Eyes that see into Infinity

Part 1

Chapter Two

/

The teacher hit the board with a ruler in order to quiet down the students throwing and tossing paper and objects that could injure a human.

"Pay attention class!" she hit the board twice more shutting up the disobedient kids rallying up paper airplanes. The students suddenly all slumped at there desks as the teacher walked down each row with a basket with a sign taped to it specifically for cell phones and any device that makes noise. "You will maybe get these back at the end of class…and Phai what may I ask that you are reading?" The teacher rolled her fists into balls and placed them deep in her hips after passing by the boy who was face buried deep inside a book.

Alex leaned his head up from his desk after thinking of the ways he would die and what kind of funeral he would have, and watched the teacher scold Phai who as the days went by seemed to ignore him more and more.

It wasn't normally Phai getting in trouble and if he did, it was because he was put the blame on so it was a little interesting watching as he sat shamed in his seat making Alex's depression slip for a second as he mustered up a smile. The boy could ignore him all he wanted but it wouldn't change the fact that he held secret desires for him.

"Oh snap, Phai is in trouble." Cassy howled. Tolem and Leon tried to shut the loud child up before he got them in trouble. The class decided being next to Cassy wasn't such a good idea.

"Cassy get a grip." Phai spoke back shutting the book. He looked back to the teacher who was still waiting for him to give her a reason as to why he would be reading in class instead of listening to her lectures.

"Uh..." he cleared his throat dryly "It's nothing, just a book."

"You are an intelligent boy Mr. Phai, but I am afraid this class includes another text. Put the book away and I don't want to see it until class is over, understood."

Phai rolled his eyes and slipped the book back into his bag. "Yes Mrs. Jan."

Overall, the students did not like her. She was the strictest teacher in the school and one who took her life way to seriously, treating the middle school kids like they were in a private Catholic school, where kids wore uniforms and pretty much never saw the outside. But the thing they hated most about her was her high pitched voice, that could be a close enough mating call for monkeys. "Okay class let's begin. Take out your text books and open up to pages 47 through 68."

The class moaned intentionally being over dramatic. That was a lot of pages to whip through before lunch time in their opinion. But then again Mrs. Jan had the pleasure in over stocking her students with more work than usual.

"Teacher, can I go to the restroom?" More than enough students asked in order to get out of it.

"Sure, if only that means the principal will be standing by the door when you come out." Her face collapsed in satisfaction as the children sat back into the seats looking only a little more like they wanted to be there. Okay let's see…" the teacher searched around the room with her pointer finger while clicking her tongue. "Ah Roxanne, read the first page."

Roxanne moved dragging to the front of the class and began reading. By the way she was reading, it sounded pretty much like someone was holding her cat hostage and if she didn't finish the page her cat will die. Cassy giggled at all the pink the dark skinned girl was wearing even ignoring every other stutter through her words and hit Alex in the back leaning up in his chair. "Psst, Alex, your girlfriend has the crappiest style."

Roxanne had always mentioned to them that she wanted to become a fashion designer when she grew up or a dancer. Alex told her to stick to what she was good at and fashion design definitely wasn't her passion. Yes, her style sucked. "I mean look at her Alex, she is wearing five different kinds of pinks. I didn't even know there were five different kinds of pinks."

Her style and clothing was the least of his problem though. Everyone thought Alex and her were dating. "She's not my girlfriend." Alex's reaction was slow. He looked back at Cassander glaring.

"That's not what she tells me." The green eyed boy said spinning a penny on is desk causing the class to suffer with the noise as the coin hit the wooden desktop.

"What does she tell you?" Alex whispered but still tried to remain in an ordinary facade pretending he was paying attention to Roxanne read.

"Boys!" the teacher shouted unexpectedly almost making the girl drop the book.

"Sorry Mrs. Jan." The two boys said in unison.

After giving the boys the evil eye for crude long seconds the teacher let Roxanne proceed. Surprisingly the two remained quiet. Unsurprisingly Alex kept looking at Phai every chance he got. Phai was one row and two desks behind him.

The blue eyed boy was yawning like the class wasn't worthwhile. Just looking at him, Alex remembered the softness of his hair and the smooth and freshness of his face. He had to be the one in his visions. No other person could possibly possess such a strong splendor. The appearance was one in a million. The name Phai was one in a million. "That has to be him." He quietly spoke as a mental note to self.

"Stop looking at your boyfriend." Cassy whispered and Alex could have turned and hit his desk but that would have caused too much of a scene. He would be sent to the principles office the third time that week.

"Psst Phai" said Cassy this time. "Guess what?"

The brunette boy who looked very much disturbed and annoyed looked at Cassy glaring. "What?"

"Alex has a huge crush.." Before the trouble maker finished whatever it was he was going to blurt, even though moreover it couldn't have been good or appropriate, Alex leaped at Cassy covering his mouth.

"And another detention for me. I could kill you."

"I didn't do anything."

"He probably thinks I am talking about him now."

"And?"

"And it's not true and I don't have a crush on him. I don't like boys."

"I am joking. You can't take a joke."

Roxanne ran up behind Alex and covered his eyes with both her hands. "Guess who Alex?"

"Roxanne." He didn't have much enthusiasm like he normally did and the girl frowned.

"Correct I guess. You want to come over tonight and play and watch movies."

"Actually I think I got a lot of school to catch up on."

"I can help you with your homework. We have the same classes anyway." She registered, her tough attitude coming into play.

"Uh nah I'm fine today. Sorry Roxanne." He knew he was hurting her feelings but he had no better way of saying that he had a bad day and he just wanted to go home and think about more things that they wouldn't understand. "But maybe tomorrow we can."

It was too late and Roxanne was already in a frenzy. "Why do you always blow me off?"

"I don't. That's not true." He watched Phai at his locker then looked back at Roxanne who was ready to blow fire out her eyes.

"Yes Alex you do, all the time. Isn't that right Cassy?"

"I am not apart of this." Cassy slid away leaving Alex at the demise of a thirteen year old girl and a girl who would kill the blonde with kisses if she could.

"It's not that I don't want to hang out with you but I just have been tired lately and I need rest." It was understood that it was a lie and Roxanne accepted it as it was and turned to leave angry with him.

He went to his own locker spent from so much going on and opened it placing his class books away. Now he had to deal with Roxanne, on top of the lack of balls he had to just tell Phai how he felt or at least try to get to know him more. He was sure the boy was angry at him after what happened in class. The blonde took in a deep breath and watched as Phai was struggling trying to get books out the locker.

The one thing he had noticed between the boy of his dream and the boy struggling at his locker was that he was very fond of reading and enjoyed the likes of different types of manuscripts. The browned haired boys locker was piled with books that didn't include any from school. He remembered the lover in his vision reading all the time under trees or some where in private. It was a certain case, him reading when he needed to be free from worry.

Phai sensed some one watching him and he looked quickly at Alex who hadn't realized he was again staring. The boy just glared unkindly and Alex smiled nervously in favor and sudden embarrassment, his face flushing red.

"Do you have something to say?" Phai asked with little manners tapping the metal door of the locker with his finger tip.

"No, why?" Alex said fleeting his eyes away after sensing the boys patronizing conduct.

"Because you always stare."

Carefully Alex searched for the right words to say. Apparently his gazing didn't go unnoticed.

"Oh, sorry if that bothers you." Alex replied apologetically as well as nervously swiping at the ground with his shoe and eyes fighting to look away.

"Why do you look? Is there something wrong with me?" Phai asked with an awkward expression amongst his face.

"No it's not that. I just find you interesting that's all." Alex answered abruptly, this time a little less odd and more direct.

Phai was lost for words and didn't know how to respond to such a flattering remark so he frowned nervously and walked away, not knowing that he left the boy feeling like he did something else wrong for admitting the truth.

The bell had sounded and the students caused a rush of traffic through the halls hurrying to get out of school. Once all the halls emptied Alex found himself in the same spot. His bad luck couldn't get any worse. He tore a piece of paper into narrow strips, a paper that he wrote his apology letter on so that he could give to Phai letting him know he wasn't talking about him in class. Suddenly it sounded way too corny and he tossed the shredded pieces in a trash the janitor was wheeling by.

Maybe I will hang out with Roxanne tonight he contemplated. He figured he needed to get his mind off of the boy instead of on him all the time. Alex then headed out the doors catching the bus before it left.

When Alex made it home after school he was surprised to see his mother's car in the driveway. His excitement seemed to swell in his body. It wasn't so often he had seen his mother. His dad even made more appearances than her. It normally happened with a bland 'good morning' and then a bland 'goodbye' and then he would see his parents again in a week or two. He was pretty much an independent child and a worthy one at that, especially if they trusted him with the keys and trusted him to take the bus and get home safely. He has had no problems so far. He even knew how to cook and clean, not like it was much of a hitch, seeing as he was a very neat kid, the only child and didn't make many messes or cook much food to begin with.

He had other siblings but they hadn't moved with them to America and stayed in their own country.

The boy silently entered the house placing his bag down and walked straight into the kitchen and hugged his mom around her stomach as she stood at the counter dropping cut up fruits into a large bowl. "I've missed you mom."

"I've missed you too honey." She turned to kiss Alex on the cheek and curled his soft hair around her finger. "I've made you dinner." She sounded happily and opened the counter drawers searching for her knife sharpener.

"I am going to go wash up first."

"Alright, sweetie." She popped a finger in her mouth licking off the juice of the orange she sliced open. "It will be ready in twenty."

xxx

"Mom is having visions normal?" Alex asked as they sat at the dinner table cutting and slicing open the large steaks she had cooked for them both.

"Uh no honey, no it's not. Why? Is this what they are teaching you in school? Damn if your father that pig hadn't lost his job we wouldn't be here right now in these dreadful schools and this dreadful country." She took the napkin and wiped her mouth and placed it back on her lap. She was still wearing her business suit and her son knew she would be returning back to work later in the night. They often called her in to work shifts of others who either didn't show or called out.

"School is fine mom, I was just wondering." Alex carved his steak and poked it with his fork not recalling that he wasn't putting anything in his mouth. "Do you and dad not like to work together?"

"It does not necessarily mean that I do not like it, but we can hardly stand each other. It's something you would understand when you grow up and get married. Sometimes relationships are never as they appear to be." She spoke with such blind grief and Alex felt some sense that his parents would get divorced soon. It wouldn't surprise him after the harsh words they speak constantly of one another.

"I have a question concerning that?"

"Concerning me and your father?"

"No, marriage."

"What about it sweetness? Have you found the right girl? I do not like that Roxanne chick you hang out with. She enters my house like it is hers and her parents let her."

He heard the sound of his mother's heels hitting the hard wear floor and the screeching of the knife across her plate as she damaged her steak. He was becoming nervous and trembled as the fork and knife within his hand clattered.

"Well speak up Alexander." She rushed, leaning against the back of her chair placing her utensils on the side. Olympias then stirred her dark hair out of her way and eyed her young boy proceeding to crossing her legs and arms.

"Well I have this friend and no body likes him because he is attracted to his same sex. Is that a problem?"

Olympias lunged her tongue to the side of her inside cheek and then smiled leaning up eyes darted. "Can a man grant another man a child?" she questioned.

"Not that I know."

"Then it is clearly not a natural thing."

"Who is to say?" Alex questioned, as his own insecurities became irregular.

"Many people have different opinions of it." His mother continued to eat until she was full and couldn't manage another bite. "My god son, are you tired. You look worn out." The tangent was opted at once as she looked more at her son who wasn't eating what was on his plate.

Olympias was so oblivious to his feelings; she didn't even know how much he never related to her. "No mom I am not tired. I can't sleep much these days anyway."

"School will throw your diet off balance. Be careful of those things. Drink some warm milk. It will help you rest and then go straight to bed. I will clean up the dishes." She stood wiping her mouth once more and proceeded to clear their dishes.

"Will you be gone when I wake up?"

She turned to the side looking sadly amongst her boy and then shoved the dirty dishes under the water. "Most likely."

Summer, 326 India

Hephaistion awoken when he felt the kings fingers twitch in his hand. His eyes went bright with hope but to his disappointment Alexander was still unconscious and with little heartbeat, sheltered with a strong fever causing his body to burn up. Alexander even though on the verge of death had won the battle and taken victory. When he was hurried to the tents so that the physician Phillip could look to his wounds, the blue eyed general thought he had lost him in that very moment. He couldn't stand the look of suffering throughout his features and as his skin paled up, like he had just became a ghost before his very eyes. It was hard to admit that they had almost lost him.

Hephaistion ignored the burning pain of his own injury at the inner part of his thigh. A spear jabbed through the flesh causing him to fall over but the moment he saw the kings mighty horse protecting her master, he found the strength to get up and go to him, making his wound even worse but he cared not about himself.

Alexander had made it through the worst part of the operation, stitching up the deep wound and cleaning it out but now came the time where the entire camp held there breaths. It was only a matter of time until his strong heart gave out completely. The general had stayed with the king ever since and continuously moved his ear to the heaving chest hoping to hear the beating of his heart each time. He feared one day he would lean in and never hear it again. But the general promised him that he would never leave his side until he knew he was alright.

Hephaistion heard the flap of the tent sliding open and seen a dark figure coming in holding a candle light. "How are you doing?" The voice of the person was obvious. He had a smirk tone and moved with immeasurable arrogance. Cassander stepped in through closing it softly out of respect for the king's deep sleep.

"Swell." Hephaistion answered holding Alexander's hand tighter as if any person was going to charge in and take the body away from him.

The general took a seat settling comfortably next to Alexander's other side and leaned up to wipe his feverish forehead with a damp cloth.

The blue eyed general eyed the suspicious general who appeared to have sudden decency towards the king, as hostile darkness crept into the room. The light of the moon became scrimmed by the thickness of the tents material.

"What are you doing here Cassander?"

"Checking up on the king." He encroached. "Is he not my friend as well as yours?"

"Oh like you are not one of those other generals who wish him dead." The blue eyed general glared harshly at the smirking man causing his nerves to tremble with some sudden ability to just strangle the hell out of him but he recollected himself.

"I have no intention of disposing of the king." Cassander instructed gravely yet Hephaistion still didn't seem to accept his words as true. The green eyed general was too sneaky and too much behind the scenes to be of any trust to him.

"But me you do." The candle lights burned, casting deep shadows and tossing them around the tent like the fire was dancing with fire.

"I am not going to lie, I wished it once."

It was of no shock to the blue eyed general. Half the army wished him dead and ever since they were boys Cassander never hid the feelings of hate towards him. "Now I now when I keel over in my bed I know who too blame and curse in hell for eternity."

"Unless Alexander doesn't make it and he would be your killer." Cassander suggested as he damped the cloth again and brought it back to the kings' head removing the sweat pulsing through his skin.

"What's that suppose to mean?" Asked Hephaistion who was considering Cassander to be of pointless company. He would rather have Cleitus bust in or even Parmenion. But they were both dead and one of them done in the hands of Alexander himself.

"Alexander can not live without you. It's been proven countless of times even in moments when you were just away for months. Are you telling me you could live without him?" Cassanders voice disturbed the stillness of Hephaistions once peaceful posture until the question became abrupt.

"Alexander has his weaknesses and I am his weakness aswell as his strength." The general answered but not turning his head to look at him, his eyes still occupied at the touch of the kings hand. "He's made me who I am. But I am the one who has to keep him breathing. I know very well he can't live without me and if I leave this room he will be dead before any of you even begin to understand. If he doesn't live, I will gladly move away from the scorn that you all share against me and go back home."

"And live alone?"

"Yes."

"You don't think there is someone else out there for you to share your heart with?"

"None. I don't think about such things."

The green eyed man cast him a sharp gaze with eyes full of sparks and flame, reflecting in his pupils. "How do you know if you don't look? Being lonely can turn a man mad."

Hephaistions body remained tensed but tranquil. His eyes returned to Cassanders but only momentarily. "Then you must be lonely then."

Minutes passed by with both men sitting in silence. Cassander then stood from his chair and moved towards the flaps and before exiting he flashed a glance towards Hephaistion. "You need proper sleep. Maybe it's time to let him go."