Raindrops

Crossing the Line

Austin.

For a few moments after my outburst, Alex’s face was frozen, the same expression of annoyance on her face. I began to wonder if she had heard me. That little voice in my head was yelling at me, telling me that I had really crossed the line, that I had broken her. And as I internally fought myself, the little voice getting bigger and bigger, almost taking over the part of me that said that I was right and she was wrong.

But then, her face smoothed over, showing no emotion.

Except for a brief flash of pain in her eyes.

She turned and knelt by her bags, a clear sign of dismissal. She began pulling clothes out from them, and I saw her hand move towards her face, as if to wipe her eyes.

“Leave.” Her voice was cold and hard, but I could somehow hear the tears she was holding back.

“Why should I?” Oh, you’re in for it now.

“Get. OUT!” She screamed the last word at me, snapping her head towards me to fast I was surprised it didn’t break. Her voice was full of anger, and her eyes were a storm of emotion. Rage, hurt, pain, frustration, and an obvious urge to kill me in some painful way.

A sheen of unshed tears left her eyes glazed over.

Her rage shocked me. Nobody had ever been so angry at me before. Nobody had ever spoken to me that way before.

I numbly got off her bed and walked out, without looking back. I trudged into my room, and gently closed my door. I leaned against it, and slid to the unwelcoming ground. Images of the previous few minutes flashed through my head: the flowers, Alex, tear-filled eyes, the card, the table, Alex, her yelling at me.

What had just happened?

Right. I was a total dick. Again.

I sighed and collapsed onto my bed. Whatever, I thought. I’ll deal with that later.

Alex.

I stared at his door a few moments, my expression probably one of utter disgust and complete shock. I groaned and closed my door, almost as quietly as he had. I didn’t want Pattie thinking that I was having a bad first day. That would make everything more complicated than it already was. I groaned again, and leaned against the door, putting my face in my hands. I squeezed my eyes shut, and I felt the warm tears slid out of them onto my eyes.

I removed my hands, and watched the transparent drops slowly trickle down my palms. Before they reached my wrists, I wiped my hands on my jeans, getting angry again.

How dare he speak to me that way? I had just gotten there, and already has someone being rude and wishing I was gone.

Lovely.

I got up from the floor – my bottom was slightly numb – and walked to the giant and inviting bed. I lay on it, with my legs crossed. I stayed that way for a moment before realizing that I was in the same position as Austin had been before he left. I scoffed to myself before turning onto my side and looking out the window.

I stared into the black of night, wondering what horrifying creatures were lurking behind that impossibly dark curtain.

Well, whatever it was, it couldn’t be as bad as the terrible monster that lived right across the hall from me. I shot another glare towards his door, wishing he could feel it through the door. Feel the red hot burn of my death glare.

Maybe the thing I had seen on the balcony behind the banister was prowling in those mysterious shadows.

But then again, maybe it wasn’t. It may have been another creepy hallucination thingy.