° love is not cruel
We're cruel.
Love is not a game.
We have made a game out of love. °

Chapter 29

I drive Nessa's old creaky bike to school today. It is such a hassle, I swear to drive my car tomorrow, I can't do bicycles, I'm too lazy for that. The good thing is the exercise wakes my brain up and even though I feel tired and I ache, I also feel super ready for classes.

"Israel, what the fuck?" I hear a familiar voice say and I bite my lip holding a groan in.

Not now Sky.

But of course he doesn't hear my thoughts and remains standing there. I slowly turn to him, wearing a frown. The face he has on is one I haven't seen before, at least not directed at me. His eyes are narrowed, lips set in a straight line and jaw set. His grey eyes looks a bit cloudy and honestly if I don't know him, I would have shrunk in fear but I do know him and he is angry at me... The nerve of him!.

"What?"

His mouth opens and closes and then he smiles humorously, a sick kind of smile that drops immediately after it comes. "What? Just what?" I shrug, playing nonchalant. "I looked everywhere for you yesterday, Israel. I called you, I texted... What happened? Why did you disappear to after the match?"

I turn to open my locker, "you shouldn't have looked for me."

"What's that supposed to mean? I was worried sick something might have happened to you. I even had to go to your house and when I didn't see your car, I fucking knocked."

He did? I glance at him, having not expected that. I think I heard Nessa say something about him but I wasn't paying any attention. Oh wow.

He runs his fingers through his hair, "it was your sister who answered, she didn't know where you were either. It later that she called saying you finally came back home. What happened? I was worried sick."

Now I feel guilty, biting my lip I scold myself for putting him through that but then what about what he put me through. I don't say anything and I silently swap my books. I can feel him boiling beside me.

"Israel, say something," Sky says, more like warns in a really low tone.

I bang my locker shut, "you weren't thinking of me when you were locking lips with Gina an- or penny."

His eyes remain but his lip purse in confusion. "Gina or..." Sky trails off and I see realization dawn on him as he recalls and understand. "Oh."

"Oh, alright," I push pass him, hitting shoulders together.

"Issy wait," he grabs my hand but I pull it off him even though I do stop to listen. I'm really curious. "It's not what you think."

Crossing my hands, I scowl, "I saw what I saw."

"Penny is Greece and quite dramatic and exaggerated and she kisses everyone in greeting, I swear," he says but I still don't look at him, the wheels in my head turning. "I agree she went a bit far with me, she kinda likes me-" I scoff at that and Sky grabs my elbow, making me look at him. "But I don't like her and I pulled away. But then she's my friend and she was like 'aw, no greeting kiss' " he imitates making my features relex with how well he nailed a female voice.

"And so I pecked her. It meant nothing, I swear, I don't like her like that."

I look at him, away from him and to the different students walking around in the hallway or standing and talking by their locker, then back at him— my leg shaking with nerves. "Really?"

"Yes, really. Fuck Israel, it's you I spend all my time on. Even when I'm not with you, you're still-- everywhere," he cries out genuinely, his eyes soft and pleading.

I've messed up.

"I-I'm sorry I left," I apologise looking down at his shoes. "And didn't pick your calls or reply your text. I was just-"

"Jealous?" He supplies, head tilted as he scrutinizes me.

I don't bother denying it and I nod. "And I don't even have to right to be, God. You can kiss whoever you want to, I'm such an idiotic prat."

"Just a prat would do," Sky says and when my eyes snap to him with a glare, he laughs. "And mind you, there's only one person I want to kiss. Badly."

I blush, ducking my head and using my backpack to cover my face slightly, "Shut up Sky."

He pulls my bag down a bit to see my face, "so we're good right?" I nod. "Please don't make me worry like that, I went nuts."

"Really sorry," I look at him and something pushes me to tuck a curl of his hair out his face, I blush with that single act and the way he looks at me. "Let me make it up to you?"

Sky smiles, "can we go to Frosty's later?"

"Why? Are you sad?"

He shrugs, "maybe and maybe I just need some nice frozen yogurt."

"Fine," I give in just as the bell goes off for first period. "But you're driving cus I didn't bring my car. I rode a bicycle."

"You?" He shakes his head, "why the hell?"

"Long story," I back away, "see you later."

*

It starts raining third period and it doesn't stop, pouring heavily down even as school comes to an end.

"This is such an unfortunate day," Jamal sighs next to me, resting his body on the wall.

School's over but it seems like the entire student population is gathered at the exit door, chatting as we wait for the rain to stop, some brave souls running out one by one. I look up from my phone to Jamal, I wanted to check the time. It's been thirty minutes after school ended already. "Why?"

"I got a detention for Friday and now I'm trapped in this hell hole for more than necessary. And I'm starving, lunch might have as well not happened," he groans hunching over.

I chuckle, "why did you get a detention."

"Darcy and I got into an argument in politics class," he says frowning already. I didn't have that class and it's the only class they both share.

"You and Darcy again," I shake my head. "So she got detention too?"

"Yup, serves her righteous arse right. She never listens."

"And you never learn," I start looking over the students for Darcy, she must be in a foul mood, I don't think she's ever gotten a detention. I don't see her, it's either she's run off already or at the library. "I just remembered I owe her an apology, she can definitely hold a grudge."

"Whatever, I can't stand her now. I'm already gloomy enough with the weather."

"Mm," I nod, bouncing my feet and then I look to where Sky's standing with Lou. I've been glancing over every second but then it's weird seeing them together, it's usually just one. Lou's saying something and gesturing as he speaks and Sky's listening. It's as if he senses me looking and he looks up then, our eyes meeting. My heart sours for no reason and Sky smiles, winking at me. I smile too, warmth spreading through my body.

I feel giddy and lightheaded. I feel like all is right and I'm happy. I get butterflies in my tummy with just the way he looks at me and I want to be with him all the time. He crosses my t's and dot's my i's. It's a feeling so strange and new, a feeling I never knew existed.

Damn rain, we were supposed to be on a date.

I look at him again and he's still looking at me. I see Lou slightly slap his face and he startles back to attention, making my laugh like a girl. Giggle, I suppose.

"Ugh, you're making me sick," Jamal groans, hitting his head on my shoulder. "Stop with the bloody lovestruck behavior."

"Shut up Mal."

"Let's play chess before I pluck your doe eyes out," he says bringing out his phone and I give in but not without looking at Sky one more time.

The rain eventually reduces and everybody rushes out like a swam of bees. I hurriedly bid Mal goodbye before I run to where I packed my bicycle, then Sky's truck, jumping in as soon as I could. My bicycle safe at the back.

"Hi you," Sky says turning up the heat of the car as I rub my palms together and blow warmth from my breath into it. "Still up for Froyo?"

I shake my head, "unfortunately, no, I'm so cold already and if you go anywhere near Frosty after this rain, your truck would surely get stuck somewhere. Total bad idea."

"Aw man," Sky pouts and hits his head on his steering wheel. "You're right and it sucks, I really wanted to spend time together."

"I still want to," I check the time on my phone, "have any tea supplies at your house?"

Sky peeks open an eye and grins at me, "yeah, grandpa." He starts the car on together with glass wipe, the rain was still drizzling.

I smile to myself and text my mum that I'll be home a little late. And she text back okay, that I shouldn't let the rain soak me to my bones lest I fall sick. After that my phone is tucked away and Sky and I belt out the lyrics to God's Plan by Drake. I try my best at the rappings and I tell him that if Jamal was here, he would've killed it. Sky and I happen to like Drake more because he's more understanding in his raps and way more finer. Mal's a big Eminem fan.

"Kendrick's always preaching you know," Sky says as we enter into his warm house, tossing his school bag to the floor. "And it's nice sometimes but I can't listen to that all the time."

"Yeah, I guess," I pick his bag up and drop both of ours on the sofa, following him into the kitchen. "I like Chris Brown."

"Chris Brown doesn't rap," Sky drops tea supplies for me on the counter, they're stocked, as usual.

"Still have you seen his moves," I try some back slide as I move to get the mugs and we both laugh— I can't dance to save my life.

"So," Sky turns us the kettle and turns to me. "His videos are more interesting?"

"Eh, not really," I say dropping the two cups on the counter. "Okay, Kanye then?"

"Pfft," is Sky's reply and I almost fall while laughing. He shakes his head and points at one of the cups, "I'd rather coffee."

"No way, you're having traditional tea, you'd like it."

"It'll make me fall asleep, Issy."

"All the better," I gesture around the house, "do you have anything you want to do?"

He pokes his tongue inside his cheeks as he studies me, "would you stay?"

"Until my curfew, yeah," I get the boiling kettle, "that gives us about two hours left."

"Can we watch a movie?"

I start making the tea like my dad taught me, letting the bag soak before bringing it out. I look up and meet his eyes, just as the lightening flashes through the windows and next follows a loud thunder as the heavens open up again with a heavy rain. "Uh man, more rain?"

"Whether for two," Sky sings wiggling his brows at me before focusing back on the mugs. He was paying close attention to how I prepared the drinks. "You know, a guy in my former school was nicknamed a mughead for so my reasons."

"He must have been stupid," I still couldn't get whether for two out of my head.

"Yeah but now I can't stop imagining this mug in place of his head on his body," Sky smiles, "a walking mug head."

I shake my head at him, "you're crazy Sky Hunt." I make the tea extra milky and sweet. "Can we watch that movie of yours?"

"Call me by your name?" He grins, choosing a cup of his fancy and walks out, heading upstairs. "Of course, come on sweetheart."

I laugh, carefully following him up. "Right there, honey."

The light in his room is an orange glow now and it's not that bright. After we get settled on his bed, he turns it off and turns on his laptop. We snuggle closer for warmth as the rain pelts down non-stop— thank God we made it out of school in time— not caring about anything but warmth. The movie starts and I watch Sky take his tea, keeping an eye out for his expression.

"Stop looking at me, Issy," he blushes, "this is really good. The best I've tasted, no wonder you take it so much."

My reply is a grin as I relax closer to him, watching the movie with a tea cup in hand. Something about this scene is so comforting and homely. It's the kind of comfort I could get used to, the the kind of comfort I never want to leave. I can see myself doing this with Sky at way older ages and it's mind-blowing and scary. I shake all that thought and just try to focus on the movie and now. A happy moment.

*

Everything except Sky and the movie fades away and I don't even know how many hours pass but soon the credits are rolling in and I feel like I can watch it again and again. Our tea cups are long empty and forgotten and at some scenes, I get hotter and Sky squirms at bit but we remain silent. I think I cry a bit at the ending.

Sky heavily sighs, shutting his laptop. "This movie gets me every time."

"It's a bit sad," I rub at my eyes, "they'd meet again right?"

Sky shrugs, eyes on me. "I hope so."

"Me too," it's then I see that our hands are linked together. At some point when we weren't holding our cups again, we started holding each other. I smile at our entwine fingers and the different skin colour. And in a smaller voice, like a whisper, I say, "I'll be sad if you leave me."

Sky doesn't say anything for a moment until, "should we play the game?"

I look away from our fingers and to his eyes, "what's the game?"

"Call me by your name," he says simply, not looking away from my eyes.

I bite my lip for second, "I'd call you Israel?"

"And I'll call you Sky."

I look away from his perfect eyes and back again, "how long?"

"Um- three minutes?"

"Okay," I nod. Wondering if it's going to do anything, it's just name calling.

"Okay," he lies down and I do too and we're facing each other, eyes locked. "Sky," the way he says it, low voice eyes on me makes me shiver slightly.

My fingers on his tighten, "Israel."

Sky blinks slowly, "Sky."

"Israel," I have no idea what's happening but something is happening. It's like the air around us is getting electrified and maybe magnetic because we're definitely closer.

"Sky," he swallows, not looking away from my eyes.

He's so beautiful, he's perfect and my heart is beating and my skin tingling. My eyes flick to his lips for a second and back to his eyes, "Israel," I can't control it or hold it in. The feeling consumes me and...

"S-" Sky doesn't get the complete word out before I close the little space between us, touching his lips with mine. It's soft, it's warm, it electrifies me down to my toes.

I pull back almost immediately and I'm sure my heart is going to jump out and run away. Sky's bright eyes shift between mine quickly, like he's searching for something. I bite my lip, trying to control myself and keep the feeling threatening to claw out in. I almost start shaking before Sky lips twitches a bit and he closes the space, a hand on my face as his lip meet mine in a kiss. More surer, more stronger and more deeper.

I let myself relax under him with a deep exhale, every bad feeling sinking into the abyss and every good one soaring out and clicking in like the last piece of a puzzle. I've never kissed anyone before but with the way Sky kisses me— his hand holding my face in place like he's afraid I'd disappear— I kiss him back and it's the most natural thing ever. Our lips move together like we've kissed before, like all my life I've been living and waiting for this moment.

Time and reason disappears and all that's left is Israel and Sky.

-----------------------------

Honestly there are no words, Call me by your name remains one of my favourite movies and I just had to use it. I was smiling so hard writing all this, I hope it makes you smile too. Also, I love tea as much as Issy does, maybe even more. I can barely survive a rain without hot tea.

This is my farthest kiss scene and Israel needed the time. I would have postponed it longer but he's a human with hormones so... Thoughts?

And I saw the picture while whoring around Pinterest and it nails my image of Issy so much, I decided to share;

Vote and comment.