All Tears Fall Silent

~Chapter 3~

Catching tear drops in my hands 

Only silence as it's ending 

Like we never had a chance 

Do you have to make me feel like 

There's nothing left of me?"

I glanced at him, and he turned to meet my eye. He smiled softly, and I returned it. I've only talked with him in English class, this is kinda weird.

"You can take everything I have 

You can break everything I am 

Like I'm made of glass 

Like I'm made of paper 

Go on and try to tear me down 

I will be rising from the ground 

Like a skyscraper 

Like a skyscraper"

"As the smoke clears, I awaken 

And untangle you from me 

Would it make you feel better 

To watch me while I bleed? 

All my windows still are broken 

But I'm standing on my feet"

Out of my right eye I can tell he's really paying attention to the lyrics, staring off into nowhere.

"You can take everything I have 

You can break everything I am 

Like I'm made of glass 

Like I'm made of paper 

Go on and try to tear me down 

I will be rising from the ground 

Like a skyscraper 

Like a skyscraper

Go run, run, run 

I'm gonna stay right here, 

Watch you disappear 

Yeah, oh 

Go run, run, run 

Yeah, it's a long way down 

But I am closer to the clouds up here

You can take everything I have 

You can break everything I am 

Like I'm made of glass 

Like I'm made of paper 

Oh Oh 

Go on and try to tear me down 

I will be rising from the ground 

Like a skyscraper 

Like a skyscraper

(Like a skyscraper)

Like a skyscraper 

Like a skyscraper"

It goes onto the next song, Fake A Smile by Radford.

He seems to enjoy it.

We go through a couple more songs before he pulls out his own earbud. 

"You have a good taste in music. Sad... but meaningful." He smiles and I genuinlly smile back. The music and books you surround yourself with usually reflect who you are or what you feel. Sad but meaningful is just about the greatest compliment I've gotten in a while. I mumble a thanks and  reach over to pause the song, he glances at my hand. 

In nearly an instant, he cups my one hand with both of his, observing it. "Alex... what happened??" He does actually seem concerned. But I know he's not. It's just my mind tricks I pull on myself. To make me hopeful, only to have the hope yanked back again, leaving me miserable.

I pull my hand away gentily and answer, "Oh.. just got in a fight. Y' know." I intentionally put a bit of cockiness in my voice, hoping this conversation will go anywhere but here.

"No. Really. What happened??" He grasps my hand again, this time running his soft fingertips across the bruises and cuts that lie directly over my knuckles. 

"N-nothing.." I whisper, my voice beyond horse. I can't let anyone get this close to me. I don't like getting touched. It's comforting and safe; but those kinds of feelings leave stupid people like me completely vulnerable. 

His eyes look up to mine, looking for a hint of lie. "This doesn't look like nothing. Tell me.... please." With that tone he's using, I know this is a trap. This is why I stay away from people. This is why nobody is allowed to get near me, or see me.

I swallow my upcoming sobs before speaking with strength. "It's nothing. And I'm fine." I send him a warm smile but he doesn't return it.

I see my phone light up with only one word, "Here." So i pick up my book, phone, and backpack. I hop off, and onto the sidewalk. Sending a single wave back to Noah. He returns it, still with a glint of confusion in his eyes.

As I'm walking away, I darkly mutter another, "I'm fine." Mocking me because I know that I'm not.