The Serpent Queen

Quiver | Part Two

"Eli!" Phoebe jogged after him. Who knew he could move so fast. "Wait! Eli!"

Eli stopped in his tracks and whipped around to face her, "What?!" He grit out. His tone made her halt and take a slight step back as if she just encountered an angry Rottweiler. He noticed her reaction and immediately guilt washed over his features. "I'm sorry. What do you want?"

She was about to ask him if he was okay, but that was an incredibly stupid question. Of course he wasn't okay. Instead, she said, "Don't listen to him. Sensei Lawrence...he's old school. He's stuck in his ways. Doesn't think before he speaks...most of the time."

"Are you defending him?"

"No." She quickly said. "What he said was horrible. I'm sorry you had to be the brunt of it."

"I'm used to it by now. He's right though. I'm a loser and a freak with a freaky lip."

Phoebe walked up to him and put a hand on his shoulder, "Don't say that, Eli."

He shoved her hand away in frustration and shouted, "You're just as deluded as my mom! You're wrong! Wherever I go, people will always make my lip their business and make fun of me. Telling me otherwise is cruel."

"Eli..."

The look he gave her next was one full of hurt and betrayal, "I thought you valued honesty."

"I do."

"Stop lying to me, Phoebe! Wake up! I'm a freak! Demetri knows it! Kyler, Yasmine, Moon and Sam all know it! Miguel knows it! My mom and dad know it! Your Sensei knows it! Everyone! Everyone, except you!" The waves of anger that came from him could be sensed miles away.

"What do you want me to do? Do you want me to say it out loud? Is that want you want, Eli? For me to call you a loser and a freak? Because if I do, that will be a lie."

"It's the truth!" He yelled. "Why can't you understand or even accept that?!"

"Because I like you, Eli! It's been pretty clear ever since Halloween. I like you more than a friend."

"Well, you shouldn't."

"What does that mean?"

He let out an exasperated sigh, "I shouldn't be surprised. Your head is always in the air from all the flips you do. I'll spell it out for you. I. Don't. Like. You. Why else would I back out of kissing you?"

Phoebe stood there speechless. This was a completely new side to Eli that she hadn't seen before. Whether it was because he was embarrassed about what happened in the dojo, or because his guards were up now to save himself from breaking down. She didn't know. Frankly, she didn't like it.

"Just leave me alone. Go away!"

The girl glanced up to the sky for a moment and nodded. Without a word, she turned and went back towards the dojo. Tears threatening to stream down her cheeks. She entered through the back entrance and went to the bathroom.

As soon as she closed and locked the door, she broke down. Who knew words hurt more than sticks and stones. Her heart shattered into a million pieces at the fact that Eli didn't like her or even himself.

———————————————————————-

After class, Miguel knocked on the office door.

Johnny sighed, "Go away. No more lessons today."

The boy stepped in anyway, "Do you have to be so hard on them?"

The man twisted open a bottle of beer, "Oh, come on, Diaz. They're a bunch of losers."

"Yeah, well, some of those losers are my friends."