White Valentine / Black Panther

Look across the school hallway

And see you standing there.

You shake back your long, platinum hair

And it shines under the artificial light.

You left it down and straight,

Just the way I like it.

Did you think I wouldn’t notice?

I freeze as your penetrating, coal-black eyes wander to me.

But settle on the girl to my right;

She’s holding my hand and tugs it gently,

Reminding me to keep walking.

Her name is Danielle; she’s the one I told you about.

I asked her to be my valentine yesterday

And gave her a white rose.

I know you were there,

Watching me like you always do,

And you saw the flower,

Probably glowered with anger,

But said nothing.

All you do is keep your gaze on her

And that is enough.

She shifts uncomfortably under the intensity of your gaze

And isn’t even aware of you yet.

She squirms, unknowing of the danger that watches her pass;

Like a panther stalking her prey,

You blend into the black nothingness

And watch.

Simply watch as we pass by you,

Watch as she pulls me with more urgency.

I begin to understand her discomfort

As your gaze fixes on me,

Pinning me like a rabbit in a fox-hole.

I’ve been caught

And your displeasure is raging around me,

Battling against me,

Fighting me as I pass you.

Hatred fills you and I can feel it.

I fear it.

So cold, so hard and strong.

You meet my eyes

And your anger whips me in the face

Like a steel ruler on my cheek.

I think ofpretty waysto describe you,

But I cannot for there is no way to describe you,

Your anger, your hatred, your perfection.

Everything about you is beautiful in its own dark way.

Danielle calms once we have passed you

But I can still feel your gaze

Watching me stride past you with an air of false pride.

I have my wonderful girl next to me,

She’s everything I could ever ask for,

Except for one thing,

She’s not you.