Wisteria (Eddie x Chrissy) ST

Balance

"The bell is going to ring any minute so pass up your worksheets. Don't forget to put your name on them. I'm not playing a guess–and–check game like last time."

Ms. O'Donnell walks over to the first desk in the last row. She puts a hand on her hip while waiting as papers get shuffled from person to person, forming a pile. The older woman snatches them up and does a quick check to confirm they're all filled out. If there is one that's blank, everyone already knows who it belongs to.

"Mmm..." Chrissy stretches her arms up high and groans. After getting home so late, she didn't get much sleep. Even the little that came was awful. Another nightmare. This time it was an enormous black spider chasing her around a huge yard that only got wider the further she ran. It was outside of an old abandoned house. There was no time to take anything in because that monstrosity was scuttling right behind her every step of the way.

Sometimes it's hard to tell when they're just dreams. That sounds silly. Spiders the size of a truck don't exist. The whole thing is ridiculous. Still, it feels real at the time. It's only when she wakes up in a cold sweat that reality sets in, along with a nosebleed.

'I should go to a doctor. I'm sick of washing pillowcases. This isn't normal.'

The bell rings and everyone gets up to leave. Chrissy takes her time gathering up her things. Moving at a snail's pace. She looks around to make sure the other students are heading out of the classroom. The teacher also leaves to talk to Mr. Calhoun across the hall since there's a short break in between classes.

'Why isn't he going?'

For the first time in her high school career, she has a legit beef with someone. The plan was to wait until they walked by to confront them but this person is doing the same thing. Dawdling. He's usually the last one in and first one out on any given day. That's if he shows up at all. So what's the big deal?

There are only two people left in the room now. Grabbing her bookbag, she slings it over her shoulders and starts walking. Slowly. Attempting to see what he's doing without making it too obvious. She doesn't even reach the door before he's on her heels.

They give each other a small smile when she glances up at him. He's got his denim vest back on and another band tee that has Megadeth on it with a weird skull. "I have a bone to pick with you."

Eddie raises a brow yet doesn't seem surprised. "Oh really?"

"Yeah, I found fifteen dollars in my purse that wasn't there when I left."

"Huh. Very curious." He grazes his fingers along his jaw and leans against the door frame. That makes her want to smack his chest again. Noticing the look she's giving him, his eyes widen in faux bewilderment. "What? Are you blaming me? "

"Eddie..." That money was supposed to stay with him. Hasn't he already done more than enough? This makes her feel worse. It's the only thing of value she can offer him in return.

He pushes off the frame and takes a step closer, staring down at her. His face is more controlled, lacking the playfulness from a moment ago. "Look, princess. Who do you think I am? I take money. Not give it away." This would've startled her a couple of weeks ago. Back when he was intimidating and they weren't friends.

"Stop messing with me."

Cracks form in the mask as a crooked grin pokes out. "Okay, okay. You got me. But if I remember correctly, I said, 'I'll take this for now but it's coming back around. Mark my words,' or something like that. So guess what? It came back around and I kept my word. Besides, it's not my fault you don't pay attention to your purse. Took me two seconds to slip it in there at the diner."