W.A.T.D

Chapter 4 Threat - his perspective

Estimated reading time - 4 minutes 50 seconds
TW KNIFES

It's a pretty calm morning. For the first time in a while, I'm not completely dreading school.
I like messing with Eliza, she always reacts the same, that scowl stays strong every time she sees me.
I think I'm wearing her down slowly, she seems more willing to talk to me, and I'm not complaining.
It's nice to talk to someone more like me, someone who hasn't been in this shitty town forever. I'm excited to see how I can piss her off today.
It seems like her hatred is general, but there is usually a specific reason day to day.

I always get to school early, sometimes to smoke, others just so I don't have to be home anymore. Today was a little of both, I retreat to my usual corner and pull out a box of cigarettes, taking one out and holding it between my lips.
I attempt to light it with my crappy dollar store lighter, eventually getting it and calmly smoking. The school can be so calm in the morning.
The empty parking lot, no students waiting by the door. It almost looks abandoned. But that doesn't last long, a car pulls up in the lot.
I immediately duck further into the dark corner. I know how dark it can get this early and I hope they aren't looking for me.
I hear the car door ring out through the chill of the morning air. I can't see who it is from my perspective. My back is flush against the brick wall, just around the corner of this recess. I stay still, smoking silently and waiting for the person to pass. However, it doesn't sound like it. I can hear the footsteps getting closer, so I quickly put out the cigarette.
I stay alert as I hear the steps getting closer, pulling out my pocket knife, good time to have it. Once they get close enough I see their silhouette, I take action, coming up behind them and holding their arm, holding the knife to their neck.
I would never hurt someone unless it was self-defence, really the knife is just for show. I'll only use it if they get violent. But by the pounding of their heart, I can tell they aren't a threat, it's so loud I can almost hear it.
"Were you following me?" I ask calmly, my lips right next to their ear, they smell so sweet is almost overpowering. I can barely smell the cigarette anymore, but I'm not complaining.
I unconsciously squeeze their arm a bit tighter and they finally respond. They seemed lost in thought.
"No! No, I was looking for someone..." FUCK. your kidding. Your fucking kidding me. I instantly drop the knife from her neck.
"Eliza?" fuck she's going to kill me. I'm going to kill me! I brought a knife the the neck of the one person I actually enjoy, the one person who I can finally relate to. The one person who didn't leave as soon as I pushed her away, and I just threatened her.
With that stupid pocket knife, that goddamn pocket knife I carry around every day. God, I'm such an idiot, I'm never carrying this thing again. Never again.
"Ray? You..." I cut her off, after dropping the knife I pull her into the tightest hug I have ever given, i never want to let her go.
God I feel terrible, why do I have to be like this? What is wrong with me? I hold her so tight it feels like she isn't breathing, I don't want her to see me crying, but it's kind of obvious.
As soon as I start wholeheartedly crying she wraps her arms around me, resting her head on my chest and relaxing slightly.
I can feel her heart still racing. I rest my chin on the top of her head, she's so small. Her hair is so soft, and she is so close right now, and yet I'm crying my eyes out.
This is not how I imagined my morning going, but here we are. I apologize over and over, I want her to know just how much I regret this, how much I regret being so dense, violent, and utterly stupid.
She takes a deep breath and so do I, however she makes a small sound of approval. What for? I have no idea.
As I start to calm down my apologies slow, till I'm finally done crying and I pull back. Saying sorry once more, in a clear voice this time, looking directly into her eyes.
She seems to be inspecting mine, biting her bottom lip slightly and leaning in mere centimetres. if I wasn't paying attention I wouldn't have noticed, she is so subtle.
"Oh! Yes, i... it's fine really. I expect nothing less from you, to be honest." she says after a moment, it almost makes me want to start crying again. I don't want anyone to think of me like that, dangerous, especially not her. I grab her shoulders, shaking her slightly to get her attention, I know how she likes to drift off into her own world, but right now I need her focus.
"That's the problem! I don't want you to think of me like that! Can we just like... start over?" I ask, sounding almost pitiful at this point. I let go of her shoulders and extend my hand to her, her gaze flicks down to my hand then back to my eyes.
She takes my hand, her grip is firm, and she shakes it.
"Hi, I'm Eliza" she jokes, smiling slightly.
"Hi Eliza, I'm Raymond." I respond, smiling back. She laughs a bit, letting go of my hand, she talks between soft giggles, she's even cuter when she laughs.
"Your name is Raymond? You're kidding right?" I look at her confused, nodding slightly.
"No? Are you making fun of me?" I smile, obviously teasing her.
"No, I'm just saying, I can't imagine you as anything other than Ray. I love old names, I'm calling you Raymond from now on."
"Oh come on, don't call me that, I hate that name."
"You held a knife to my neck, I can call you what I want!" honestly, that's fair. New rule, no one gets to call me Raymond but her.
I owe her anyway. I pick the knife back up, closing it and putting it back into my pocket. She didn't seem to notice, but I have a plan for it later. I rest my arm on her shoulder and we start to walk away from the dark corner, it takes a minute for my eyes to adjust to the bright light but the empty sky is pleasant.
"Let me walk you to class,"
"Absolutely not," she responds with a big smile, i think this is the most she has ever smiled around me.
"Oh come on, we are going to the same class anyway. Don't want to be seen with me hm?"
"That's exactly it," She says before running off, still smiling I watch her disappear into the school. I look down at my watch, the bell isn't going to ring for a while so I'll take my time.

Chapter 4 ½ Present - her perspective
The next day in class Ray gave me a weird box, it was small, sort of. He told me not to open it till I got home, so I waited. When I got home I opened it immediately, there was a small note on top of whatever it was. 'I'm so sorry really. It will never happen again and that is a promise - Raymond' the note read, when I moved it to the side there was the knife. That small little pocket knife that caused such a big change in our relationship, if you can even call it that. It's actually really nice quality, the sleek wood handle has his distinct smell, cigarettes and that cologne he always wears.