Chapter 19 - White Lips, Pale Face, Breathing in Snowflakes

Sunday went so slow it was untrue. Nothing, as in nothing at all, happened during the next 24 hours. Most of the time he just stayed in the house, pushing objects around and tidying up a few things which may have been sat there for ages. There was no sign of the shadow, though he looked, and there was no sign of a disturbance or murder in the streets. It was almost quiet, just like it used to be.

There was nothing to stress about and, in a way, Matt felt relieved that he was able to have a break.

Instead of being an investigator, Matt was able to relax and hunt for some food. He’d long since forgotten what it felt like to feel full, as the pathetic little snacks he’d had this week hadn’t been very good for his body. He’d taken longer than usual to recover and his temper had been worse than what it usually was.

His mood swings and thinking had been all over the place and, with a growling stomach every day, it was bound to make him annoyed about minor things. It was a wonderful feeling to feel the heat from the animals’ rare bloody meat slide down his throat and settle comfortably in his belly. He wished he could always feel this way.

A cow, a few goats and some sheep was just about enough to get away with to fill himself up, if he savoured every part of the animal and wasn’t picky. He hoped it wasn’t too obvious that there was a large animal hunting in the area. He wouldn’t like any more suspicions. He'd got away with it so far.

By Monday morning he felt a lot happier and a lot more cheery. His cut had disappeared and only left a light almost invisible line of where it used to be. Unless you looked carefully, there was no obvious evidence that he’d been attacked Saturday night. That was the great thing. Anyone who was suspicious about him could never pinpoint any evidence on him as his injuries healed way too quickly.

He walked to college and skipped his breakfast. What was the point if he was full anyway? It was just for appearances. He walked past and pulled up his hood from his jacket so that he didn’t have to look at anyone on the way to college. Not like it made much difference. When people saw him they just moved out of the way. He was too intimidating to be stopped and that was what he wanted, wasn’t it?

He entered the building and was walking down the corridor when he was ploughed into by Laura. He immediately spun on his left foot and glared at her. She glanced back and rolled her eyes. “Watch where you’re going, God. You’re not the Queen.”

Matt raised his eyebrows and put a hand on his hip, pulling down his hood to expose his face and bright blue eyes. “Look who’s talking.” He shot back.

Laura paused and turned to face him, stepping forwards. “Shut up. You’re all talk no action.”

“That’s not what Gareth experienced on Saturday.” Matt smirked as Laura’s face paled. “How is your cheating scum bag of a boyfriend?”

Laura froze and wasn’t able to speak for a moment. “I…don’t know what you mean.”

“Oh Im sure you do. Going behind Kristen’s back with her boyfriend? How low do you want to get? He’s not very attractive, especially at the moment. Seen him in hospital?” Matt winked and grinned wider, glaring at Laura with cold dangerous eyes.

She blushed tomato red and glanced around in case someone was listening before leaning forward, whispering in a harsh tone. “She didn’t deserve him. He doesn’t like her, he likes me. He was going to break up with her eventually.”

“Didn’t look like that when he backed her against the alley wall and tried to take advantage…” He shrugged and smirked a cheeky smile as he watched Laura's face drop further. “I guess he was playing you both; you fell big time. She’s not with him now. You can have him, though I doubt he’ll be fighting any more battles any time soon.”

“He’ll press charges.” Laura whispered.

“Let him. I did him a favour. Now his ugly face is masked by a brick imprint.” Matt chuckled. “Serves him right for being an idiot.”

Laura opened and closed her mouth a few times and then looked around, quickly. “You wont get away with this.”

Matt leaned forward into her face and blew out a breath. “I already have.” He leaned back to reveal a shocked expression that plastered her features. “Have a good day Laura.” He straightened up and turned on his heel, giving her a view of his back as he walked away down the corridor.

He could feel her eyes on him until he turned the corner and rested his back against the wall, breathing out. He felt a lot better now that he’d eaten, but it still didn’t stop the anger bubbling up in him every time he came in contact with that thing. He was getting a lot better in controlling his emotions, whether it was because of the amount of concentration he had to have whilst with Kristen or whether it was because he was just getting better over time. Whatever the reason, he was glad it was getting easier.

The effort to stay calm was tiring.

History was first, just like last week, and he arrived in class before anyone else, even before Mr Franco, who widened his eyes at Matt before continuing to shuffle his papers on his desk with paper cut fingertips. Laura was next to appear and she glanced at Matt hesitantly before sitting down at the front and fiddling with something in her bag as if she was busy doing something important. Matt ignored her with a whip of his head and glanced at the wall, looking at the individual little stone particles and paint particles that made up the wall.

Others began to slowly wander in after a minute, chattering loudly and laughing as if someone had just made a really funny joke. They moved to their seats and looked around before continuing their conversation as they unpacked their bags and took out History worksheets.

Kristen was the last to come in. She rushed in just moments before she was considered late and almost collapsed into her seat in front of him. Her eyes were wide as if she’d seen a ghost, her skin paler and more translucent than normal. She looked tired, in fact, and her fingers looked so bony she may have been mistaken as anorexic.

Not like Matt would know. He’d never actually seen her eat anything. She had dark circles under her eyes and her hair wasn’t as shiny, as if she needed a large glass of vitamins. She was by far the worst he’d ever seen her, and he wondered why.

What had happened since he’d last seen her?

He was happy that she turned around to look at him. He could assess her more accurately now. Her clothes looked more baggy than usual, her eyes looking almost bloodshot and watery. Her lips were just as pale as her skin and her arms looked as if they’d never seen sun in their life. He glanced her up and down and she blinked her midnight black eyes back at him. “What?” She asked.

He shook his head. “Nothing. You feeling okay?”

“Fine.” She frowned. “Why?" Her painted black nails ran through the ends of her hair almost as if the habit had always been there.

He shrugged. “You look tired.”

Her face became stricken with shock and she raised her hands to her cheeks, hiding herself. “I don’t look that bad do I?!”

He shook his head quickly but he was lying. She looked terrible compared to what he was used to. She was so beautiful that, when seeing her this way, she looked like a different person. “Didn’t you sleep?”

“Me?” She gaped and would have blushed if she was looking more healthy. She said, flustered, “Of course I did! Everyone sleeps at night don’t they?”

“Sorry.” He leaned back in his chair and felt the plastic bend under him. “You just look knackered.”

She shook her head quickly. “Everyone has a sleepless night at some point, don’t they? I mean its not abnormal.”

“Of course.” He murmured as Mr Franco started talking. “I was only asking.”

Kristen sucked in a breath and then breathed out with relief, as if she was expecting Matt to have a go at her for not sleeping. He frowned, confused. She was acting strange. Something was definitely wrong. Not like he could blame her sleepless nights. Watching a fight and with all that blood; it must have caused her nightmares.

He left it for now and glanced down at his table, picking up his pen.

Matt could see Kristen watching him and his lips curled upwards. They shouldn’t have but they did. Her hand was resting on the edge of his desk and she was facing to her left as if looking out of the window but her eyes never left his fingers. He didn’t know what to say and, really, he didn’t want her to touch him. His emotions were confusing enough and every touch drove him closer to her.

“How’s your arm?” She murmured after ten minutes. He glanced up and blinked at her as his eyes met hers. His hand automatically reached for his once injured arm.

“Fine. It’s healed.”

She nodded and then dropped her gaze to where the cut had been. “You really do heal quickly. I wonder why.”

Matt swallowed, thinking fast. “I’ve always healed quickly. Genetic, I guess. It’s handy to have.”

“I’ll bet. No wonder you always win your fights. Gareth didn’t stand a chance.”

Matt glanced away and closed his eyes. “Gareth was an idiot. I only fight people who need a good battering.”

Kristen moved closer, bending slightly over his desk. “I knew you didn’t like him, but I didn’t know why…How come you hated him?”

Matt swallowed. He didn’t know whether to say what Kristen’s best friend had done or not. Though he disliked Laura with a passion, he didn’t want to upset Kristen while she looked…quite ill. Why she’d be upset over Gareth, he didn’t now, but if she became upset he wasn’t sure how he’d react to her tears. He wasn't that great with emotion at the best of times so showing sympathy would be a big step in his emotional path.

He had to answer her. She had to know at some point. Afterall, he didn't want to be blamed if she found out that he knew but never actually told her.

He opened his eyes and watched as her eyes darted from side to side. There wouldn’t be a good moment, though he doubted she’d want to be with Gareth anymore after what happened on Saturday. He breathed out in a huff. “I caught Laura and Gareth together the other day.”

Kristen didn’t blink but her fingers stiffened and gripped the table. “Together?” She whispered.

Matt nodded. “They were all over each other. I wanted to tell you. That’s why I was looking for you.”

Kristen gazed off, her lips slightly parted as her brain processed it. “For how long?”

Matt shrugged. “I don’t know, sorry.”

Kristen was quiet. She turned to glance at Laura’s back and then went back to Matt’s eyes. “I knew she was doing something. I just didn’t expect it to be Gareth…” She dropped her gaze and seemed to grow older as she did so.

Mr Franco was muttering something to himself, having just set the class off to work. Matt moved his papers around and pulled out the worksheet that was supposed to be filled in, placing it in front of him next to his pen. He didn’t feel like filling it in but the only way he’d learn would be if he did some of the work during the lesson.

Not like he needed to learn. He’d have plenty of time to get all the education he needed. Who knew how long he’d live for, considering his freak-ish nature.

He could feel Kristen watching him work as he wrote in words in the correct places with little effort and thought. The worksheet would only be difficult for the dumb. He finished it in two minutes exactly and then sat delicately back onto his bending plastic chair. Kristen looked up into his face and half closed her wide eyes. “What should I do?” She whispered. “Who can I sit with now at lunch? They’ll all laugh at me.” She glanced up through her dark eyelashes at him.

Matt caught her obvious hint instantly and forced himself not to smile. “You can join me but I'm not interesting.”

Kristen sat up and beamed. If she hadn’t looked so ill she would have been glowing. She leaned her elbows onto his desk and rested her head on her palms. “You’re interesting to me. Fascinating, in fact. You’re so different.”

Matt froze but quickly relaxed again. “That’s not interesting.”

“It is.” She smiled and flicked her head to move her hair. “Everything about you…That’s why I like you.”

Matt bowed his head to stop his cheeks reddening. He never got embarrassed. He was so soft. What was she doing to him? It wasn’t a good thing that she liked him. It was dangerous. She could get hurt, no matter how well he controlled himself, especially lately.

“You don’t want me to like you, though.” She murmured quietly to him and he looked up at her saddened eyes. “Why?”

He licked his lips and the raspberry smell he’d become so used to now tinted his tongue. “I’ll hurt you.”

“You wont. I’ll make sure you don’t.”

He licked his lips again. “It’s not that simple. It’s dangerous. Please don’t go through this again.” He scrunched his eyes up and put his fingers through his hair, breathing out. She couldn’t make it even more difficult even if she tried.

He liked her, that was obvious to him. He hated that he did but he couldn’t help it. If anything, he’d tried to hate her to stop himself liking her. He’d tried to think about the bad points of her. He’d tried to stop it happening but obviously someone hated him and wanted him to suffer.

She was such a tease, every single day.

“Okay, but I’m not giving up.” Kristen turned around to fill in the worksheet.

Matt sighed quietly, so that Kristen couldn't hear him. “I know.”

*          *          *

It was lunch by the time Matt saw Gareth. He’d obviously come back from hospital but he still looked as if he should have stayed inside for at least another day. His face was bruised, his nose broken, cuts scattered on his forehead, but it looked as if he’d been mugged, not almost murdered. Matt got his meats and sat down in his original place, shovelling it down so that he could get seconds.

Gareth sat on the other side of the canteen with his usual group of people, Laura close by but not so close in case Kristen didn’t already know. He had his head down, trying to cover most of the damage, but it was obvious he’d been attacked. Everyone was crowding round him, touching his cuts and cooing over his injuries as if he was in critical condition. People asked what had happened to him but he’d not said a word.

Too embarrassed probably.

Then he looked up. Directly to Matt’s eyes. Matt glared at him and a rumble escaped his throat. He didn’t want Kristen to be anywhere near him ever again. Who knew what Gareth would do to her? Though Kristen said she could look after herself, she was delicate and fragile inside. She was so innocent and vulnerable and he wanted to protect her and keep her safe.

Speak of the devil, Kristen sat down opposite him at that very moment and broke the glare war that was happening across the canteen. Matt blinked as if coming out of a trance and cleared his throat, looking down at his empty plate and the bent fork he’d been squeezing in his hand. He dropped it quickly and pushed it under the plate before looking up at a smiling Kristen.

She was empty handed and just had a bottle of water in her hand. She was looking more ill by the second but he didn’t say anything. He didn’t want to make her paranoid. He just wanted her better from whatever she had.

“Hi.” She said and breathed out, wafting a fruity smell to smother his senses.

“Hello.”

“I just interrupted something between you and Gareth didn’t I?” She asked quietly and leaned forward before turning to glance at Gareth who, from where Matt was sitting, didn’t look pleased in the slightest. He obviously hadn't expected Kristen to sit with Matt, even though it was highly unlikely that she would ever sit at Gareth's table again.

“Im glad you did. I don’t want to get angry.” He said and she turned back, smiling as she placed her bottle on the side and lay her hands on the table, palms up.

“He deserves it. Why cant you batter Laura too?” She lifted her eyebrows.

Matt laughed quietly. “Too suspicious.”

She nodded. “Tempting though?”

“Very.” He grinned and she beamed at him, pushing her hair over one shoulder.

“I’ve been thinking…”

Matt’s face fell and he looked down at his plate, wondering what she was going to come out with. Thinking was always bad in his books.

“About your special healing.” She bent her head to look into Matt’s eyes. “Maybe you’re superman.”

Matt couldn’t help but laugh then. Superman? How ridiculous. Far from the truth. She really was clueless. It felt weird laughing for the first time in a year, and the sound felt foreign to him, but he liked it. He liked that Kristen was able to make him laugh. He needed it.

He licked his lips to try and hide a smile and leaned towards her. “I don’t own a cape.”

Kristen, happy he was playing along, relaxed more and leaned closer, giving him a teasing gaze. “Damn. Maybe…Spiderman.”

Matt shook his head, giving a half smirk as he watched her dancing creative eyes. “I cant climb walls.”

“Batman!”

“Why are you picking all the ones with ‘man’ at the end?” He smirked.

“Well you’re not a girl, are you? Cat-woman?” She laughed and pushed his arm playfully. “Let me think.”

“Maybe I'm not a super marvel character.” Matt smirked and ran his fingers through his hair.

“Vampire?” She asked quietly and looked at him, calculating.

He shook his head and grinned. “I’d kill one easy.”

“You’d kill one?” She said and her eyes widened. “Why?”

“Because I can? They’re easy. Too easy. If they existed that is.” He blinked at her and the corner of his mouth lifted.

She smiled slightly, then scratched her head, pulling an obvious ‘Im-thinking’ expression. “Let’s see. Healing, strength and can kill vampires… A werewolf? Aa-ooo!” She howled and laughed, not noticing when Matt’s face froze and he stopped breathing.

She’d guessed.

What was he doing?

What the hell was he doing?

He was giving her clues to what he was and now she’d guessed. What was he going to do now? This was a stupid game. It was too risky. He wanted to stand up and leave but then it would be even more obvious that she’d guessed. She didn’t look any wiser at the moment so he had to act normal and hope she didn’t notice the pause and croak of his voice.

“Course.” He laughed nervously.

“Maybe some kind of shape shifter!” She smiled at him and then shook her head. “Im so stuck. Who else is there? Give me a clue?”

“Only when you eat something. I’ve never seen you eat. You must be starving.” He tried to change the subject as subtly as possible.

“Eat?” She went quiet and glanced at her bottle of water. “Im not hungry.”

“It’s not good to starve yourself.” He murmured and pushed his plate towards her. “While you’re at it, get me some meat too.”

“Yes sir.” Her face lit up again and she saluted before prancing off to get some more food.

Matt breathed out and slumped against his complaining chair. That was close. Good thing she was a bit careless in noticing the obvious. If it had been anyone else, he would have been stuffed.

He glanced up through his eyebrows and saw Gareth staring at him with an evil glare, Laura stroking his head like a dog. Matt smirked and swore at him, causing Gareth to grind his teeth and attempt to jump out of his seat. Matt knew he wouldn’t get far. There were too many people around him and, if he was smart, he would know that there would be a repeat of Saturday night, only worse. Embarrassment would certainly destroy him and Matt knew he didn’t want to take the risk of being humiliated.

Kristen sat down with a plate of meat and smiled, pushing it towards Matt as if he was the best thing in the world. Matt looked at them and his stomach rumbled, but he pushed the plate back towards Kristen. His stomach grumbled in anger at being denied food but he didn't care right now. Kristen looked too sick not to eat at least a little bit of his food.

“Eat something.” He said.

Kristen looked at him and swallowed before taking the fork she’d brought and stabbing it carefully into a piece of pork. She cut a small piece and popped it into her mouth, trying not to make a face. She was too easy to read. She glanced at him once she’d swallowed it and pushed the plate towards him. “There. I don’t starve myself.”

“That was pitiful. At least eat the rest of the pork.”

“Your food will go cold.” She said and dropped the fork. “Im really not hungry.”

He pushed the plate back and folded his arms. “Eat or I wont.”

“Matt.” She wined and looked at the small piece of pork left. He watched as she stabbed the meat then held it to her lips, taking a deep breath before putting it into her mouth and chewing quickly. As she did so she shoved the plate back at Matt and scrunched her eyes up as she swallowed.

“See? Wasn’t that bad, was it?” He smirked and began to shovel in the food.

Kristen coughed and glanced at him as if to say ‘yeah, right.’ “Yummy. Now you have it.”

He’d finished in less than five minutes and pushed the plate away, licking his lips. She watched him with wide eyes and then bowed her head, moving her fingers over the table.

He watched her before grabbing the fork he’d used and bending it in his fingers. She immediately began to watch, her lips parted as she watched with amazement at how effortless for him it was.

“What do you have next?” She asked.

“Art.” He said and pressed the fork onto the table, moulding the metal into random shapes.

“I have Latin then.” She said and sighed.

“Don’t you like it?”

“I do like it, but I want to be in a class with you.” She answered in a murmur. He wasn't sure whether he was supposed to hear the ending of that sentence but, of course, he heard it clear as day.

“You cant always get what you want.” He murmured back and looked at her, their eyes locked. After a few seconds, he coughed and broke it, jumping up from his seat. “I’d better go.”

Kristen stood up also, confused. “What do you mean?”

“Art?”

“Before that. ‘You cant always get what you want.’ Sounds like you know the feeling.” She moved to stand beside him and looked up into his face.

He didn’t want to do this. He sighed and touched her arm with an almost unnoticeable swish of his fingers. “I do.” He picked up his plate and looked back at her, watching her emotions flash in her eyes. “No point complaining about it. I must go. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Matt wait.”

“Kristen.” He stopped. “Don’t make it worse.”

She lowered her hand and blinked, confused as he turned his back on her and pushed the plate onto the side, quickly making his way to Art so that she had no chance of stopping him in his tracks.

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