Waiting in the shadows

Part 4

Part 4

The day after the incident with Robert, Darren didn't went to college. He was afraid, He knew that when he had Literature he would met Kat, and for sure she would come at lunch to ask him again about some stuff. Robert seemed to be very serious wwhatwhat he said, and so Darren was absolutly sure that the next incident with him wouldn't end so harmless. But Darren also knew that he couldnt skip college every day. Uncertain what to do, he made himself comfortable on the big bed, his head resting on his arm, silently gazing at the ceiling.

When Daniel's first class, Literature, began, he glanced over to the seat next to him, wondering why it was empty and Darren didn't show up. He didn't look sick yesterday, Daniel thought, before he shoock his head.

Watcha thinking? Why this sudden interest in him, a guy? You are not gay, so stop caring anyway.

Daniel tried hard to vanquish the thoughts, and he finally succeded, getting his mind finally on literature again, away from Darren.

The next day, Darren attended classes again. He made sure to avoid people more than he used to in the past, but when lunch came he had to go to the cafeteria, his stomach didn't give him any choice. Slowly he went in, head down, watching the floor. He took his food, which was supposed to be a sandwich, but somehow it didnt look like that, and managed to get a seat at one of the last tables near the door.

At least he could run away quickly, he mused ironically. Darren scanned the room inconspicuously. It was big, but soon his eyes found Robert sitting on the other side of the room next to Daniel. They both were busy talking, so Darren finally relaxed when he wasn't noticed by them. He felt safe, as much as was possible in his situation. So he went on eating the thing in his hand called sandwich. His thoughts drifting off.

"Hi," called a well known voice suddenly next to him.

Darren nearly chocked on his food when he recognized clearly who was talking to him. Again.

Slowly and a bit unsure, he looked up into the blue eyes of Kat. She seemed not to notice his nervousness and took the seat on the other side of the table, in front of him.

"How are you?I missed you in Literature yesterday..."

"Uhm...yeah...I didn't feel good."

Lie! Darren's mind screamed. But he gladly ignored it. Lie or not, no one was interested in the truth. No one cared anyway. He couldn't help but think for a moment to tell Kat the whole truth about Robert, but he threw the thought away soon after. What would that change? Nothing at all, so why dig yourself in deeper?
Darren's thoughts were interupted by Kat. Again.

"Even though you weren't there yesterday, I hope you can help me anyway?"

Darren saw pleading in Kat's eyes. Now it's too late anyway...he mused.
He nodded in agreement, not aware that Kat again had a thousand questions. It took the whole lunch break to answer her questions.
When the bell finally rang to disturb his explanations, Darren had finished both explaining and eating. Kat put her stuff together and waited for Darren. He gave her a questioning look...

"We can walk together, can't we?"

Thats not good!

Darren nearly spoke his thoughts out loud, but instead a lie left his mouth. Again.
"I've no lesson yet."

Kat nodded in understanding, but before she moved to go she moved slightly forward and gave Darren a short kiss on the cheek.

"Thank you." she smiled and as soon as she said that she was already lost in the crowds. Even before Darren realized what exactly had just happened moments before.

Thats not good at all!

Afraid, he turned his head around in the direction where Robert had sat before. Almost fainting with relief, Darren noticed that he wasn't there anymore.
With a small smile on his pale face, Darren joined the other students and left the cafeteria.

He had a little time left until history would begin, so he made his way down to the wash rooms. When he entered the room, he took a brief look around. It was empty. Darren went straight to the small, dirty mirrors at the back side of the room. He was in a men's toilet, after all. Who needed mirrors there anyway, besides him?

He put his bag on one of the sinks, and searched for his black mascara. It didn't take five minutes. When Darren's make up was perfect again, he put his things in his bag again, always aware that none of the other guys, which could come in, saw something of that. (I'm not sure what you are trying to say here. Always sure that none of the other guys who could come in saw something of that. I'm sorry, what do you mean?)

Calmy he looked at his reflection in the mirror. Saw deep into the black coloured eyes which looked back at him. The vision in the mirror smiled, small, shy and nearly invisible. It left Darren's face when the noise of a closing door burst into his thoughts. He slowly turned around, only to stand close to Robert. Darren searched for a way to escape this closeness, but wasn't successful. When he looked down, Robert's were resting on either side of the sink next to him.

Robert's hot breath warmed Darren's face, when the man spoke:"It seems that you didn't understand me the last time." scorn filled every word.

Darren swallowed hard. Robert's icy tone sent a shiver down his spine.

"Did you?"

Darren started to answer when a fist connected hard with his left cheek. The power of it threw his head sideways. Pain exploded, and Darren turned to face his attacker.

"What's your problem, eh?" Darren asked in a cold monotone voice, well covering the fear which burned inside him. This guy was extremly jealous, and so he was capable of doing nearly anything in his rage.

Robert grinned evily at his reflection in the mirror.

"Ok, again, once more for you! Stay the fuck away from MY friends, especially from Kat!"

He faced Darren again when he finished, His grin faded when he saw the self confident smile of his supposed victim.

"Your friends? You should know that Kat came to me, and not the other way around. I just helped her with some literature stuff and...."

Darren fell silent abrubtly when he Robert's fist connected with his stomach, and he had the breath knocked out of him. Robert grabbed him by the shoulders.

"Shut up!" he growled. His mouth came close to Darrens ear, when he whispered:

"This was the nice way. Next time we have to meet, I'll show you the hard way. Understood?"

He shook Darren hard tke hke him look at him.

"Well?" Robert insisted visciously.

Darren slowly nodded, hardly visible, but enough for Robert. Again that evil smile came back on his face.

"Good."

Darren wasn't prepared for one last punch in his already hurting stomach. He paled even more, if that was possible. He held his stomach tightly, tryed to block the overwhelming pain, which forced its way to his chest, making it difficult to breath. He felt Robert's hand leave his shoulders. He fell back against the sink, using its tenuous support to keep him on his feet. Darren finally managed to look up, just in time to see Robert leave, a cruel laugh spilling from his mouth.

He couldn't see clearly through the fall of hair in his face, but when he heard the door close, he finally fell down to his knees, then huddled himself up in the near corner. He hoped no one would come in and see him this way, all messed up and broken. It was one thing for people think you were weak and helpless, but it was a far different thing for people to see that you were weak and helpless.

Darren pulled his legs to his chest. It seemed that the pain there didn't want to subside so easy.
The huddled figure rested his head against the wall. Tears fell freely through the hair that covered his face.

Tbc...