The Outside Lines (boyxboy) - Chapter 15: Chapter 15

Nathan's POV
During lunch period I went to look for Noah. I lifted my bag and carried it down the hall. I looked between each and every corner hoping to spot him, but to no avail. After I took a second to ponder I recalled something I overheard him and Taylor talk about from time to time. They'd often mention hanging out behind the school. It's not like I was actively listening in on every conversation they had... I just happened to... over hear them.
Behind the school was my next destination.
I moved with haste in my step, not like a jog, but more so a fast walk. Suddenly I felt something collide with my chest. A noise rang out like a foot connecting with a hollow soccer ball. I lowered my sights to spot a smaller guy holding his face. He sported intense green hair, had an interesting choice in clothing, and a pair of glasses revealing themselves as he lowered his hands. I definitely recognized him. He was the guy who went up against the well known Damian in chess the day I went to check out the logic club. His droopy eyes magnified by the silver frames sat on his face watched me for an odd moment.
"I'm really sorry about that." I apologized, momentarily caught of guard.
"I have a riddle. Answer me this." He spoke suddenly.
"Um?..." Was all I managed to muster up as a response, confusion overtaking me.
"What's harder to catch the faster you run?" He asked, still wearing his flat expression.
I took a couple seconds to think. "Your breath." I answered, having heard the riddle in middle school a few times.
"Correct." He raised a finger and suddenly just walked away a right after without a speaking another word, leaving me bewildered.
"Hey, that game between you and Damian the other day was pretty awesome." I complimented before he disappeared from sight. He turned around with his expression changing for the first time since our run in. It was a smile, a pretty awkward one, but charming nonetheless.
I continued my trek, wearing an extra layer of caution this time. The long hallways, turns and stairs, began to take a toll on me. I've been building my stamina greatly these past couple of months so I wasn't crawling on the floor out of breath or anything, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't beginning to wear.
I reached a dim hallway which I assumed lead out the back. I hesitated a moment as my hand sat on the cold metal handle of the door, the one that could lead me to Noah. If my confidence wavered now would I even be able to hold a conversation with him? I swallowed my fear and went for it, popping the door open.
I was a little freaked out to see so many people just standing around in such an unusual area.
"Have y-" I started to asked if any of them had seen Noah around as I stepped through the door. That's when I spotted something to the left of me. I could've sworn, at that very moment an ocean of waves washed over me, filling me with a range of emotion; fear, terror, shock, pain, but the most prevalent being pure and utter rage.
Chad held a bruised and battered Noah up by the collar of his red and white long sleeve shirt.
"What's going on here?!" I demanded an answer. I was doing my very best not to lose control of my anger, which isn't something I had to deal with very often.
Next thing I knew Noah was falling backwards into the garbage bin Chad had him pressed against. "Mind your own damn business." He hissed, turning to me.
That was it, that did it.
The leash holding back my unbridled rage vanished, gone like the wind. The very wind that trailed behind the fist gliding towards his face.
I felt something crunch under my knuckles as they connected with his irritating mug. He went tumbling onto the ground upon impact. Suddenly all of the guys around me were up in arms. I knew I couldn't take on all of them, heck I was lucky to have hit Chad so hard, but wasn't going to stop me from fighting back. They've already put the poor boy through so much. My heart would break if I continued to sit around doing nothing.
Two guys charged at me trying to restrain my arms. My elbow struck one of them is the nose, feeling another crack. He stumbled backwards, the other guy however was successful in his attempt to restraining me. I struggled to get free of his hold before more of them made it over. After a couple seconds of squirming I broke my right arm free and delivered a powerful blow to his gut sending him curling to the ground. I let my guard down for only a short moment but that was enough time for the rest of the guys to get the jump on me. I was tackled to the ground, falling against the garbage bin. They unleashed blow after blow, kicking and punching me. I was still high on adrenaline, looking for any opening to break free.
"Guys, what are you doing?! Are you seriously willing to risk your scholarships over someone else's sexuality?" One of the several guys in the back who refused to fight yelled out.
"You know, now that there's another witness we could all be in deep sh*t?" He finished.
"Yeah, I'm out." Another one chimed in.
"Same. I didn't come here to watch fight club. I was just fine enjoying my lunch." Another one bailed, walking back into to the school building. After that their numbers decreased one by one.
"Tsk." Chad glared at me, getting up off the ground. Him and his friends were the final to leave.
A moment passed before I tried moving. A pain filled hiss escaped my clenched teeth as I pulled in my legs, preparing stand up. I grabbed the edge of the of the bin to aid in lifting myself from the murky ground. When I finally stood up, I saw Noah struggling to climb out of the trash. He had one foot at the edge, his other appeared to be stuck between something. He seemed too distracted to notice my presence.
"Rrurgh" He grunted as he made one final effort to free his foot. A loud crashing sound rang from the bin as the bits and pieces of trash restraining his foot went flying. He lost his balance and fell backwards. I stretched my arms preparing to catch him. We both fell to the ground but I still managed to break his fall. He looked over his body in surprise, then turned his gaze to me.
(Play The Song)
His green eyes widened, staring through my soul, his face only a foot from mine. We sat there for only a few seconds, but it felt like a good minute. His appearance almost literally had me breathless.
"Noah, are you okay?" I snapped out of my trance, scanning the cuts and bruises on his skin.
"D-do I know you?" He inquired, pink tinting his bright cheeks.
"Um... yes and no." I didn't really know how to respond.
"The heck does that mean?" He raised a brow.
"Well, I spoke with you once before, but I never had the chance to introduce myself." I explained, remembering that god awful moment in the parking lot.
"I'm Nathan." I introduced, offering a weak smile.
"Uh... thanks for helping me, Nathan." He thanked, averting his gaze. That's when I realized I was still holding him.
"Sorry about that." I released him, gritting my teeth as I took a few steps back. He didn't respond, he just eyed me with an unreadable look on his face.
"So um... I know this might not be a good time but, you and Taylor." I started, the atmosphere getting a little awkward.
"What about me and Taylor?" He narrowed his eyes at me.
"You um..." I froze, not knowing how to follow up. I just scratched my cheek and looked the other way.
"She sent you, didn't she?" his voice went low, almost monotone.
"N-no, she doesn't know I'm here." I assured him.
"You know, never mind about that for now, let me bring you to the nurse's office." I pushed the previous discussion aside and extended a hand to help him off the muddy ground.
"I can go on my own." He refused flat faced, helping himself up off the ground. His attitude was a little unnerving, it wasn't like him.
"I know, but I can take you." I was a little more direct. "Plus, I have to get myself patched up as well, so why not go together." I told him, lifting up my shirt to reveal the cuts on my stomach.
"Dang, those guys were pretty brutal." I mumbled to myself, analyzing the damage.
After a moment of hesitation and awkward silence he agreed. "Fine." He proceeded to limp back into the school. He was in worse shape than I was so I made sure to stick close by.
We reached the hall and I noticed he was having a lot of trouble moving. He winced and leaned against the wall using his arm. "Here, let me help you out." I leaned over, offering him a shoulder. He watched me like I was insane. It honestly made me feel pretty insecure, but to my surprise he accepted it. His skinny arm wrapped around my neck and I used my own to support his frame. His scent and the warmth of his body so close to mine sent chills across my skin. I did my best to ignore it though, I needed to focus on helping him.
We managed to get to the nurses office in a much more timely manner. He peeled his arm away from me and leaned his back against the wall, waiting for me to open the door. I turned the handle and stepped inside, Noah trailing behind. Our presence was noticed by the school nurse.
"How can I help you?" She questioned, getting up from her gray office chair.
"Um..." I looked back to Noah, redirecting her attention.
"Oh god, what did you do this time." She spoke with a lack of amusement present in her voice.
"It wasn't his fault. Some of the guys here at school got a little rough with him." I tried to explain. The glare he was giving me told me I wasn't helping much though.
"Come." She motioned him over to one of the gray futons lined against the wall. Both the nurse and I helped him over. It probably wasn't necessary but I wanted to support him as much as I could.
"So, are you going to tell me who did this to you?" She pressed, narrowing her eyes.
"Just some guys." He shrugged, averting his gaze.
"You know I'm going to have to report this to the school, right? Whoever did this to you could end up getting suspended, or better yet expelled." Her explanation was stern and sharp. Noah, still not looking her in the eye.
"I'd prefer the latter." His response barely vocal.
"Geez... you're so much work Noah, you know that?" She sighed, stepping away to get her utilities.
The room went silent, no one speaking. Only the sound of the ticking clock and rustling were audible.
I looked back to Noah. "Taylor misses you."
"Does she?" His sharp yet soft glare landed on me.
"She does. I don't know what it looks like to you but she's been trying very hard to get your attention. She's been sticking up for you, even despite being very upset by the way you've been treating her."
"I don't know whatever it is you think she did, but I can tell you right now, if you don't give her a chance and she turned out to be innocent, you'd have destroyed a beautiful relationship. One that would likely never come again. It wouldn't just be hurting her either, I know how much you want to talk to her as well, I can see it in your eyes." I explained to him, holding nothing back, but still trying not offend him. He went silent and lowered his head.
"You're pretty banged up as well." The nurse assessed me as she return to our side.
"Yeah, I have a few cuts and bruises here and there." I told her, lifting the tight shirt above my abdomen, revealing the cuts.
She sighed. "I'll be with you in a second."
"I'm going to need you two to remove your shirts for me. I need to check the extent of your injuries are." She told us with a motion of her index finger.
I did as requested and lifted the shirt above my head, placing it beside me. I looked over to Noah, catching his sights on me. He quickly removed his gaze, but hesitated to remove his shirt. His hands reached for the bottom of his shirt, faltering to lift them.
After a few moments he eventually worked up enough courage to peel the shirt from his small torso. My eyes hungered for every inch of his revealed skin. My stare was both unintentional, and unavoidable. I'm sure my face flushed every shade of red at the sight of the pale, slender frame sat beside me.
Noah's wince snapped me out of my yearning. The nurse dabbed a cotton ball against his cuts. Some time passed as she treated him and bandaged up all of his cuts. It took less time with me since I hadn't sustained as much damage.
"Put these on your lower half in the bathroom or when you get home, and if the cuts are too severe head straight to the hospital okay?" She informed, handing us bandages and disinfectant.
"Thanks Eun." Noah spoke softly before heading towards the door. Eun was her name then?
"Hold on, you should rest here awhile. Classes don't start for a bit." She recommended, gesturing to the bed near the window.
"I... I have some where I need to be." He told her, a little hesitant. She just sighed, liked she knew what he was going to say.
"Well at least take a crutch so you want strain your leg." She nudged her head towards the handicap equipment hung near the door. He thanked her again before stepping out. I wondered where he was heading.
While I rested awhile, letting the bandages and cream settle like she recommended, I watched the door as if expecting Noah to return.
Noah's POV (Earlier)
I desperately gasped for air after falling backwards into the dumpster. The oxygen filling my lungs was tainted with the stench of rotten food. I struggled to gain footing in the midst of all the trash. There was a lot of commotion just outside the dumpster, but I was more focused on getting free.
After awhile the noise calmed. It sounded like everyone had left. Did they finally get bored of tormenting me? I didn't want to wait to find out. I wrestled with the trash to get my foot free.
"Rrurgh" I grunted, using my hands and all of my strength to pry it out. To my horror, the excess force threw me off balance, prompting me to tumble out of the bin. I prepared myself for a violent fall, but to my surprise a pair of arms wrapped around me, breaking the fall. I quickly scanned my body to see if I was okay, to make sure I wasn't hallucinating. I wasn't. I turned my gaze to owner of the large pair of arms that saved me.
My eyes widened, realizing the handsome hero in front of me was the guy I saw hanging out with Taylor earlier today. His chiseled jaw line, his clear skin, the slight stubble lining his face... It being so close to mine literally had my heart running up a mountain.
"Noah, are you okay?" He called my name. Does he... know who I am?
"D-do I know you?" I asked, my face reddening as his arms were still around me.
"Um... yes and no." He answered.
"The heck does that mean?" I raised a brow.
"Well, I spoke with you once before, but I never had the chance to introduce myself." He explained, but I didn't know what he was talking about.
"I'm Nathan." He introduced, offering a weak smile.
"Uh... thanks for helping me, Nathan." I expressed my gratitude bashfully.
"Sorry about that." He apologized realizing he still had me in his arms. He quickly removed them, retreating a few paces
"So um... I know this might not be a good time but, you and Taylor." He suddenly brought up.
"What about me and Taylor?" I narrowed my eyes at him.
"You um..." He paused, looking the other way.
"She sent you, didn't she?" I interrogated, my anger suddenly getting the better of me.
"N-no, she doesn't know I'm here." He assured.
"You know, never mind about that for now, let me bring you to the nurse's office." He dropped the conversation and extended a hand to help me up.
"I can go on my own." I refused, getting up on my own.
"I know, but I can take you." He retorted. "Plus, I have to get myself patched up as well, so why not go together." He reasoned, lifting up his shirt. A gasp almost escaped my dying soul as he revealed his toned stomach. His abs were large but not super defined, perfectly fit for a body like his. He mumbled something to himself, staring at his body.
"Fine." I eventually caved on his offer. Being a hard ass was difficult when someone like Nathan was offering. I limped back into the school, heading for the nurse's office. It was a challenge moving with so many injures, I tried my best to keep up with Nathan but it was overwhelming. He seemed to notice and offered me his shoulder. I looked at him for a moment, wondering why he was being so kind to me? Did he have some kind of ulterior motive?
Whatever, I didn't care at this point, I just accepted his help since there was no way I'd be making it to Eun's office otherwise.
She didn't seem happy to see me. I've been in here a lot over the past couple of years. I've done some pretty crazy stuff, earning myself some gnarly cuts.
One time AJ convinced me to ride a bike out the window of a second floor class room to the ground. There was a ramp leading to and from, but that didn't stop me from getting banged up pretty bad. Eun's reaction was priceless.
Eun motioned us to take a seat. Nathan left barely over a foot of distance between us. I don't know why but it made me anxious.
While Eun was busy getting her things Nathan suddenly spoke. "Taylor misses you."
"Does she?" I glared at him for bring up the subject again.
"She does. I don't know what it looks like to you but she's been trying very hard to get your attention. She's been sticking up for you, even despite being very upset by the way you've been treating her."
"I don't know whatever it is you think she did, but I can tell you right now, if you don't give her a chance and she turned out to be innocent, you'd have destroyed a beautiful relationship. One that would likely never come again. It wouldn't just be hurting her either, I know how much you want to talk to her as well, I can see it in your eyes." He confronted, something I wasn't expecting. I didn't know how to respond, I didn't even know whether or not I should've respond. He got me thinking though. This situation was messy, and I was just making it worse out of self pity.
Nathan then proceeded to surprise me by lifting his shirt, once again, showing his cuts. I turned my stare elsewhere, hoping to avoid any awkward conflict. Doesn't he know I'm gay? I mean, it's all the school ever talks about nowadays.
Eun then prompted both of us to remove our shirts. Normally this wouldn't have been an issue for me, but I had Nathan sitting next to me...
Without hesitation he peeled the shirt from his body, exposing every inch of his upper half. This time I had trouble turning away. The way his shoulder muscles shaped in with his arms, his silky skin, the large pecs. As a gay boy this was entrancing, heavenly, ethereal. He turned to look at me, and I quickly looked the other way, hoping not to be noticed.
It was my turn to remove my shirt. It took a lot of courage, but I finally did it. Sitting next to Nathan made me feel super insecure. He's tall, built, and extremely handsome, while I'm just a short, scrawny, average looking boy.
After Eun patched us up I stepped out of the room, not before grabbing a crutch by Eun's recommendation though. I just wanted to head straight home after leaving the office, but I still had to go see the counselor. I know he won't let me off easy looking like this. A long sigh escaped my parted lips. Today's become such a drag.