A Blue Patch in the Sea of Red:

"You have to hold your shirt up, so that I can apply the plaster."  He grunts as I apply pressure to his wound, clenching his eyes closed - his pained expression a contrast against his otherwise seeming confidence.

"Fine.  If it's such an inconvenience, I'll just get rid of it."  My protests fall silent as he shrugs off his jacket, reaching his arms up to slide the shirt effortlessly over his head - my eyes failing to drag away from his well-defined chest.  "That better?"  I nod, returning my attention back to his wound - placing the plaster over it, my hand swiping against his abs - a tingling sensation stealing my breath away.

"There.  You should be good to go now."

"Thanks."  He says as he slips his shirt back on, concealing his tanned, toned torso underneath his shirt.  "I guess I'll go break into someone else's room now."  Stretching his body out to test the strength of my craftsmanship, he reaches up - the bottom of his shirt riding up slightly - my eyes fighting against an unknown temptation.

Trapped;  my gaze watches him mundanely pull his pierced jacket back on, the trophy slipping effortlessly under his arm.  Our attention is both snapped back to the window, the curtain unable to block the sound from the courtyard.

I sigh, pushing myself off of the bed, Justin edging back into the corner as I slide open the curtain.

"Ayo Captain.  We asked around and no one saw him leave campus, so me and some of the boys are just gonna keep a look out.  If he's still here, we're gonna get him."

"Sounds good boys."  They nod, proud of their persistence - a wasted persistence at that I think silently to myself as I look back at the culprit in my corner.

"Well shit."  He mumbles, placing the trophy back on my desk.  "This isn't as easy as I thought it would be."  He bursts into laugh, I draw the curtain back closed at an eager attempt to dull his laughter - unable to find the same humour in the situation.  "Guess I'll go find a bush to sleep in for the night."

I start laughing, misinterpreting the joke as he grabs the trophy and starts heading towards the window.

"Wait no, don't be stupid - you can just stay in my room tonight, until the morning - they're committed, but they should be gone by the morning at least."

"Oh thanks Eddy.  You're sure doing a lot for someone who just broke into your school...and then broke into your room."  Eddy?  No one calls me Eddy.  I guess I'll let it slide just this once.

"Well I just don't want to watch you get beaten up by my teammates...that's all.  You look tough, but not as tough as them."  He places his hand over his heart, feigning a hurt expression before nodding in acknowledgement.

"Are you gonna strip back to your undies, or do I have to pay to see that?"  He winks before crouching over, clasping his stomach as laughter bursts from his throat.  I roll my eyes, his edgy humour a mixture of entice and uncertainty.  "Nah jokes.  That's gay lol."  His blond locks curl over his eyes as he stands back up, straightening to his full height - his green eyes the same level as mine; plump lips complementing his tanned skin and contoured features.

Locked in an entrance, I break the stare, dropping my gaze down to my desk, looking for everything and anything other than him - his eyes following me down.

"Who's that girl in the picture frame with you?"

"Oh that's my girlfriend:  Tralee."  He nods in approval, looking her up and down.

"I swear I've seen her before.  Trippy."  I return my eyes back to the frame, scanning my partner up and down;  3 years of dates, movies and adventures encapsulated in one picture frame.

"Are you ready to go to bed now?  I mean - we can stay up if you want."  I ask, taking my gaze off of the photo.

"Yup.  I guess I'm ready."  I watch curiously as he bends over, patting the ground as he lays down - wrapping his jacket around him for warmth.

"Um, you can sleep in my bed if you want?  You don't have to sleep on the ground."  He jumps up excitedly, kicking his shoes and jacket off before diving right into bed; squashing himself against the wall - patting my own pillow next to him, signalling me to come.

"Thanks.  I was trying to be polite.  Didn't know if you slept with other guys or if you'd be weird about that.  And I low-key didn't want to sleep on the ground."

Turning off the light, Justin's green eyes remain opened - the yellow specs in his pupil shimmering as the room falls into darkness.  I hop into bed, cautiously sliding my body under the blankets - an intangible inch-wide barrier dividing our bodies from touching;  composed solely of bro-code.

"Why are you trynna steal the trophy?"

"I was dared too.  I'm a Freshman, and we all have to do these random things.  Probably why I don't know who you are.  My turn now."

"Your turn to what?"

"My turn to ask a question.  You got one.  Now I get one."  I nod in silence, unaware that we were playing a game in the first place.

"Hmmm....oh!  I got it!  What did you have to do for your freshmen traditions?"  He turns the light back on, propping himself up - looking down at me.  His personality emitting a playful energy, a contrast against the darkness of the room.

"Nah.  I can't tell you.  It's something I'd rather forget."  I admit, the event taking me back to my first campus party.

"Come on you have to."  His pleading reminiscent of a child - receiving a denying groan back from me in response.  "Okay then, I see how it is.  I have to work for the answer."  He lifts his leg over me, returning to the familiar straddling position, and pushes my hands up against the wall - re-trapping me under his weight.
"Tell me or I'll lick your face."  He slower lowers his face towards mine, closing the distance between us - my outstretched arms unable to stop his approach.

"Fine."  I concede after failing to buckle him off me.  "Me and this other freshman dude had to kiss at a party.  And that's it.  That was my hazing."  He lets go of my wrist, resting his weight back onto my hips.

"Oh.  Then I guess you would like it if I licked your face then."  His giggle distracting him enough for me to push him back off.

"You're such a dumbass."

"Don't be mad Eddy.  I won't tell anyone."  He hops back under the blanket, the intangible gap that once divided us gone - his leg laying haphazardly over mine.  A comfortable silence settles over us as time passes.

"Hey bro."  Justin whispers out.  "Thanks for letting me stay the night;  and thanks for bandaging me up;   and thanks for not telling your team mates about me." 

His praise is the last words mumbled before the room falls into silence, the only sound being emitted from him.  His soft snores float around the room, dreams causing him to contort as he slips his hand around my waist, pulling me towards him into a spooning position

My nose twitches, allured by his minty cologne revealed due to his close proximity - each sniff a silent savour of the intoxicating scent.

"Uh Justin?  Are you still awake?"  I ask to no avail as he inches closer to me - my question falling dead to sleeping ears.  My spine shudders as he moves his waist against my back, an intense warmth spreading as my body relaxes into his hold.  I dismiss it, unable to change the situation without awakening him.  With his arms wrapped around me, I sink further into the pillow - drifting off to sleep.

**********

My eyes flutter open, the beaming sunlight illuminating the room through the curtain - a warmth enwrapping my body - Justin's familiar snores greeting my from behind, his strong grip still holding me tightly against him.  That's the best sleep I've had in a long time.

I push myself up, careful not to awaken him - my body strangely missing the comforting grasp around my waist.  No one's ever spooned me before...and I definitely didn't like it.  I didn't like it?  Yeah...there's no way I liked that.  Right?

I wave my thoughts away as I grab Justin's football jacket, looking back at him before pulling it to my nose - the familiar minty scent wafting from the heavy material - it smells just like him.  I frown as my eyes lock onto the hole pierced into his jacket.

Reaching into my desk drawer, I pull out a basket of materials, a blue square perfect enough to seal the hole - the same material I use to cover my own jacket when it tears.

His eyes twitch open, my needle finally closing the seam in his jacket - the blue patch a contrast to his bright, red material.

"Did you sow my jacket up?"  He asks as he props himself up, his voice raspy from sleep.

"Um yeah, I didn't want your jacket to leak or something."

"Thanks for doing that Eddy.  You didn't have to."  I just shrug it off, unsure myself as to why I did it - his jacket now stained with the rich blue of Riseford University;  of me.  "You do know that I'm gonna have to rip that off?  Can't have any blue on my football jersey."  He jokes.

"You're such a dumb ass."  I reply while putting my sewing materials away.

"Well um.  I'm sure the guys looking for me are gone now, so I should probably get going.  I'll give you your personal space back."  

I wage a silent protest in my head, my lips failing to vocalize my inner thoughts.  I just nod, watching as his hand sweeps through his locks before he stands up and slides his jacket over his shoulder.

"I'll go out the way I came in."  He laughs, grabbing the trophy.  "Thanks again for letting me stay Eddy.  I'll catch you round."  My eyes follow him as he drops down onto the ground below, looking around cautiously before he starts running down the alley.

As his figure shrinks, camouflaging into the distance, my eyes stay glued to him;  trapped on Justin Cornwell as he runs off into the morning sun.

A/N

I'm liking writing this book! :)

What are your guys thoughts on the two main Characters so far?  Justin of Buckingham, and Edmond of Riseford.  Leave your thoughts in the comments, I'd love to hear them! 

See you next chapter,

- YOP