Charlie was looking at everywhere but at the teacher. It has been almost a minute since the teacher was just standing there and staring at him without saying a word. It was like the looks he sent his way spoke so much more than what words could convey.
Did he expect him to melt away or something?!
With every passing second, Charlie felt the silence unbearable and suffocating.
He could almost hear the clock inside the teacher's room ticking away. All he wanted to do was just run away from there.
After what felt like ages, Mr. Goodman heaved a heavy sigh. And Charlie couldn't help but think that it was a sound of disappointment.
Charlie gulped his dry throat and looked up at the teacher.
"Charlie, I used to speak of you with such great pride" Mr. Goodman spoke, leaning on the table with his arms crossed. "And what have you done?" he sounded like he just lost all the hope he had for this world and it brought an uneasy feeling in Charlie's heart.
Charlie just stared at him without uttering a word.
Another sigh escaped the teacher's lips.
"The last time, McWillus and Hillinger were the ones who were standing right where you are now. I see you hanging out with them lately. They did better this time. Good for them... But what have become of you, Carlton?"
Charlie felt a lump raising to his throat. Never once in his life had he heard a bad remark from his teacher. He had to fight back the tears that threatened to well up in his eyes.
He could no more look at the teacher, so he quickly turned his gaze down to his feet.
"Is something going on with you?" The teacher enquired further.
"No" It came out as a low, broken voice.
The teacher sighed.
"I expect better scores from you, Carlton. Make it up for me the next time"
Charlie pursed his lips and nodded.
"You may take your leave"
Charlie turned around briskly and stepped out of the door. He stopped momentarily as he saw the last person he wanted to see at the moment- Trevor- standing there, leaning his back on the wall.
Trevor has been waiting for a pretty few minutes. He tried listening in, but couldn't hear a thing the teacher spoke.
It wasn't like he wanted to go to class anyway, so he decided to just stand there and wait until Charlie came out.
Eventually he did and Trevor couldn't help but feel a little awkward at the way Charlie looked at him. He looked like he was going to cry.
"Er... Hey" Trevor hesitantly waved, raising an eyebrow.
Charlie felt a wave of emotions flood his mind and anger was one of the many dominants among them. If he could punch a hole through that skull of Trevor, he would.
He just walked away, clenching his jaw and stomping his feet.
Trevor whistled as his head followed Charlie's movement. For some reason, he found the situation funny.
He cocked his head to his side in confusion and strided forward to catch up with the other boy.
"Yo, what happened to the Goldie of the class? Where did all your good scores go?" Trevor asked with a smirk and it only made Charlie have an outburst.
Charlie stopped walking and yelled at Trevor.
"What happened?! I was living a great life, Trevor. And you just had to walk into it and I thought,... Maybe it was getting better. Because you acted like you cared. Like,... You are the one who built my hopes up and now my life is going down-hills... All because of you!"
Charlie felt tears prick at the back of his eyes as he felt as if his knees could no longer support him. He leaned on to the wall to support himself.
He looked down as his eyes squinted and lips quivered. "You are the one who gave me hope, You are the reason why I'm like this, Trev" his voice came out as a low whisper.
Trevor stood there shell-shocked. It was a lot of information to get in thirty seconds. When he finally processed what he had been told, he opened his mouth to speak. But he really didn't know what to say.
"I don't think I understand what you are trying to say" Trevor pursed his lips as he dug his hands deep into his pockets. He felt kind of awkward.
Charlie let out a scoff. "Of course, you don't" he shook his head, feeling ashamed of himself.
What was he even thinking?! Heh.
"Hey, I really--"
"Shut up, Trev" Charlie's lip twitched as he tried hard to keep his composure, holding onto his knees.
Trevor heaved a sigh. "Why don't we just go back to class and maybe talk it out later?"
"S-stop talking to me" Charlie's voice dropped down to a whisper.
Trevor had a strange feeling inside him. He knew what he truly felt.
All this while, he tried shutting out his mind every single time his feelings surfaced up. But right now, it really felt a little too hard to do.
Was it really worth it?
For the first time in his life, he felt guilt gnawing at him. It suffocated him.
How could he make this human suffer so much in this misery when he could just happily welcome him with open arms?
Afterall, isn't that what he wants too?
Deep inside doesn't he wish for the same?
Trevor swallowed hard.
"Ch-Charlie... What if... What if I told you... That I like you too?"
Charlie scoffed. "What? Is this another sick trick of you? So you can laugh at me later?"
Trevor's eyebrows drew closer and his lips curved into a frown.
Did he really think he was that bad of a guy?
"I... I'm not kidding" Trevor balled his fists on his sides.
Charlie slid down the wall and sat there with one of his hands on his knee. He took a sharp inhale of air.
He ran a hand through his hair and looked up at Trevor. He clenched his jaws in an attempt to keep himself from falling apart.
"What do you mean, Trev?"
Trevor pursed his lips.
What does he mean?
Can words ever make him believe him?
Trevor spared a glance to his sides and he heaved a sigh.
Charlie was confused why Trevor was suddenly kneeling in front of him.
But before he knew it, he leaned in and connected their lips, taking a hold of his neck.
A voice in his head screamed at Charlie that they were in the hallways, where anyone could probably walk in on them. But that tiny little voice was swept to the very back of his head as Trevor's sweet lips moved against his in a slow rhythm.
Just as he liked to stay like that forever, Trevor eventually pulled away and gazed into Charlie's dilated pupils that were gazing back at him. He ran his thumb down his cheek and spoke in a low voice.
"This is what I mean when I say that I like you. This is what I've always meant with every single word I said to you. It was just.... I was too much of a coward to face it, Char"
A teary smile tugged at Charlie's face and he laughed. "Imbecile" he shook his head lightly in half disbelief that this was real., "I hate you" he chuckled again.
Trevor cocked his head to his side with an impressed look on his face. "You have all the right to. I'm sorry for putting you through all this" he said and held his forehead against Charlie's.
It felt good to be like that. It was peaceful.
Charlie shifted under Trevor's weight that was partially leaned on to him. "Now, get off of me before someone sees us"
Trevor smiled and got up, dusting his knees.
He lend Charlie a hand and helped him up.
"I'm going to tell everyone that you cried because the teacher yelled at you" Trevor said with a mischevious smirk tugging at his lips as he locked his fingers with Charlie's.
All of a sudden, Charlie felt embarrassed and he started rubbing his hand up and down his face vigourously. "Don't you dare" he mumbled.
"Ooh, what else are you supposing to tell them? Your eyes are all red and puffy!" Trevor let out a light laugh and dragged Charlie along with him as he made his way through the halls.
Charlie didn't feel insulted.
He didn't feel awkward.
He didn't feel embarrassed.
What he felt was pure joy.
The butterflies inside his stomach were all free and let out. They were dancing around him, fluttering their wings, bringing joyous colors to his life.
This was happiness.
Charlie chuckled to himself.