Burning Coldness

|AVOIDING|

Brisk autumn wind was stripping trees of its yellow and auburn leaves as the cold drizzle washed the busy streets outside. Nathaniel sighed heavily as he looked through the window of his classroom.

He was bored as hell, it was his first class this morning and he certainly wasn’t excited to sit in History Class this early. His whole week was pretty much non-eventful, he was tied up in homework and basketball practices. He couldn’t wait for the weekend to finally relax a bit, and he decided he would definitely steer clear from any parties in the near future, considering the last one he went to.

Besides having a hilarious headache, and barfing for the good portion of his Sunday, he was still a bit upset over the unpleasant encounter in the closet with Andrew. He was surprised himself that he got that wasted, usually he was composed and never went off the limits. Allyssa told him that even she was shocked with his state of drunkenness on Saturday.

She told him he was mumbling something about some green eyes the whole time in their way home. Nathaniel couldn’t recall any of that and he had a feeling that much more was missing from him, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t put his finger on it.

As for Andrew, he didn’t speak to him after that argument. He figured it was time to quit being nice to that vicious guy. Hence, he ignored him completely, like he didn’t existed at all. It seemed to him that Andrew was fine with that too, except for weird glances he would cast him away when he thought Nathaniel wasn’t looking.

“Mr. Brook, are you listening? If you had something on your mind, mind to spare it with us?” he seemed to hear a voice, coming out from someone in front of him.

“Sorry, what did you say?” Nathaniel snapped from his reverie to see that teacher calling from his name.

“I see you are more interested in the rain than you are in my class,” the teacher raised her eyebrow. Majority of the class turned to Nathaniel’s direction. He noticed Andrew was looking at him, too. He had again that strange expression on his face. His eyebrows knitted together as in confusion and questioning. Their eyes met for brief second, Andrew’s stare so intense as if he wanted to figure out something from his face.

“I’m sorry, I haven’t noticed.” Nathaniel apologetically smiled turning his attention back at the scolding teacher.

“You were spacing out. Just pay attention from now on.” the teacher said finally before continuing with her long lecture. Nathaniel just nodded in response and quickly glanced at Andrew’s side, but he wasn’t looking at him anymore. He sighed again and decided to at least try to pay attention to what his teacher talking about.

•••

“Nathan, pass me the ball!” Harold shouted as Nathaniel dribbled towards the opponents. They were playing basketball for the 30 minutes in his gym class. The teacher divided all the boys in class into two teams. He grinned happily as he was about to pass the ball to Harold who would score for sure and bring them victory in this play off.

As he extended his hands to pass the ball, he felt a hard push on his left shoulder and he was sent sprawling on the hard gym floor. He winced as the pain spread through the side of the body he landed on. His teammates hurried towards him, asking if he was alright.

“Far from the heart.” he replied, still wincing from the pain. He was rubbing the hurt thigh and tried to get up as he heard his teacher yell.

“What was that, Mr. Brook?” he demanded strictly. Nathaniel looked up to see the culprit smirking slightly with his eyes narrowed at him before turning back to teacher and responding sweetly, “I’m sorry, sir. It was an accident, I just wanted to snatch the ball.”

“I am sorry, Nathaniel.” Andrew grinned at him. But he knew that his apology carried not even an ounce of regret. His green eyes were cold and spiteful, and Nathaniel just wanted to wipe that evil grin off his face. But being a better person, he was just excused himself and went to the changing room to compose himself.

Andrew couldn’t help but grin at how he pushed Nathaniel. It felt so good to do that. The frustration and fury have built up in him for the past week after that incidence. He thought that Nathaniel would acknowledge or at least apologize, but not only he didn’t apologize, he just ignored him for the whole week. Like nothing ever happened, and like he didn’t existed. Andrew never felt this pissed in his life, he literally wanted to hurt that guy. The only thought that rung in his head the fast few days was: how dare he?

But how dare he want exactly, not even Andrew himself was sure. How dare he kiss him? How dare he not acknowledge it? How dare he not want it again as much as Andrew wanted it? How dare he forget about it? He didn’t want to wrack his brain too much on it, only thing that was important is that he was beyond furious.

And the worst thing is he couldn’t get that head make-out session out of his head. His nights were haunted by Nathaniel’s intoxicating smell, his taste, the feel of his warmth body pressed up against him. It was driving him crazy, and caused his mood to sink to never seen before dark depths.

“Mr. Harriet, go check on your friend!” the teacher ordered him.

“What? He’s not my friend. I don’t—” Andrew protested clenching his fists.

“Now, Mr. Harriet!” the teacher half-yelled at him, showing he won’t tolerate his obnoxious attitude. He growled in frustration and shot a glare at Harold who was looking like he would kill him at the spot, and marched angrily towards the changing room.

Nathaniel was rarely get teed off but this was certainly one of those times. He huffed in changing room as his hands itched to hit something. Tears were prickled at the back of his eyes from the anger.

“What the hell is wrong with him?!” he yelled in frustration as he slammed his hands on the locker. He put his forehead on the cold locker surface as he tried to calm himself when he heard a recognizable chuckle behind him. He turned in fury to see one and only Andrew chuckling at his face with his fingers crossed, and his weight resting on one leg.

“What are you laughing at?” he half screamed as he took a step towards Andrew. He never punch anyone in his life, but he was too close to it at this moment.

“You are pitiable.” he said with coldness seeping from his every word.

“What is that you want from me?! You want me to hate you? Well, you have accomplished it. I hate you like I’ve never hated anyone in my life.” Nathaniel spat furiously as angry tears escaped from his eyes.

Andrew looked at him in shocked, and hurt was obvious in his feature for a split second making Nathaniel regret his harsh words, before he put his indifferent face back on.

“Like the words from trash like you mean anything to me! How much your trash parents have to work to afford this school, seriously? You are nothing Nathaniel, not even the dirt on the scrap of my shoe.”

“Why you—!” Nathaniel gave him a punched in his face. “Say it again, you son of a b***h! Say it again!” his hidden hatred came out incessantly.

Andrew’s face turned vigorously at the intensity of the punch. His face was already reddening, leaving the back palm of his punched. Nathaniel breathed hard and took a step back as he look baffled at his palm, as if he was surprised of what he has done. He looked back at Andrew, whose eyes were seemed to be burning with fire.

“And—” Nathaniel tried to say something, but was cut off by Andrew heaving himself at him, slamming his back at the lockers behind them. His head thumped hard on the locker behind him, causing him to lose focus for a second. Andrew was clutching his shoulders hard, digging his nails into his skin. He closed his eyes expecting a punch or slap from Andrew but when neither arrived, he opened his eyes tentatively.

Nathaniel was still dangerously close, his eyes crimson from anger. His eyes, the most beautiful color of forest green, were intensely boring into his own dilated pupils. Nathaniel was expected to see a hateful expression on the brunet’s face. He expected a punch, some sort of chilling menace that might came from him any second from now. Anything, but Andrew did next.

Tangling his slender fingers into Nathaniel’s hair, Andrew crashed his lips on Nathaniel blonde’s eyes shot in astonishment. Brunet’s eyes were shut tight, his warm lips desperately pressing themselves onto Nathaniel. His body, with a will of its own, responded to the kiss. As his mind went black, his eyes shut close, and he felt kissing him back. The kiss stirred deeply buried within Nathaniel’s heart.

Kissing Andrew seemed familiar, seemed right, like nothing he missed this whole time without knowing what it was. Nathaniel clutched him even closer and deepened the kiss. Nathaniel couldn’t help but moan into Andrew’s mouth.

He sneaked his hands around the brunet’s neck, pulling him closer. It seemed nothing existed anymore, not their animosity towards one another nor the fact that he was making out with the most hateful guy in the middle of school’s locker room. It was just them and their bodies flushed each other, and their tongues battling in frenzy for dominance.

Nathaniel released his clutch on Nathaniel’s shoulders, and instead sneaked his cold hands inside his gym shirt causing Nathaniel to shiver from the cold touch and the pleasure. Nathaniel released a moan himself and flashed it through Andrew’s mind that was the most wonderful sound he ever heard.

Andrew suddenly pulled away as the footsteps and chatters drew near the locker room. He glanced at the door quickly and then, back at Nathaniel. His eyes totally darkened by lust, his hair was bit disheveled from Nathaniel’s fingers, and his right cheek still red from the punch he gave him, he looked absolutely handsome. “I am sorry.” he said as he brushed away one stray tear from Nathaniel’s flushed cheek, and just like that, he turned away and left.

What is he sorry for?