Matt

I sat in math class, recalling the terrified Alistair wore in the hallway when he had confronted him early that morning. 

My mind drifted to his expression, his slightly parted lips, his wide eyes filled with fear, the suffocating feeling I had felt when I stood close to him. I swear I saw something hovering over his shoulder, wisps of black tendrils wrapping around his long pretty neck. Did I just think that?

For some reason, this (probable daydream) made my heart sting, knowing those ashy fingers would leave marks on the pale canvas. 

No one else seemed to be concerned, even his friends he saw him standing with that morning. 

One, he recognized as Benson (Bugs), with long braided ash-colored hair had smiled at Alis as a greeting. He had several piercings, a snake bite above his lip, and another ring set into his cut eyebrow. He wore ripped jeans and a loose aviator jacket, layered over a loose shirt. He was tall and lanky, almost reaching my nose. He had tan skin and a deep voice like my own and choppy bans that reached his dark brown eyes.

The second was a short girl with long platinum blond hair with brown roots. She had dark skin and wore winged eyeliner, extenuating her almond-shaped eyes. She wore matching loose sweatpants and a cropped sweatshirt and large hoops in her ears. 

Alistair, now that I realized it, was much shorter than everyone here.

I turned my attention back to the thing I had seen over his shoulder, puzzled as to why no one else could see it. 

The thing was creepy, so insanely creepy that I didn't even know how Alistair managed to stay calm instead of running away screaming like I wanted to do at that moment. 

Sharp black shoulders that cut through the air and wispy black hair that floated vertically of its head, long claws grasping at Alistair's neck. 

For some reason, it made me want to scoop him up in my arms and never put him down, never letting that thing get to him. 

I shook my head, internally scolding myself for letting myself think about someone like that, let alone a boy.

I'm not.........gay?

I'm NOT GAY.

I LIKE only girls and NEVER boys ESPECIALLY ones with black hair and crooked smiles. Even if they have pretty eyes.

NEVER. 

The bell rang, startling me out of the trance, and I swung my book bag over my shoulder and headed out of the room, remembering their conversation. 

I waited for him at the front of the school, leaning against the crumbling brick wall.

"Heeey~," Jenny said as she skipped over to me.

Ugh.

"What do you want?" I asked, crossing my arms.

"There's a party this weekend at Codie's, wanna come with me?" She asked, sweetly, batting her eyelashes at me. 

"No,"

"Please?"

"No,"

"Please?"

"A no is a no," I grumbled, spotting Alistair heading over with the girl I hadn't recognized. 

"Hey, " He says. He seemed drained, the dark bags under his eyes even darker. Alis doesn't look up at me.

Jenny glared at him. 

"Who's the cutie?" The girl asks over Alis's shoulder.

Jenny turns her attention to the girl and blushes sweetly.

"It's Jenny, hun," She smiles and I roll my eyes.

Alistair moves to stand next to me, observing the two girls flirting. 

"A match made in heaven," He mumbles quietly to me, "Bugs is gonna be pissed though,"

"Who?"

"Bugs, Benson Grey," He says crossing his arms. 

"Tough luck," I say to him. 

"Alright Cupcake and I have a project to do, so you two have fun while we're gone," Alistair announces.

The girl gives Alistair a mischievous look he smirks back. 

Did he just call me Cupcake? 

I lead him to my car, and he doesn't hesitate to get in like it's a normal thing. 

I can sense something from him, something like guilt. It's so overwhelming that I have to steal a look at him, to see if anything has changed on his face. I notice that his eyes have gone sad, almost like he could cry.

I glance at him before starting the car, heading straight to my house.

Just what is wrong with this kid?