Page 15 of Xavier

I look up into green eyes.

Something inside me, something stubborn, wants to swat it away, but I push the instinct down.

Taking the hand, I let him pull me to my feet. I drop it as soon as I'm steady, and notice a flicker of something unreadable across his face. I avoid his eyes, shuffling from leg to leg, regaining my balance. There’s a gust of wind, and a flash of white catches both our eyes. It’s the scrunched-up envelope, making its way down the street. It only takes a few steps of his long legs to catch up with it. He holds it out to me.

"I left it for you," I say, taking it from him, breaking the silence.

His lips tighten for a moment and he finally speaks.

"Why?"

I’m surprised to hear him talk and it takes me a beat to respond.

"Well, read it." I push it back towards him, but he doesn't move.

"No."

"No?" Seriously, what is wrong with this guy? What's his fucking deal?

His shoulders lift in a deep breath.

"No. If there's something you want to say to me, you can say it to my face."

"You haven't exactly made it easy,” I scoff.

"Well, I'm here now,” he shrugs. “What do you want to say?"

I blink. I feel like I'm permanently being knocked off my feet around him. And not just literally. He's staring at me again, just like he was that first day at the ice cream parlor.

Piercing. Unwavering. Read your soul type staring.

My fingers curl and I feel the paper wrinkle in my hand. I will the words from the paper to seep into my mind. I'd spent hours writing that letter, choosing the right words, the correct phrases. But my mind is turning completely blank.

"I... I just want to say, I’m sorry about what happened, the other day with those guys harassing you. I - I didn't know they were going to. They're just fucking jerks. Anyway, I'm sorry. I didn’t want you to think I had anything to do with it."

Not very eloquent, but I hope I’m getting my message across. He stands completely still for a moment and then just nods. Saying nothing.

For so long that it becomes awkward.

"So... um, anyway..." I say, my head hurting with trying to make sense of this strange guy. Strange. Compelling. Unforgettable guy. "That's all I wanted to say."

I take one last look. Something makes me feel like, if he doesn't want to see me again after this, there's no way I'm going to find him. "I... I guess I'll see you around." I reach down to pick up my backpack, swinging it over my shoulder as I turn back towards the school.

"Wait,” I think I hear him say and I almost don't stop. But I know I'll wonder for the rest of my life if I don’t. "Wait," he says again, loud enough for me to know I didn’t imagine it.

And I do.

I feel a soft hand on my shoulder and I spin around.

"Are you game?" he asks. Simple as that.

"For what?"

"For whatever," he replies, his mouth curling up into a smile.

I say the only thing I can in this moment, "Yes."

His hand slides down my arm, the smile growing on his face. "Good. I want to show you something."