The three figures stood before me, had managed to grab my undivided attention, eyes watching those profiles closely.
Axel was the only one I came to recognize.
After all my encounters with him, I couldn't forget his face now, could I? Not to forget me barging in on He and Audrey having sex.
That image laid with me.
"Hannah!" I caught the cheer-filled voice of Audrey soon beckoning onto Hannah Grace and I, while she hurried to Axel.
Hannah sure seemed as lost as I was. With eyes skimming each boy, the confusion could be caught in that gaze.
And for a moment, her curious stares were put to a halt, but at the sight of Audrey and Axel locking lips, her eyes had snapped to mine, gaze bearing a look that said 'Are you seeing what I'm seeing'?
Believe me, I saw it all.
A giggle escaped the lips of Audrey, with her soon pulling out the hold of Axel, turning to face her friends who bore bewildered eyes boring into her form.
"Who are they?"
The voice of Axel wasn't as I expected.
It was deep, low, and even rough as the last time I had bumped into him in the dining hall.
"This is Anna, and that's Hannah Grace" Followed Audrey with a smile that never left her lips.
Her form pulled closer to us, arms interlocking in mine, and believe me, that smile still rested on her lips.
"Nice to meet you, Anna" Axel had pulled his hands out to me for a handshake, eyes all the while intent on my form.
Those green eyes were one to linger on my profile, gaze sharp, his peer on me remained.
His hair was even better composed than the last time it went bouncing in different directions while his body was atop my friend.
He moved over to Hannah, pulling out a handshake, with that scrutiny of his still presiding on both our forms.
It was something about that lingering gaze.
And he moved past me like it was his first time of meeting me, even though, the previous time I encountered him, he was laid in my bed, causing moans out of Audrey.
Yet, he acted like I was some sight he just discovered for the first time.
"I'd like you to meet my friends" Followed his voice, prompting the boys behind to pull forward, with hands already stretched out to us.
"This is Marco"
The guy had a cut on his lips, blue eyes beaming on at me. A grin had taken to his lips, making that cut even prominent, which left me wondering whatever might have happened.
Was this usual for them? Bearing scars on every part of their skin?
"And this is Maverick?" The boy's face was blank, eyes only shifting from the form of Hannah to mine.
"I've seen you somewhere" His words were directed at me.
At least you acknowledge the fact that you've seen me.
"Of course, you've seen her. They school at Bowers" Called Axel immediately.
"I know" Followed Maverick "But I just can't pinpoint where exactly I'd seen you"
His brows remained furrowed, confusion rested in that gaze, while his eyes skimmed me.
"The movie's starting" Marco called out, soon going over to the counter, retrieving a handful of tickets and six buckets of Popcorn.
Yet again, where do they get the money for all these things?
I mean, we all attended the same boarding school, and we were rarely given out physical cash to go about wasting.
Yet that didn't seem a problem for these guys.
They were having the best time at Bowers'.
Being invited to parties, sneaking out to cinemas, even to a lake—
Memories of that profile barged into my head without warning.
Part of me giving no protests to coming here, was the fact that when Audrey mentioned Axel being here with friends, I only hoped Zac would be too.
Perhaps, I could get a chance to see him yet again.
After what happened at the lake, we hadn't run into each other. Even at the dining hall where his friends were gathered, I made out his absence.
It was like he left.
I only wished to see him. Wished to talk about it.
"What's playing?"
Axel had called out , hurrying over to Marco to help out with the popcorn.
"Some romance shit" Followed the response, while our figures soon went taking the hallway, proceeding into the theaters.
"I know I've seen you somewhere" I heard the voice of Maverick call behind me, just before he went in.
***
"Droggo, O Droggo. My heart beats for thee"
"Pull me into thy arms and I shall make haste out of here"
My gaze was blank at the screen in front, eyes taking in the scene played.
It was a Renaissance romance movie playing, one that had the entire cinema awwing, I swear I even caught the lady sat next to me, wiping the tears that had formed in her eyes.
For some reason, the protagonist seemed to have the hearts of the audience in a chokehold.
She was a young, fair lady, eyes as blue as the morning sky, with a smile that was worth the attention she received from the male lead.
"I need you to hold fast, Seraphine"
The young man followed, hands taking hers.
"I need you to trust me"
"Oh, I do trust you Droggo"
"All I want is you to bear yourself to me" Her words poured out smooth, eyes holding his.
"Why do you hold back? Why do you fear?"
Why did he fear? My eyes were now centered on the screen, watching the eyes of Droggo shift off of Seraphine's.
He was holding back. Something made him hold back.
He avoided her.
He avoided me.
He chose not to foretell what was wrong.
He made certain to keep back.
Zac.
At once, I had shot to my feet, earning curse words thrown my way, while the enthusiastic audience spat at me to get out of their view.
Slowly and quietly, I made my way out the theater, hurrying into the halls to the bathroom.
I couldn't get him out my mind. I couldn't get the thoughts of him being around me, off.
It worried me.
It made my heart ache.
My skin relaxed underneath the water that rushed out from the tap. With hands scooping a rush into my palms, I drizzled it onto my face, beholding the girl in the mirror.
Her eyes longed, gaze rushed with a gaze of pain.
Pain from being amidst confusion. Utter confusion.
It was one thing to bear someone portraying themselves to you, because they knew exactly how they felt, but believe me, it was even hectic having to see someone concealing their self when all you yearned for was to have them by.
My heart burned.
It burned with wants.
I shut the tap at once, the same time I put a halt to the incoming thoughts, figure pushing out the restroom, onto the halls.
It laid quiet.
The high ceilings holding chandeliers, produced lights to the area.
Who knew such place existed around? Even more, who knew some students of Bowers' would come fishing out this place.
Oh, the punishment we would bear if we were to be caught out here.
It would be everywhere around school that six students had been found at a Cinema somewhere far away in town, and trust me, such attention wasn't one I sought.
My legs pushed on, eyes skimming around each corner I bypassed, with curious scrutiny accessing through.
I was still in the moment of curiousness and admiration, when my gaze caught sight of that silhouette at the dark end of the hallway.
Still, lone, they remained there, and only when he pulled a step into the light, did I come recognizing that profile.
Figure leaning against the wall, he had his eyes fixed on me, holding onto me strong.
I could have walked right past, had I not taken hold of that strong gaze which remained intent on my form.
"I saw you leaving the theater, and decided to wait out here" His voice was as calming as ever.
He came.
With eyes still directed my way, I was bent on holding on.
Could the portion of hair, which shielded his eyes from view make his profile any more striking? And that grin which took to his lips.
He knew just well what he did to me. He should know.
I was left perplexed at that form, legs pushing forward, yet hesitant.
For the past few hours, I had longed to see him, waited to have him in sight, and now that he was a couple feet away, I was hesitating.
For what reason would I hesitate?
Perhaps it was the thoughts of him pulling away at the lake.
Did he find me not to meet his expectations? Do I not make up the kind of a thing that would have him fired up and yearning?
And at me disinclined, he had pulled forward onto me, eyes still feasting on my form.
"You don't seem as enthusiastic as I thought you'd be upon seeing me" His breath was low, eyes bold.
"I don't know. I'm left undecided after you left me hanging at the lake" My utterance followed.
"Is that what this is about?" The sigh escaped his lips.
"Of course it is, Zac"
"That is what this is about" I added.
"One minute you're coming onto me, and the next, you don't want to be around me"
"I do want to be around you, Anna"
"Your actions say otherwise" I called at once.
"Perhaps I don't fill your interest that much....I don't make up what you would claim to be your type"
A low chuckle left his lips, eyes intent on me.
"You are my type, Tinkerbell"
"Why are you even here?" My voice was stern, questioning eyes onlooking his form, telling him that every bit of me was mad at him, even though I knew, come the next minute, that presence would be all I cared about, still my gaze on him remained intent with a hint at being angry.
"Why else would I be here?" Followed that voice.
He had reached for my hands in a second, eyes locked in my hold.
"Come with me" Those words of his poured out low, gaze urging me to keep fast.
The last time he said that, it ended up with us moving away from each other. Specifically him, going away from me.
"Please"
His whisper fell into my eyes, those eyes not even sparing me a chance to turn him down.