That One Girl #Wattys2017

Chapter 13: Emotional Talk

I felt rather lonely in my bed when I woke up for school, I had gotten used to my cousins drooling next to me.

When I was dressed, I walked out the door and saw that Shawn was also exiting his house. I hesitated before deciding to go over to him.

"Hey, thanks for the ride home on Friday." I said gratefully, glancing up from my shoes.

He nodded back and plunged his hands into his jacket pockets, also watching our feet walk in synchronization.

I frowned since I was expecting some kind of mean retort that would make my dislike for him grow.

We walked to the bus stop in silence; a comfortable one surprisingly. Once there, he sat down and stroked his hands through his hair furrowing his eyebrows. He looked troubled.

I didn't think it was my problem so I left him with his thoughts, and entertained myself with music and watching the traffic.

We climbed onto the bus, his shoulders drawn in and his head hanging down. I sat in my regular seat and he slid in, closing his eyes.

He was dressed in black track pants and a grey jacket, completely different to his usual butt-hugging jeans and shirt that showed his muscles.

He looked like a boy that had self-confidence issues instead of the confident guy that I had gotten familiar with.
***
The whole school day Shawn stayed quiet, he was silent in class and only talked if he was talked to. I shrugged it off since it had nothing to do with me.

I didn't see him until we were in the bus and in our usual seats. He didn't talk the whole ride which made me feel awkward because I was used to hearing him talk and telling him to shut up. It was our routine.

He dragged his feet to his door but shook his head. He headed away from the house and jogged along the sidewalk, my eyes following him with confusion. I pursed my lips but walked into my house, not surprised when I noticed my parents weren't home.

I finished my math and history homework, taking little breaks with my phone. After I finished my homework I passed time with a book. I heard the doorbell ring and frowned. My parents had keys and I wasn't expecting anyone. I walked down the stairs and opened the door, surprised to find a panting and sweating Shawn.

"Can I come inside?" He asked, hands on his knees and looking up with squinting eyes. I let him in, not processing what exactly was happening.

I walked to the living room and Shawn followed me. I showed him to the sink for some water but he waved it off and stood in the centre of the room.

"So, why are you here? Did your parents-" I asked, settling into the comfortable sofa.

"I need to talk to you." He interrupted, meeting my eyes. He looked rather serious with his mouth pressed in a hard line and eyes squinting. I raised my eyebrows and nodded still confused to what was happening.

He stayed silent for a few minutes, pressing his lips together, or running his hand thorough his slightly damp hair.

"Are you gonna start talking? My parents can call your parents if they want to meet up again or something." I prompted him, and got off the sofa.

"Can you shut up for a sec? You're annoying me." He scorned, following me into the kitchen. He sat on one of the stools and watched as I cut an apple into slices. I heard him take a deep breath behind me and then he spoke.

"I've always felt like my parents are disappointed in me once you walked in to our lives. I promise you I'm not a regular bully, I don't like beating up innocent people, but you just make me feel so irritated. My parents keep telling me to be nice to you, but I can't because my parents keep comparing me to 'perfect' you. I don't like being compared and my parents only talk about how sweet you are, but honestly I don't see what's so perfect." He sneered, narrowing his eyes and clenching his hands together.