The Fake Lover

The Fake Lover
By Raven of Darkness Shadows and R.P. Davies
Chapter Six: The Descent

Ohjiro took his usual seat in class. He felt so numb, so empty. After breaking up with Gerrard, he didn’t really feel like doing anything. It had hurt so much, telling the guy he loved so much that he couldn’t see him anymore. He was afraid to even come to school today, but since he had no fever, his father made him go anyway.

A few chairs away, Gerrard was looking a bit upset himself. Out of the blue Aiko finally called him and then, just like that, broke up with him?

The class droned on with Ohjiro caught between idly writing a poem into his notebook and staring longingly at Gerrard. His heart was beating loudly in his chest, loud enough for him to swear that others would be able to hear him as well. Perhaps... It was maybe time for Ohjiro to give up his longing and try dating someone more attainable. He turned his eyes to look at the others sitting in the class. They were all gaffawing at dumb jokes. None of them could measure up to Gerrard's stature.

By the end of the class, Ohjiro was positive that no one could even begin to compare to Gerrard. He watched the boy he longed for walk out of the room. It’s hopeless… he thought gloomily as he gathered up his things, putting them into his bag. I don’t think I can get over him…

Just as he walked out, he felt someone pull him over. “Actually,” he heard someone say, “this is who I was looking for. Not you, Mr. Gerrard.”

Ohjiro looked up at the boy that had grabbed him. The young man looked to be a senior, a camera hanging around his neck. Gerrard narrowed his eyes. “Oh, really… You’re going to give up chasing me around, just like that, Kiri?”

“That’s right, because I bet that deep down, you’re just a selfish jerk like your father, right?” The guy named Kiri grinned at him. “Besides, this little boy here is so beautiful, but if he agrees to be my model… well, he’ll be able to blow that old guy’s shots out of the water. Sure, Gemini was beautiful back in the days when my parents went here, but now it’s this boy’s turn.”

"Yeah, well, I'm not in the mood today anyway," Gerrard muttered as he wandered off, leaving Ohjiro to look up at this new person. He was confused, but as the guy waved his camera in front of Ohjiro.

"So," he said, "wanna model for some photos for me?"

The confused expression on Ohjiro's face must have been enough to say yes, so the guy named Kiri dragged him all the way down to the other end of the school where the art classes were. There was already a couple of people inside. "Hey, Azima, I got a keeper."

Another senior turned and looked over Ohjiro. He had hair that was so red it had to be dyed and wore the tightest leather pants that Ohjiro had ever seen. He almost couldn't believe the guy could walk in them, though he seemed to manage just fine. "He'll do, I guess," he muttered and turned back to setting up some camera equipment.

“I-I don’t know what to do though!” the poor confused boy tried to say, but Kiri smiled down at him. “How about you just pose for the camera? We’ll tell you what kind of shots we want, alright?”

The raven-haired teen nodded lightly, still confused as hell. But it got him away from class with Gerrard for a while, right?

"Alright, someone get this kid in make up!"

"You don't have to yell," Azima said while scowling at Kiri, "I'm right here." The tall teen took Ohjiro by the arm and sat him down by the mirror. He started lightly, slowing building on the youth's features, scultping them like a work of art. After a while Ohjiro could barely recognise himself. This guy's skills were far better than his own and Ohjiro stared at himself in disbelief. He looked like himself if he were some kind of supermodel. He looked like himself if he were...

"Aiko?"

Ohjiro turned to the doorway where the voice came from and saw Gerrard standing there. The boy's face was shocked and Ohjiro felt his heart beating faster. Was this it? Was his facade coming to an end?

Gerrard just shook his head lightly. "Sorry," he said, "with that make up you look like... someone I know."

Kiri just frowned at him. “Now, Gerrard, what brings you here anyway? I told you I don’t need you today, right? I think some of the lesser known students deserve to be in the spotlight once in awhile too, you know.”

“I just…”

“Just what?” Kiri wondered. “You’re not taking away our beautiful model boy.”

"No, Mister Baulding just wanted to know if you'd be done with him before lunch."

"Oh no no no, pretty boy," the taller Azima said, wagging a finger at Gerrard, "Kiri let you slip away but there's no way I'm letting this one go so easily."

Gerrard shrugged his shoulders and turned to leave again. "Alright, whatever," he muttered as he closed the door behind himself.

Ohjiro stared after him. He was surprised by Gerrard's reaction and now he had no idea how to feel about the whole thing. Gerrard seemed far more upset by everything than Ohjiro had first thought. But then, he'd only been with Gerrard twice as Aiko, how could someone fall like that after such a short amount of time?

But then, if Ohjiro compared that to how he felt himself...

***

"The kid did good after he started getting into it."

Azima and Kiri were circling around a computer where they were looking over the photos from the shoot. With each shot they analyzed them like they were old pros and took turns touching them up.

Ohjiro stood forgotten in the background. He'd been able to forget about Gerrard's appearance earlier while he was still modeling but now that things had quieted down his mind was retracting back to that moment. Gerrard had seemed so upset after mistaking him for Aiko. What if it’s a ‘love at first sight’ situation? he wondered. He knew all too well how painful that kind of thing could be.

But there was really nothing he could do about it, right? He had to stop being Aiko… There were just way too many risks involved, especially with Orzone so unable to keep a secret to himself.

“Are you people done yet?”

Ohjiro looked up to see yet another senior, this one with shoulder-length jet-black hair, and very dark blue eyes. He was tall, but not nearly as tall as Azima. His skin looked flawless, almost like a doll in a way. The younger teen felt his cheeks burn as he continued to stare at the other boy.

“Geeze, Ryo, can’t you be a little more patient?” Kiri pouted at him. “You can’t rush perfection, you know.”

“Yes, well, Diana is demanding to know where you are.”

“Look, just tell her I have no intention of ever dating her. I thought I made it clear to that girl that I’m more interested in men.”

"Well what can I say, some people just have a sick obsession with what goes on in your pants." Ohjiro stared at this new person, Ryo. He had such a slender and athletic build that Ohjiro just couldn't keep his eyes away. And that attitude; Ohjiro hadn't heard anyone talk to anyone that way since he was in middle school.

"So who's the kid, anyway?" Ryo said, walking over to take a closer look at Ohjiro.

"His name's Ohjiro," muttered Azima without looking up from the computer, "he's a natural."

"And he's way better than you," Kiri added.

"Well I think he's cute," said Ryo with a wink while grabbing Ohjiro's butt and squeezing it lightly. The boy's blush just burned deeper as he stared up at the new comer.

“Mm, he is,” agreed Kiri. “He’s perfect for modeling.”

Ryo rolled his eyes, then grinned at Ohjiro. “So, how about going out with me sometime? Unless… you like girls.”

Ohjiro could only blink at him though. This was a guy that was asking him out. He was asking him out, not Aiko or anyone else, but him himself!

"I, uh," Ohjiro stammered nervously, "okay, sure."

"Great," said Ryo, the words sliding out of his lips and into Ohjiro's ear, making him shiver. His voice was so smooth that just by the words alone Ohjiro could feel a tongue sliding along his neck. Maybe this was a mistake, maybe this guy wasn't going to treat him well.

Maybe this was a mistake, Ohjiro thought.

"Meet me after school by the carpark.”

“.. O-okay…”