When You Walked into My Life

19 | Doubts

Author

"The Eliza Project"

Pippa has been staring at the framed t-shirt on the wall for the past five minutes. She still can't believe that all the time and energy she has put into this idea is here.

She can't believe that she and her dear friend and castmate Morgan pulled it off. So she is left staring at the result in awe.

A firm hand on her back startles her as she turns to meet the face of her boyfriend.

"You ready to go, babe?" Tyler asks as he approaches.

Pippa can't help but stiffen under his touch. As much as she tries to convince herself everything is back to normal that night is still as vivid as ever.

The pet names are also not helping. She knows all the 'babes' are just a way for Tyler to suck up to her.

"Give me just a few more minutes," she says, still admiring her work of art.

A big inhale from Tyler makes Pippa go on alert. She knows she has done something wrong and just can't quite figure out what.

"Everything okay?" She questions very gently hoping this won't have any further consequences.

Tyler just lets out a big sigh before facing her.

"Listen Phillipa."

Phillipa.

The knot in her stomach grows as she knows she is in deep water just not sure what it is about.

"I respect you, I really do. You are trying to make a difference in the world and in these kids' lives, but they aren't like us..."

It's at this moment that Pippa wishes she wouldn't have said anything at all. The disgust he has when saying 'these kids' tell her everything she needs to know.

"They aren't normal and I don't see why you would want to try and fix them."

Pippa can't believe her ears. Somehow she has been blind to his ignorance and the way he said 'fix them' like they're some sort of object makes her see red. However, it is clear by how passionate he expressed his opinion that there is nothing she can do to change it.

So instead of deciding to argue with his very messed up and twisted statement she keeps quiet. She knows she is already on thin ice and there is no need to create an avalanche.

While she tries to get her breathing back to normal, Tyler storms out of the room annoyed that he has to wait. Both are completely unaware of the teenager standing outside the door that heard the entire conversation... or well, lack of conversation.

Aaron went to congratulate Pippa on her project. When Lin told her about what she and Morgan did, the teenager was ecstatic. She thought this would be the perfect way to help break the ice on the awkwardness from the encounter at the theatre, however after hearing what Tyler had to say and what Pippa didn't, she no longer felt the excitement.

Her heart sank. Surely if Pippa felt this way about 'these kids' she wouldn't have gone through all the trouble of creating a whole organization to help them.

Still, whether it's that she has already had one bad experience with Pippa or the fact that she is indeed one of 'those kids' she decides that now would not be the time to try and fix things.

Even though she's aware she doesn't have the full story, the sting of his words and absence of hers weigh heavy on her mind.

Is this what they all think about me?