My house isn't a cute little ranch house. It was gothic like, complete with a winding staircase. Coming up the walls were pictures of various things: a bouquet of flowers, a dog and a happy family. I paused for a moment, staring at the picture. It was a picture of my own family. I was probably around 2 ish while I stood next to my dad proudly. If I could remember right, I think it was…father's day? Anyway, I looked a lot like my dad. This cape that I wore everyday was inherited from him, but in this specific picture, I was wearing it for the first time. It was swamped in me. My head barely popped out of the collar while my poor little arms and hands weren't visible at all. I had the same blue eyes as him…I basically got everything from him. Yusei shuffles behind me.
"Is that your family?" He asks, trying to see the picture.
"No."
I was extremely sensitive about my family. Once I got older, Alford told me what happened to them—they died in the Zero Reverse—and we'd never talked about them again. Yusei didn't have a smart remark, but simply stayed silent.
"Don't forget, this isn't out of the goodness of my heart. Gays on the streets of New Domino aren't usually treated well."
There's a soft sigh. "Don't remind me."
I change the subject. "Uhm, bedroom, bathroom, office, TV room, and stairs to the observation room." I point to each door.
"Wow."
I roll my eyes. "I'm on the floor below you, and Alford's upstairs, so if you need anything-"
The door slammed in front of me. I didn't even notice Yusei go into the room.
"Hey!" I exclaims, pounding on the door.
I hear soft laughter behind the door, but no response. I give up and I walk back downstairs to my own room. I sigh finally, happy that everything is over with for today. However, I couldn't get that hug thing out of my mind. Thought it was only for a brief second, his light touch on my arms were…like a butterflies wings. The pads of his fingers were slightly callused, probably all of the work he did in Auto Shop. Not like I'd ever looked or anything…
"Are you alright Jack?"
"Splendid."
Yusei was intent of catching the bus, but what's the point if I could just drive him?
"Remember what I told you?"
I felt his eyes roll from here. "I know. Even though you're hosting me, we have to act like we're not friends or anything."
"I never said that."
"Well…" there was a short pause. "You implied it."
I groan, tightening the grip on the steering wheel. I still wasn't sure what to call Yusei. A friend? Acquaintance? Acquaintances wouldn't normally do anything like this. I parked in my usual parking spot at school and Yusei quickly rushed out, running to join up with his own friends. Meanwhile, my usual walking girls crowded around me to go to homeroom, but I didn't feel my usual bravado. I barked at them to back off and stalked off to homeroom, feeling emptier than ever.
Did I tell you I was empty? Not anymore. See, my science teacher allows me to get out of class early to…"study". Do I study? Nope. I go and "take notes" on Yusei in Auto Shop. It's become a…secret obsession. Just because I told him to act like we don't know each other, doesn't me I had to do it too. Auto Shop was connected to the end of the building to the parking lot. Since I couldn't go to my car every other day just to see him, I'd resulted into camping out, spying in a window that they didn't bother to cover up. Only problem was that Yusei was in that class with that Kalin guy. I didn't trust him.
"Ok class." The teacher talked awful loud. "With your partner, you'll build this motor back up from when you disassembled it."
I swear, Yusei seems shrill, frail and weak, but those set of muscles he had said otherwise. I felt weird just ogling him like that, but like I said, it was quite entertaining. He was also a quite clumsy person, so he'd often drop things on Kalin and I'd often laugh at his misfortune. I know, it'll come back to haunt me, but it was funny. The bell rang and I quickly sprang up, pretending to be a passerby, but Yusei caught up to me.
"Atlas." He mutters, averting his gaze.
"Fudo."
We walk in silence for a while.
"Jack, you know I know you spy on me, right?" There was a hint of laughter in his voice.
"What?" I turned the other way to hide my blush. "You're crazy. Why would I watch you?"
Yusei smirks. "You know Crow sits the closest to the window? He can see you…every other day."
"Damn."
I hated that I got caught by him, but it was nice while it lasted.
"Hey Jack, by the way…" He turns around to face me. "I liked it."
Yusei strode away, abandoning me in the middle of the hallway, leaving his words to interpretation.
"Hello Jackie. Mr. Fudo."
"Just call me Yusei, please." Yusei smiles.
"As you wish." Alford returns his smile.
"Meanwhile, you can stop calling me Jackie now." I butted in.
Alford turns to me. "I'm afraid I can't do that…'Jackie'."
I groan and Yusei laughs. I knew laughing at Kalin was coming back to haunt me. Eventually, Yusei wandered upstairs and still laughing to himself.
"Quite a catch isn't he?"
I stare at my butler in surprise. "Excuse me?"
"You might deny it now, but one day you'll realize your feelings."
Wait, is he talking about-
"Mr. Fudo?"
"Alford, I don't know what you're on, but I do not like Yu-Fudo." I caught myself again. This was becoming habit. I'd almost say his first name, but I'd catch myself. It's not just him; I do that to every boy. The ones I deem important anyway.
"But you almost said his name, didn't you?"
I stalk upstairs without answering his question, but I couldn't help but wondering if Alford was right. I hope he wasn't.
Preview: Chapter 8 (already?)
"Woah."
"I know."
Jack's standing at the door frame of the room.
"Why are you here?" I ask, sorta annoyed. I've spent as much time as I could away from and now he wanted to be a pal?
"Let's watch TV. That's why you're in here, right?"
I stare at him blankly. "Who the hell are you?"
My question didn't seem to faze him. "Jack Atlas." he answers as if that's the million dollar question.
"You can't be."
"I am, honest. Besides, I'm tired of being...confused, you know?"
I nod-that seemed like the safest thing to do in this situation-and stare at him, real confused.
"What are you confused about?"
"What we are to each other. Like...friends, or not."
My head wanted to take that statement logically, but my heart wanted to take it romantically. Now I was confused!
