The Captain

Mere Infatuation

Ooh you're taking up a fraction of my mind

Ooooh every time I watch you serpentine

Selena Gomez- Bad liar

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Maria Lingard strode soundlessly in their living room clutching unto her now empty bottle of wine. This was her third but it seemed she still wasn't getting enough.

A year ago if anyone had told her she could down a barrel worth of wine in a week she'd think the person was on drugs. Now she actually wanted more.

She touched the painting of her husband which she had made for his birthday, but Ryan never got to see it. Sniffing, she put the bottle down on a coffee table and glided to stand in front of a mirror. Her thick dark hair was combed neatly down to waist length complimenting her black lace gown. But that was the only thing neat and presentable about her, her face was a mess. She doesn't even bother to apply makeup anymore. Her eyes were red and puffy from the nonstop crying with her pale skin looking lighter than ever.

She couldn't help it, the tears just run down without her permission. Even in her sleep they still wouldn't hold up.

And at night, in her dreams, the nightmares wouldn't stop either. The scenes kept playing over and over in her head. From the very beginning where she had arrived home from Corazon's fundraiser, how she had called her husbands name to let him know she was back, and when she went to his study room after hearing no responses... And the pool of blood that had welcomed her without notice.

How she had screamed.

How she had yelled.

How she couldn't move and felt numb all over....... To the end where she lost consciousness.

"You are doing it again mother.." Lesley spoke up from behind her. He had just arrived back from school to see his mom crying in front of the mirror.

Maria hurriedly wiped her tears in other for her son not to see them but her tear stained face and her red puffy eyes were snitching without a heart.

Lesley slowly walked to where she stood and wrapped his arms around her hugging her really tight. Maria didn't waste any time in hugging back. Lesley new she needed it. Hell they both needed it.

Since the incident he had been strong for both of them. On the outside he was strong and calm and unbrothered. But on the inside late at night, if you were to listen carefully, you'd here him sobbing soundlessly in his room.

It still hurt. It still hurt when you are coming home to tell your dad the good news of winning the state quiz only to meet the paramedics pulling a dead body out of your house.

"I'm so sorry Lesley. I'm so sorry..." Maria wept uncontrollably over her sons shoulders. She was sorry she couldn't protect him. She was sorry the tears wouldn't stop.

"Its okay mom." Lesley swallowed. "Everything would get better. I promise." Lesley didn't enjoy talking about the issue, it brought pain he didn't want to feel again.

The woman nodded and sniffed hugging him a bit tighter before pulling away.

"How was school today." Maria asked trying to change the subject. She wiped her eyes again and led Lesley to sit down.

She was proud of Lesley. How the boy was able to hold in everything was beyond her. But she always knew he was strong, he's always been.

"Not so great.." Lesley said recounting the events of Harris telling him to stay away. He didn't know why that was having so much effect on him but it hurt like a b***h. The sting in his chest had found a permanent abode and feeding on every thought of Harris he had.

"Oh what happened?..." Maria asked with raised brows and concern. She didn't want anything else worrying her son. The boy was going through enough already.

"No its just someone. Its nothing important." Lesley said staring at his lap. But the sting in his heart was screaming otherwise. Honestly Lesley was bothered. And he knew it.

"Oh so its someone..." Maria smiled mischievously.

Lesley eyes quickly swelled into saucers on realization of what his mother might mean.

"No! No!...its not that." He exclaimed. "He's just being his usual asshole self that's all." Lesley quickly added so his mom wouldn't get any weird thoughts.

"Oh so its a boy..."

"Mom!"

"Fine, fine" Maria giggled looking at her son who was blushing like a can of red paint had been spilled over his cheeks. If it was enough to make him blush then it meant there was a truth about the matter.

And she was going to find out.

"Okay then. Whatever you say Les." She smiled enjoying the little display before her. Lesley was dying of embarrassment, and she couldn't recall the last time she saw that.

"Harris is an asshole, please dont think of him that way." Lesley shot his mom a stern look which only made the woman giggle harder.

Maria was amused with how such a simple thing made Lesley so worked up.

"So its Harris. The boy you had that fight with?" She asked. Lesley slowly nodded with a frown and the red tinge on his cheeks still visible.

Maria also nodded knowing where this might be heading. But the poor boy before her was embarrassed enough. She wasn't going to say anything and make it worse.

"You've gotten any lead yet?" Lesley inquired hopefully. His mother shook her head replying in the negative.

"Okay then. Go get changed, they've made some burgers for you.." Maria forced a smile.

"With soda?" Lesley asked getting up.

Maria just shook her head and stared at him. All he ever eats is burgers and soda. She wondered how he had grown up to be so tall if that's all he ever ate.

"Of course." She snorted watching him climb up the stairs.

Lesley slumped unto his bed and stared blankly at the ceiling. A lot of things run through his head all at the same time.

And that feeling which erupted in his chest anytime Harris came into mind was alarming. It made him feel numb, it made him feel nervous, it made him flustered in more ways than one. It made him feel weak and vulnerable, and he couldn't do anything about it.

Slowly, he placed his palm on his chest massaging it absent mindedly and feeling his heart beat wondering if he could touch the feeling too. This was crazy. Where did that sensation come from? What did it want?

Lesley swallowed daring to think what he might be thinking. No, it can't be. Silently he cursed and hoped,

Of all things god please don't let it be that. Please dont let it be. Make it disappear overnight.

Unfortunately god had other plans. When Lesley woke up the next morning the first thing that came into mind was Harris, then the sensations followed. He didn't know why it just happened. Especially when you spend half of the night trying to sleep and the other half getting weird dreams.

At school he kind of hoped he would see Harris and at the same time he wished he wouldn't. Why? Because his heart wanted him to but his head wouldn't let him.

Sighing, he headed towards the locker rooms washroom after everyone had left for practice to splash some water over his face and clear his head. He needed that.

He entered to find Harris sitting on the floor against the wall with his palms over his face seemingly in thought. Lesley thought of turning back and leaving because the last time he had confronted Harris the boy had gone crazy about not wanting to see him. The tantrum he had thrown was alarming.

But then no, the sensation in his heart wouldn't let him.

Moreover he had to know why Harris was acting weird, and there was only one way to find out.

"Why are you there?" Lesley asked giving Harris a quizzical look. Harris was supposed to be on the field since he had already changed into his jersey.

Harris on hearing Lesley's voice quickly shot up from where he had been sitting and stared at the boy before him confused. How did he get here?

"When did you get here..." Harris inquired with a little panic in his tone. He had purposefully missed practice to think about those abnormal sensations he got anytime Lesley came into mind only to open his eyes and find the devil himself before him.

Lesley shrugged nonchalantly at Harris question and continued to gaze at him not even blinking.

Harris felt uneasy under Lesleys watch like that. It made his cheeks heat up so hot he was afraid Lesley would feel the heat from where he was standing too. And his heart wouldn't keep quiet. It kept beating really fast and pumping out all those sensations and tingles again.

Harris was getting more than goosebumps.

Lesley stared at the boy who was looking all flustered before him. He had taken notice of how uneasy Harris appeared and how he was strongly averting his gaze. Lesley was beginning to have conflicted thoughts too. He wanted to know why Harris was acting this way.

Taking slow strides, he walked to where Harris was and the boy in turn inched backwards till he was trapped between the wall and Lesley.

Lesley squinted his eyes at Harris taking in the boys actions. Beads of sweat were beginning to gather on his forehead with his cheeks turning a deep shade of red. Harris' emotions were on fire. He looked really flustered with his light green orbs darting anywhere around the locker room but on Lesley. His palms were beginning to sweat and his heart beat accelerated so high he was sure it was echoing around the room.

Slowly, Lesley leaned down at him till his lips were almost on Harris' ear. They were so near Harris could feel Lesley's breath on his sides. The hairs on Harris' neck stood up on edge.

"Why don't you want me to get near?" Lesley whispered into his ear. His eyes lingered down at Harris' body taking in the boys actions and features before his gaze returned to his face.

Saying Harris was flustered was an understatement. The poor boys eyes were swelled into saucers and glistening wildly as they stared at Lesley. His knees were wobbly and his breath was hitched. His heart was burning with tingles he never knew existed.

The warmth of Lesley's breath on his skin had sent an endless trail of shocks down Harris' spine.

As Harris glanced up at the boy before him with this deep chocolate brown eyes staring down into his light green ones, he froze. A wave of electricity hit every part of his body.

His unwavering gaze focused on the handsome face before him, his eyes still not being able to tear away from Lesley.

Lesley on realizing his actions were having an effect on Harris inched closer and closer, so close until their noses were mildly touching.

A shaky breath escaped from Harris' lips. His breath had gotten so ragged he didn't find it relevant to breath anymore.

"Why are you being like this...." Lesley whispered huskily almost inaudibly.

His tone was so low Harris barely heard it over is over-beating heart. Harris' body felt numb as he desperately tried to hold on to his sanity.....

Lesley was killing him. He was silently killing him. He had to be doing this on purpose. He had to.

Harris cleared his throat uncomfortably with how hot his own body was burning. Why was this happening to him? Why was Lesley having so much effect on him?

"What do you mean?" Harris asked swallowing the burning sensations in his throat. He knew very well what Lesley meant, and he knew the reply to that too. That was what made him scared. The answer to any questions he could think off on Lesley scared him.

So he played it safe, by being naive.

"I think we both know what I mean..." Lesley said pulling back a bit to look at Harris fully.

In as much as Lesley was doing the interrogation and appeared unfazed about the whole situation, he was having an internal battle on his own. Having Harris so close to him and him being able to smell the sweet scent of strawberry shampoo his hair always smelled off made him go crazy.... His chest was producing those electrical waves again. His body had turned numb and the tip of his nose which had touched Harris' own was on fire. Harris wasn't the only one experiencing an emotional turmoil.

Lesley scrutinized Harris' face again, an act that was slowly turning into his favorite hobby. The way a part of Harris' hair had fallen into his eyes, the way those two pair of green jades were shimmering at him like a pair of the brightest jewels he had ever seen, how his slender nose run down to those slim lips of his, the lips that continued to purse up from time to time, and with how Harris kept licking them unconsciously............  Lesley was a breath away from pulling those lips into........

"Well I don't think I do.." Harris replied with a hitched voice and lowered his head. If he kept looking at Lesley he might do something he would probably regret for life. He knew very well what Lesley was speaking off.... But Harris was too afraid and shy. Way too shy.

He raised his head again to see an unrecognizable emotion flash in Lesley's deep brown eyes. He quickly looked away again.

"I'm I interrupting something.....?"

 The boys quickly turned around to find Paul at the door of the locker room looking at them like he had finally found proof of alien life on earth. His eyes were wide and he had his lips between his teeth glancing at the two with raised eyebrows.

Lesley coughed awkwardly with Harris clearing his throat and stepping away from the wall and Lesley.

"Ughh it was nothing.... He was just about leaving." Harris hurriedly stated. Paul had seen them together, awkwardly close. Was he going to think something was between him and Lesley?

"Wait wait not so fast," Paul said. "The coach wants you two on the field today. He says you've been missing too much of practice already." He reported.

Harris went to look at lesley. He didn't know why but he felt Lesley wouldn't want to be on the field with him after what had just happened.

Lesley also looked at Harris wondering if Harris wanted him to be on the field when he was there. What had happened between them just now had been quiet awkward. He didn't know what had driven him to interrogate Harris and gotten himself so close like that. He didn't know where the confidence had come from.

Paul silently watched them both trying to configure what he had just seen. On a regular day he would have just brushed it off as being one of their banters before they actually broke into a real fight. But then standing at the door for so long without their knowledge of him being there and seeing how flustered Harris had been all through it, Paul knew this wasn't ordinary. Something was up between the two.

"Harris and I would take the lead whiles you change." Paul said not taking his eyes of them and taking in every bit of action between the two. He was beginning to work his suspicions.

Harris nodded at Paul's suggestion and glanced at Lesley one more time before following him out.

"You never answered my question." Paul said as they made their way unto the field.

"Huh?" Harris asked looking up at him.

"Did I interrupt something?" Paul asked again making sure to take every bit of facial expression Harris was going to show. Actions always spoke louder than words didn't they?

Harris quickly looked away from Paul's scrutinizing gaze. What was he thinking when he thought Paul wasn't going to insinuate anything.

"It was nothing. He was just being the dipshit he always is." Harris swallowed not even believing his own words. He took a deep breath hoping Paul wouldn't ask any further questions.

Luckily he didn't. Paul slowly nodded unbelievingly at Harris' claim. He knew that wasn't the truth, hell even a 2 year old would know that from what he had just witnessed. But instead he just kept quiet, he would just watch them from afar. If there really wasn't anything between them then so be it. But if there was then well...... What a power couple that would be.

10 minutes into practice, with 10 minutes of Harris endlessly glancing at the entrance, Lesley finally made his way unto the field in his soccer attire. Harris' heart got caught in his throat.

He didn't take his eyes of Lesley as he made his way to Wolfhard for a soccer ball.

How he sauntered over the grass to where Wolfhard stood, how he graciously took the ball from Wolfhard's hold, how he lightly laughed at a probable compliment Wolfhard had thrown at him, how his dimple had sunk while he laughed, how his pearly white teeth shimmered on the reflection of the hot afternoon sun, how the wind swiftly run through his short wavy dark hair, how he looked down to hide his smile, and when he looked across the field and caught Harris' gaze......

That very moment Harris knew. He finally realized it.

It was secretive and sly but shadowy and dark and pungent and light. It was a need and a want. It was possessive and irrational. And a thousand maddening senses and sensations, all at once. He felt it.

And at that moment Harris knew, he was in deep. Way too deep.

Lesley also glanced at the dirty blonde enchanter whose eye he had just caught. How the sun beamed down on his illuminating face.... Lesley couldn't even lie to himself anymore. But then he was in denial with the tingles and wave of electricity that swept through him when it came to Harris. He labeled it as an infatuation.

A mere infatuation he would get over soon enough.

Its just a mere infatuation. He thought. The feelings would go away. Its not what I'm thinking.

Well little did he know.....