George pov

Clay stayed with me until the storm was once again the comforting putter-pattering drops of wisened rain.

He held me until my fear had slid down the drain, back into the pit of my stomach. A reminder of what had driven me to terror.

Even then he was content to run his fingers through my hair, to talk to me without the hope for an answer.

Even when the wind had died, his hold didnt falter.

I breathed a sigh, allowing myself to melt into his embrace, savoring this moment.

And then I was pushing him away.

I had made a decision.

I turned away, and the fluttering in my chest ceased. My heart slowed down, and regret seeped into my lungs.

I could feel Clay's inquisitive gaze on me. I hoped he wasnt hurt. I hoped he didnt care.

A weight was set on my chest uncomfortably.

I shift on the spot, starting to get to my feet. Behind be I could hear the blonde do the same.

"George?"

There it was again. The temptation to turn around and lose myself in a gentle gaze.

But I was on my feet now, and my eyes knew now where to look to get back to the teachers lounge.

I could see the route in my mind, I had a mission, a goal, something to focus on.

A distraction.

"George?"

Don't respond.

Don't look.

Don't turn around.

Don't give in-

Lightning struck as I faced him once more, my will moving me against my better judgement, eyes crashing together like the thunder that started up again.

The unknown unsettling, and there was something intangible stirring around us.

The clouds outside swirled as the wind began trying a little harder to blow the building down.

The rain smothered the windows again in chilled sheets , blocking the view to the outside, and making me feel trapped inside- claustrophobic and clammy with cold.

Clay seemed confused, perhaps hurt.

Hurt? How?

I had barely done anything to block him out, and he had barely the time to know me enough to detect any change in my behavior.

He had only met me a couple days ago, and yet only a few small actions of insouciance could penetrate his sentimentality?

How could I have this much of an affect on him? Why did I?

His arm was reaching for me, a flicker of hope sparking in the dampened embers of his emerald eyes.

But I had already given too much.

I had noticed too much, and I had unlocked a chest of questions in my heart that would be invoke dangerous analytics.

One glance at his outstretched hand, his apology for the nonexistent wrong that lay guilt ridden in his mind.

One look, a regretful consideration.

And then I walked away.

*******

I was crouched in the corner of the room. Close to the door, I was bathed in the pale light that was allowed to spill through the raindrops on the window in the hall.

I felt mad, and at the same time too tired to try and be angry.

I just kept glancing out into the hall at the blonde boy who stood so close to the hazards of nature.

He stood still, face motionless, eyes full of wonder.

I found myself staring at his pupils as they dilated under the threatening flashes of lightning, eyelids pulling his eyes further open than seemed possible in his fascination.

Sometimes, he would smile. Fleetingly, the soft features raised in something that brought him a moments' joy, and I would feel my body start to buzz.

It was then that I would tear my gaze away, and spend time cursing my weakness.

But then, there he was again, moving to sit down in his ignorance, body relaxing in his unawareness.

He was smiling. He was happy.

How? Why?

He wasnt doing anything, but it made me want everything about him.

I wanted to know him, wanted to ask the questions that were dancing a little to close to my heart.

I wanted him to tell me everything, and I would memorize his face as he recounted every wonder that made up the matter of this person that somehow intrigued me so.

My whole body wanted me to move closer to him.

Words skirted dangerously on the tip of my tongue, painfully attempting to pry my mouth open.

And there he sat, impervious to my turmoil.

I had to turn away, my glare falling disappointingly on a dirty floor.

My mind was swirling with too many questions I did not want to answer. It was bothersome: the intrepid and merciless inquiries that continued to pester my conscious.

Why, why, why did he even out of sight infringe on my vision?

How could he have such an affect on me? This wasn't normal.

No one else made me feel this way.

He had barely done anything to elicit this burn in my chest, to sear my lungs into suffocation.

I had only met him a couple days ago, and yet only a few small signs of his complacency, his show of comfort had set my mind blank.

And this was only from admiring from afar.

'Admiring'.

My nose scrunched up in disgust at the word.

That couldn't be right.

I didnt find his wonder that enamoring.

His smile didn't have that much of an impact on me.

And yet, my heart definitely skipped more beats than was healthy when a soft chuckle rang out from behind me.

With a groan, I buried my head in my arms to hide the rose hue of my cheeks.

Omg, this is a little shorter than usual, and I'm sorry.

I've been dealing with a lot lately, and not all of it has been easy, but I'm determined to not drop off the face of the planet again.

So, new chapter!

I hope u guys enjoyed.

Make sure to have fun sometime soon, and enjoy ur life.

Much luvs to you all, you are all the best.

And thank you to my close friends, I'm so glad ur here, even if I'm not always able to talk. Your presence, support, and understanding means the world.

Until next time, my comrades.

Bye! 🫶