Alex
Moist cold flooring caressed my bare feet as I played with the chain of my watch, tilting my head I watched the twin culprits. The girl April squinted her eyes, uninterested. In contrast to her brother Aiden who seems like he wants to dissect me and observe my brain cell under a microscope.
But both held no hint of dismay or fear, the emotion I regard from others when they know who I am. When they know the world I belong from.
No surprise there, my father hires the best.
"What's your age?" the girl blinked for the first time in ten seconds, my question must not have been expected as she masked her features blank again.
"We are nineteen" Aiden answered on behalf of her.
Impressed I nodded.
"Look dude we have better work to do than standing at a natatorium at late night and watch you take off your clothes so you could swim, though my sister here may find it interesting" this bought him a deadly glare from April.
"What do you want from us?" this time it was her.
Smirking I clicked the lock on my watch open as I smoothly slide it off my wrist, placing it on the beach chair beside me.
"Quit" my words need no explanations as April smiled humorlessly.
"What makes you think I'll take orders from you?" raising eyebrows she ran fingers through her blonde hair.
Tsking I shook my head, the cold wind blows as the smell of chlorine whiffs past us. The blue beam of light scatters due to the prominent sync of water.
"I won't exactly call it an order" I undo the first two buttons of my shirt "more like a warning, an ultimatum"
"What do you mean?" Aiden questions, his lips pressed thinly in irritation.
"No matter the immense shit a school is, I believe no one who wants two delinquents with crime records roaming their hallways, let alone with fake age in their application" throwing my shirt over the side I watched their reactions intently.
"You wouldn't" was all he said.
"you work for White's, by now you must know what we are capable of" I should feel the sense of guilt, the human I want to become will no longer strive if I give into my old ways. The fear of becoming the person I've grown to despise. My father.
But I don't, tonight I want these two to apply to my terms, though I don't want them out of school I do have work to be assigned.
"You don't know the danger that surrounds you" after a long pause April's voice rang over the arena.
I chuckle a cold and dry laugh.
"By now, I don't care even if I die" I know the dark world that awaits me if I live. I know the probability of where I might end up if I refuse security.
"Let us do our job, we won't bother you. I promise"
"Promises holds no value in my eyes, they are just words made to trap someone's kind trust upon you"
This seems to prick them more, tricks me into thinking of actually giving them a chance. But it goes away faster than they entered.
"You can't let u-"
"If you really want to stay in this town, I do have work for you both" I cut him short as I scroll through my gallery, clicking on the image I was looking for I showed them.
It was a picture of Elaine in the rink, dressed in all black and white with her cheeks red from cold and eyes vibrant as life, I couldn't help but sneak a pic of her.
"I've met her, saw her with you so thought making her my friend will help me be around you more," April said meeting my eyes.
"Good then, befriend her and protect her." Retreating my mobile back I said.
"We're not here to babysit some helpless teenager from her bullies Mr.White" I could see they were running thin on patience. But I lack the exact thing, patience. Except for a particular girl who has resided on my head.
Yesterday was a whole day of cursing and replaying the day again and again. I know it was a stupid move and I still have no idea what pestered me to do it. It's not like I haven't been with a girl before, but messing a chance with her is what I can't afford or even play with.
She is just not any other girl.
She is fire while I am a storm, that could destroy her if I let myself closer to her than I already am.
"Don't answer now, take your time and think about it. Now you may leave. I have better things to do" I Said when I saw them frowning at me. After a minute I was working on the belt of my pants but even by now, I could sense their presence behind me.
"This is not a strip show, you guys can leave" I dragged out with a raised brows.
April rolled her eyes as Aiden blurted "You're weird"
"I am not the one watching a boy undress, so how am I weird?"
Finally, they gave up and with a final glare, April turned to leave with Aiden hot on her heels.
In two minutes I was completely alone, my skin titillated for the water to embrace it. I missed swimming, back in Orlando not a day passed without me jumping into a pool, sometimes just for fun and at other times to focus on floating so that I don't drown In my thoughts.
In swimming trunks and gears I was ready, but my mobile pinged alerting a message.
Picking it up I saw it was Elaine's.
Freeing out a breath that I sparsely knew I was holding, I smiled.
Done the assignment and shall submit with your name on it too
Sorry couldn't make it to your place today.
p.s. why is your name saved under Alexander the greatest in my mobile?
A childish relief washed over me on reading her casual text, or else I thought she'd plan on avoiding me for the rest of weeks to come.
I mean what guy tries to attack a girl with a kiss when she plays the most soul-touching lyrics for you with the sweetest sound known to mankind and looks at you for compliment?
I wish I could've made her realize what her words meant to me, or how her collage has buried itself onto my subconscious that now whenever I am alone I find myself thinking about the things that could've changed the warmth and confidence in her eyes to uncertainty and distrust.
After re reading it twice my eyes subconsciously fall upon the date above.
My palms enclose themselves into a fist as I strain the mobile under the hard clutch, hoping it to crumble into pieces.
It's a year tomorrow.
Clenching my jaws I hurl the mobile to the side as it lands upon my clothes with a soft thud, facing the water I Inhale.
The air fills my lungs which by the time mentioned is oppressed with regret and repentance.
If only I could change it, just the night, just my words.
I dive into the water as the cold liquid parts to engulf me, but the intentions traded as now I wished to sink rather than swim.
***
Hold up, and don't forget to comment and vote. Your opinions and thoughts mean the world.
Have a nice year ahead.
-vivi