Third Place Winner (February 2025) "A Better Word for 'Us': William"

The boy leapt off of me like a frightened cat, and crouched by my side, looking immensely concerned. I like that. I wanted him to care for me.

"OH MY FUCKING GOD -- I AM SO SORRY -- I should've watched where I was going!" The black haired boy pauses, eyeing me with mesmerizing green eyes. It took me a moment to register that his expression was one of suspicion.

"Why did you do that?" he finally asks.

To be honest, I wasn't sure. I would like to say that I would jup in front of anyone who was falling down a flight of stairs to catch them -- but I couldn't, and, frankly, I wasn't sure why I'd done that for him.

Maybe it was because he was the first person to catch my eye in this god-forsaken, gloomy town, filled with mud and rain, and crying babies. Seriously, that thing was like a fucking siren, it's shrill voice was still ringing in my ears.

I slowly sit up, nearly staggering back down from the wave of lightheadedness that washed over me, but I pushed through it. I turn and face him dizzily. Was I leaning closer? I think I was leaning closer.

I open my mouth to speak, but my  vocal cords seemed to have shut down, so I observe him instead. The cute confusion spreading across his face, mixed with a twinge of curiosity; the way he was fidgeting, his nail scraping against the skin on the side of his thumb -- those unique eyes. When on earth did black haired people start having green eyes?

Apparently, my voice box was working again, because I ask him just that.

"How the fuck do you have green eyes?"

He looks beyond concerned now, the expression overtaking his earlier confusion.

He stares at me once more, completely silent. His lips are pursed as he regards me. I didn't mind if he stared. His attention stirred something inside me -- something that I don't think i've ever felt before.

"Do you need a doctor? Just so you know, I'm too broke to afford hospital bills..." he mutters, and I fight to suppress a chuckle.

"Nah, I'm fine. I've delt with worse than a fall."

"That wasn't a fall, that was a crash. You sure you don't have like, a concussion or something?"

"Really, I'm fine. Being a football player means taking on more than a little crash. I'll be good in a few hours," I say, flashing him a reassuring smile, adding a bit of dazzle and a splash of charm, just because.

He stares at me for a moment, before clearing his throat.

"I may not be able to pay for your hospital bills or anything...but I could buy you breakfast - if you'd like. For - y'know - compensation or whatever," he mutters. Was it just me or had he stared for a beat too long?

"I could eat," I say, feigning indifference. That was a fat lie, because I'd stuffed myself with bacon, scrambled eggs, and plueberry pancakes twenty minutes ago.

But I didn't want him to leave yet. He had piqued my interest, and I wanted to learn about him. I wanted to know what he was thinking, and make a diagram out of all those adorable expressions. I wanted to see what made him tic, and I had no idea why.

"Um, alright then. It's only a block away," he says, standing up. He hesitates briefly, before reaching his hand out to help me up. I accept it, and feel a little zing of electricity race through me at the physical contact. Apparently, he'd felt it too, because I notice him shiver slightly.

We walk side by side, neither of us uttered a single word. Was he just shy? I hoped he was just being shy or something. Honestly, I don't think I've ever seen anyone look uncomfortable to be near me - let alone eyes downcast and fidgety.

I was growing tired of the dead silence. It felt like there was a barrier between us.

"So, what's your name?" I ask, trying to break the ice. He looks surprised that I was actually talking to him, and I'm not sure whether I should be offended or concerned.

"Alex," he says, apparently not in the mood to waste air on idle conversation.

"You?"

"I'm William, though most people just call me Will," I say, flashing him my most charming grin. He merely grunts in response, though I swear I'd seen something flicker across his face.

Maybe he was one of those silent types, like an introvert who was dead silent in social settings, and a total party animal with people they were comfortable with. I wanted to find out.

"So...you're in high school, right?" I ask, though I felt stupid for doing so. He looked about my age - of course, he was in high school.

"Eleventh grade," he says. My smile widens.

"Oh, hey, me too! You go to Briarstone High?" I ask, feeling a little wave of anticipation. I still wasn't sure why. Other than his interesting green eyes, he seemed totally average.

He simply nods. I grin at him.

"Same! Looks like I already made a friend, huh?" I say, giving him a little nudge. Did he just flinch? Welp, won't be doing that again.

"You never answered my question," he says, and I give him a confused look, raising an eyebrow. He sighs.

"Why'd you throw yourself in front of me? At the stairs, when I was falling."

I swallow. I still wasn't sure why. I wasn't sure why I'd done that then, and I wasn't sure why I was doing this now. I wasn't sure why I was talking to a total stranger, and I wasn't sure why I risked a nasty head injury to save him from his own.

Finally, I just shrug.

"Couldn't let ya fall, now, could I?" I simply say. I didn't know what to say, other than that.

"Yeah, you could have," he says bluntly. I raise an eyebrow.

"I saved you because I could save you," I rephrase, pausing before adding, "If I could save you and I didn't, that would equate to me pushing you off the stairs myself." I pause oce more for dramatic effect. "I saved you because I could."

He looked taken aback by my words. I was a bit taken aback myself. I'd never known I had that much speech-ifying in my. I smile, trying to lighten the mood.

"I'm sure any of your friends would've done the same," I say.

"Right..." his enchanting green eyes take on a distant look, as though he was thinking about something from his past. Someone else. Something that seemed to haunt him.

He stops walking abruptly.

"We're here," he says, turning to face a small cafe beside us. He opens the door for me, and we walk inside.

It was a cozy little place. There was a nice warm fire crackling in the hearth on the opposite side of the cafe, and there was some relaxing music playing in the background; some sort of jazz. The tables and chairs were a bit smaller than usual, which I found intriguing. The store owner was a friendly old lady, who took our orders before adding, and I quote, "Those'll be done in a jiffy!" She patted us on the arms, and shuffled away. I smiled. Kind old people - my favorite kind of people.

I turned to face Alex again, and my heart stopped. My breath hitched. My face heated.

He was smiling.

It was just a little smile, but a smile nonetheless. The most dazzling fucking smile I have ever seen. I was entranced -- captivated -- absolutely mesmerized.

He glanced back at me, and his smile dissipated once more.

"What?" he asked, raising an eyebrown at me. I just shake my head, quickly composing myself. What the hell had that been? That ridiculously overwhelming feeling that had nearly crushed me -- much worse than Alex had during the fall.

I pick up a menu to distract myself, and smile in delight as I see what one of the menu items are.

"They have green eggs and ham? Seriously?" I say chuckling.

"What the hell are those? That sounds awful," Alex says, his usual brooding expression shifting to disgust.

"Disgusting? I think you mean glorious/" I defend, before playfully adding, "Jeez, Sam I Am."

He blinks at me.

"What?" he asks looking as though he wasn't sure whether or not he should be offended. I smirk.

"Y'know, the dude from that Dr. Seuss book? The one that was hating on the green eggs and ham?" I ask. There was no way he didn't know green eggs and ham. I decide to give him an example, just in case. "I would not like the here or there, I would not like them anywhere. I do not like green eggs and ham, I do not like them, Sam-I-am," I recite from memory, my face the epitome of serious.

H stares at me blankly for a few minutes before he bursts out laughing. I nearly choke on my spit. My heart was practically soaring, trying to fly out of my mouth, and I was feeling a surge of giddyness.

This guy was gonna kill me.

About the Author

ANnaMaratISrat is a young writer who's trying to get her ideas out and learn how to perfect her craft. You can find more of her work on Wattpad.