Tom Riddle - Downfall

Chapter 18: Outside

While we walk I start to think about some things and gather my courage to ask him "You know Tom..that people are avoiding you, because their scared of you? Because things happen like the thing with Orion"
Tom nods his head when I bring up this fact. He looks at me now with a slight smile.
"You're correct, I'm aware of the way that people seem to treat me."
He seems unfazed by all of the reactions that the students have towards him on the campus.
"But I don't try to scare people. I am just minding my business and doing my own thing." He continues. "So if someone is scared of me, I don't really care."
"Would you care If I were scared of you though?" I ask him calmly while I let go if his hand and turn into his direction.
Tom stops walking and turns at me suprised "Are you scared of me?"
He is standing very closely to me now
"No, I'm not.."
He looks down at me calmly, and then quickly notices that he's standing very closely to me now. The question makes him raise an eyebrow.
"No? Why not? I mean, like you said people are usually scared of me."
He seems to genuinely wonder why I'm not afraid of him, or at least, I'm telling him that I'm not. He waits for me to continue now.
"Counter-question. Why are you acting so much different towards me?" I look up straight into his eyes.
Tom's eyes remain on me as I ask him this question, and a thoughtful expression quickly crosses his face.
"Well... I'm not sure. It's just that... you're different than others." He replies softly.
"Not many people seem to pay attention to me, and yet you don't seem bothered by me at all, or you're just better at hiding it."
He seems slightly confused as to why I'm not afraid of him yet, but he's trying to be honest with me now.
"I'm not hiding anything. And I'm not bothered by you." I smile at him "maybe you should start giving people a chance"

"Hmmm... perhaps I should. But I don't like wasting my time on people who might not be worth my time." He replies to me, and his tone suggests that he's always quite careful with his words and the way that he converses with me now. It's as if he doesn't want to say something that might change the way that I perceive him.
"Am I worth your time then?" I ask him while raising my eyebrow in a quite teasing tone.
Tom chuckles softly at my question, his cheeks turning slightly red in the process. It doesn't seem like he's used to being teased like that at all.
"You... You're certainly worth my time." He says, trying to keep his words carefully chosen and trying his best to sound confident and relaxed. "You're also the only person who actually treats me like a human being. The others... not so much."
I smile and we continue walking outside breathing in the fresh air. His words meant something to me. He really tried to open up a bit. But I can see that it's still hard for him. I understand that but also I'm more curious now what he's like and to explore him as a person.
Tom seems lost in his own thoughts as he keeps walking, not even realizing that he's now staring right at me with a look of confusion. His expression seems genuinely intrigued by me, as if he's confused about why I seem so interested in getting to know him better. He continues to walk silently for a while until he eventually breaks the silence...
"Can I ask you a question... Lucia?" He says, looking at you carefully.
"Of course you can" I'm looking at him curious noticing that he stares at me.
"Why is it that..that you're not afraid of me like other students?" He asks me curiously. The way he looks at me is different now
"You don't give me reasons to. Also, It was wrong hitting Orion but you wanted to protect me .. so" I shrunk my shoulders.
Tom's expression changes slightly as soon as I mention the incident with Orion, as he remembers how he defended me from him. My words seem to have reassured him about how I feel about him now, and he quickly nods his head as he seems to consider this a lot more deeply now.

"Yeah... yes... that's true, I guess." *He replies a little too quickly before continuing in his calmer tone.* "You... you just seem to be different than other students. You don't see me as a threat, somehow... or at least, that's what you... what you show to me anyway."
I simply nod at him "So, tomorrow at the library at 4pm again? We have to keep working on our assignment"
*The tension that had built up within Tom quickly subsides when you ask him to work on the assignment again.*

"Yes, I think that sounds like a good idea. 4pm tomorrow, at the library. I'd like to finish up the essay and be done with it eventually."

"And now, it's already getting quite late, so I should be heading back towards the dorms. I... I guess, I'll see you again tomorrow, then?"
"Yes, see you tomorrow"
"Good night." He says with a quick smile as he starts to walk away from me and make his way back towards his dorms. I can see him waving his hand over his head briefly before he turns the corner and disappears from sight. Tomorrow, Tom and I will likely continue working on the essay, and who knows what else will happen.