W.A.T.D

Chapter 6 Plan - his perspective

Estimated reading time - 3 minutes

When I was walking home from school, it was uncharacteristically calm. It usually isn't this quiet and serene when I walk home so I savour it while I can. Taking deep breaths of the crisp Massachusetts air, I think about everything and nothing.

I check the clock every once in a while, Eliza always emails me when she gets home and every day I respond immediately. Once the time comes I see her email, she always starts with my name, it's cute but I know she is just trying to annoy me.

RAYMOND!!!!!! You'll never believe what happened after you left - E

ELIZA what happened? - R

Some football idiot asked me out - E
Called it.

And? What did you say? - R

Yes apparently - E
I start to wonder if this is really Eliza, I mean, she doesn't even want to look at them let alone date them.

Your kidding - R

YOU said yes to a jock? I'm surprised you even talked to him - R

Well, technically I said yes, I just nodded. But it was a total accident! - E
That makes more sense.

So what are you going to do? - R

Stand him up, obvi - E

I think you should go - R

What?!?!? - E

Just hear me out i have a plan - R

At the same time that she hated my plan, she also loved it. And I was enjoying it quite a lot too. Seeing her awkwardly walk into class with a skirt was funny, however, it wasn't as funny when I saw jock guy staring.
I know this is what we wanted to happen, but it still makes me uneasy seeing someone else stare at her so...predatorily. He looks at her like she's a deer he's about to pounce on.
I'd never look at her like that, like she isn't a human being. She came and sat down next to me, as usual.
He got up and made his way over, his eyes never leaving her body. What a pig.
When he stops in front of her she high-fives me under the desk and stands up to talk to him. They talk for a bit and she has her hands behind her back, unconsciously playing with the ring on her finger, the same silver band she wears every day on her thumb. I think it's cute.
I can see her tense up when he leans in close, her hands tightening into fists as he whispers something.
I desperately want to know what he said, but I know I shouldn't ask. He finally leaves and I finally breathe out as she sits down again.
She mimes a gag and I laugh, she can be really dramatic.
I take out my phone, handing it to her, I know he has her number, and I want it too.
"Need your number for the plan, how else am I supposed to contact you when you're in the restaurant?" I say with a smile. She rolls her eyes and enters her number, I can see her struggling not to smile. I understand why when I see that she entered her name as knife girl.
"Sorry again," I say as I take my phone back, changing her name to Liz. She abruptly snatched my phone and changed it to Eliza.
"I don't like nicknames." she said softly, turning away as she handed my phone back. I see her playing with her ring again, she must be nervous.
I texted her so she can save my number, and watch as she enters my name as 'emo fuck boy'.
She just loves calling me that doesn't she?

As soon as she got home I texted her.
It's nice to know someone so scheduled, she gets home at the exact same time every day. Not a minute later.
I sent her a screenshot of her profile picture, which I made the photo she sent me of her stuffed animal.
She responded with a skull emoji, I caught myself smiling at my phone.

She kept obsessively sending me pictures of outfits as she struggled to find what to wear for tomorrow, all I had ever seen her wear since I met her was baggy pants and sweaters.
Not that she looked bad, but she didn't have much variation in what she wore.
I mean I told her a wear a skirt and she only owned one, so I don't have much hope for whatever she comes up with for this date.