SEBASTIAN
As I opened my eyes, my first thought was:
'Where is Audrey?'
I sat up straight in seconds, regretting that decision straight after. Through a pounding headache, I scoured the room in search of her. My eyes found a yellow post-it note stuck on my bedside table instead of Audrey herself. I peeled it off and read through her neat and cursive writing.
'Hey, Sebastian.
I've gone back to my apartment so if you don't find me, that's where I am. I've left a bowl with a packet of oats in it to make porridge. I don't care how you're feeling, you're going to eat or so help me. Just pour the milk to about a third of the way and put it in the microwave for as long as needed. I've also left out a glass of water with pain killers next to it, take it after you eat. I've contacted Marcus and he has the notes for you.
Hope you feel better soon,
Audrey'
I stumbled over to the kitchen, the sleepiness not fully wearing off, and just as she had said, there sat a bowl of oats. I followed her instructions and I carefully walked over to the sofa with a steaming bowl of porridge. I eat as much as I can, mentally not wanting to disappoint Audrey, I take the pain killer and hope for the best.
"Woah, man, you look dead." Marcus blurted, "Here, I have your notes."
I smiled and took them from him, "Thanks. Yeah, I caught a cold and I had to stay home yesterday, sorry I didn't reply to your text."
"Don't worry, I checked your social media to see if you were dead."
"And?" I ask as we begin to walk to the lecture hall.
He thrusts his phone in front of me, "Rachel said you had a cold."
"Great," I muttered, "So, I just noticed, how come your notes are neat? That isn't like you." I blurted, glancing over the notes in astonishment.
"Your girlfriend grilled it into me that if they weren't at least legible then she'd roast me like a pig on a stick."
"Really, Audrey said that?" I worried.
"No, but her voice was firm so I was getting that vibe from her." He shivered and hugged himself, "I feel like it is a very bad idea to get on her bad side."
We reach the steps of the building and make our way in, dreading the beginning of the lecture.
The teacher stumbled in with a "Good morning students." She looked up, searching the crowd for someone and finally her eyes land on me, "Are you feeling better Sebastian?"
I felt my cheeks flush as everyone's attention turns to me. I mumble a small "Yeah, a lot better." I lowered my head, cowering from the stares, the colossal lecture hall suddenly felt suffocatingly small.
She gives me a small, comforting smile, "We all missed you. But now, we need to focus on the lesson today," She comments, turning to the board, "Let's begin."
Throughout the lesson, my mind kept drifting back to last night. Even though Audrey doesn't smile...often, I could tell she was still enjoying herself.
"Okay, that's all for today," Dr Vilas concluded, beginning to pack up her things as we left her in the hall.
We sped out of the building together, not wanting to linger there anymore.
"So. Who were you thinking of? You kept grinning back there," Marcus teased, a wide, mocking grin beaming back at me.
"What do you mean?" For probably the second time today, my cheeks began to burn.
"Don't deny it, you had this weird smile on you, one I haven't seen before. It was bright as hell and I think I went blind because of it but at the same time, it was soft and gentle. Still, it was blindingly bright. What's up? Having a good time with Audrey?" As he said her name, the heat from my cheeks intensified. The only thing I could think of was:
She saw me naked. Oh, God. She saw me naked!
Not wanting to own up I shout, "Your laces are undone!" I hoped this would give me the opportunity to run, childish, I know.
"Sebastian?" He asked, I hummed, anxious that he hasn't fallen for it yet, "These are velcro!" He slaps my head and wrings his arm around my neck, dragging me with him.
"I can't believe it didn't work. You of all people," I groaned, stumbling beside him.
We reach one of the benches and he plops down, waiting for me to join. I hesitantly sit beside him, waiting for his snarky remarks.
"You really like her, don't you?" His voice was quiet, almost inaudible.
This surprised me. Marcus is loud, carefree, is always laughing, telling jokes and has probably the dirtiest mind in all of humanity.
"Yeah. How can you tell?" I felt the worry growing in the pit of my stomach, twisting and wringing it like a wet cloth.
"It's the same look my dad gives my step-mother. After my mum died, I didn't think my dad would actually last. He was really devastated. Then he met Haley and... you know, he fell in love. He became happy again, he would hold the weight of the world for her." He took a deep breath, almost as if he found it hard to breathe.
He went quiet. His head rose and he looked at the scene in front of us. His chest rose and fell, but I'm sure he wasn't breathing, not really.
"You look at Audrey the same way," He croaked, he laughed harshly. "I'm jealous."
I scooted closer to him and ruffled his hair, his brown locks glistened in the sunlight, some wisps of gold weaved their way in between the strands. His caramel skin glowed as well, his cheeks the faintest shade of pink.
"Be patient Marcus, you'll find someone. Hey, at least you have twice the choices as any normal person," I comment, trying to lighten the mood.
"Yeah. Ugh, I hate this!" He groaned, rubbing his eyes, "I'm really scared, in case dad finds out, the media, I hate this."
"You know I'm here for you, man. Always." I ruffle his hair again and stand up tall. I pick up both of our bags and begin to walk away.
"Hey, don't take, no. My bag." He whines, chasing after me.
"How about we go get frozen yoghurt, what do you say?"
"I don't know, I just want to go ho-"
"My treat."
"Okay."
I chuckle and hand his bag back to him. We walk towards the exit when a silver car catches my eye, or should I say, the girl who hurled her bag into her boot.
"Audrey?" I ask, dragging Marcus over with me.
She jumps, very slightly though, if I wasn't paying so much attention to her then I wouldn't have seen it. "Sebastian. Marcus." She nods to us.
"We're going to get frozen yoghurt. Wanna come with?" I had the feeling Marcus was nodding energetically behind me.
She checked her watch and nodded, "Yeah, hop on in."
"Shotgun!" Marcus shouts, pushing me out of the way. Knowing better, I accept my fate and slip into the backseat.
The smell of coffee was a blast to our faces as we entered, we were in the main city about a half an hour drive from the Academy. Marcus decided he craved a frappe so we headed to a Starbucks instead, of course, it was still my treat.
Audrey and I ordered and waited at the bottom for our drinks, we made small conversation until Marcus joins us. His cheeks were beet red and he looked down at the floor, avoiding our gazes.
"You okay buddy?" I tease, poking his burning cheek.
"Uh, yeah. Yeah, I'm good. Yeah, good." He mumbles.
"Who's the lucky one?" Audrey coaxed, raising an eyebrow.
"I don't know what you mean." He denies, looking away from us. He kept glancing at the order station so we follow his line of sight. "What, what are you doing. Don't!" He covers my eyes with his hands but he was too late.
"He's cute. You should talk to him." Audrey suggested.
"You don't think it's weird, that I'm weird? Abnormal?" His glistened with confusion, hope and tears.
"No, why would I. Love shouldn't be limited by genders. Love is love, you can't stop it, love is genetic. It hurts me to know that in some parts of the world, human love is illegal." She replies, reaching over and placing a hand on Marcus' shoulder, "Go get him."
He smiles brightly and speed walks to the counter. Lucky for him, there isn't anyone lined up.
We grab Marcus' drink as well as our own and we walk to a table, making sure that we can keep an eye on them. As I sit beside Audrey, I feel myself smiling widely at her.
AUDREY
"Can I help you, Sebastian?" I ask sarcastically, taking a sip of my coffee.
"I'm just... Happy. Very happy. Thank you, so much."
"What for?" I look at Marcus, he is leaning on the counter on his side, talking to the guy behind the cashier.
"For accepting him. He's afraid of what people will say about him, that he'll ruin his father's life and career for being bi-sexual." His voice is soft.
"I'm a cupid, I specialize in love, not gender stereotypes. And plus, I'm a very accepting person. If someone falls in love, let them. After all, you can't stop a thunder storm by saying it cannot be, it is a force nature, let it happen." I reply, glancing at him.
He stares at me with a stoic face before breaking out into a grin.
"I could kiss you right now." He beams, pulling me in for a hug. I tensed up and then regretted doing so, he's just happy and is being nice, he's not trying to hurt you.
I take a deep breath and give in, leaning into him. His heat radiated through his clothes, wrapping me in a blanket of what felt like safety and happiness. What a foreign feeling this was.
Staying in his arms, I look over to Marcus and the barista. He had dark black hair and steel grey eyes. He had a small smile while he talked with Marcus, letting the other cashier- a petite woman who looked very panicked from being alone - do all the work.
The man and Marcus nodded to each other before he came to sit with us.
"So, how did it go?" Sebastian asked, amused.
"I haven't told him I like him."
"Marc-"
"But I have a plan! I have a plan." He assures, waving his hands, silencing us.
"Whatever it is I'll cheer you on. I wish you the best of luck," I approve, nodding my head. I hear the rustle of Sebastian's shirt behind me.
"Thank you, Audrey. I wish you the best of luck too, speaking of which, you two look pretty comfy." He winks at Sebastian, "She's a keeper. You've scored the jackpot Seb."
"I have, haven't I?" He smiles down at me, wrapping his arm a little tighter around my waist. I could feel the heat dancing across my cheeks, I turn and hide my face in his chest.
"Sending it to you now," Marcus whispers.
"Sending what?" I coax, my voice muffled by his shirt. I hear a ding on my left and I turn to see what it was.
"I love it." He sighs happily, quite the contrast to my reaction, however.
"You took a picture of us?" I looked at Marcus, betrayal evident on my face. I could hear Sebastian chuckle behind me. I look up at him, "You're not any better, you made it your lock screen."
"I just love the electricity I feel when I'm around you two. I can feel the love." Marcus brought his hands up and cupped his face, smiling so widely that his eyes were half closed.
"Marcus, I love you bro, but you need to stop. Audrey's gonna kill you." Sebastian warned, putting his other arm around my waist as well. I sighed at the same time Marcus chuckled and leaned into Sebastian, his warmth making me feel at ease.