Ghost (Second Edition)

Chapter Five--The Tender Space Between

Nathan

Nathan laid flat out on his back, watching the moonlight cast shadows across his bedroom roof, running his hands through the silk-soft covers of his bed. He couldn't stop thinking of Luis, of his cute round face, and his laugh that made his heart skip a beat.

But that wasn't all he could stop thinking of.

He couldn't stop thinking of Luis's reaction to the soup that afternoon. It was such a simple dish, and yet he acted like he had never seen anything like it, and the way he ate it... he was so desperate. It was like he hadn't been fed in days.

What if he hasn't?

The thought ran around in his mind. He knew Luis was poor, but surely they had enough food to make such a simple dish? He bit his lip, feeling the sharp pain as his teeth pierced the flesh. He was worried about Luis, and that worry only got stronger the more he got to know him.

Nathan rolled over, burying his face into the feather-soft pillows, and closing his eyes. Luis appeared in his dreams, sometimes happy, other times sad and haunted, and all the while, that worry stayed. It egged at him, begged him to do something, but Nathan didn't know what.

***

Nathan leaned against the locker next to Luis's, waiting for the smaller boy to arrive. He caught sight of Andy, tall and messy in his unironed clothes, roaming around the halls.

He bit back his anger; he didn't need to start a fight today.

"Nathan?"

Nathan looked up, Luis was standing a few feet away, hesitating, his soft green eyes looking him over, and his feet frozen in a half walk. He was wearing the same clothes as yesterday, Nathan wondered how he stayed warm in them.

He smiled at the boy. "Hey, Luis."

Luis slowly came forward. "Hey..."

"Did you have a nice sleep?" Nathan asked to start a conversation, leaning with his shoulder on the cold metal door.

Luis shrugged as he opened his locker door and chucked his bag inside. "Somewhat," he muttered.

"Somewhat?" Nathan inquired, raising his eyebrows.

"Yeah, it was a bit chilly," Luis murmured, glancing up at him as he tugged at the hem of his jumper. "What about you? How was your sleep?"

"Pleasant," Nathan murmured, he smiled down at Luis, "What would you like for lunch?"

Luis blinked. "What?"

"Lunch, what would you like for lunch?"

Luis looked at him, then away, wrapping his arms around his chest. "You don't need to buy me anything." He muttered.

"But I want to," Nathan bent down a little to be at eye level with him. "You haven't got any lunch... and I can hear your stomach growling," he murmured as Luis's stomach gave a particularly loud growl.

A flush of bright red coloured Luis's cheekbone. "I'm fine," he whispered.

Nathan frowned and straightened. "No, you're not," he said, crossing his arms over his chest.

Luis looked up at him, then away. "I don't want to burden you," he mumbled.

Nathan looked at him in shock. "You're not a burden," he murmured gently, "and you never will be."

Luis looked away.

Nathan felt a pang in his heart. "Luis—"

The bell rang shrilly, making them both jump.