Two Extra Eyes

Chapter Six

Lars' Remorse

'Aw man… This can't be happening to me…' Lars thought miserably as he stared at the ground. He fought to hold back the tears that were threatening to fall. He bit his lips as he turned sharply to the side.

'I don't freaking believe this! My crew leaves me all because of these stupid glasses!.?.! What the hell am I supposed to do!.? I can't do anything with these damn things on my face! They'll just laugh at me!'

He heaved a shaky sigh as tears finally trickled down his face.

'No…' He sniffled, trying his hardest to keep his mental walls from breaking down. 'I'm not gonna cry! I'm Lars Rodriguez! I never cry!'

He wiped his face and stared at his hand. He could see the droplets clearly. His hand was practically dripping in them. His vision started to blur as more tears threatened to fall. His body began to tremble.

"C'mon…" He told himself. "You don't need 'em… Stay calm… Don't cry, don't cry, don't—"

"Lars?"

"Huh!.?"

With a shocked gasp, the shaking brunet looked up and found himself looking at Sam. The blond had a look of genuine concern. With another sniffle, he gave the younger boy a confused look. What was he doing here? Refusing to show any weakness, he gave a small, tearful glare.

"Whaddya want? Are ya gonna get back at me for all the times I busted on ya?" He hissed. "Go ahead. Do your worst. You couldn't possibly make me feel any crummier than I already am. Go ahead and call me four eyes, blindie, geek, and whatever else I called ya. Come on! I can take it!"

He gritted his teeth in desperation. If this kid didn't move in the next five seconds, he was gonna lose it! He could feel the walls cracking with each passing second the blond stood there. Lars kept his glare on the boy for some time until he realized that Sam wasn't going to do anything. Again, he gave him a confused look. Wasn't he going to get his revenge? Wasn't he going to curse him out? Hell, was he gonna say anything?

"Well? What're ya waiting for!.? Ain't ya gonna bust me!.?" He demanded. To his surprise, however, Sam shook his head.

"I would never make fun of you, Lars." He answered, stepping forward. "Mind if I sit?"

Without a single word, the brunet shifted to the left, giving the younger teen room to sit down. Sam sat and took off his helmet and gear. After laying them to the side, he gave the other boy a warm smile as he put a hand on his shoulder.

"I know what you're probably feeling right now and trust me, I don't want you to suffer at all."

Lars turned away. "How would you know what I'm feeling?"

Sam sighed. "Because I went through the same thing once."

The taller one snapped his head towards him. "Y-y-you did…?"

The shorter one nodded. "Tell me, when you first started wearing your glasses, did everything seem closer to you than normal?"

"Yeah," Lars answered with his own nod. "I kept tripping and crashing into everything."

"That happens when you first wear glasses. It's just your body's way of adjusting to them. You'll get used to them eventually."

The brunet looked down. "I hope so… I don't even know how long I'm stuck with these things. I feel like such a freak in these… Erm… No offense…" He added with a sigh.

"None taken." The blond waved his right hand dismissively. He kept his other firmly on Lars' shoulder. He soon chuckled at a thought. "Can you believe I crashed into a light pole once?"

Lars gave a shaky laugh. "No way!"

"Yep." The other boy nodded. "I remember it like it was yesterday. I was six at the time. I was riding my tricycle around when I headed towards a light pole. I thought that it was far away so I didn't pay any mind. And then… Well, you get the idea. Thank God I had a helmet on at the time. Otherwise, I would've been in big trouble."

Lars rubbed his eyes as he raised an eyebrow. "A helmet, to ride a tricycle?"

Sam shrugged. "My mom's overprotective. You know that."

"Oh yeah… So when did you start wearing glasses anyway?"

"Well, I was nearsighted since birth, so I had glasses for a long time." The younger boy replied. "I remember my mom once told me I was wearing them since I was two."

"Woah…" Lars looked down again. "Fourteen whole years… You'll have those glasses your whole life. Here I am bitching about having mine for a little while…"

"Don't worry about it. I know how you feel. Sometimes, I wish I never had these glasses in the first place. I would get jealous of people that don't have to go through the same thing as I do. I always found myself thinking that if I was old enough to get laser surgery, I would in a heartbeat." Sam glared at the ground. "I'm always getting teased about them. Even when I first went to preschool, the kids were calling me dumb names like 'telescope eyes' and 'old man dink.' It even went on in elementary school. Right up until I passed the fourth grade, it was always four eyes this and geek that. And then, I moved here…"

Lars gulped at that. He felt lower than dirt after hearing that whole thing. Guilt was written all over his face when he realized that he called the boy most of those things and then some. He always pushed around Sam and others just like him because of the glasses they had to wear. He always beat them up for their lunch money and even went so far as to destroy those pour souls' only way to see and interact with the world.

And now that he's gotten a taste of the humiliation and shame one wearing glasses would experience, he found his eyes leaking again. He was alone in the world. His crew deserted him and his family would only laugh at him. There was no way he could ever strike fear into anybody. Not when they could just turn around and tease him about his condition or even worse, actually destroy his glasses! For once in his life, Lars Rodriguez was scared. The thought of being alone and ridiculed just because of a lousy pair of glasses that he needs to see frightened him tremendously.

Before Sam knew it, the brunet was bawling and burying his face in his shirt. The blond was shocked at the action. Not only because he's dreamed about this since he met the bully, but because he never thought he'd live to see the day that Lars of all people would be crying. He shook his head and looked down at the older boy with a lustful smirk. He immediately slapped himself mentally. This wasn't the right time to fantasize! Lars needed help!

With a deep breath, he slowly wrapped his arms around the sixteen year-old. He didn't want to scare him. He just wanted him to know that someone was there for him. Lars didn't seem to object though. He was too busy feeling remorse for everything he's done (at least to those in glasses) to care about who was holding him. He was too caught up in everything he now had to face to even move his face from the other's chest. Sam was feeling slightly uncomfortable due to all the tears he was sure were staining his shirt, but he remained sitting there, holding his beloved.

They sat there for what seemed like hours before Lars finally started to calm down. He still let out small sobs every so often, so Sam rubbed his back in an attempt to get him to relax. After a few minutes of this treatment, the brunet sighed comfortably and began to breathe soundly. He had to admit, it wasn't so bad being held like this, even if it was by someone like Squid. He actually let out a shaky smile as he sniffled.

"Feeling better?" Sam finally asked. Lars nodded against his chest before finally looking up.

His eyes widened when he looked at the blond's face. He had to say, puberty has been very kind to Sam. His lightly tanned face was no longer round like it was so many years ago. His sand colored hair was messy from wearing that helmet, but it still looked cute in Lars' eyes. He shifted his view downwards and found himself gaping. If he thought Sam looked cute from behind, he was downright handsome up front! His was thin and slightly muscular, no doubt a result of all the skating and surfing he's done over the years. He had noticed that Sam's chest was hard when his head was against it; not flabby at all like when he was eleven.

He then looked up again and found himself staring at what could be described as the best feature of the blond. His eyes, also magnified by his glasses, were a beautiful sapphire; a strong contrast to Lars' ruby orbs. It felt to the brunet as if those gorgeous blue eyes held the answers of the universe within them. He looked closer for the key; the key to unlocking everything about anything. What's the secret of life? Are we truly alone in the universe? And maybe the most important question of all, who does Sam Dullard love?

As he continued looking into the other boy's eyes, Lars found himself fantasizing about him. He imagined seeing Sam wearing his bathing suit, his beautiful sculpted chest just inches from Lars' own. He was at a private beach in the middle of nowhere, having the boy all to himself. He was his to enjoy and keep from others' prying eyes. This grand specimen that he felt unworthy to be with; his and his alone to do with whatever he pleased.

He felt his cheeks flaring when he went further and envisioned the blond wearing nothing but his glasses. Almost exactly as he came to this world. Lars felt his throat go dry when he realized how…angelic Sam would look with nothing on. This great beauty grown as if by God's own, gracious hands. This pure soul completely untouched by anyone or anything. It was almost as if this blond angel was sent to earth for him and him alone…

"Uhhhh… Lars…?" Sam cut into his fantasy. "You in there?"

"Huh wha…?.?.?" The taller boy shook his head as oxygen finally made its way into his brain. He felt like slapping himself hard for actually thinking all that. Where did that come from!.?.! Sam looked at him strangely.

"Are you feeling ok?"

"Huh?" Lars felt himself going red again when he faced the other boy. He stuttered a bit before finally nodding. "Y-yeah… I'm fine…"

Sam gave him a skeptical look as a thought came to him. Was Lars looking at him with a look of…? The shorter boy shook his head. Yeah right! He smiled at the possibility though. He gave a loving sigh at the thought of both of them confessing their love for each other and riding off into the sunset. He then shrugged. Eh, if nothing happens, at least he was able to look into the older boy's eyes. He saw fire in those red jewels. They were flames of various things. Hate, mischief, revenge, determination, courage; he was sure he even saw a spark of love amongst the fires. He gave a grin.

"What are you so happy about?" Lars suddenly asked, starting to feel low again.

"Nothing." Sam replied with a single shake of the head.

A few minuets of silence passed between the two before the taller one lowered his head in shame.

"I'm sorry…"

The younger one raised an eyebrow at him. "Huh? Why?"

"For everything. The teasing, the laughing, the pranks, everything!" Lars answered, tears falling again. "I shoulda never done any of that stuff! It was way over the line! I'm so sorry, Squid! Please forgive me!"

"Lars! It's ok!" Sam tried to calm him down. "I forgive you!"

The broken brunet looked up with a sparkle in his dried, red eyes. The blond noticed that it seemed to be a spark of hope. With another sob, he embraced Sam again and cried into his shoulder. Overcome with shock at the sudden change in the bully, the shorter boy did the only thing he could think of. He held him close to him and patted him on the back.

"Come on, Lars. It's alright." He whispered gently. He blinked as an idea formed in his mind. "Hey, I know what I can do for you!"

"What?" Lars asked, pulling away. "Whaddya mean?"

To that, Sam smiled. "I'm gonna help you get used to your glasses!"

"Help me get used to my glasses…?" The blond nodded. The brunet gulped. "I dunno…I mean, if anybody sees me—"

"They'll act normally." Sam interrupted. "Just hang out with me for a few days. I guarantee that you'll be able to do anything with no problem!"

"But I—"

"Please Lars?" Sam said, holding his hands in a begging fashion. "I don't want you to be lonely or bummed."

Lars gave him a strange look. "What makes ya think I'd be lonely and bummed?"

The younger boy gave him a look that yelled "Duh!" "Your crew left you and you've been crying for the last—" He looked at his watch. "—half hour."

The taller boy's eyes widened. "It was that long?" Sam nodded, causing him to put on an irritated look. He then huffed in defeat. "Alright, alright. I'll hang with ya for awhile." A smile crept on the blond's face, which he noticed immediately. "But, if I'm still tripping and crap after a few days, you're gonna get it. Got it?"

Sam only grinned at that. He couldn't care less if Lars beat him to a bloody pulp. He was going to get to hang out with him! It took everything he had not to jump for joy and run around the cul-de-sac, screaming like a maniac. Regaining his composure, he simply nodded and extended his hand.

"Shake on it."

Mentally wondering what he was getting himself into, he grabbed the other boy's hand and shook. For a brief moment it felt like electricity was shooting between them. Although they had hugged not once, but twice, it still felt foreign for either of them to do a simple gesture like shaking hands. While Lars was wondering what that feeling was, Sam was doing all he can to avoid fainting right then and there.

Soon, both boys felt they were holding way too long and let go. They both looked at their hands curiously, the warmth from the other still remaining. They then looked at each other and quickly turned away, their faces flushed. They chuckled bashfully as they tried to save face. They both allowed their faces to return to normal before clearing their throats and turning to each other.

"So I'll see ya tomorrow then?" Lars asked, shuffling his feet. "I don't think I'm in a good enough mood to go out today." With a broad smile on his face, Sam nodded.

"Yeah! It's a date!"

Lars blinked and looked at him strangely. The shorter boy seemed a little too happy… He was about to comment but instead shook his head before returning the blond's smile.

"Yeah, see ya." He turned to go up the stairs. Sam watched him the whole time before he stopped his ascent. "Oh, and Squid?"

"Yeah?" Sam asked. Lars turned towards him, still keeping that smile.

"Thanks."

The blond gave him a thumbs-up. "Don't mention it."

The brunet nodded before continuing until he was inside the house. Once Sam was sure he was gone, he gleefully scooped up his protective gear and skated home with the biggest, most joyous grin on his face. It was clear that he anticipated the next day greatly. It was like nothing he's ever felt before. It felt like he was going to burst from all the excitement he felt. He went to sleep that evening with that same toothy smile.

Tomorrow was gonna be great!