Page 11 of Xavier

“Stop it!” I yell, but I can’t even hear my own voice over the shouting. “STOP IT!” I scream again, the air dragging against my throat like a razor. I run over to Jack, pushing as hard as I can against his arm, making him sway to the side. “Get off him! He didn’t do anything!”

Jack growls, spinning around towards me, his eyes glazed over and red, his arm raised, ready to strike.

“NO!” Green Eyes, jumps to his feet, shoving me over, standing between me and Jack. I trip and almost fall over, but someone catches me, and holds me upright.

Jack blinks; his arm still raised.

They stand there, chests heaving, blood dripping down the right side of Green Eyes’ face.

“Oh, so now the pervert is a hero?” The sarcasm drips from Jack’s lips. “Relax, I wasn’t going to hit her.” He takes a breath and steps back, a sneer creeping up his face as he rubs his knuckles. “I would say I don’t hit girls but the black eye you’re going to sport tomorrow, is evidence to the contrary.”

Green Eyes doesn’t move. But I can see his jaw clenching, the vein snaking its way down his throat growing thicker. Something tells me, if I don’t stop it, someone is going to get seriously hurt.

“Just… just go,” I say, glaring at Jack. “Please.”

“Great way to thank me, babe.”

“There’s nothing to thank you for. Just go!” I yell.

Someone squeezes my arm and I realize it’s Randi who had caught me. “Hey. You okay?” she asks, softly.

“It’s fine. I’ll be alright. I’ll see you at school tomorrow.” I give her a tight smile.

Jack snickers, shaking his head at me. I stare him down until he finally moves, pushing through a gap in the circle, with the rest of the group following behind him. Leaving me with Green Eyes.

It’s almost a minute until we’re completely alone, but he hasn’t moved. The trickle of blood reaches the top of his dirtied collar, and I reach forward, as if to wipe it away.

As soon as my fingertips touch him, he jumps and pulls away, turning his back to me.

“You go, too,” he says, so softly I’m not even sure he said it.

“No, please. Let me help you.”

“I said go,” he says, louder this time.

I take a breath. I don’t know why, I can’t walk away.

“You’re hurt, at least let me help clean the wound. It’s my fault. Jack’s a jerk.”

He doesn’t say anything, but I can see him lift his hand, his fingertips gently touching his cheek.

“Does it hurt?”

“No.”

“I’m… I’m really sorry. It’s all my fault,” I repeat. I don’t know what else to say.

“Just go.”

I stand for a few more seconds, but I can tell he really doesn’t want me there. My throat locks as I try to swallow, wishing I could see his face one more time before I leave.

“I go to Langham High, if you need anything. You can find me there.” I don’t know why I tell him that, I know he won’t use the information. But it’s the only thing I can think of to say right now. “I’ll… see you later,” I say, and take one last look at his back, thin, hunched over. Defeated.

When I’m almost fifty feet away, something tells me to turn around. I catch him, standing by the doorway of the ice cream parlor, watching me go. I raise my hand and wave, but all he does is step through the door, disappearing inside.

***

The first time I ever saw someone dance, I thought she was an angel visiting from heaven. It was on TV, a ballerina, decked out in tulle and pale pink tights floating across the stage as if she and air and gravity were separate only in the constructs of our minds.