Just Friends by Billy Taylor

face.
    During the first two lessons of PA I sat at the back, out of the way of everyone. I felt like throwing up.
    The next two lessons I had free periods. I walked out the back entrance of college towards the wall at the edge of the path. Max must have seen me exit because he jogged after me. He stared at me when I turned to look at him.
    “Who did this to you August?” He kept his distance.
    “Max, I’m not in the mood for a chat. Don’t worry I’m fine. Have you seen Ethan?” I snapped.
    Max sighed. “He’s here, he’s looking for you. He will be furious when he finds you. Take it easy on him, he’s having a tough time at the moment, re-adjusting back to his life with his injuries.”
    I nodded and walked away, leaving him behind. I sat myself on the short wall surrounding college, feeling sorry for myself.
    After five short minutes of watching the world pass me by a shadow hovered over me. I knew who it was when I saw the position of his arms in his shadow. I can’t explain how much I wished to avoid this.
    “Why have you been avoiding me?” Ethan asked.
    “Ethan….I’m,” before I finished my reply he’d knelt down in front of me. It’s the first time I’d seen him at college without a tie since the first day. I placed my head into my hands.
    “What’s wrong? Will you look at me please?”
    “No.” I replied. I began to cry because I knew what came next.
    “August.” He softly grabbed my hands and lowered them, raised my chin and tucked my hair behind my ears. I lifted my head, delaying what I wish he didn’t have to see. I began to cry even more. I glanced up to see Ethan, crying. The first time I’d ever seen him cry. I saw the disappointment in his eyes. He reached up, wiping my tears away with his thumb, and gently stroked the marking beside my eye. Ethan removed his hand and held it up. It was shaking. He clenched his fist and wiped away his tears. His eyes suddenly filled with rage. He stood, kissed the top of my head, and before I could say anything, already walked back towards the college doors. I figured he was mad at me, then I realised where he was going. I immediately got to my feet and chased after him.
    “Ethan wait, Ethan, come back!” He ran up the stairs to the college doors, swinging one open. It hit the stopper so hard the top glass panel shattered. I jumped back in case any of it flew my way. A few students noticed the door smashing, too. Everyone else had stood further along the college corridors, deep in gossip. Everyone’s attention switched to Ethan entering through the shattered door. Ethan walked towards the main entrance of college where Mark and his friends were stood. I don’t know what worried me more, Ethan knowing I had been seeing Mark or that he was making his way over to him now. I sprinted down the corridor. After a few seconds I gave up because I knew I wouldn’t be able to catch him. Everyone had fell into silence. All eyes focused onto Ethan. One of Mark’s friends must have alerted him that Ethan was on his way over because he had turned around.
    He held up his hands in front of him. “Ethan listen-” Mark started to say before he was stopped. Ethan had punched him. His right fist connecting with the side of Mark’s jaw. The sound echoed throughout the corridor. Mark stumbled to the floor, hitting his head hard against the ground. He coughed and groaned as he sprawled out on his side on the floor. Ethan knelt down, grabbed him by the scuff of his shirt and dragged him to his feet. “If you ever, ever, touch her, if you ever speak to her, if you ever go near her again. I swear to God, I will fucking kill you.”
    Ethan threw Mark into his friends then stormed out the college doors. He hurried down the stairs before stopping. He turned and jogged back up the stairs, reopening the door and walked through the crowds to me. He smiled and put his arm around me and walked me towards the college doors we originally came from. I was so exhausted from