Eyes that see into Infinity

Part 2

Chapter Eleven

/

Hephaistion hurried out of the king's tent and made his way over to the meeting tent where the generals were all gathered. He was fuming in anger and his fists were twitching in hate.

"What is the meaning of this?" The sick general voiced angrily storming in, like a strong wind at the rest who were sitting around speaking amongst each other.

"Ah Hephaistion we are glad you can join us." said Cassander in a spiteful tone. "You finally removed your hand from the kings."

"Hurry and speak!" the blue eyed general yelled fiercely ignoring the other generals attempt at being mocking.

They had sent Ptolemy to go summon him from the king's tent and tell him the new plans that were agreed amongst the generals and the soldiers.

None seemed to want to answer the angry general and Hephaistion shouted for them to stop hiding their tongues and speak. "What is the meaning of this decision? No one asked me to join in this council." He stated his entire body tense.

Craterus smirked. "It is already difficult to get you unattached from Alexander to begin with. What makes you think we would have succeeded in getting you out?"

"I am here aren't I?"

Leonnatus hurried before the blue eyed general trying to calm him down before he attacked Craterus.

"Calm down Hephaistion. They mean you no wrong." The sandy colored haired general attempted at the bigger man who was trying to shove him aside.

"Move, Leonnatus!" It didn't sound like Hephaistion and it didn't look like Hephaistion. The resistant general before them had become one of the furies.

"It's for your own good." Craterus spat ready for another confrontation remembering when he and the Chiliarch attacked each other. "And Alexander's."

"And what is my own good Craterus! You and the others know nothing of me!"

This time it was Perdicas helping Leonnatus trying to keep the furious general composed.

Cassander stood up calmly. "Hephaistion relax. What Leonnatus says is the truth. We mean you no harm with this. But Alexander isn't well. He's been out for a week. There is no way the gods or a miracle from Zeus himself could save him."

"We must pack up camp now. We've won the battle. It's time to go home." Craterus renounced.

"That is Alexander's decision." Hephaistion spoke with obscurity.

"He's not awake. He is on the brink of death Hephaistion. What are you not understanding?" Craterus yelled back.

"Give it just another week." Hephaistion tried reasoning. "His heart still beats."

"Then it's going to turn into months." The bigger general registered back at Hephaistions tolerance.

Everyone else remained quiet and regretful of the situation while Cassander, Craterus and Hephaistion were being in the spotlight.

"Phillip is doing everything he can to help him. Please just another week." Tears were started to cloud his blue eyes, now pleading for them to spare his life.

"Another week proves he has no more life." Perdicas replied. "We will end it then."

"Fever has taken him." Again Cassander spoke the obvious thinking if he pointed it out enough, the worked up general just might come to an acceptance.

Hephaistions' brown lashes flickered with everything imputed. His eyes became hidden and he relaxed for awhile and suddenly everything was quiet, no one daring to make the first remark.

They couldn't see the anger in his expression anymore even though it was there deep within while he was in thought.

Cassander looked at Craterus motioning with his eyes that he was suppose to bring up something else. The faster they spoke of it the quicker it would get over.

Craterus sighed deeply. "Also Hephaistion we have come to a conclusion that you are not capable of your position as Chiliarch."

"Who are you to decide that?" Hephaistion spoke with a voice accurately calloused.

"Look at yourself. You are barely eating or sleeping. What kind of second in command can fulfill out missions if they aren't well. Chances are you will be dead soon anyway as well as your king." It sounded shameful but Craterus meant it as the truth.

Hephaistion before he knew shoved passed Leonnatus and Perdicas and took Craterus by the throat gripping him hard and trying to strangle him but the bigger and stronger general pushed him off.

"Don't you dare speak ill of your king!" Hephaistion spat once being pulled back from many other now joined in hands.

Craterus glared at him with gritted teeth wiping at his neck. "I am just as much as a friend to Alexander as you are but he is not well and neither are you. Face the truth Hephaistion. Stop being so blinded by love. Alexander might not make it."

"So that's your plan? You're just going to pull him out of his misery even though he still breaths. Then like you've all wanted, fight each other and take the throne from him?"

"That is not our intention."

Hephaistion looked at Ptolemy, who normally would have had his side.

"Ptolemy you know Alexander better than them all. He is strong. He will wake up. Please help me with this."

"I'm sorry Hephaistion." Ptolemy just shook his head in indignity. It was obvious the curlied haired general had already made up his mind in the previous congregation without his presence.

"A week Hephaistion. That's it." It was Craterus' last words to him.

It was final. He was outnumbered and had to except his king's fate as well as his. If Alexander didn't awake in a week, they would end his life, take him to Macedonia to be buried and then Hephaistion would go back home and start a new life.

He went back to the kings tent and knelt down by him.

"This is the price I must pay for loving you Alexander. If you loved me in return you would wake up."

Phai walked carefully along the bleachers, keeping steady in the middle, while during his lunch hour. He would have joined his few group of new friends but he wanted no company and wanted only time for himself. He's been actually wanting that a lot lately, even though he wasn't much of a social person to begin with. Also it was a nice day out. He might as well enjoy every part of it.

He took a breath and finally sat down looking out at the sophmore football players on the field. He was fifteen now and already had high expectations for his life. He had joined many sports team. Football, swimming and track and he was good at all, but mostly swimming.

He was glad that he still had Tolem and Leon to hang out with though, even though Cassy, Phil and Crater were still in existence. He kind of wished his mother hadn't put him in the same high school as them but it was convenient and close to their house. Now he had to deal with seeing them everyday and the worst part was that they were all apart of the football team.

He cringed, just thinking of Roxanne. She was also still in existence. It was already his sophomore year of high school and she was still the queen bitch of the school. She was already spreading rumors about him which made the girls either not want to talk to him or the boys laugh at him. He could careless though. There were few people apart of his life and those that weren't and everyone so far weren't apart of it. The one person who he wanted to be apart of was gone.

He started to search through his bag of food already knowing he wasted enough time in thought but suddenly he didn't feel like eating anymore and pushed the bag aside. He had been thinking about Alex a lot and what he said about coming back to find him. He frowned wondering if it would be true. Would Alex really waste his time just to chase after a boy he only had gotten to know for a number of months?

Cassy nudged Crater hard on the shoulder and motioned him to where the brunette haired teenager was sitting on the bleachers. Crater peered upon Cassy inquiringly. "What about him Cassy. He's a nerd eating lunch." The bigger teen shrugged his shoulders. "He will eventually choke on his food."

"Crater you misunderstand me. I want him." Cassy replied fiercely.

Crater almost choked on the air at the crazy words his friend just spouted. "Uh, come again." Crater took off his helmet to get a better look at Cassy who seemed to have eyes infatuated on Phai.

"I want him as in I want to have sex with him and break his heart."

Crater looked dumbfounded for awhile before clearing his throat uncomfortably. "You mean, you like boys?"

Cassy laughed gimmicky and looked up to his friend. "No Crater. Feelings have nothing to do with this. I just want him." He smirked. "And break his heart." he rephrased.

Cassy then leaped up about to head off but was grabbed by Crater. "Wait a minute Cassy, what for?" Crater seemed confused at Cassy's sudden digression and ditching the team from their practice.

"Because I am an asshole." It was his final answer and Crater gave up and let him head over to Phai who was lost gazing in space staring at the bleachers.

The sudden emergence of the green eyed boy hardened Phais' facial expression. He just never left him alone. He was entirely contented with no company and he didn't need to be bothered at the moment.

Cassy smiled and hid nothing back and took a heavy seat next to Phai and wrapping his arm around his shoulders. "What's up Phai. You enjoying the sight out there?" He pointed to the foot ball players on the field.

"Sure Cassy." Phai knocked his arm away from him and Cassy just smiled.

"So what are you eating?" The bully was about to search through his packed bag of food until Phai snatched away and placed it on the other side of him.

"Piss off Cassy." Cassy wasn't bothered at all with the boy's features rising in loathe. Infact he just chuckled about it.

"Why aren't you out there practicing with us?"

"Because I am on lunch." Phai pronounced unkindly, hoping it got through Cassy's thick skull that he didn't want him around at all. "So go away. I will be there when I am ready."

"So we have noticed ever since Alex moved you have been more shied away from humanity. Why is that? Was he the only one you enjoyed being around?" Cassy randomly decided to ask.

Phais' eyes were now resting themselves in a fixed gaze at Cassy. "I never talked to you to begin with and I never enjoyed being around any of you ever." Phai gave a mean glare. "And Alex has nothing to do with this."

Phai grabbed at his things but Cassy stopped him from getting up by putting one hand on his thigh and inching closer to him. "I don't think that is necessarily true. It was obvious." He said in a shrewd tone.

"What was?" Phai was now completely annoyed.

"You know you and Alex. It was obvious you had a thing for each other. I mean why else would he kiss you in the locker room."

Before Cassy felt it, a fist met his face but he just laughed as Phai stood up and took his things and left. "I will see you on the field Phai." The amused bully voiced loudly but Phai didn't answer him and kept walking.

Crater and Perdicas rolled their eyes when seeing Cassy approaching them holding his stomach from laughing too hard.

"What did you do this time?" Perdicas asked but looking at how hard Cassy was laughing he changed his mind and took the question back. They saw Leon and Tolem walking towards them on the field ready to practice.

"Nothing." Cassy said finally calming then gathering in all the team players to get into positions. The coach had put Cassy in lead of the team because he was the best and he took every advantage he had to be in control.

"Where's Phai. Is he going to join us?" asked Tolem curiously attaching the safety pads on his knees and elbows. Phai was never late for any meets. Most of the time he was the first one on the field.

"He will be here." Said Cassy smugly. "He just needs time."

"Okay." Tolem said, he and Leon sharing an akward glance.

Phai went to the locker room and sat down on one of the benches. He started fidgeting with his hands and then his hair, nervously wondering how Cassy found that out. Did someone tell him or had he been watching them on such a private moment. He didn't understand why he was feeling so nervous and shaken about it, maybe because Cassy now knew he liked another boy and had something to spread and talk about with his friends. Sooner or later it would get to Roxanne's ears and she would have blast getting the news out to the world. Not to mention she was completely in love with Alex. If she heard that they kissed she would probabaly find ways to ruin his life.

He took his hands and rubbed his face groaning against his palms.

Back on the field the boys stopped their laps and saw Phai walking by the bleachers, not in his uniform and his bag and everything were packed up.

Cassy smirked knowing he was the cause of it. "Where are you going Phai, you are supposed to be out here with the rest of us."

"I'm going home."

"Are you not feeling well?" asked Tolem anxiously. 'Because if you're sick I can walk you home."

"No I am fine thanks." The boy answered abruptly, and kept walking.

"What are you mad at what I said? I was just joking." Cassy shouted once the boy was far enough. Phai didn't answer and kept ignoring him.

"Yep. He's mine." Cassy muttered under his breath and then gained back all the attention of the team.

Phai, disgusted with school today, came home and went up to his room without saying high to his sister who was watching TV or is mother who was studying at the kitchen table for her nursing job.

"How was school honey?" the mother shouted, until she just heard is bedroom door close. "Okay, sorry that I even asked." She murmured.

"Mom is Phai emo?" eleven year old Callista asked out of the blue.

"What is emo?" a huge question marked placed on the mother's forehead as she frowned thinking that the word alone was weird.

"Never mind you wouldn't know, you're too old. You have to be a fan of today's music to understand what it is."

"Right. Callista stop what you are doing and go bring Phai some hot chocolate please. That always calms him down." She conveyed.

"Why should I. He didn't even say hi to me." The girl argued back mostly because she was entranced watching the Jonas Brothers live on TV.

"He would do it for you."

"I know. I know. Things I do for him." She jumped her body actively off the couch and ran to the kitchen.

Phai was sitting at his desk working on his homework when he heard a knock on his door and the voice he wasn't sure he wanted to hear at the moment.

"Phai, I brought you something!"

Maybe if I don't say anything she would go away, he thought. He placed in his ear phones and continued with his homework.

"Mom he's not answering!"

"Do what you do best and walk in."

"Gotcha." Callista ran back to his room but carefully with his coffee cup and opened his door. "Here Phai, I got a present for you even though it's not your birthday."

He rolled his eyes hearing her through his ear phones. "What do you want Callista?" he turned his torso to face her.

"Mom wanted me to bring you some hot chocolate. But if you don't drink it I will." she offered.

"Or you can go make your own." He said taking it from her and smiling. He always loved hot chocolate. Hot chocolate would be his anti depressant if he ever became depressed.

"So how was school?' she asked smiling big and adorably thinking he might reply just because of her loveliness.

He smiled with his lips on the edge of the cup. "How was school for you?" he questioned back.

"I asked first."

"It's not important. Back to you."

"I have a lot of friends. My birthday is also coming up soon and I want to invite them all over and we can have a sleep over." She hopped excitedly.

"Not when I am in the house." Phai refused.

"Actually mom says you have to be in charge incase the doctors office calls her into work that day. Also dad might be coming home soon."

Phai just smiled sadly. "Good. I can't wait to see him."

"Why do you look so down? Did something happen at school? Is that why you're in a bad mood?" Callista pouted. It was never pleasant to see her brother in a crappy mood. The days seemed to be getting more crappier for him.

"No reason." He turned away from her and went back to his piles of homework sprawled on his desk.

"Hey remember Alex. Do you ever miss him?" she asked peculiarly as her big brown eyes lifted in sudden remembrance.

"I never stopped." He replied, then gazing into his cup of thick liquid. "Can you please go now?' he asked his nicest trying not to hurt her feelings.

"Err, I was right about you. You are emo."

/

The day is sunny and the sky still doesn't compare to how blue his eyes can get.

Why are you walking ahead of me?

The king stumbles up to his lover. They are walking along a quiet path.

Why are you walking behind me?

His lover answers as he calmly walks enjoying the spring breeze.

You're walking fast.

The blonde man looks frustrated as he tries to keep up with his lover.

You have short legs Alexander.

The king stops in his track and frowns. Do I really Phai?

The insightful general nods his head teasingly but still continues to walk ahead.

Where are we walking anyway? Where are you taking the king?

The blonde asks more questions that only make his friend smile.

You followed me Alexander. I can't answer questions of what I have no knowledge.

The king is now limping with foot soreness.

How can you walk so long without knowing where your direction is?

Why do you ask? We march all the time with out knowing an accurate direction.

The general questions his king by looking at him with a solemn gaze.

His king shrugs and comes to realize.

I suppose. He then smirks charmingly. You want to race? I can prove to you I don't have short legs.

Are you going to catch up to me with sore feet? His general tests his ability.

You bet by Zeus balls I will. The king challenges.

Good. But don't go crying to your friends when you lose sight of me.

I will never lose sight of you.

\

"Mr. Alex!" the teacher cleared his throat. "Look up at the board and focus please. There is nothing worse than a teacher trying to get students to graduate when they don't want to." The teacher faces back towards the board shaking his head with an attitude.

Alex sat back in his seat and ran his hand through his messy blonde hair smiling. His dreams made him blush. The general in his visions made him blush. He missed Phai so much. He was starting to wonder if he had already lost sight of him.

He was snapped out of his rather entertaining atmosphere when he sensed someone eyeing him. He turned to see a girl with dark green eyes shaped like olives and dark long black hair and a soft looking rounded face. She was looking at him with a flirtatious smile. He uneasily smiled back.

So this is where I met her. My first girlfriend.

"So you're the new kid?" she asked Alex once school got out and they were heading to the lockers.

"I've been here for a good year about." He answered sarcastically but playfully.

"I haven't seen you around. Why is that?" she held her books close to her and she wore a blue jean jacket over a screen tee with dark blue skinny jeans complimenting her shape.

"Some people can be blind." Alex answered getting into his locker. He wasn't planning on going home. Like most of the boys he had joined the gym class and had to stay after school ended.

"I am not blind." She answered to his weird remark but he didn't answer her back.

She wasn't so certain about his weirdness but something about him had her fixated especially his noticeable colored eyes.

"So what's your name?" she encouragingly tried to keep up with conversation.

"Alex." He answered. "Yours?"

"Barsine."

"Interesting." He closed his locker door and she just watched him for awhile while he buttoned up his black over shirt

"You're cute. Do you have a girlfriend? If you do she must be very lucky." Barsine spoke up her mouth thinking before her mind.

Do I have a girlfriend? This question becomes much complicated. Do I have a girlfriend? The answer is no. At least I think it's no.

"No. I don't." Alex replied looking away from her confused with his feelings.

"No way. Your gorgeous face has to have a girlfriend." She blushed at her own outspokenness and the way he smiled at her.

"I don't."

"Why? Are you gay?"

He looked at her but didn't answer.

I've dated three people in my life. Barsine. Roxanne and Phai. I only remained faithful for one of them. It might be cheating to you but I didn't know how to talk to girls. They were always so needy and just wanted someone to care for them. It was hard to say no to their face because they wanted to only hear what they wanted to hear. One, that they were beautiful. Two, that you want to live with them forever. Three, that they are your world.

But it always ends with a heart break. Neither Roxanne nor Barsine could have as fragile as a heart as Phai did. He was innocent. He was pure. They were not.

But like usual I made another big mistake in my life almost breaking his heart.

I thought I was going to die before I even hit high school. The doctor told me something around the age of fifteen, sixteen and here I am as a fifteen year old. So I thought why not. I had already failed and fucked up. Barsine was the closest person I had as a lover at the time and I assume I was never going to see Phai again. I lied to him. I told him I would be back when I got a car and lived on my own. It doesn't look like that is going to happen however.

"No. I'm not gay." he didnt know if it was a lie or the truth.

"Well, then what? I don't have any one?" she admitted

"Why? Are you gay?" he asked sarcastically his attempt at flirting.

It obviously worked because after that conversation we started to date. I promise you though I never abandoned Phai. He was always first to me.

But I thought of it this way. When I die I will be leaving him behind. I don't want that. Barsine can have me dead. There is something about it and I don't quite mind. Maybe that is hurtful to her but after awhile you stop caring.

I never stopped caring about Phai but I was giving up, and that was my biggest mistake. I was soon giving up on everything my dreams meant to me. How could I even think about giving up on my Phai? What was wrong with me?

What was wrong was me thinking I will never see him again because I would be found on the side street dead or something. What was wrong was me thinking I didn't have the strength to get Phai back as my lover and to live for it. What was wrong was me giving up on hope and drowning in self pity.

I must say I am proud though. I fought death for the longest time. I got Phai back.

xxxxxxx

Sorry it took so long. Forgive me please : Much love to you all.

stranger