Flower Boy

4.2 | THE FEW KNOWN EYES

                                                                                        ( 4.2 ) s i m o n

I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD END UP WATCHING SPORTS AFTER SCHOOL. Under the scorching sun of a Wednesday afternoon, sitting on the bleachers behind a wire fence, looking at Judith practicing with his teammates.

I have to admit, it was quite fascinating to watch.

The once one-time request turned into a routine, the same thing every Wednesday until summer vacation.

It's weird to think little things like these bring so much color to life, but despite all that, I still don't know much about Jude. We've been hanging out with each other for the past few months, but it is as if either of us could just walk away and become strangers again.

This scares me so much to think about.

. . .

Judith asked me whether I was interested in going to a party with him. Apparently a classmate invited him, and he doesn't want to go unless I come along.

He seems to know a lot of people in our school, yet he chooses to distant himself from most of them. I wouldn't call him introverted, but he's no extrovert either. Maybe there are more personalities of a person than the two we always know.

Personally, I've never been or invited to any of these things before, the curiosity in me would murder me if I said no to this opportunity. And besides, I'm going with Jude, not alone.

"So do you want to go? It's okay if you don't feel comfortable, we could just h-"

"Yeah, I'll go with you."

"Are you sure? You don't have to make yourself go." He raised his eyebrow, looking at me.

"Yeah, I would love to go."

He exhales, looking at me with a questionable look. He seems worried, yet he chooses not to confirm with me again.

"Alright, you don't have to worry about too many people, okay? It's just Tyler and his buddies or some shit."

I don't know who on earth Tyler or his buddies are, but I nodded anyways.

"I'll pick you up tonight at 8, remember, Simon J. Wilkins." He pointed at me before walking away from the lockers we were standing by, exiting the school to his mother's car.

Maybe I should be more excited than scared of tonight.

. . .

Jude came 15 minutes early to pick me up, driving his mother's sedan. I learned two things about him today: 1, Jude has more friends that I had expected, and 2, he can drive a car.

Tyler's house wasn't far from where I live, but Judith insisted to drive there. Tons of people were outside of the house talking and dancing to the blaring beat from the house, I was really nervous about the whole situation.

Jude must have noticed my hands shaking from fear, he just held them and said everything was fine. It was assuring, but not quite enough to calm me down. He held my wrist until we reached the front door, soon letting go to open the wooden door.

And wow, Tyler has a LOT of buddies.

Apparently, a house full of them.