Fallen

Chapter 13. Material boy [Michael]

My reflection stares back at me. A perfect image of how I look to the rest of the world. Mirroring every feature, copying my every move.

I barely recognize myself. Nothing comes up in my mind when I look at myself. It is all so blank. My mind, bleak. It hurts to even think.

When I turn around. A glance at the curve of my back, that's where my wings lie hidden. Disguised by these thick wooly blouses or 'sweaters' that Lucy keeps giving me. Ordering me to try on. One after the other.

I see no difference from the first blouse I'm given to the thirteenth - they all look the same to me. Same fabric, same color.

But the noises of approval from both of them make it tolerable.

"Try this," Caleb comes up from behind me.

He stops when he reaches my side. Looking into the mirror as well. Eyes gazing across my frame.

He's holding something, another sweater perhaps, this one black. It looks similar to the coat he gave me back at his home. It's not as long, and the material feels thinner when I take it. It's smoother to the touch and feels less warm.

"It's not as long as the one we have, but it might still be able to cover your," He stops himself. Peeping over his shoulder at the man who looked at me oddly when we arrived at his boutique.

The man is bending over his desk in the far-away corner. Head bent down over his phone. The thing Caleb owns as well. His fingers move across the surface, making their own dance almost.

Even from over here, I can still hear the bothersome pings and tings from the small object.

"It's a cool jacket," He then says, dragging my attention away from the bored-looking man. "Try it on."

I do.

It slides on easily. It's comfortable, not as tight as the other one.

He takes a step back. Coming to a halt in front of me. His blue eyes, taking me in. He corrects the front of the jacket then nods in approval.

It fits well. And it looks so too in the mirror.

I peer back up at my face. Seeing how the dull lightning drastically amplifies my features. It enhances my bruises and intensifies the small scar that is forming above my brow. It makes me feel eerie. Not knowing how it got there, who did this to me.

I see the shapes. Like hazy silhouettes. So blurry that I can't fix my mind onto them.

"It looks good on you," Caleb says, gripping the top of my bicep lightly. Giving it a squeeze.

He's trying to help me. Sensing my distress. He might know how to read me better than I do myself.

My heart skips a beat.

I give him a small smile. Looking down at him. The way his curls accentuates his features. His baby blue eyes, almost glowing in the light. There's a soft glimmer somewhere in them. A twinkle amongst stars. It makes me want to reach down, let my hand graze his cheek. To feel the smooth skin under my palm. To touch the little mark on his cheek.

Someone clears their throat.

We both turn our eyes to the sound.

Lucy stands with her hands on her hips. Her pigtails are trailing along as she cocks her head. There's a smirk on her face. All-knowing as if she reads minds.

I feel the flush creep up on me.

"Am I interrupting something?" She asks rather smugly.

Caleb huffs and makes a grimace, nose scrunching up. Yet his cheeks turn a shade of red.

"No, stop being annoying." He says and shoulders past me.

Lucy seems sure of herself, the way she crosses her arms across her chest. Smacking her lips together.

"You sure?" She makes a face at him. "You're blushing."

He snorts, then pushes her face out of the way when she starts poking his side. "Yes, now stop it."

Lucy giggles.

Caleb tells me to keep the new jacket on. While we go to what he calls the 'register' to buy off the rest. He uses a card. It beeps, and the transaction is complete. Or that's what the man says.

He bids us farewell. The man smiles at us, all fake and tense. Giving me one last glance, dare I say, almost sneering at me.

My eyes turn to slits as I try to stare him down as well. Maybe he knows something.

"Did I do something wrong?" I ask when we leave the store. Caleb, dragging along several bags of new clothes. "Did he know about me?"

"I just don't think he liked your clothes," Lucy says.

"There's nothing wrong with what I'm wearing, is there?" I have not seen many other people. But the ones I have seen all wear different things. Not Caleb nor Lucy bat an eye at the ones we walk past.

"Some people just like to judge." Caleb shrugs.

The clip and clap of my shoes sound as we move along the tiled flooring of the mall. The hall feels endless. Steril lights drag along the top. Music humming in the background. An unfamiliar tune. It's all so new.

We stop at a place that sells footwear.

I have seen how other people don't walk around in the same shoes as I do. And the ones I have don't fit well.

There are all kinds of shoes. Finding a perfect fit does not take long. Although Caleb did have to find someone to help us. A pretty woman with a kind smile.

When we exit the store once again, we end up in the hall. Lucy starts dragging me along by the sleeve. Leaving Caleb slacking behind with all of the bags containing the new clothes.

"Where are you going?" Caleb yells after us.

Lucy keeps tugging me further along. I just go along.

"I'm hungry," She claims. "I want food."

I can see the way Caleb rolls his eyes. Jogging up to us. He shakes his head.

"We're done here anyway," He says, nodding down to all the bags.

"What are we going to eat?" I question them both.

Caleb shrugs, "Whatever you'd like." He says.

I can't come to think of anything.

"What about burgers?" She asks. "You'll like it."

She must have seen the expression on my face because I have no idea what these so-called burgers are. But I'm willing to find out.

Lucy starts leading the way once again. 

This week where I live, we're celebrating world pride. Today there's the parade, and I'm most definitely going. I'm just writing here quickly because I want to say Happy Pride to all. Have a good day :)

- Sofufff