BLITHE YOUTH

CONFLICTS…

The canteen was packed with perfect creatures of Jupiter’s genius. It was exactly noon and lunchtime for all junior classes, which in this case included Raoul the Deviant and Iason Mink, or Goodie-two-shoes according to the former. The insults were bouncing between the two students and although Iason tried to avoid name-calling for the simple purpose of not lowering himself to a common level, he did find some satisfaction in exposing his opinion about his roommate.

“He is absolutely appalling,” Iason snorted between bites and washed down his anger with a glass of water. The salad was crispy and fresh as usual and the veal perfectly prepared, yet it all tasted as if it had already been chewed on and spit out. Proper scrutiny of Iason’s soul would have revealed that this was not entirely true, but since his time with Raoul, the young Blondie had learned how to overly dramatize his expressions. It worked, for the company of five surrounding him was greatly shocked about the behavior of this deviant student from the Northern Campus. The Blondie across Iason leaned over the table, anxious to hear more of this unruly youngster.

“You know, I heard he is getting some extra ‘assistance’ to pass his courses…”

Iason lifted an eyebrow and tilted his head a little. He had heard those rumors before, but they were of a far too personal character and thus Iason was unsure how to circumvent the situation. He was more than happy to join in on the discussions concerning Raoul, but when it came to such private details, he was a firm believer in that certain boundaries were not to be broken.

“Um…what do you mean exactly?”

The other one smiled and continued with eyes glowing with anticipation.

“I heard that he is…” the boy halted and bit his lower lip as he tried to trap the giggle from escaping him, but his strength was not enough to withhold the amusement pressing from within. “I heard that he is sleeping with his teachers to get his grades straight. Well, it is rather strange. I mean, he was nowhere in the beginning of this term and now he is apparently a top student and not too far behind you actually," he nodded towards Iason. "The only thing he keeps having trouble with is politics since that despicable display a while back. Everything else he has passed with honors.”

“Where did you hear this?” Iason asked suspiciously.

“Well, don’t you find it a bit odd that he keeps on getting dragged into the headmaster’s chamber all the time? Really now, many have been to that office but only this Raoul Am individual has spent hours at a time there. How likely is that? I bet the headmaster is pretty much sucked dry by now.”

All around the table burst into laughter, including Iason. Swept away by the moment, no one noticed the presence appearing behind them. Suddenly, the laughter died and Iason met the burning gaze of Raoul as he turned around. However, Raoul's stare seemed to pass the proper Blondie and it was apparent that his anger was not directed solely at Iason. Still, guilt flared inside the correct Blondie and without a second thought he flew up form the chair assuming a defensive position.

“Raoul...listen, it was just…”

“Forget it, Iason.”

The Deviant was all but tolerant to listen to reason and stumbled out of the canteen followed by the worried holler of Iason.

“Oh, what are you worried about?” one of the Blondies around the table voiced coldly. “He will go to that tree of his, sulk on for hours, skip class, then go to the headmaster to pull him out of the mess he is in. Personally, I can’t understand how you can spend even a single day with that unpolished ape.”

Through crude and persistent persuasion, as befitted the Blondie Elite, Iason allowed himself to be held back by his peers. After all, their conclusions on Raoul seemed to be rather probable. Raoul was very often with the principal. What was he doing there? Later that evening, Iason felt compelled to confront Raoul on the matter.

The Deviant was buried in his latest report and had no will to communicate with Iason when the Blondie finally came back to the dorm. It was unusual for Iason to stay out this late, but there was a valid reason to his worry. He feared Raoul would get furious and start a scene – but Iason still needed to know the truth. The young Blondie carefully sat down on the edge of his bed across Raoul. He took off his outer garment and remained quiet for a little while, until a soft voice invited him to the discussion he wished to have.

“So do you think so too?”

Iason took Raoul into focus. The hair was still short in the back. Raoul had wanted it to remain so, especially since it upset a lot of his peers that he could have such a relaxed attitude about his deviance. Nonetheless, he was truly attractive.

“I don’t know, Raoul,” Iason sighed. “Is it true?”

“It’s incredible, Iason,” Raoul snorted as he kept on typing with impressive speed.

“What is?”

“I agree that you might think I have no class, no visions, no discipline, no beauty and no future…but to hear you say I have no spine…that’s incredible.”

Iason flew up form his seat opposing to the accusation.

“I never said that! I was just…”

“Just what?” Raoul looked up and stopped typing. “Asking me if I screw the headmaster to get my grades up?” After a short while of silence, the deviant resumed working as he continued. “How can you even think such a thing? I lack a lot of things, but not spine, my friend.”

Iason watched as the light from the screen illuminated the sad features of the young boy stubbornly working on his essay. He walked up to Raoul and sat down next to him, placing a hand on the busy fingers; making the young deviant to stop in his efforts.

“No, you are right,” Iason began. “You don’t lack spine. I am sorry for doubting you. I think you have discipline, or you wouldn’t be working right now when everyone else is sleeping, and that will give you visions and a future. I also think you have great class. Granted, unusual for a Blondie, but still it’s your class. And when it comes to your beauty,” fingertips gingerly intertwining, “I’d like to see more of it...”

Iason suddenly bit his sentence in half, realizing what he as about to say; most importantly that he was about to reveal his own weakness. By the time Raoul’s mind fitted the missing pieces into a comprehensible structure of words, it was already too late. Iason had left the seat next to him and disappeared into the bathroom. Raoul’s juvenile heart was wildly pounding in his chest, but he chose to suppress the emotions awakening and continued with his assay. This time with a little smile.