to another."

"Did you not just hear my over dramatic rant? I don't believe in love."

"I didn't say you were in love. I said you were into someone else. It happens. You know when no one else can get excite you like said person can. You only want their kiss, their touch, their body. It's infatuation based on sexual desire, but it's enough to keep you hooked."

"Or I'm too drunk to be stimulated."

"Or that. Still, you should find out."

"No thanks. I choose ignorance, for it is bliss."

"Alright! Just don't be surprised when you're sexually frustrated again."

He scowled. She laughed.

"Tell me more...about what you felt for that boy," said Isaac, "I want to know."

"Well...he made my heart race I guess. I already talked about his eyes...ah yes! his laugh! It was beautifully melodic. If I were to hear it again, I'd probably become overcome with warmth even if he looked at me with those cold eyes. I like to think that's a characteristic of love."

"Warmth..."

"Granted, his laugh was probably forced at the time," she admit. "Anyways, I think I'm going to call it a night. Wallowing in self pity is exhausting. Thanks for this talk, I enjoyed it."

"Wait," he said grabbing her wrist, "will I ever get to see you again?"

She looked back at the stars. "As long as we're under the same sky, I have a strange feeling you will."

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Isaac returned at one in the morning. He quietly opened the door to his cabin, careful not to wake anybody nearby.

"What are you doing back so early?" asked Josiah, looking up from his notes.

"I thought...maybe you could use some help or something."

"I already said I wanted to do this on my own."

"I can help in other ways. For example... something tells me you're pent up." he said, "and I happen to know an excellent way to release stress,"

"Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

"Depends," said Isaac, stepping closer to the boy in the chair.

"Aren't there plenty of girls at the lake right now?" There was a hint of bitterness in his voice.

"I'm not interested in any of them."

"So you're saying that I interest you?"

"No!" he exclaimed. "I just..."

"You're just horny," interrupted Josiah. "You make a compelling offer, Harley, but I need to finish this."

"Pretty please..." Isaac pouted, slowly straddling the prefect's lap. "I'll do whatever you ask, and we can do it however you want. In the bed...in the shower...in this chair."

"W-we can't...the others...they'll hear."

"Just one round, I swear! I promise I'll make you feel so good."

Josiah locked eyes with Isaac. "Is this revenge from the devil himself?"

"Mmmhmm." Isaac nodded as he buried his face in Josiah's neck, carefully unbuttoning his shirt.

"Fuck, this isn't fair," he moaned, letting Isaac continue. "Whenever you act like this, I always lose."

I know. It honestly surprises me how easily you give in—

He raised his own arms, allowing Josiah to tear off his shirt and toss it onto the floor. Chills ran through his spine when the prefect dragged his hands down his back. The feeling of Josiah's skin directly against his drove him crazy. More. He needed to feel more.

—but I guess I'm no match for you either.

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Okay I swear, that was the last of the descriptive sexy stuff for awhile (I think).

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