Chapter Three: Say You Don’t Mind

I stayed seated when everyone else began to move to their two person group. Then, the seat next to me moved. It was hesitant before Adrian came to fall into it. I took a risk at looking in his direction, but his eyes remained forward. I leaned back in my chair, letting my eyes follow the lines of his face.

He had been crying. That much was obvious. I can only blame myself as I took in the red and puffy skin under his eyes. His jaw tightened visibly and I couldn't help but smile at the action. He knew I watched him, sure it was obvious, but no one else would make anything of it. Even small talk had started about how terrible everyone felt that I had been paired with him and not them.

"Can you stop looking at me." Adrian finally muttered, he took a sideways glance in my direction. Pausing as our eyes met, he could only do as much as deepen the frown set on his face before returning his gaze to the front. "If you don't start listening to the direction I'm going to request a different partner." He stated plainly.

"Go ahead." I commented, enjoying the way he squirmed in his seat from my gaze. I had been listening, I was just watching him instead. It was entertaining to watch how he reacted. He was like a cautious animal under my gaze. I like the effect I had on him. He was so controllable.

Adrian didn't comment on my answer, because he didn't want to change. Any moment he had that could be spent with me would be. Even if he did request a change I'd put a stop to it. This was my moment to really see who he was outside of my bed. We shared very few moments in public, at least after high school. So this was perfect and I don't have to worry about curious eyes.

The rest of the class was spent like that, every now and again I'd put in the work needed towards the project. However, even if he was worried I'd be opting out of participating, he still took the weight of the project on his own. I didn't mind, everything I did have a chance to look over looked like it'd be enough to receive a pass, but I still wondered why.

"You going to let me help." I asked, looking up at him from under my lashes. He froze at my comment and sighed.

"Sorry, I didn't realize." He muttered, sliding the rubric over in my direction. "That's what I have done so far." He said plainly, he didn't make an attempt to make sure I heard him and continued on what he had started.

I leaned over on my elbow and gazed down at him, "Is it really that terrible working with me." I asked, raising an eyebrow in question. Again he just tipped me off and shrugged. I sat back up in my seat and took a quick glance around the room, seeing as everyone was preoccupied I leaned in towards him. I placed my hand on his upper thigh gaining a slight flinch. He froze as I leaned inward to whisper, "maybe you can take out that anger on me later." I smiled mischievously, enticing him to react, to do anything.

All I managed to gain though was him abruptly standing and knocking my hand from his leg. "I need to use the restroom." He said as he turned to leave. I watched him flee from the room and shook my head in disbelief. Sure I wanted to gain some other reaction other than nods and shrugs but didn't think he'd run away.

I waited a bit longer than I had liked so I stood from my seat as well. I left the room in search of Adrian and went to the restroom. Just as I had figured, the restroom was empty. I let a small sigh follow and began to search the rest of the floor. Their project wasn't due for another day so it could wait. We had managed to get more than half of it done anyway. Or should I say Adrian had done more than half of the project already.

I walked out into the courtyard between the two buildings and that's where I found him. He sat alone on one of the benches that dotted the sidewalk. He sat staring down at the concrete walkway in silence, deep in thought. I took the sight in for a moment before I approached him. He noticed the movement and popped his head up only to see me coming towards him, like I had excepted, he stood to run away again.

"Adrian wait." I demanded, and he stopped short of the bench. He dropped his head before he turned to face me. His hands fell behind his back, his hair falling to cover his eyes as I stopped just inches from him. "What are you doing?"

"What are you doing." He says between grit teeth, his eyes rose to meet mine. Those green emeralds swam, catching the sun in a way that they would shine. "Why are you doing this?" His arms stayed at his side but his body was rigged.

"Doing what..." I chimed as I crossed my arms over my chest. He was seething now that I acted as if I had no clue what I could possibly be doing wrong. Adrian scowled then, making me tense slightly.

"We use to be friends, so I don't understand why, why are you treating me like something you can use and throw away?" The tears began now, he looked away quickly to wipe at them. Ashamed he was even upset over this situation. Even if he was ashamed of his tears, I doubt it was unavoidable. He was just sulking outside, I'm sure I was heavy in his mind too. "Is it because you found out I liked you, are you doing all this to punish me?" Adrian stepped away, he wanted to stop there and I wanted him to as well. Making a scene like this in the courtyard would not be good for either of us. Even so, Adrian continued. "I get it. You don't care about me the way you use to because I'm gay. Right? Then leave me alone. Stop whatever this is." He motioned between them. "Stop leading me on." His eyes filled with regret as he took yet another step back. He wouldn't look at me anymore.

"Then I'll stop. We just can't talk about this now Adrian, you'll cause a scene." I began, I noticed the way his shoulders slouched at my words, and I thought back to what he said, he likes me? Is this really how someone who likes you acts? "Come to my place later, we can work on our project and talk about everything then," I requested as I stood staring down at him. This would look bad anyway you looked at it, he was a mess while I stood over him.

Adrian nodded slightly, "fine... I'll wait for you at the gate." He motioned, before turning away from me. No doubt headed back to the classroom to grab his things. I let him go, I'd give him a head start to get in and out without anyone else seeing me enter with him. I'm sure we've already been seen out here so it was only a matter of time before rumors spread about one of us.

After school then, I nodded. Like I had figured before, we would go back to normal. Have a repeat of last night. Then be right back to this. He just doesn't understand. I'm not in this for a relationship, especially not one with another guy. So maybe I was using him, but at the end of the day I was... satisfied?