The shy boy [AU - CW]

“No.” He just said point blank, keeping his eyes out the window. That would take a lot of courage and so far he has only been good at seeming rather uninterested. But how weird it was to hear the guy he wasnt trying not to have a crush on say such things. Maybe a little cruel too? The change in questions made him grab his bag, showing him the book he was currently reading. If he wasnt fitting the frame of a mysterious vampyre that fit more into a gothic story, then the book would at least put the nail in the coffin. It was a collection of old poems, some long before their time. “I read all kinds of things.” He said, but it would take too long to go into detail.

It was cool? Eden had to scoff. But it was nice that the lycan at least tried. Well even if he meant it, Eden wouldnt just believe it. Romeo mentioned a rhyme and that made Eden look at him curiously. “Well what is it then?” He asked and didnt even have to wait long. The lycan seemed hesitant and then he recited it as if it was some performance he had to put on. Eden just looked at him but he was quite intimidating with how effortlessly he seemed to move. He was definitely fitting in with the rest of the theater kids. He touched the vampyre’s chin and Eden felt what most mortals would feel as feeling warm inside at his touch. The lycan let go and he felt the warm fingers disappear from touching his cold skin. “Show off.” He mumbled, looking down towards the floor, feeling flustered by his own feelings. And couldnt lycans know what someone felt by touch?

He couldnt really argue with him because it was true. Instead he just looked a bit dismayed, even as the lycan pointed out that he had started it himself. Maybe that was true but Eden couldnt just admit to it like that. The mention of his boyfriend, or rather ex-boyfriend made the vampyre look a little sad, shaking his head at the question. “No we met, I just wanted her to mind her own business.” He said, biting his lower lip a little in contemplation, shaking his head. “He was just older than me and I thought we were fitting. I’ve never felt like I really belonged here with everyone else. So I found someone who made me feel more grown up, less weird and… I dont know.” He said, pulling on the last words before he looked at the lycan. “But do you really want to know of someone I’ve dated?”

He was a little defensive because it wasnt something he spoke of often. The lycan’s curiousity wasnt completely unreasonable. He sighed, feeling as if he was the one ruining their conversations over and over. And he kind of was, so the feeling was well deserved. He didnt want to speak further on some ex boyfriend he mostly had kept hidden. His parents didnt even know about the guy, that was how secretive Eden had been. Eden just kept quiet, but then Romeo spoke of knowing what Eden felt like. He looked at the hand tapping, then up at the lycan’s face. He considered his words a little carefully before he spoke. “Do I make you feel different? Than not belonging?”

He looked a little surprised at the confession, even more when it seemed to be a good different too. Now that he had gotten that information, what was there to say? He noticed the frown as the lycan seemed to realize his ponder. It was sweet, Eden at least felt a slight rush in his stomach at the thought. He carefully reached over rather than saying anything; because Eden was a man of few words, especiallt this early in the friendship as well. But he grabbed his hand and gave it a soft squeeze. He didnt care what the lycan would feel from him, he at least wanted to show that he wasnt dismissing him at all. His expression changed a little as he looked a little softer, looking into the hazel eyes for once. “Eden!!!” Kareema called coming up the stairs, Eden giving Romeo’s hand a soft squeeze before letting go. “What is it?” He asked her. She looked from one to another. “Well check your phone for starters. Your parents have been trying to reach out.” She said, before she then looked at Romeo, clearly wondering if it was something for the lycan’s ears. “Your sister is coming home earlier than expected.” She then said, looking at Eden with a small frown.

Eden felt the moment too and it was quite nice, until Kareema came running up the stairs. She chose to say it, and Eden frowned a little. Romeo’s question wasnt odd. “She’s… just odd.” He remarked, looking down with a sad smile over his lips. Kareema just looked at them, thinking she had already said too much by the look on Eden’s face. She excused herself, apologizing for having intruded on them before she left. Eden sat for a bit in his own thoughts, before he drew in a deep breath. “Do you have siblings?” He asked, glancing towards the lycan. Yeah, the moment was definitely over now, even if he wasnt sure if he felt burdened by Kareema’s news or butterflies in his stomach from holding Romeo’s hand. What a crossroad of feelings.

“That sounds quite sad.” He said, frowning a little at the thought. His own parents had planned their children down to every little detail, so such a thing would’ve been catastrophic. He hummed at the mention of a cousin. “Kurtis, yeah I saw you two on your first day.” He remembered. And then of course he had done a little digging to check up on him. “Well my sister is peculiar to say the least. And quite a control freak. To the point where I almost lose my autonomy or feel one of her tantrums.” He explained. It was quite simple like that. “But it’s not news that she shows up earlier than expected. I’m surprised she hasnt shown up in the school yard, just because she can.” He said, his eyes moving out the window like he was checking to be sure.

He was feeling just a little paranoid but as a vampyre it was also quite a soft feeling. Romeo’s warm hand on his cheek, making him turn his head to look at him, his reassurance didnt go on deaf ears. He didnt remove his hand, just let him keep it there, feeling how it was warming up his cold cheek slowly but surely already. No other mortal could bear the same kind of heat and not cool down with Eden when they touched him. “We probably should.” He muttered, looking at the lycan’s features, really seeing how beautiful he truly was. The hand was removed and it felt cold again. He didnt like that feeling, like something was now missing. “Yeah.” He replied, remaining on the window sill, reaching out to grab the lycan’s hand, pulling him a little back. He just wanted to hold hands a little longer. At least until his own felt warmer than the rest of his body. Did the lycan find him weird? A faint mutter of sorry left the vampyre’s lips, not knowing what else to say.

The lycan stepped closer and Eden just looked at him. He knew his feelings were rather open for the lycan to explore, even if his vampyric nature made them a little dull. There at least was something there. The warm hand on his cheek made his expression turn a little vulnerable, looking at the lycan as he spoke. The finger on his lower lip could’ve made him blush and his breath tremble but the lycan could probably feel just how he was affecting him. “I guess you’ll have to wait and find out.” He said in a lowered tone right before the bell rang. How many times did school grounds have to ruin their moments? The lycan let go and he nodded with a hum, watching him walk off.

He turned his head at the familiar voice, frowning as it could be no body else but his sister. “Am I wrong?” He asked with a small frown. No, he really hated her games and how she did exactly whatever she wanted. “He’s off limits.” He told her as he could easily tell that she was looking at him. “I’ve let you toy with anyone else that I have let into my life but you dont get this one.” He said. Guess some things wouldnt change, even in an alternative timeline.

“He’s different.” Eden argued no matter what vibe she seemed to pick up from Romeo. It had hurt him an awful lot to realize that his sister had been right and then to find out because she had dragged him with her home too. “He is…” he muttered like he needed it to be true. He got off the sill at her question and nodded for her to follow. He would show her his work and ask for feedback. Despite them not being sexual, their bond was definitely better now that they were actually siblings. Eden didnt fear her as much as he didnt feel threatened by her presence. It was more like having an annoying sister that just got on his nerves, as it should have been. “He picked out these lines with the highlights.” He said, showing her with a gesture of his hand, following the new changes.

“Not long.” He admitted. Maybe he was desperate to have someone and Romeo just conviniently showed up and matched the traits needed. Eden had fallen for the lycan even if he hadnt even realized it just yet. “Mother and father can say what they want, but you know they’d stay out of my way at the threat of me cutting them off.” He said. He may be living somewhat in secrecy from his parents but he also knew that he could have them around his little finger just because he was the favorite. It just wasnt fair to his sister that had done most of what she was told, behaving as instructed. “I’ll….” He started pausing as he looked at the lines again, remembering how Romeo had told him to paint. “If you prove me wrong. Then I’ll let go. And do whatever it is that mother and father want me to.”

He didnt want to play but did he have much of a choice? She had played her cards right, dragged their parents into it, mentioned the cheating ex? Eden was practically drowning in doubt and fear as he nodded to acknowledge that she could play her games.
Start dating? He felt a knot in his throat at the notion. Could he really just play the lycan as if he was some pawn to be played? His feelings were genuine. He did like Romeo, quite a lot.
He sat down at his spot, frowning as he had a bad feeling about it all. Like he somehow doubted the lycan now. And shaking that doubt wasnt easy. When class ended and people were assembling to gather in the theater club room, Eden got up. He went to speak to the leader, show him the changes that had been made and the sketches too. He kept his eyes out for the lycan.

The leader hadnt been as enthusiastic as everyone else that had seen the work and they were discussing the changes. The leader had one vision and he wanted it to be perfectly displayed. Eden was a little annoyed because it just hadnt been possible with the lack of colours. When Romeo’s group were having their break, Eden was just looking over the sketches. He had a paper of changes that the leader had noted down and wanted done before the week was over. The lycan spoke and the vampyre sighed. “Yeah, with revising.” He scoffed. It was ridicolous. The compliment made him frown a little bit. “Not good enough. I’m being told to change it. Like completely.”