|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 9:07 pm
For a few days now, the rumors had been flying around the school about Jaden... and Nathaniel.
And really. It wasn't any of Zach's business what Jaden did, or who he decided to hang out with ... or ... to go out with.
But.
Jaden was his friend. And Zach rather thought, in some part of his mind, that Jaden was a bit... erm. Delicate wasn't quite the word he was looking for, or fragile, or anything else like that. But there was something about his friend that... well, let's just put it this way.
He didn't want to see Jaden get hurt. By anyone.
So, he'd taken it upon himself to go hunt down Nathaniel and give him the whole "Don't you dare hurt my friend or I'll do nasty things to you" speech.
The only problem ... was finding the damn guy. He hadn't been around the classrooms, hadn't been outside anywhere that Zach could see... which left just the mall. Unless Nathaniel just never left his room or something. Which could be just his luck...
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 9:25 pm
It was harder now. Harder to put forth the effort and socialize. Harder not to lock himself back up in the box he'd been living in. Scyeth had told him it would be, he'd been warned. But he'd also been warned that if he kept to his box, it would've been harder to free himself from it later on. Nathaniel hated the whole idea of being stuck that way forever. Of ...being alone forever. He'd had quite enough of that.
Which ended up this way... he was now going out with Jaden. The idea, even the words alone, still baffled him. He, a genius loner, was going out with another student. A shy fantasy-loving male American. The thought made him shudder, but not in disgust of his boyfriend, not at all! But simply the fact that he had done something so bold the very night he'd made his choice to be more social. The night he'd really made his choice about almost everything.
Running a hand through his hair, which was definitely getting longer now and which he really had to debate on cutting or not, he walked along the path to the mall, frowning a little. He'd run out of books and was heading to get some more. He still hadn't made any new friends, but it wasn't because he wasn't trying... it was because he didn't know how to start. How did one go about this whole... social business? Friendly... not-conceited... eye to eye. He sighed... it was going to be a long lifetime.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 9:32 pm
It was about the time that Zach was leaving the mall, that he finally spotted Nathaniel. Instantly, Zach turned on his heel and followed the other - nevermind that it looked a bit funny since he'd just walked out the door two seconds before.
He had no idea why Nathaniel was here, or what he was looking for. But he'd heard enough rumors that he knew there had to be some kind of truth to them. So here he was.
Now, he was just waiting for a good spot to "ambush" the other boy, and pull him off somewhere for a serious talk.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 9:42 pm
The British lad was the sort of teenager who had a one-track mind. Right now, all he could concentrate on (aside from walking to his destination without the interference of walking into doors or walls) was what books he needed from said book store. Did he want to search up another biochemistry encyclopedia, or would it be more beneficial to research more bodily functions and the nervous system? On this train of thought, he had little to know idea he was being followed, nor would he probably care if he did.
Nathaniel had never been one to follow rumors. Rather, he was the sort who let them pass by without a second thought. Had he known they were about him, perhaps he would've acted a little differently, but he couldn't simply imagine it possible. Some things would never change, no matter how hard anyone tried. Pausing a moment, he stopped to examine his surroundings and get his bearings; it had been a long time since he'd last been to the book store, especially since he got most of his things from the Science and Technology building anyway.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 9:47 pm
Zach figured quickly enough that Nathaniel probably wasn't gonna notice him, from the determined way he was walking and pretty much not looking at much of anything but what was in front him.
Damn. He'd been hoping maybe he could do this a little more... subtly. Oh well.
Moving closer, he said, "Hey, Nathaniel." Not too loud, but almost right next to the other's ear. "You got a minute?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 10:00 pm
Well now... the usually cool and composed British lad could say that for once... he had been startled. Yes, startled. There was no other word appropriate for it. Some random boy he'd never met had just come up beside him and basically asked him, right in his ear nonetheless, if he would spare a moment. Nathaniel froze, adjusting the bag around his shoulder and then taking a step away from the other boy, not out of fear, but out of need for space.
Emerald eyes assessed him, but mentally he warned himself not to judge. He didn't smile, he wasn't quite at that stage yet. More talkative and friendly, perhaps (although not that well), but cheerful? No. Absolutely not.
"I suppose. Is there something I can help you with?" He tilted his head, trying not to be so high and mighty and more on the equal level. Gods this was hard!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 10:11 pm
Zach smirked just slightly in his head at that ... not really glad he'd startled the other... but it was kinda nice to know he could still do that. Sometimes.
"Not here... c'mon, I don't wanna get run over," he said then - not quite reaching out to grab the other, but looking as if he might if Nathaniel didn't follow him.
Then he turned and started off toward a little nook over to one side with a table and a few chairs.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 10:25 pm
Blinking, he wondered who this guy even was and wasn't sure if he wanted to comply so easily. Being social was one thing. Being a push over was another entirely. Nathaniel was fine with trying to help people and being less stuck up, but following random strangers for a chat after being ambushed by one of them? Well that was a little strange, to say the least. He bit his lower lip a second thinking about it and quickly decided he could spare a few minutes, and being pushed around by a crowd wouldn't be such a good idea. Neither would letting the other grab him and drag him away.
So, nodding, he followed the other and then stood a little perplexed, "Forgive me if I should know... but who are you?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 10:34 pm
Zach pulled one of those chairs out and spun it around, sitting down backwards with his elbows draped over the back. Then he motioned at the other one, said, "Sit down, I'm not gonna bite... oh, and I'm Zach. Sorry." He smiled faintly and gave a little apologetic shrug. "I'd kinda thought most people here knew who I was, at least."
Not that it really mattered for this... he just had something he wanted to say to the other, that was all.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 10:40 pm
Informal, slightly crude, and rather spontaneous. Altogether Nathaniel wasn't quite sure he was ready for this kind of person quite yet, but this was what he'd been handed and so deal with it he would. It took a load of effort to refrain from walking away or telling the other he was a waste of his time. Obviously the other had taken pains to look for Nathaniel, for he had something to say. It was important to someone else and the Brit was conscious that he had to be careful not to trample on that. He wasn't going to trample or ignore anybody anymore, that was done with.
Still, he couldn't help but frown a little disdainfully before taking a seat in the proper manner, for that was his habit. Tilting his head, he looked at the other curiously if not a bit distant, "Well... uh... Zach, it's nice to meet you. What was it you wanted to talk about?" Still as blunt as ever! Nat was having trouble being patient. It really was difficult trying to walk a different path!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 10:53 pm
Zach blinked a bit - already finding it hard to believe that Jaden was actually going out with someone so.... stiff. But, hey, it was his friend's choice, not his.
"Yea," he said. "I uhm." He looked down at the floor. Oh come on, just spit out it out! "Look. I know this's probly gonna sound bad. But... I've heard. Things. About you an' Jaden. And I'm his friend."
A little pause, and he looked up at the other, gauging Nathaniel's reaction so far.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 10:58 pm
Immediately, the entire conversation took a new turn of events and if possible, Nathaniel sat a little bit straighter, eyes turning glassy hard. "What things?" he said immediately, worried only for Jaden's safety and none of his own. He was as oblivious as ever when it came to relationships. If it wasn't science, he found that he wasn't so quick witted to guess the obvious. Behavior was one thing. Rumors were another. He was so unskilled at guessing rumors or things that people would talk about, that it was an instant shield he had to put up. Even now, he was trying (and failing) not to erect a wall between him and this person Zach. He was trying not to put himself above the other despite the fact that this guy was only Jaden's friend and not his best friend, nor his boyfriend.
Twitching, with a sigh, and a heap of effort, he softened the gaze and leaned back in his chair a little, folding his arms and awaiting the answer. He couldn't even have a guess as to what would follow from the other's mouth, but he definitely wanted to hear it. If it concerned Jaden and himself, it was worth hearing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 11:11 pm
Zach blinked at the other's reaction at first... not having expected to get such a glare out of the other. But then again, Nathaniel didn't seem like the type to listen to rumors, so maybe he just didn't have a clue what Zach was talking about.
So he kind of flapped a hand at the other and murmured, "Nothin' bad. Just... is it true you guys are going out?" He was on a bit firmer footing again now - Nathaniel's reaction having sort of spurred him over the speedbump of his own nervousness.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 11:16 pm
It took a few moments to process this, and the shock tumbled from his entire body. "What?" he asked incredulously before he had quite gotten over things. Sure, this kid could be a friend of Jaden's... but there were rumors going around that the two of them were now... dating? Well, great! That was simply great! Resisting the urge to bury his face in his hands, he sighed and propped his elbow up onto the table so he could lean his chin into the palm of his hand. Emerald eyes flickered thoughtfully before he shrugged, almost nervously.
"I'm... not sure how you know or why it concerns you," he began a little defensively, feeling that he had the right to be so with an issue this delicate for him, "But yes, we are."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 11:20 pm
Ah ha! He had him now! Zach smiled - fighting to keep it from becoming a smirk - and said, "I told you. Rumors. Stuff like that gets around... doesn't matter what you do to keep things quiet. It just happens."
"An' it concerns me because I am Jaden's friend. I just... wanted to tell you..." And here, he leaned forward - suddenly quite serious. "If you ever hurt him, in any way... I'm gonna be all over your a**."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
