It was his first day at a new school, and they were already swarming around him like vultures. Books clutched tightly against his chest, Axel forced a smile for the sake of conciliation, chestnut brown hues ping-ponging from one face to another until his nervous gaze finally settled on the leader. “What? Got something to say?” The other boy snapped, taking an aggressive step toward him — to the amusement and anticipation of his friends. Unlike them, however, all Axel could hear was the malice in his tone, the words sounding faraway — as though trying to reach him through a tunnel that stretched as far as the eye could see.
A whisper that wasn’t a whisper at all.
“Look at this ass,” the tallest one guffawed, moving to stand beside the one currently leading this charge; a united front of mockery. “He doesn’t respect our seniority at all. Can’t even be bothered to give you an answer.” Head tilted at just the right angle to carefully observe the movements of the other boy’s mouth without giving himself away, Axel hastily shook his head when he realized just how damaging this misunderstanding could be if they continued to nurture it. “I’m sorry,” he apologized without thinking, his tone soft, placating; an appeal for forgiveness. “I didn’t mean to — ” he started to say, intending to explain himself in as much detail as possible until he finally convinced them of his sincerity.
But before he could get the rest of the words out, a foot suddenly slammed into the chest of the leader, the sheer force of the impact sending him flying backwards into a sprawling heap on the ground. Eyes popping wide at the sight — all three gaped at the newcomer, their pallor strangely pale in the brilliant sunlight — Axel turned to see what had them so petrified and tongue-tied, gaze locking with a pair of sharp, tawny brown hues.
@ paroxyisms
