Maketh the Man
#5 of Demi-Gods
A cute story this time around...no idea what possessed me to write this. Also, I'll be taking a sabatical from Demi Gods for a couple of months. Unfortunately I've kind of dried up for ideas, so will be taking a break to help build up a buffer of good chapters, so don't expect to see much more till about late December, though I may post the next chapter soon. Until then, enjoy the story.
"Good morning class," the teacher called to the room, smiling when they all replied in unison, "As I am sure you have noticed, our class has been blessed by a new member! And while I have been informed that he is not a student per se, I hope you all will try to get along with him as best you can."
The entire class shifted in their seats to stare at the strange eighteen year old that was sitting at the back of their class, quietly flipping through a book, appearing oblivious to his surroundings. A ball of paper sailed through the air and bounced off his head, eliciting a number of giggles and snickers as he continued to read, seemingly unaffected by the projectile.
As the teacher began to write out the lesson on the board, an eraser arced gracefully over the class, straight towards the strange boy. As it was about to hit his head, his hand snapped up, catching it almost absentmindedly with a soft 'whap' noise. The class watched in amazement as he slowly placed his book down on the desk and rose from his seat, walking calmly between the desks until he stood next to one of the boys, looming over the nervous looking sixteen year old.
"I do not appreciate such childish games," He said suddenly, startling the teacher, who spun around and stared at him, "Do not throw anything at me again, or I may be obliged to throw it back."
"Oh! Mister...um...Mister Epsilon! That is quite enough! I do not know exactly what happened, but I would appreciate it if you didn't threaten the other...the students!" the teacher said curtly, checking a sheet of paper for his name.
The boy nodded and apologised, before returning silently to his seat and his book.
"So why won't you just give me a little kiss? Hey, babe?" the boy asked, a perverted smile on his face as he looked down at the younger girl, who stared defiantly back at him and his friends.
"Get away from me, you creep," she growled, trying to walk past the three boys, who immediately cut off her path, the leader forcing her against the wall, making her gasp in pain.
"Hey now! That's not very nice!" He cackled, "Now I think we deserve something...a little more from you."
Alistair stared at the three eleventh graders as they harassed the much younger girl, who was only in the ninth grade, just below Alistair himself. Swallowing hard, he stepped back from the corner he had been spying around and ground his teeth in frustration. What should he do? What could he do? He wasn't very threatening, being only five feet six inches tall, a fact his sister harassed him about almost constantly, with mousy brown hair and soft blue eyes, not to mention that he was extremely shy.
Maybe should he try to help? But what if he got beaten up? Maybe he should go get a teacher. But then, what if the boys moved somewhere else, then it'd just look like he was trying to get attention.
Alistair was so consumed by his thoughts that he didn't notice the older boy until he was standing almost directly in front of him.
"Holy crap!" Alistair hissed, staring at the much taller boy, who seemed to watch him in interest, "Wait, aren't you that guy from our class?"
"Yes," he replied calmly, leaning slightly to the side as he looked around the corner Alistair had just seen the older boys behind, "Why don't you stop them?"
"What?" Alistair stared at the boy in confusion, wondering why he was here. Wasn't he supposed to be Emily's friend's bodyguard? If so, then why was he here? Alistair started when he found himself replying, "Because I might get beaten up."
"Oh," the boy checked around the corner again, when he turned to face Alistair again, his face had a deathly serious look to it, adding to the menace layering his voice as he spoke to the shocked boy, "Then how about you go stop them, or I will definitely beat you up."
"What?" Alistair backed away slowly from the boy, squeaking when his hand shot out and grabbed his shoulder firmly, moving so fast it was almost invisible.
"You heard me. Now your choices are uncertainty, or certainty." He said as he led Alistair around the corner, suddenly shoving him towards the group of surprised boys.
Alistair stared at the group of Matrics as they stared back at him, apparently just as surprised by his sudden arrival as he was. Swallowing his pride, and for a second, he thought, his tongue, Alistair spoke nervously.
"I...uh...leave her alone, or I'll...I'll have to report you," He cursed himself as he finished weakly, staring at the three boys as he contemplated running for his life, then glanced over his shoulder and spotted the weird bodyguard guy, who was cracking his knuckles suggestively. Gritting his teeth, Alistair turned back to the three boys and stood his ground, praying silently.
"Huh?" the leader said, staring at this weird tenth grader that had appeared out of nowhere, someone who looked like a Matric he had never seen before standing behind him, looking threatening. Shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly, the teenager laughed to his friends, "Whatever, not like she was gonna put out anyway."
The three laughed loudly as they walked past the still frozen Alistair, staring at the stranger as they approached. The leader of the group waved to him casually, a friendly smile on his face.
"Sup, bro. What's happening?" he said, greeting the strangely serious looking.
"I despise people like you," He suddenly growled, cracking his knuckles loudly, "The next time I catch you, I'll be the one to deal with you."
"What?" the teen asked, stepping back in surprise, "Oh yeah? What the hell can you do?"
The three stared in amazement as the dust settled slowly around the stranger's fist, which was imbedded almost an inch into the brick wall next to him. They staggered back, scrambling to run around him as he pulled the fist from the wall and casually blew some of the dust off of it, apparently unaffected by the cuts and scratches now covering his hand. Turning silently, Alistair stared at him as he walked calmly away.
"Hey," he jumped when the girl tugged on his sleeve, "Thanks."
"What?" He asked, staring at her in confusion, before remembering what had happened, "Oh! Uh... no problem, I guess?"
"What the hell did you do to yourself!" Samantha growled as she rubbed the disinfectant over the wounds on his hand, making Grey flinch and gasp as she did so.
"Made a friend," he hissed as she uncurled his fingers and cleaned the long scratches that covered them.
"With who? A brick?"
Alistair sighed as he sat on the school bench at one end of the school's playground, staring out across it at Emily and her friends, laughing slightly as she made a silly face and jumped on the dark haired girl's back.
"Why are you watching them?" Alistair nearly screamed when the strange boy from the day before asked him the question, sitting on the bench next to him.
"I..who...what?" he stammered, staring at the teenager in confusion.
"Why are you staring at them?" he repeated, looking at the distraught Alistair calmly, a slight smile passing over his face, "Don't worry, I won't beat you up today."
"Well, that's a relief," Alistair sighed, looking back at the group of girls, a thought crossing his mind suddenly, "Wait, today? What the hell does that mean? And for that matter, who the hell are you?"
"Grey Epsilon," the boy replied, holding out his hand in greeting, "Nice to meet you."
"Uh, Alistair Parker," Alistair replied, taking Grey's hand and shaking it suspiciously, "I'd like to say likewise, but, you know."
"Heh, that's understandable," Grey laughed, leaning back on the bench, "Parker, there was a girl with the same surname. Louise, I believe."
"What? My bitchy sister?" Alistair laughed, leaning back as well, "Why do you ask"
"She doesn't seem to like Samantha very much, I was wondering why?" he said, watching the group of girls intently, seeming to focus on the dark haired one.
"Who? Oh, you mean Samantha Cartwel!" Alistair laughed, "Yeah, she's had a grudge against her for...I don't know how long!"
"Oh? Really?"
"Yeah! Hey, let me tell you a funny story about that!"
Alistair stretched as he got up from his desk, glad that the school day was finally over and that he could go home. Picking up his school bag, he blinked when a small red envelope dropped out of one of the pockets. Picking it up, he glanced around the nearly empty class quickly, before flipping it over and opening it.
"Thanks for the save the other day. P.S. you're kinda cute." He read, blushing as he read, then reread the word cute, staring in amazement at the love letter. Suddenly, it whipped out of his hands, making him stare in shock as Greg Horris, probably the most popular boy in the grade read it.
"Ooh!" He laughed, waving the note in front of his friends as he spoke in a mocking tone, "Looks like Starry got a love letter! It's kind of short though, "Thanks for the save, P.S. you're cute"."
"Hey, give it back Greg," Alistair groaned, really not wanting to confront the boy now, in the empty classroom with all of his cronies to back him up, "It's nothing to do with you."
"Oh? Isn't it?" the boy laughed, waving the note in front of Alistair's face before lifting it above his head, trying to bait the shorter boy to jump for it. It was Greg's turn to look surprised when the letter was whipped out of his hand, the slightly taller Grey standing silently behind him.
"Hey!" Greg spluttered, surprised by his sudden appearance, "You can't take that from me!"
Grey stared down at him coldly for a short time, before pushing him to the side and handing the note back to Alistair, who slipped it carefully into his pocket. Turning slowly, he glanced at Greg again, before looking away and saying dismissively, "Insolent child. Let's leave him and his butt-buddies to their own devices, Alistair. Hopefully they won't be able to breed."
"Grey! Hey, Grey!"
Grey turned as the much shorter boy ran to catch up to him, watching him as he doubled over, gasping for breath when he caught up.
"Hey," he gasped, "I was just wondering if you wanted to go out tomorrow, or maybe Saturday or something?"
"Sure," Grey replied in his usual, indifferent sounding manner, walking slowly next to the boy who now called him a friend.
"Uh? G-great! I'll call tonight to finalise alright?" Alistair stammered, a broad smile stretching across his face as he looked down the side walk, spotting Emily and her friends walking just ahead of them, "Um, hey, aren't you supposed to be Samantha's bodyguard?"
"Yes," Grey answered quickly, turning to look at the boy, "Why do you ask?"
"I was just wondering why you're walking here today, and not with them?" Alistair asked, rubbing the back of his head nervously.
"Because you always follow them at this distance, so I thought I'd join you today."
Alistair stared at the boy in shock as he said this, thoughts buzzing through his head as he began to panic, "You...you know I follow them?"
"I'm very observant," Grey replied, smiling slightly, "That reminds me, you never answered my question from the other day."
"Oh?" Alistair said, slightly surprised by his change of tone, "What question?"
"Which one do you like?"
Alistair stared at him in disbelief, stumbling over his words as he tried to come up with an answer, Grey watching him closely, one eyebrow raised questioningly. Alistair eventually sighed, relenting to the older boy's silent assault, "Emily. I've had a crush on her since sixth grade."
"Then why not ask her out?"
"Ask her out?" Alistair laughed, "Yeah right! Like she'd say yes to me, even if I could get the courage! And don't you dare ask her for me! I swear I will disown you so fast..."
"Okay, okay." Craig chuckled with him, "Speak to you tonight then?"
Alistair stared out of the classroom window in disappointment, sighing as he watched the rain pour down. He felt a presence appear just behind his left shoulder and automatically glanced up, unsurprised to see Grey standing just behind him, his face expressionless as ever.
"Hey, looks like we can't go out today, huh?" Alistair sighed, watching the older boy as he nodded silently.
It was strange, most people found Grey's silence to be strange and even slightly creepy, though most of the girls in their class called him 'mysterious', then giggled into their hands as they blushed. Alistair found his lack of speech oddly comforting, however, prompting him to do more talking than he'd ever done to anyone outside of his family.
"Grey! Come over here Grey!"
Alistair glanced up as the dark haired girl, Samantha, called to Grey. Waving slightly at him as he walked off, Alistair turned back to the window and continued to stare at the rain.
"Break in the classroom," he sighed, "How fun."
"So we're going to the mall tomorrow to see a movie and hang out and stuff," Sarah explained to Grey as he leant against a nearby desk, "You in?"
"Stupid question," Samantha giggled, shoving the smaller girl playfully, "As if I'd let him out of my sight. Who knows what a government experiment may get up to if left unattended?!"
"Can I bring a friend?" Grey asked, a slight smile forming on his lips as the girls nodded in surprise.
"What in the seven corners of hell are you doing, midget?"
Alistair cringed as his sister's voice came through his bedroom door, her customary nickname for him making him shake his head in annoyance.
"Getting ready to go out with a friend," He called, pulling on his jacket and admiring himself in his mirror. He had left his mousy brown hair slightly scruffy, and was wearing a pair of simple denim jeans and a dark blue t-shirt, having grabbed the grey hooded jacket when he had seen the overcast skies outside.
"Go out? With a friend?" her mocking tone grated against his brain as he swung the door open, surprising Louise as he walked past her, slipping his cellphone and wallet into his pockets.
"Holy shit," She mumbled as he walked confidently out the door, "He really is going out."
"Yo!"
Alistair started when he heard the call, spinning around and waving to Grey, faltering when he saw the three girls, "Hey Grey, how are...you...why are they here?"
"Is this your friend?" the dark haired girl asked, smilingly kindly at Alistair and holding out her hand, "He's kinda cute! Hi, my name's Samantha, and these are Sarah and..."
"Emily," He finished for her, blushing when the three girls stared at him surprise, "Uh, Grey talks about you three,"
"He does?" Emily giggled, "We should feel so proud!"
"Hey!" Sarah called the small group, "Are we going to buy these movie tickets or what?"
"Hey," Grey nudged Alistair gently, "Why haven't you so much as tried to talk to her?"
"Shut up!" he hissed, "It's not that easy!"
"How hard can it be to "I like you" to a girl, then?" he asked, staring down at Alistair.
"Like you'd ever have that problem," the shorter boy grumbled, "Most girls would probably jump into a snake pit to be able to go out with you!"
"Ooh! The musical fountain is running!" Emily shouted, pointing out of a wall of glass at a large fountain just beyond a wide balcony, "I wanna watch!"
"Dammit!" the other two girls groaned, "We're going to be late for the movie if we don't get her now! Someone's going to have to fetch her."
"Alistair'll do it," Grey said suddenly, pushing the shocked boy in the direction of the balcony, already following the other two girls as they headed towards the movie theatre.
Taking a deep breath, Alistair took a step forwards, muttering to himself, "Well, there's no time like the present!"
"Uh, hey, we're going to miss the movie if we don't go now,"
Emily hopped off the balustrade she had been leaning on and stared at the slight boy who had spoken, a bright blush across his cheeks. Smiling impishly at him, she suddenly asked a question, "Hey, what was your name again? Sorry, I forgot."
"What? It's Alistair," he said, swallowing nervously as he continued, "Actually I..."
"I really like the musical fountain," Emily cut him off, staring back at the spraying water and gasping as it splashed down heavily, giggling happily.
"Uh, yeah. But there's somethi..."
"It's so fun! So energetic, like me! I just love the sound of the water as it lands, splash!" she interrupted again, throwing her arms up playfully.
"It's just I've kind of had this thing fo..."
It's also so romantic! Don't you think there's just something romantic about fountains?" She suddenly asked, turning to face him.
"Dammit! Shut up for one minute so I can tell you I like you already!" Alistair shouted, blinking in surprise as he realised what he had just said, staring at Emily in shock as her face slowly turned red, his own blush deepening, "Uh, sorry, I just, uh, I..."
"Do you mean it?"
"Huh? What? Sorry, what did you say?" Alistair asked, unsure of what to do.
"I said, do you mean it? That you like me?" Emily repeated, looking down nervously as her face reddened even more.
"I...just..Uh," Alistair stuttered, her reaction taking him completely by surprise, "Yeah, I do. I've actually had a crush on you for a few of years now."
"And you never tried to even say hi?" Emily asked, taking a step forward.
"I...it's just that...I'm...you know...really kind of shy," Alistair mumbled, swallowing hard.
"Oh? Shy's fine. I actually think shy is kinda..." she trailed off as she took another step towards him.
"Cute?" He ventured, blushing hard as she looked up at him, her own face bright red.
"Hot, actually."
"Geez! It took you long enough to get here!" Sara scolded the two as they ran up to the group, handing the man their tickets, "We nearly missed the movie waiting for you two!"
"Sorry!" Emily giggled, her face bright red, "We got distracted."
"We?" Sarah asked, staring at Alistair accusingly, who was already bright red.
"Y-yeah."