Page 37 of Xavier

Shit.

"Um, Xavier, I think."

"You 'think'? Didn't you meet with him today?"

"Er, yeah, sorry. I've just got a lot of other stuff on my mind. Yeah, his name is Xavier."

I can feel Cameron watching me, so I busy myself with my lunch, sorting through the salad with my fork before taking a bite.

"Is everything okay, Iz?"

"Yeah." I say, an octave above my normal tone. "Sure, why?"

"Nothing." He gets up gathering his things. "Just that, if you feel uncomfortable working on this project, we can always pull out. I hate to, it's not a good look pulling out of a charity gig, but, hey, we can just write them a big check. It's all these organizations are looking for anyway. Money, money, money."

He shrugs and leaves, closing my office door behind him. I wonder how much of what he said is true.

If they would rather have me, or a big check in my place.

I don't know about the company, but I know what Xavier would say.

***

12 Years Ago

It's been over a week since the incident at Dairy Joy with Xavier and Jack, and even though I've shown up at the basketball court every day and left notes on the wall telling him when I'd be there next, he hasn't been there once.

I can't help replaying the look on his face when Jack taunted him about his mother and their home situation. The cracks in his pride showing in those green eyes of his, burning his cheeks red as he tried to push it down. I wanted to tell him, I wanted to yell out that none of those things mattered to me, that it didn't change how I saw him, felt about him.

But I know, I know him enough to know, that he needed time to regroup, to mend his pride, to heal the wounds he'd endured at the ridicule of his peers.

But he's had enough time and I'm going to tell him so.

I go to the one place I know he'll be.

I haven't been back there since the first time he brought me, but I still remember the route, where the gap is in the bushes through to the trail that leads to the lake. To him.

I arrive, backpack heavy on my shoulders, breath held already anticipating the view.

It doesn't disappoint. It's late in the day and the sun is already lagging in the sky. The light reflects off the ripples in a way that makes me instantly sleepy, causing my eyelids to feel heavy, lowering to shield from the glare.

It's breathtaking.

I step to the left and see his tent, and two feet poking out from the flaps.

I wander over and drop to my knees, peering in. He's lying on his back, one arm flung over his eyes, textbook lying on his chest. His chest that is rising and falling with deep breaths. Asleep.

I slide the backpack off and quietly, gently crawl into the tent, laying my body next to his, careful not to disturb his slumber.

The sun must've made him a victim of its sleep spell as well, and he doesn't stir. I watch him breathe, in and out, in and out for a few cycles, before I lie back, and let the sound of the water washing up against the lake edge and the birds singing their last songs of the day lull me into a nap.

***

"AHHHH!" I yell, and jump up, my head coming into instant contact with another one, making us both yell out in pain.

"Ow!" I moan, rubbing my forehead. In the dying light, I can just make out Xavier doing the same, scowling at me.

"What are you going here?" he growls, reaching over and flicking a switch on the lamp, casting a warm yellow light over us and the inside of the tent.