"I'm sorry, Katie. I am really sorry." I hear Harry saying to me through the door.
"You promised!" I cry.
"I know. I know and I'm sorry, but what was I supposed to do?" He says helplessly. "I couldn't just do nothing and let him hurt you!"
"You could've let me trying to handle it on my own and not go telling my mom!"
"But he would've hurt you, if I wouldn't have told your mom. Can't you see, that I'm just trying to protect you? You know what? I'm not going to tell you that I'm sorry. I did the right thing. If you see it or not."
"But now it's going to get worse! Didn't you hear what he said? He said that if I'd tell anyone it'll get worse."
"But you didn't tell anyone. I did. So you didn't do anything wrong, right?"
I slowly crack the door open. "Do you really think it's going to work?"
He smiles at me. "Of course it is. Besides, he's only one person and we are two. We're invincible together, remember? We're the. . . Uhm. . what's it called again? Dynamic duo!"
"But he's in fourth grade!!" I say, still not convinced, that he won't beat both of us up since Harry helped me.
"So what? We're both in second grade and together we've got the strength of an sixth grader." Harry says full of confidence.
"Uhm, Harry, you do know, that two plus two is four and not six?"
"Uhm, Katie," he mocks me by imitating my voice "you do know, that we're the dynamic duo and we will kick his butt?"
I smile. "See? That's the Katie I know and love." Harry says.
"Love?" I repeat and Harry's face becomes scarlet red.
--Harry--
"Now, about that pen. Do you have one or not?"
What for god's sake is wrong with me? Why the hell did I just say that?
In fact, I wanted to apologize for just stop talking to her, seven years ago. Just as I was about to apologize this chunk build inside my throat and I just said the first thing that popped up into my head.
I can see the hurt and anger in her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Kate." I say lamely.
"For what?." her voice has now an icy tone.
"I didn't mean to say that. it's just that I . . . I don't know what to say. I--"
"You know what?" She snaps. "Just drop it."
"No, Kate, listen. I--"
"It's okay. I get it. We're only working on this project and as soon as it's over, we're strangers again. You go on with your life and I with mine."
"That's not what I wanted to say."
"It can't be always about what you want, okay? Now just let us continue on our task."
The rest of the lesson Kate talks to me as little as possible, and I'm feeling bad. I need to get this right.
"So, will you come to my place today, so we can begin working on our assignment?" I ask just as the bell rings.
She gives me a quizzical look. "No."
Okay, well, this is awkward. What to say what to say now? She probably sees the helplessness in my eyes, so she says. "Not, today. But, maybe tomorrow?"
