Chapter 12

OLIVER

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I stood, transfixed on the spot, as Jude washed the blood off his hands.

A myriad of thoughts flew in my head at the speed of a supersonic jet.

Did Jude just punch Lionel?

Why did he punch him?

Was he protecting me or his reputation? Didn’t he hate me?

Why did he not refute when Lionel suggested him and I were fucking?

Clearly, the answers to this question were as lost as Atlantis because I couldn’t figure for the life of me why all that had happened.

It must be a dream. I quickly slapped myself awake.

Jude raised an eyebrow at me as he dried off his hands, acknowledging me truly for the first time since he got here. “What are you doing?”

“Slapping myself awake,” I rubbed my cheek, ignoring the sting that erupted afterwards. “Only a dream could explain what just happened.”

Jude closed his eyes and massaged the bridge of his nose. “Believe me, I don’t believe this just happened either.”

“Are you high? Why did you punch Lionel?

“I don’t know.” Jude sighed. “I-I wasn’t thinking straight.”

Clearly, I thought.

He punched Lionel for me. Or for something else because I refused to believe I was the reason. Jude didn’t like me.

I was about to tell him not to say this happened when a bunch of voices echoed in the hallway. Jude’s eyes widened as he heard them. He clearly recognised them faster than me because he grabbed my arm, panic set in his eyes.

I restrained myself from flinching from his touch. My skin could still remember Lionel’s touch though that was partly the reason. The other reason was Jude grabbing me… elicited some memories I was trying to repress. Memories of that night.

He hurriedly dragged me to one of the stalls furthest from the door and launched me inside before entering in and locking us inside.

What the hell????

“Are you crazy? What are you doing…”

The bathroom stalls in our schools were extremely tight spaced with just enough room for one person to move freely. You can imagine how cramped up two people would be.

My back was pressed against the stall’s greasy wall making me shiver. I was starting to hyperventilate, not because of claustrophobia, but because Jude was now inches from my body, his front facing me. I could tell he was trying to put some distance between us but with this space, he might as well try to separate two pieces of gum from each other.

“You’re definitely high today,” I muttered.

“Shhh,” he whispered, placing a finger on his mouth.

I was about to show him the opposite of what he was instructing me to do when the incoming voices increased in clarity and volume as they entered the restrooms.

I recognised them immediately. Jude’s friends.

My body instantly stilled. Jude’s friends were even worse than him. If Jude was a demon in my life then his friends were easily Satan 2.0. They were homophobic, rowdy guys on the caliber of Lionel, if not worse. Jude had never called me homophobic slurs. He’d mostly tease me for being unmanly. His friends though…

My breath hitched.

Had Jude locked us in here to protect me from them?

Welp, there goes my dumb brain thinking stuff again.

He’d obviously done it to avoid getting his reputation ruined. If they saw him and me alone in the same room, they’d obviously start teasing Jude hanging out with the gay guy.

Typical.

“Hey Jude,” a ragged voice rang out that I instantly recognised; Liam. Memories of him calling me a sissy emerged unbidden in my mind. My hands clenched.

“Yooh, Jude,” he said, “You in here?”

Jude motioned for a silencing gesture though that wasn’t necessary as my voice box was paralysed with fear already.

“He’s probably not,” another voice said; Gregory. “He’s definitely gone for practice.”

Liam’s voice sounded exasperated. “He better be. That guy owed me lunch today. Lost a bet on who’s the fastest between the both of us. Can you guess who won?”

Jude rolled his eyes. Gregory laughed. “You’re so full of yourself. Remember, Jude won the last State Championships.”

There was a hint of grudging respect mixed with scorn in Liam’s voice. “He was lucky. I got an injury at the semi-finals. You know I would beat him.”

“As if.”

“Shut up, Greg. You didn’t even qualify.”

“And you didn’t win.”

There was a slight smacking sound, like Liam had just hit Greg lightly.

Their voices started to fade like they were leaving.

I exhaled a breath of relief…which turned out into a resounding hiccup.

I covered my mouth hastily but it was too late.

“Did you hear that?” Liam asked.

“What?” Asked Greg.

“I thought I heard something.”

Footsteps started sounding closer and closer to us.

Jude looked absolutely horrified. With the slightest shake of his head, he gestured for me to stay completely still.

“Is someone here? Jude?”

Jude didn’t answer. Smart boy.

“Uh, Liam,” Greg said, “You’re starting to sound crazy. There’s noone here.”

A long gap of silence. I could literally feel sweat drops forming on my hands.

“You’re right,” Liam said hesistantly. “Let’s go. I’ll catch that fucker in practice.”

Their footsteps receded. I didn’t dare breathe until I was sure they were out of earshot. The bathroom door closed shut.

Jude sighed. His arms loosened up and he leaned forward, placing his hands over both sides of my face, boxing me in almost subconsciously.

His eyes were closed and I suddenly remembered how I got the urge to kiss them open that night. My stomach rolled, this time not with disgust but with…

Sensing my thoughts, his eyes flicked open and locked with mine. His chest hitched, like he was catching his breath. His eyes were absolutely angelic. I could stare at them forever.

No, what are you thinking Oliver??? Look down! Look down!

I dropped my eyes. Worst mistake.

My eyes landed on his T-shirt. It had ridden up his waist due to this stupid cramped space and I was now staring at his exposed skin. I thought I could see a couple of his abs. A bead of sweat raced its own journey along his V-line, disappearing into his pants. Red undergarments peaked from the buckle of his denim.

Casey’s words echoed in my head: and when I put it on, he got so hard that he pinned me to the wall-

Why was I thinking about this stuff now?????

Was it the fact my back was against the wall?

Damn you Casey.

I reluctantly gazed up. Gazing at his eyes was equally distracting though it was the lesser devil than gazing down. I felt like my molecules were heating up so much that if I did look down, I’d spontaneously combust.

His eyes were still on me though they had darkened considerably. His adam’s apple bobbed up and down.

“Your friends are gone,” I whispered.

“I know,” he said, in an even lower whisper.

The air sizzled. My thighs tingled but now I could no longer feel Lionel’s touch. It was replaced by something else. Something that started with J and ended with E.

His eyes roved over my face, landing on my lips, lingering there. I suddenly remembered our dare and how we hadn’t kissed to complete it.

He inched closer to me. My breath hitched…

Closer…

And he suddenly pushed himself off me. His hands dropped from my sides as his gaze suddenly flicked away from me.

He hurriedly fixed his T-shirt before unlocking the stall and getting out without a second thought.

He grabbed his backpack, which he had forgotten in the stall, and turned towards me. His expression startled me; he looked completely composed, like nothing had happened.

“Did Lionel hurt you?”

I couldn’t muster any words so I shook my head.

“Go home. He won’t be bothering you anytime soon.”

He gazed at me one last time, his eyes landing on my skinny jeans. I thought his ears reddened but before I could be sure, his head snapped sideways before walking out of the restroom, leaving me in the stall, staring at the wall for 15 minutes.

What the fuck?

AUTHOR’S NOTE:

Bulk update!!!

I had initially wanted to merge this chapter with the previous one but I felt the bathroom scene deserved its own chapter.

Hope you enjoyed. Vote and Comment.