Exposing the "Us"

I am sitting on her bed like she did for me, but this time, she is sitting next to me, leaning on my shoulder, still bruised but not very painful.

"How are your parents?"

"Dead," I answer coldly.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know, um."

"Don't worry, you couldn't know, it's fine, they died in a car crash when I was little, along with my sister," I reveal a scar under my beard, across my neck, "I nearly died as well, piece of glass or metal, a little further and I was dead, but I live with my uncle and aunt, when I was back in Barcelona."

"When is your birthday?"

"June 22th."

"Oh, that's funny."

"What's funny?"

"Mine is June 22th."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah," She giggled, "But I'll be 17, and you'll be 18, so yeah."

"How are your parents?"

"They live far from here, in Wyoming, but yeah, it's far, but it isn't much, I go see them for summer and winter break."

"Wow, um, is it far? No clue about states and where they are."

"It's north from here," She giggled, "You are cute."

"Never gotten that as a compliment before, how so?"

"You are like a big teddy bear."

"You are cute as well," This made her blush brightly, "You really are, with your small frame, your long blonde hair and those green eyes."

"T-T-Thank you, um, um, um, I don't know what to say, um, I love you."

"So do I, how long have you been here?"

"Um, 4 years?" She says seeming unsure, "Where have you lived before?"

"South Korea, Spain and Switzerland, now here."

"Wow I have only ever moved states, I have only moved from Wyoming to here, why have you moved so much?"

"My uncle's work."

"What does he do?"

"Embassy stuff, I don't talk about it to him," I shrug as she cuddles closer to me, "What time is it? 6:13, we have soooo much time."

"Have you ever had a girlfriend?"

"Nope, aside from you, no."

"Why not?"

"Dunno."

"Well, ain't I lucky to be your first."

"I guess, honestly, what do you see in me?"

"Huh? What do I see in you? More than a physical relationship, someone who cares for others without asking anything in return, I don't know, and you are hot."

"Let's not exaggerate, I am not hot."

"Come on, look at yourself, 6ft 8, 300 and you have such muscular legs and arms, and your shoulders? And these calves?"

"Are you actively trying to embarrass me?"

"No, maybe, only a little," She pushes me so that I am lying down on the bed. I land on my bad shoulder and grimace, "Oh, I'm sorry, are you okay? Did I hurt you?" I shake my head and then pull her down over me, "Aristide?"

"I've always wanted to do this," I smile as she hugs me, "We are going to start Post War Years tomorrow, right?"

"We started that today."

"Huh?"

"You spent the night at the hospital, so I came to see you after classes with Coach White, so you might need some tutoring to catch up?" She smiled playfully as she looked at me. I roll my eyes and rest my head back, "What bike do you have?"

"Hmm?"

"Bike, you have one, right?" I nod, "What type?"

"That's a surprise for another day," I stick out my tongue slightly and she gets whiny.

"Come on, that isn't fair," I blow her a kiss, "Have you ever kissed?" I shake my head, "You really are new to love then?" I nod, "What were you planning to do at the gym yesterday morning?"

"100,000 kilos, my extreme routine."

"What does that mean?"

"It's like 220,000 pounds."

"That is too much."

"I know, that is why I do it rarely."

"What do you do in that routine?"

"1100 times 20 over 4 sets, then do some seated rowing, 110 times 40 over 4 sets, then some bench, some incline, some squat, bicep press and curls, some deadlift, hercules hold and yeah."

"That sounds terrible."

"You don't get this body without doing that," I sit up with her sitting on my lap, "I wonder how people will see our relationship."

"I don't know, maybe we should come out soon, don't want Michael hating you for no reason."

"About him."

"Yeah?"

"Nothing, actually, nothing."

"Okay, you are so kind, I wouldn't replace you for a million Michaels, you might not have the same body, but somehow I prefer this than his, and you are so much nicer."

"I would never hit a woman, unlike him, so you won't have to fear that at least."

"Where is that from?" She looks up at me, tilting her head slightly.

"French gentleman's code."

"Wow, didn't think you would be a gentleman."

"You want to do something else or just talk?" I say looking around her room, "Same as mine."

"Yeah, generic rooms for you."

"Have you been in the same room for four years?" She nods and leans her head on my chest, "You haven't personalized it much."

"I tore off the pictures with me and Michael so it was personalized but not anymore."

"Oh, well, I don't really personalize my room, not even in my room at my uncle's place," I shrug, "Your hair is really soft, and so smooth."

"Stop complimenting me, please, it embarrasses me."

"Okay, I'll stop," She hugs me again, "What's up? You want to talk about something? You seem very clingy."

"You talked about Michael, did he do this to you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Aristide, why are you defending whoever did this to you?"

"Because I feel that revenge isn't something I need to do, if I hold on, I think that I can get something more from that person then the satisfaction of revenge."

"What are you? A sadist?"

"No, nor am I a masochist," She giggles, "Whatever, I am not talking about this anymore, how was class today?"

"Boring without you."

"You are cute," I look at my watch, "It's 7, god, the day is so long."

"And you only woke up a few hours ago."

"Sorry for not being able to stay on my feet without tripping."

"You are really good at lying to yourself," I sigh and say nothing, "Aristide?" She asks as I get up. My knee pains every time I take a step, "Are you listening to me?"

"I am gonna go for a walk, I need some air," As I head to her door, she rushes to my side and then walks next to me as I half limp out of the building and half limp as we walk together, "Did you guys get homework?"

"Nope, it was a light day," I smile again as we walk together. She takes me by the arm suddenly, making me look at her confused. I look forwards and see her friends, Clara, Ines and Flora, "Hey girls!" They walk up to us and look at us weirdly.

"Um, this? The arm thing?"

"Yeah, what is this about?"

"Did you break up with?"

"Yeah, I did, and well, I am with Aristide now."

"You barely know each other."

"I know, I told her that, but I want to try it out," I shrug as they look at me weirdly. They walk with Cassandra and me as the girls talk together, I say nothing as my knee still hurts, 'If I talk and walk, I am going to grimace and make Cassandra worry again.'

"Aristide, que piensas de todo esto?" 'Fuck!'

"Um, de que?"

"De salir con ella?"

"Y porque en esta lengua?"

"Para ver lo que piensas de verdad," 'Ines clearly doubts my reasons,' "Y que respondes?"

"Um, pues si, la quiero y, um, creo que puedo ver me con ella para todo mi vida, soy así, un romántico."

"Wow, well, I think I have asked what I wanted," Ines giggles, "I wish Bill was the same."

"What did you ask him?" Cassandra looks at Ines and then at me, "Aristide, what did she ask?" I sit down on the bench that I stopped near, "Are you okay? Does your knee hurt?" 'She is worrying too much,' "Sorry I made you walk."

"Stop worrying, it's fine, I just can't walk for very long," I sit down and Cassandra sits down next to me, "She wanted to see if I really did want to go out with you, you know, apparently what "regular" friends do, and I told her what I really felt," I exhale and readjust my knee brace, "I'll tell you what I felt a little later," She looks at me uneasily, "But it isn't bad, right?" I gesture to Ines and she nods, "Well, I think I want to go eat, you want to come with, Cassandra?"

"Yeah, let's go," She says holding my arm as if it was a couple thing, only to hide her trying to reduce the weight on my knee, "You guys coming to?"

"I was going to see Bill, so maybe later."

"I was going to go study in the library, with Antonio, he needed help with some work," Clara begins to stammer, 'I guess that asshole has some more luck than just having my silence,' "He is probably waiting, so I have to get going, see you guys later."

"You Flora?"

"Hmm? Me? Oh, well my parents wanted to call me soon, so I'll be going to my room," She says as she walks off, which leaves me and Cassandra.

"Are you sure you are fine?"

"Yeah, yeah, don't worry about me, Cassandra, it's fine, the brace helps," I smile at her and begin walking once more. She smiles at me and walks next to me, I spot a group of guys some place away from us, 'Fuck, Michael,' He notices us and glares at me. I gulp and then realize that there are other guys in the group, Adrian, James, William and Fred. I walk up to them with Cassandra. I feel Cassandra hold my arm tightly as we walk up to them, 'What are you doing Cassandra? Are you trying to piss him off?' "Yo, James, thank you for yesterday, was it?"

"No problem, normal to help out a friend, isn't it?"

"I guess, well, I'll catch you all later."

"And the arm thing?" Adrian asks as I begin to leave with Cassandra.

"Take a guess, Adrian," I say as I walk off with Cassandra still holding my arm, "You need to not try to cut my arm in half."

"Sorry."