Borderline

Chapter 5

I finished washing my clothes, then drained the bath water so I could take a quick shower. When I had finished, I knocked on the bathroom door.

"Eli? You still there?"

"Yeah..."

"Uh...do you have any pajamas to could wear? Usually I just sleep in my clothes, but they're still wet."

Eli didn't answer, but I heard footsteps go down the hallway. A few minutes later, the door cracked open and Eli's hand slipped through, holding some clothes. I took them and the door closed.

"Thanks."

I dried myself off with my towel before slipping the pajamas on. I ran my fingers through my short hair, attempting to fix it but failing. I sighed before opening the door.

"Eli?"

Eli turned to face me. "Yeah?"

"I don't know where-"

Eli grabbed my hand tentatively and lead me to where I'd be staying. Once we reached the room, he closed the door behind us and locked it.

"What are you doing?"

Eli leaned against the door and stared at me.

I look at him, confused. "...What?"

"Why didn't you lock the bathroom door?"

"What?"

"Why didn't you lock the door?"

"I guess because I figured that you would have enough common decency to knock first?"

Eli looked down at his shoes, suddenly nervous. "So, you're a girl?"

"No. I'm just a boy who wears a bra," I sass. "So what?"

He scratched the back of his head. "I just...yeah, s-sorry about earlier..."

I shrugged. "Whatever. It doesn't bother me. I'm used to bathing in a river, remember? Can't get much more public than that." I smiled, trying to get him to leave.

Eli smiled back. "O-Okay. I'll just...uh...let you sleep then. You must be tired."

I nodded.

"Goodnight, Ryder."

"'Night."

Eli left and I sat down on the bed and stared out the window on the opposite wall.

I could probably climb out of that, I thought. Then I could go back to my box.

The thought was very tempting, but I wasn't going anywhere until my clothes dried. You could just hang them in your room to dry.

Oh yeah.

I exited the room to go grab my clothes. I noticed the bathroom light was on. I probably left it on...

When I got to the doorway, however, I saw Eli standing in the bathroom with my clothes in his arms.

He saw me and almost dropped them. "Oh! H-Hello! I, um, I thought you were in bed..."

"What are you doing?" I asked, suddenly suspicious.

"Well, I thought I would go put these in the dryer for you so that you could wear them tomorrow, since you didn't bring any other clothes with you."

"That's because I don't have any other clothes." I snatched my clothes from his arms and turned to leave.

"W-Where are you going?"

"To hang these in my room. They should be dry by the time I need them again." I looked him square in the eyes and glared. "By the way, don't expect to see me in the morning."

***

I couldn't sleep.

This wasn't abnormal, but it didn't change the fact that I was exhausted.

It was around two in the morning when I left. My clothes had taken longer to dry than I had anticipated, but at least they were clean.

I was perched on the window sill, ready to jump down to the grass two stories beneath me, when I heard the door creak open.

I turned to see Eli poke his head though the crack.

"Why are you still up?" I asked at the same time he whisper-yelled "What are you doing?!"

Eli ran over to me and grabbed my shoulders. I allowed him to pull me back inside before I grabbed the collar of his sleep shirt and slammed him against the wall.

"Let. Me. Go."

He did.

However, my grip on his collar stayed firm as I spoke a warning. "Listen, Eli. I know you're just trying to do the right thing here, but don't. I don't need your help. Don't come looking for me. Ever." I released my hold. "Or else I will not hesitate to put a bullet in you."

We stared at each other for a few more seconds before I climbed back onto the window sill and pushed off, landing softly on the below. I spare a glance back up at the window and saw Eli looking down at me.

I didn't wave. I just left.