"And that's why I hate men!" Kaye said firmly, his fist slamming down on the cafeteria table.
Jade gave him a strange look, her brown eyes shining with bewilderment, as if she wasn't sure if she was supposed to laugh or not. Mael was unmoved by his declaration, instead concentrating on his economics' book. Then again, Kaye didn't expect Mael to react to what he said. Mael had heard this rant before.
"So," Jade said, her pink lips twitching, "you're telling me that you hate men because some random carnival fortune teller you met when you were ten said you were going to fall in love with the first guy you kissed?"
Kaye nodded, his fringe of golden brown hair bobbing up and down over his forehead. "I'm serious. You don't understand. At first I didn't believe it either, but then all these guys started hitting on me. Some have even tried to-to, well never mind what they tried to do. On top of all that-"
Kaye's face turned red as if it was just too horrible to relate. Jade leaned forward, waiting for what was to come next.
"He's never had a girlfriend," Mael finished for him while turning the page of his book.
"Right! It's a curse!" Kaye said while shaking his head rigorously, giving him a look that wasn't that far from a golden retriever, but dopier. "A curse of gayness. Not that I'm gay, but I make men gay."
Jade arched an eyebrow. "Don't you think you're being a bit, I don't know, dramatic? Besides, you haven't made Mael gay."
Kaye crossed his arms and his lower lip stuck out just the tiniest bit. "I don't think I'm being dramatic at all, and Mael doesn't count. He's my bodyguard."
Jade shook her head and looked at Mael. "Do you really believe this?"
Mael finally looked up from his book, using one finger to slide his glasses back up the bridge of his nose and shrugged. Kaye found himself staring at the strands of white blonde hair, which slid off Mael's shoulder. Kaye didn't understand why Mael kept his hair long, almost to the middle of his back, when he was supposed to be going into business. Didn't businessmen have short hair and look less...less like Mael, with his lips always tilted in a slight curve like he had a secret no one else knew and deep hazel eyes that swirled in thought and burned with intensity. Eyes that now shifted to look at Kaye.
Kaye jerked up as if he had been caught doing something he shouldn't have, although he couldn't quite figure out why he felt that way. A flicker of amusement darted across Mael's eyes before he focused back on Jade.
"He believes it and I can't deny that he does seem to draw that sort of attention," Mael said. "Though whether it's a curse or not is up to interpretation."
Jade shook her head, black hair dancing across her back. "Kaye I expect to believe in curse, but not you Mael."
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?" Kaye said, leaning forward to give Jade a good glare.
Jade laughed and reached out, ruffling Kaye's hair. "You're like a lost puppy, trusting anyone who'll take you home and feed you."
Kaye glared at her. "That's not true! Tell her Mael."
Mael put his book down on the table and calmly reached over and grabbed Kaye's chin. Kaye stiffened in surprise as Mael's thumb ghosted over his cheek, and then slide up to stroke over the curve of his ear. A shiver danced over Kaye's back, his lips parting as his breath quickened. Mael's intense eyes bore into Kaye's green ones, as if searching for some answer in their depths. What they found, Kaye wasn't sure. For a moment he couldn't think, he could only stare into Mael's swirling hazel eyes.
A wide smile curled Mael's lips. "Good puppy."
Confusion crossed Kaye's brow, and then he blinked as it finally clicked. Kaye smacked Mael's hand away. "Bastard."
Mael just leaned back in his chair with a satisfied smirk on his lips. Jade laughed and Kaye tried to figure out why his heart was beating so hard. |
