Perfection and trouble

Lachlan showed up to class with a bloody nose again. I wondered what he had gotten into this time.

It was like this every time we had morning form—I showed up to my seat next to the sunny window, looked through my emails, assignments, and notes. The rays casted my desk in pure warmth. Then, five minutes after the bell, Lachlan appeared. With a new wound or bruise or something like that. It was like he attracted trouble and pain wherever he went.

He would make his way to the other side of the room, brooding in his thoughts, not even considering the classes he had to attend after this.

I had longed to ask him where these new marks came from. Who gave them to him. But eventually, the rumors and whispered words about him became too much for my own heart to handle. So, I never asked.

I really did wish I could sit next to him and ask why he looked beaten up every morning.

As my thoughts swarmed around the multitude of possibilities that could have been the right one, especially with how his bleeding nose was not looking good in any time soon, I didn’t consider that I might’ve been staring too long. Too damn concentrated to hear my name.

“Elias Honeyman!” My teacher shouted. I jolted in my seat and felt a rush of embarrassment fill up my face and hands.

“Sorry, sir… I’m here. I’m here.”

Sir, Mr. Loki, was not one to mess with and I knew damn well the good student image I’ve been trying to have in his form is starting to strain under his scrutinising eyes.

“Next time, have a little more attention from boys, Elias.” Mr. Loki said with a sigh, and my class buzzed in surprise and laughter at the sight of my ever-growing red face. I didn’t give a damn about these nobodies… Until I noticed Lachlan looking at me with a scowl. Filled with confusion and annoyance at that.

Gosh, am I starting to get distracted by guys? No, no; this won’t be happening. Even if Lachlan looks so intriguing… And handsome… And- Snap out of it, Elias!

I willed with my whole body to not even look from my laptop and notes. It was not worth being laughed at again for being distracted by boys.

…

The sounds of my English class settled over me like a waterfall to mossy rocks. I can be grateful for how they drowned out my thoughts on my little embarrassment in form class.

Miss had attempted for the fourth time to teach us how the short story structure worked in our assessment but the way no one was really paying attention other than me; I didn’t think she was faithful in today’s lesson.

My pen scribbling and scrambling neatly on my crisp, white, paper served a sanctuary to the drowning noise. Writing, labelling, underlying… It was the only noise I could really appreciate in this jungle of animals. I felt like some lost explorer trapped in a herd or battle of some sort. Paper was thrown across the tall grass, angry squawking erupted every time spine shivering laughter came along. I was surprised our teacher stayed this long before asking to have another class; she was a warrior.

As I strayed to my laptop’s illuminating screen, I was internally screaming for class to end soon. The Stile lesson wouldn’t load and from what the amount of attempted tries of relogging and signing into my account, I wouldn’t get anywhere.

“Don’t bother. Miss hadn’t put anything on Stile.” A deep, rough, almost sand-paper voice resonated beside me. I felt my arms blared in goosebumps and shivers. I looked from my screen and came face to face with Lachlan.

“Oh… Yeah. Okay.” I lamely replied with a crooked smile. He returned the smile with a scoffing smirk.

Then he leaned towards me and his hand slowly lowered my laptop screen. I felt like this was where this poor lost explorer was going to get eaten by the black patterned jaguar. I knew I didn’t stand a chance to a guy like him. Lachlan looked like ready to do—I don’t know, but something. He was awfully too close for comfort. Why did he look so beautiful yet so dangerous at the same time? Was this how it felt looking at the devil?

Lachlan’s eyes turned narrow, and he grew closer.

“I won’t bite. And besides, I don’t intend to use my claws when I’m bored.”

[I might continue their story in the same short story format]