8

                                    

                                          
I needed some fresh air... my face was red and I had never had so many people act that way towards me before. I heard feet coming down the hall, but I quickly walked farther. I needed to just sit outside for a bit. 
"Arthur!!" I heard Francis say. I turned around and stood still. "I'm sorry about that... Feli shouldn't have done that in front of you," I spoke sadly. "I don't care about that... Don't worry, are you okay? What did he say to you?" He asked. 
I breathed in deeply and looked away. I began to walk, and Francis followed closely. "Nothing bad..... it just threw me off my guard..." I said slowly. I continued to walk and he suddenly grabbed my wrist "please just talk to me....can we just go somewhere private?" He asked. 
I nodded at him, and he began to pull me somewhere. "Where are we going?" I asked. "Just follow me," he said seriously. I nodded and followed him to the gym. He opened the storage area and urged me to go in. I agreed to it nervously and once I walked inside, he closed the door behind us. "What is it? Why did you bring me here?" I asked. 
"Well... I thought it would be perfect for us to talk."
"About what?"
"What he told you..." he said seriously. I looked at him, and he looked upset. "I told you... it wasn't anything bad..... it was kind of good I guess.... I just .... Wanted to think it was true for a little bit," I said sadly. He would never feel that way, so why should I imagine it? 
"Are you going to date him?" He asked me. 
"Huh? I'm not sure..... I wouldn't mind it," I answered. His eyes widened, and he began to get closer to me. "What?" I asked, confused. He began to back me up into a corner, and I looked at him concerned. "WHAT?!!!" I yelled, pushing him back a little. Francis put his right arm against the wall behind me and his left on the wall beside me. "I don't want you to..." he said seriously. 
I lifted an eyebrow and felt angry. "Why not?" I asked in disbelief. "Because!"
"Because why?! Why can't I date someone? Why is it that the first person I meet that I might have feelings for!! You decide that they aren't good enough?!!" I yelled. I pushed him away from me, and he suddenly grabbed my wrist. "Let go of me! I gave you a second chance, and you are ruining it." 
"Don't go..." he spoke. 
"Then tell me why you are against it?"I asked. I tried to leave again, but he pushed me back to the corner. He began to push me down lower, and he hovered over me. "Why can't I?" I asked him. He put his forehead on my shoulder and shrugged. "I don't know... Same reason why I told Feli no..... it wasn't because I like him..... it is because I don't want you to date anyone..." he admitted. 
My eyes widened, and I had no idea what he meant by that. "What are you saying? Why are you being this way?" I asked him, annoyed. I stood straight to meet his eyes and looked at him seriously. He didn't know how to answer my question. "If you have nothing to say... I'm leaving." 
I pushed him away and began to walk towards the door. "Wait!! Don't leave, please," he said sadly. I turned to look at him, and I crossed my arms. "What's going on, Francis? We are supposed to be friends... we talk to each other. Ever since you confessed, you have been different..... tell me what's wrong," I spoke. 
"I'm not sure if I know what's going on... I think I'm trying to figure it out as I go," he explained. I took a deep breath out and scratched my head. This was too confusing for me. "Do you have feelings for him?" Francis asked me. 
I walked closer to him and looked at his face. Something was bothering him deep down. "No....and I'm pretty sure he doesn't even have feelings for me....he was doing that on purpose.." I said, breathing out defeated. "Huh? But why?" He asked, confused. I laughed a little bit and tried to look away from him. I wasn't sure if I should tell him. 
"Tell me..."
"Ummmm... He wanted to see if you'd get mad," I said, trying not to look at him. However, I did... and he was dumbstruck. "HAHA!!! It isn't like it worked anyway! So you shouldn't pay him no mind," I tried to laugh it off. I didn't want him to hate Ludwig.  
I looked to Francis again; it was like he had a revelation. "Are you okay?" I asked. "Huh? Oh..... yeah..." he said slowly. His face turned from a revelation to shock to happiness in thirty seconds. I began to back away, trying to escape finally. 
"You don't seem okay... something wrong in the head?" I asked, confused. He looked at me and suddenly pulled me into a hug. I was a little shocked at this but let it happen. "Arthur! I promise I'll make things better!" He spoke suddenly. 
He suddenly kissed me on the cheek and began to shake me uncomfortably. It startled me a lot, and I looked at him like he was crazy; that's when he suddenly ran out. 
What 
The 
Actual 
Hell? 
I held onto my cheek and felt my face get hot. Why did he make me feel this way all the time? I hate him so much. 
I smiled to myself and slowly began to walk out of the room we were in. My next class was about to start, and I didn't want to be late. I closed the door behind me and felt myself laughing. "I wonder what his revelation was....." I said to myself.