13. You've your own legs

Nate had already sat down at that empty desk. I saw him biting down on his bottom lip as he kept his gaze on the table. Maybe he saw us coming to him through the corner of his eyes.

 Soon Amelia slams her fist on his table. He shivers a little but doesn't lookup. “Didn't you hear us?” Amelia asks. Nate again doesn't reply or lookup.

 “Are you deaf too?” Tony asks.

 “No he isn't. He could hear us properly yesterday,” Kevin says. “Or did he go deaf after getting those blows from us?” he laughs.

 “No chance for that,” Amelia says. “Hey stammer boy, go buy us lunch and bring it to our table.”

 Nate finally looks up. “I don't have m..money,” he says.

 Tony chuckles looking at him. “Well we knew a scrawny kid like you have barely enough money to buy lunch for yourself,” he takes his wallet out of his pocket and throws some notes on the table whilst proudly eyeing everyone in the canteen looking at him and his money. “Now, go buy us lunch,” he then orders.

 “You've your own legs,” Nate says looking up directly at Tony's face, almost shocking me.

 “What did you just say?” Tony asks inching forward, glaring at him.

 “I am not g..going to get you all lunch. You've y..your own legs to walk. You could've gone to the c..counter and got your lunch instead of...w..walking to me,” Nate says. It is followed by a loud 'cling' as Tony furiously kicks away Nate's plate and it flies to the nearby desk almost knocking a girl's face before falling and spilling all the food on the floor. Nate flinches.

 “How dare you speak to us like that?” Amelia screams in her high-pitched voice and grabs the bottle of Tomato sauce that was sitting on the table. She then holds in upside down and squeezes the red thick content on Nate's head which flows down his forehead and down his pointed nose onto his white shirt. He closes his eyes and bites hard on his lips in anger and humiliation as Tony, Kevin and Sophia laugh at him.

 “Know your place, you worthless stutter boy,” Amelia warns once she pours the whole sauce over Nate. Then she also starts laughing. “Look at him.Pfft..so pathetic.”

 “That was so hilarious, Amelia,” Sophia laughs. Nate stands up from his chair, his blue eyes burning in anger and his hands and lips shivering. He then briskly walks out of the cafeteria as everyone looks at him. Some people laugh while some people give him sorry glances.

 I don't see Nate after that. He was not in both of the classes I attended after lunch. But I badly wanted to see him and apologize. I hoped he was in one of the classes so I could pass him an apology note or something. I was miserable the whole time after that incident at the cafeteria. I couldn't have my lunch peacefully knowing he didn't have his lunch. And I couldn't concentrate in class thinking whether he was okay.

 As soon as the last bell rings, I jump up from my seat and walk out of the class in direction of my dorm room, feeling angry and frustrated. Amelia asked me to go out with her for a movie but I declined it saying I am having a headache. She believed it because I was sleeping the hour after lunch, while she was with me in the class.

 All of a sudden, the History assignment flies to my mind. Mr. Jacob said it's something important. So I need to at least know what the assignment is about. Whom will I ask?

 I only know Nate from that class. Maybe there were other people whom I knew but I didn't care to look who all are in the class. So the only way in front of me is to go and ask Nate about the details since we only have a history class next week.

 Anyway, I had already thought about checking up on Nate. Now since I have this genuine reason, I shall go to his dorm and talk to him. Probably they won't find out. And even if they find out, I can escape saying the name of the assignment.

Without thinking more, I walk in direction of Dorm D. I had yesterday seen Nate's key with the number '99', lying on the table while I was arranging my things. So I had the favor of avoiding a walk to the hostel office and again annoying Miss Rose.

 Mr. Jacob said it's a group project. So Nate might have already got partners. If he has only one partner, shall I join their team? I think while walking up the stairs. And if my friends know about this, I can tell them Mr. Jacob forcefully made us into one team and I couldn't protest.

 The image of Nate's sauce smeared face flickers in my mind as I further walk through the corridor to reach room 99. Finally, I reach in front of the specific room and knock twice on the door.

 I hear the sound of a chair scraping against the floor. But the door doesn't open even after a few moments. Maybe he is afraid, someone or probably me and my gang is here to hurt him again. I wait a few more seconds before gently knocking on the door again. I hear light footsteps coming to the door.

 “Ethan!” I hear him gasp. Probably he looked through the keyhole and identified me by my shirt or something.

 “Open the door. It's only me. I am here to ask you about the History assignment,” I say as he still doesn't open the door.

 Finally after a moment, the door opens revealing him in a green t-shirt and brown shorts. I smile at him but he doesn't smile back. I wanted him to smile at me. His smile is really beautiful. I found he has dimples, today morning when he smiled at me when I said 'Good morning' towering above him. It was the only time I saw him smile and he was really cute while smiling. Don't mistake me to be gay when I say such stuff. I think there's nothing wrong with a guy thinking another guy is cute. And he really is cute.

 And that morning incident was actually an attempt to find out whether he is interested in me. Because when I woke up, (I mean I woke up but didn't open my eyes) I could feel his presence near me on the bed and slowly shifting across as if looking at me from different positions. And when I slowly raised my eyelids a little, he was looking at my hands. Then he slowly started to crawl out of the bed but I caught his hands and pulled him down to the bed.

 I think he isn't attracted to me or anything, though I can't be completely sure. I think the thing he said about me having similarity with his friend 'Alex' is true. He was crying yesterday night uttering the name 'Alex' several times. But I should have asked him to show his pic or something. So I am now here to know about this 'Alex' in detail too.

 “Can I come in?” I ask him.