Chapter 25 - Black eye

Monday has

come with a big surprise for Norman. Saffran with a black eye. But Norman had a

plan of not talking with him until he apologizes. His uneasy heart is against

that plan. He couldn't talk with Saffran till lunch break as Saffran ignored everyone.

Also he was hesitating to approach him.

 

That's why

when the hottest math teacher is talking about some boring algorithm, he just

couldn't concentrate. Raven is siting beside him with a subtle purple cheek

which no one will probably notice. Every time he looks at him, he remembers

Saffran's short temper. They were good for a while after that ignoring game but

it's repeating again. This time he's too much worried for Saffran to remember

his ill doings.

 

Right when

the 4th period's bell rings he dashes out from the classroom. His

math teacher is seemingly pissed but he doesn't care. He looks around the cafeteria

and waits for Saffran to come. Raven brings food for him but he can't eat until

he finds the pretty boy. When Saffran doesn't come to the cafeteria Norman

again gets worried. "Norm. Are you looking for him?" Raven asks gently. He

doesn't deny. "He'll come around." "No Rave. Have you looked at him? A fricking

black eye!" Norman tries not to panic. "I'm gonna find him." With that he

leaves the cafeteria.

 

Norman looks

everywhere for him. From the janitor's closet to toilet, music room. He thinks

of leaving but suddenly remembers the old classroom Saffran and he frequently

met. He goes there and his guess is right. Saffran is sitting on a broken metal

bench in the room. He is doing nothing but stare at the floor. When Norman

opens the door he looks up.

 

"Get lost."

His voice is stranded and trembling. He doesn't look in Norman's eyes twice.

"Saff...." "Leave me alone." "No I'm not gonna leave. Either you have to tell

me-" "Why do you care?" Norman's face softens at Saffran's vulnerability. He

goes towards him and hugs his head. Saffran stiffens under him. "Don't think so

highly of yourself. If you sulk around your dick may go limp. Then where'll I

get such good f*ck?" Saffran laughs weakly. "Never knew you were such a horny

bunny." "I'm not a bunny!" Saffran again laughs. "You are. With a fat ass." He

kneads his butt still resting his head on Norman's tummy. Norman fondly strokes

his hair.

 

After a

minute of silence Norman finally asks, "What happened?" He hears Saffran sigh. He

lifts his head as Norman sits beside him. He looks like he'll break down

anytime. The black eye looks really ugly. But Norman doesn't care. "Dad hit

me." Norman tries to stay calm. "Sunday was supposed to be our family day and when

I asked them about it they agreed." Saffran continues. Like a good listener Norman

stays quite and listens to him. "It was all good until dinner.....mom again

brought up those topics.....dad couldn't bear it this time so he retorted back.

At one point mom started to break plates and having no other way to stop her

dad....he tried to hit mom." Saffran gives an low sigh. "I came in front of him

and this....."He indicates his eye with his finger.

 

"I don't

know what to say." Norman rubs Saffran's palm gently. "You don't have to. I

feel less heavy after letting it out." Norman nods. Saffran looks at him for a

few minutes. Then he leans on and captures his lips. It was a chaste kiss. No

tongue involved. But Saffran somehow felt calm and peaceful. "Weren't you angry

with me?" Saffran asks teasingly. Norman rolls his eyes. "That black eye on

that pretty face caught me off guard." "You're such a jerk." Saffran snuggles

on Norman's chest. "Admit it You just care for me so much." He says kissing his

throat. Before Norman could say anything Saffran's phone rings for a second.

Saffran tsks and looks at him phone. His eyes go wide at what message he's

seeing. "What happened?" Norman  asks

worriedly. "Dad asked me to spend the day with him." Saffran beams. Norman is

taken aback seeing his excitement. Guess this pretty boy is really desperate

for his parents' attention. "Great. I'm happy for you." "I know right! I can't

believe it." Norman smiles and kisses his cheek. Saffran turns and kisses fully

on his lips. This time the kiss becomes erotic. When Saffran withdraws from the

kiss Norman leans forward for more. "Not here Normie." Saffran says laughing.

His gloomy aura is long gone.  

 

"Saff....you

should really apologize to Rave." Norman carefully says but Saffran's

expression eventually gets stoic. "Why? He started it first. Whenever I spend

time with you he always picks a fight. Do I need his permission to kill time

with my best friend?" Norman's heart softens. He knows Rave gets irritated whenever

Saffran is with him. "I know. But-" "No buts Normie. This time I strongly think

I didn't do anything wrong." Saffran says stubbornly. Norman can't help but

sigh. "Okay." Guess he have to clear the mess himself.

 

........

 

Norman is in

expectantly good mood. He apologized to Raven on Saffran's behalf and surprisingly

Raven accepted it. He has no worries now. They are sitting in the popular table

after coming back from that old classroom which is unexpected too. Actually Saffran

asked Norman to sit with him as he feels down and Norman grabbed Raven with him

not wanting his friend to feel offended. "So we still don't know how you got

that black eye." Alyssa says sitting beside Alex. Alex gives Raven frequent

glances which Raven doesn't even look at. He is enjoying the basket ball club's

loud chatting and giggles at their simplest joke. Norman is enjoying too. One

of the cheerleader girl is talking about this week's fashion show with him and

he's listening attentively. "In the gym. Someone was trying to pick a fight." Everyone

believes his lie. Only Norman knows his truth. He feels proud that Saffran only

told him.

 

"Have this."

Bryce puts his chicken nugget on Norman's plate as he only brought veggies

which obviously he doesn't like. "Thank you!" Norman beams at him and Bryce

ruffles his hair. "You guys are so passionate about basketball." Raven says

amused. "More than you can think. We're the pride of this school." Raven

snickers at Jerry's comment. "I wanna join you guys. What do you say Norm?"

Raven completely ignores Saffran's subtle glare. "That's great! I'll get to see

you playing then." "Aren't you too attached to Norman?" Alyssa says raising a brow.

Everyone sense the awkward tension. "Yeah. Isn't he the cutest?" Norman blushes which

Saffran doesn't like a bit. "Woah. So you're a fag too?" The table becomes

silent. Most boys stay quite as she's Alex's girlfriend and the girls are her

friends. So nobody tries to say anything to her. Even Saffran doesn't say

anything.

 

"For Norm I

can be. Cause he's cute and smart unlike someone who has a poop filled head and

flour on face." Norman laughs with a blush. Nobody says anything to his childish remarks.

But all the boys try to hold back their laughter way too obviously. "Well too

bad we don't welcome fags too well. You don't have to sit here tomorrow" "Ally

stop." Alex says not daring to look at Raven's glare. "Why? Don't you feel

disgusted?" "The only person we should be disgusted by is a filth like you-"

Almost everyone gasps when Alyssa throws her plate with unfinished food at

Norman.