VII

 

There it was; that dream again.  That damned dream that would always return to Daniel’s mind as soon as he was sure it was gone.  He bolted upright in his bed that Monday morning breathing heavily.  It felt so good!  It felt like everything in the world would be right forever from the moment of the kiss and on!  Yet, why does it feel like a nightmare when I wake up?  Why can’t I just…I don’t know, throw it all out the window and forget it ever happened!

 

He groaned as he checked the clock.  5:30 AM.  He looked out the window and could still see the light shining from the street behind his house shining in against a dark sky.  He attempted sleep again but feared the dream would come back.  He feared of feeling the boy at his face and feeling his wonderful kiss on his lips.  Did he fear it?  Yes, of course he did!  He didn’t want such a nasty, disgusting…wonderful feeling ever again in his life.

 

Sleep was impossible.  He exasperated as he climbed out of bed and decided to make some coffee.

 

“What are you doing up so early?” his Mom asked.  She was already up and watching the news.  Coffee was in the process of being made.  It smelt entirely soothing and made him forget about his dream for an instant.  One instant of complete relaxation.

 

“Just got enough sleep, I guess,” he said, sitting on the couch, “and I can’t go back to sleep.”

 

“I see,” she said.  “Anything bothering you?”  She got up to get the coffee.  She poured two cups.  She could always sense when something was wrong.  Or maybe it was the dark circles under Daniel’s eyes.  Damned eyes, he thought, always contradicted everything anybody ever says.

 

“No, just couldn’t sleep.  It happens.”

 

His mom gave him an ‘I know something’s wrong, but I’ll let it slide for now’ look.  He knew he could tell her anything, but why tell something when there’s nothing to tell?

 

They drank their coffee as they talked of trivial things.

 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

 

Both Daniel and Mark were on time that day.  Daniel was in a bit of a sullen mood, but he managed to keep himself looking happy despite the bags under his eyes.  He hated feeling sad.  His face always ended up hurting from the required frowning.

 

The room was a buzz with sneezes.  People with allergies always had it rough whenever the weather changed in this area.  Luckily, Daniel had yet to be cursed.

 

“How did the rest of the project come along?” Daniel asked Mark as they were immersed in a boring and useless chapter of government.  Mark’s eyes were a bit red from sneezing, and his eyes were watery.  He clearly wasn’t in a good mood.

 

“Well,” started Mark, “I didn’t quite get it all done.  There’s a few gaps we need to fill.”

 

“We?” asked Daniel, “I thought you were doing the rest.”

 

“It’s a partner project, after all, Edge,” said Mark impatiently.  “so don’t feel disappointed that you have to do a bit too.”

 

“You said my bit was done.”

 

“Well, I lied.  Everybody does, get used to it,” snapped Mark.  “Just meet me in the library after school and…”

 

“AGAIN?!” moaned Daniel, “How many times have we met already?  The year has hardly begun and I’ve been in there more times than I have in my entire high school career!”

 

“Just do it,” Mark said flatly, “it’ll just take a few minutes.  Dammit!”

 

Mark had been rubbing his eye, and now he seemed to be clutching to something near his eye.

 

“What?” asked Daniel, sounding more concerned than his pride would have liked.

 

“My stupid contact, it came out.”

 

“You have contacts?”

 

“I don’t think that’s any of your business,” snapped Versetti as he blinked his contact in.

 

The bell rang.

 

“DON’T be late,” warned mark with an eye that meant business.

 

Daniel made faces behind him.

 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

 

“Now he wants me to go to the library again!”

 

Daniel, Roy and Aiden were walking to third period together.

 

“If you ask me,” started Roy, “he’s a power hungry ass that likes to take charge of everything and run it the way he sees fit and doesn’t care what others think.  It’s always like that with the smart types; they’re all mental.  Jade’s smart and ambitious, too, but she’s not like that.  She got Princess last year, and this year she’s got a good chance at Homecoming Queen!”

 

“He reminds me of Hermione,” chimed in Aiden, ignoring the Jade comment.  They all laughed at him.  Aiden loved those Harry Potter books and he would compare anything he could to it.  “Well he does!”

 

“I’m just glad it’s due tomorrow,” sighed Daniel.

 

“Good luck.  At least I have Paaske,” said Aiden.

 

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” exasperated Daniel.

 

“Well, gotta go, guys,” said Roy, “later!”

 

“Wait,” began Daniel, “your class is on the other side of the school.”

 

“It’s faster this way,” said Roy coolly.  Without waiting for more questions, he was gone.

 

“What a cool liar he is,” observed Daniel.

 

“He’s probably going off to meet that Jade girl,” Aiden said.

 

“Probably.”

 

It was clear that the two didn’t approve, but they wouldn’t ever admit it.  Roy was their best friend; whatever he did was fine with them.

 

- - - - - - - - - - - -

 

“Congratulations, Edge, you’re on time.”

 

The library was filled closer to its capacity than it had been the previous week.  Probably because projects were due the next day.  At least Daniel could feel that he had very little to do since most of the project was already done while the rest of these kids were probably barely getting started.

 

“So,” sat Daniel, “what do we need?”

 

“We need to know the opinions of the students here at school,” explained Mark.  “I’ve taken the liberty of getting a few, but not very many.  I figured our views would reflect pretty much upon the rest of the student body.”

 

Was he taking a short cut through work?  Daniel liked this sleazy side to Mark, though it could hardly qualify as sleazy.  More like…stressed for time.

 

“Okay,” said Daniel, “so what area are we focusing on?”

 

“Well, a few questions.  First, how do you feel about homosexuals?”

 

“How do I feel?  Well, um,” Daniel knew the answer, but he was afraid his answer might make him seem gay himself.  However, he didn’t like to lie in most cases; only when it was absolutely necessary.  This wasn’t, and he was quite interested in the topic as it was, so he figured an honest answer would suit the project best.  “Well, I guess I’m okay with it.  Gays are gays, they’re still people…just people with different beliefs.  Sort of like how people believe in different religions; it shouldn’t be a prejudiced element to one’s life.”

 

Mark looked at him and almost smiled, “Nice answer.  Have you thought about this?”

 

Daniel felt his face grow a little warm.  “No, it’s just…just a strong opinion of mine, I guess.”  Oh great, you idiot, you just used the word strong!

 

“Okay, next question…” began Mark, but Daniel interrupted.

 

“Hang on, what about you?  You have to answer these too!”

 

“I know my answer, already!”

 

“Care to share?”

 

“Not really.”

 

“Got something to hide?”

 

They stared at each other for a moment, then Mark grabbed a different paper.  “Fine.”  Daniel gave a victorious, mocking smile as Mark began his statement, “It’s pretty much the same as yours; it shouldn’t be something to be prejudiced about.  It’s just a way of life that people seem to prefer over the alternative way; a simple belief, as you put it.”

 

Daniel tried not to smile the best he could; a similar answer was nice to hear.  He didn’t know why it was nice to hear an answer so close to his…but it was.

 

“Moving on,” began Mark, “do you think homosexuals should hide, or, as today’s youth has put it, remain in the closet, until after high school?”

 

Daniel thought for a moment, “Well, I don’t think they should be forced to, but society sort of imposes it upon them to stay in the closet.

 

“How so?” asked Mark.

 

“Well, I think it’s pretty obvious; society hates homosexuals.  Homosexuals are forced to remain under wraps, otherwise they would be subject to all sorts of abuse and probably hate crimes.”

 

“But they still have a choice,” argued Mark, “they can always come out; it’s just whether or not they choose to face being subject to some harassment.”

 

“Right, but there is more reason to remain in the closet than there is to come out.  Not many are willing to take that chance.”

 

“I know plenty that have taken the chance, and they’re just fine.”

 

“Sure seems like it on the outside, but I’m sure on the inside they’re a huge mess.  They’re probably full of hate for themselves for thinking that way and full of inner turmoil as they decide whether or not to tell their parents.”

 

The discussion was slightly heated, and Daniel had plenty to say on the matter.  And Mark knew it; he could see into Daniel’s eyes.  Damned eyes, thought Daniel, they’re giving me away.

 

“You seem to have quite the grasp on the concept,” said Mark much quieter than before.

 

“Well, I, er…”stumbled Daniel, “I read a lot up on it.”

 

“Not on any of the sources you gave me,” said Mark as he shuffled through papers, “I read them all and there wasn’t anything about the emotions of homosexuals.”

 

“What are you insinuating?” defended Daniel, “That…that I’m gay?”

 

Mark smiled.  “Of course not.”

 

Mark smiled.

 

Daniel suddenly remembered the boy in the dream smiling.

 

Oh my God, the same smile.  No, there’s no way.  There’s no possible way.

 

“What?” asked Mark, no longer smiling.

 

Daniel recovered himself, “Nothing, I just…” he stumbled across his words, “I just, uh, remembered that I…my dad told me to get clothes out of the dryer right after school, and I’m late, I have to go.”

 

“Um, ok,” said Mark uncertainly.  He didn’t buy it, but Daniel didn’t care.  He just wanted to bolt.  “I’ll just email you what you need to know for the presentation.”

 

“Great, bye!” called Daniel as he exited quickly.

 

- - - - - - - - - - - -

 

Daniel tried to forget it.  He threw the subject out of his mind all day and kept himself busy with homework and video games.  Finally, he couldn’t take it anymore.  He had to think about it.  Why did he…don’t think!  He decided to go for a jog.

 

It was still light out, yet it was finally cool enough to jog at this time of day.  During the summer he was forced to wait until night due to the merciless sun.  Now he was free to jog through the wooded park without the fear of being mugged or shot.

 

As he ran, he couldn’t stop himself from thinking.  Everything added up; the hair, the eyes and the smile.  He had naturally blonde hair with naturally blonde eyes and a smile that could kill.  But why hadn’t he noticed the smile before?  Well, that was easy; they’ve been enemies since moments after they met – he never saw Mark smile.  But why the disguise?  Why would he change his look?

 

There was no more time to think, because he suddenly fell over somebody on the bike path.  He tripped and rolled across the gravel and onto the grass.  After the surprise sensation, he could feel scrapes on his legs and one on the hand that tried to support him through reflex.

 

“Oh my God, are you okay?” came a voice.  The person he had tripped over help him up.  “Edge?”

 

Perfect, thought Daniel, just perfect.

 

“Versetti,” said Daniel, opening his eyes, “nice to see you again.”

 

“You run down this path?” asked Mark.

 

Daniel collected himself and looked at himself once over.  He was fine, just a couple of scrapes on the legs, but nothing big.

 

“You stop in the middle of this path?” asked Daniel.

 

“You don’t look where you’re going?” retorted Mark.

 

“I was thinking about stuff,” Daniel said.  “You run down here?”

 

“It clears my mind,” said Mark, “not that it’s any of your business.  What were you thinking about that made you so impervious to a guy tying his shoes on a bike path?”

 

“Now that isn’t any of your business,” said Daniel.

 

“You had some pretty interesting insights today, Edge,” said Mark, “Very…thorough.”

 

“Hey, I told you,” Daniel said sternly, pointing a finger at Versetti, “I read them.  I just didn’t give you the source.”

 

“Brilliantly said, horribly lied,” scoffed Mark.

 

“Don’t start about lies, Versetti,” said Daniel coldly.

 

“What’s that supposed to mean?” demanded Versetti.

 

“Cut the crap.  Your hair’s not brown and you wear a hat to hide it.  What are you trying to hide?”

 

Versetti gave a quick glance at his hat and seemed to hesitate.  “It’s just…a new look, that’s all.”

 

“Bull,” Daniel said flatly, “if that’s all it was, you would have just said so today in class.  It’s more.  What is it?”

 

“Mind your own business,” said Versetti, “I’m not hiding any more than you are.  You had good answers.”

 

“Thanks, I try,” said Daniel, clearly seeing Versetti’s angle but pretending to not even notice.

 

“You know what I mean,”

 

“So what if I do know what you mean?  Suppose we got down to the truth; suppose you told me exactly what you were looking for.”

 

“I’m not looking for anything.”  Versetti backed up as Daniel moved closer.  Suddenly Versetti, who had begun as the oppressor was now looking for a retreat.  Daniel wanted to trap him.  He knew that Versetti was asking questions for a reason and Daniel knew well what that reason could be, but he wanted to be sure without giving himself away.  This was his chance, and he was on fire.

 

“If you’re not looking for anything then why are you prying me with questions like a locked door with a crowbar?  You want something, and you want it bad enough to put on quite a show.”

 

“What show?”

”Don’t lie to me, Versetti.  I know all about you.  Hiding yourself behind someone you’re not and pretending like you have dirt on me when it’s the other way around.  What is it?”  Daniel leaned in closer.  Versetti could feel his breath on his own face.  Daniel could almost feel what was inside Versetti’s eyes.

 

“You won’t get anything from me,” said Mark sternly.  He finally found a way to hide his fear of being discovered and put on a stern countenance.  He wasn’t in control anymore, but he wasn’t under anyone else’s control anymore, either.  “My life’s my own, and I don’t plan on sharing any of it with you.”

 

“You have me wonder, sometimes, Versetti,” said Daniel, not removing his eyes from Mark’s.  They were deep, and would probably run deeper without the lenses.  Daniel found himself yearning to see him without the lenses and to see straight into his soul, and not for purposes of black mail.

 

“You can wonder all you want,” Versetti said as he moved away, “but you’ll never really know.  Your email has what you need for tomorrow.  Don’t be late.”

 

And with that, Versetti stalked off, trying to walk coolly and stumbled over a branch breaking through the worn cement pathway.  Daniel watched him go.  Yes, there went an enigma, but he would be found out.  Two and two were still far from making four at this point, but soon enough, Daniel would have him all figured out.