It Wasn't That Way

Chapter 8

After school the next day, Cake waited for Eiw in his room for almost an hour. When it became apparent that he wasn't going to come to Cake first, Cake caved and went over. He fumed with every step that he took towards Eiw's house. He didn't remember a time that he had been this mad! Was Eiw really going to avoid him about all of this forever?

He stormed into Eiw's room and took a seat at his desk. He planted his legs wide, and bounced his foot in frustration, willing Eiw to look at him.

Five minutes went by, then ten, and the clock clicked infuriatingly closer to fifteen.

Eiw just sat on his bed, his head bowed and his legs pressed together at the knees, fastidiously avoiding his eyes.

Eiw had avoided him so hard the whole day at school that Cake was sure if he'd been anyone else, he would've skipped class so he wouldn't've had to see Cake at all.

Finally, Eiw flicked timid, forlorn eyes in Cake's direction and the dam against Cake's temper burst, Eiw's pitiful gaze the last straw.

Cake flew out of the desk chair and headed over to Eiw, and Eiw rose to face him, body drooping as though he was meeting his doom.

Cake put his hands on his hips feeling a little like a reproachful father. "So you're really not going to say anything?"

"I... I don't know what to say." Eiw mumbled, knitting his fingers into knots.

"Well, I'm angry!"

"I'm angry too." Eiw whined.

"What do you have to be angry about?" Cake asked with a scoff.

"Well, why did you have to get into a fight?"

"Are you seriously asking me that?"

"Why did you do it?"

"What do you mean 'why did you do it'?!"

"I mean that I didn't want you to fight with Sand!"

"Are you serious?! So you're mad that I punched him?" Cake asked, disbelief and outrage tattooed on his face.

Was that why Eiw was shying away from this conversation? Because he was upset that Cake hurt his new friend? Did he really care about Sand that much, even though he proved himself to be a waste of space?

"Nooo." Eiw denied, his tone exasperated.

"Well, what then?" Cake asked, more confused and agitated than ever. "You never know anything!"

"What do you want me to do?" Eiw asked pleadingly, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, okay?!"

Cake heard tears in Eiw's voice but he couldn't control himself. He had to ask the question that had been driving him insane recently. Confirm a suspicion that had gone from niggling worry to full blown fear.

"Am I still important to you?"

"Of course you are, how dare you ask me that!"

"Well why didn't you talk to me, then? Why didn't you tell me anything? You know I'm right here. I'm always been right here and you didn't even try to talk to me!" Cake asked, raising his voice with every word.

"Were you actually there for me to talk to, though?" Eiw snapped, defiance shining in his eyes behind all of the hurt.

"Don't you dare accuse me of that." Cake said, his tone dangerous with the steel tip of anger. "Okay?!"

He glared at Eiw and thought back to all the times he begged Eiw to tell him what was going on. Just recently, he'd practically been on his knees wanting Eiw to talk to him like he did before. How dare Eiw accuse him of not being there for him.