Show Me Who You Really Are

Six

Ian stood up slowly and an expression of absolute rage took over his face. He clenched his jaw so hard, Gabi was afraid it'd crack. Ian made a fist and began to shiver from the amount of anger that he tried with all his might to succumb. As he looked around at every student, each afraid of what was to come, he understood what needed to be done. "I'll deal with you later." He said to Sammy through clenched teeth. Sammy folded his arms.

*****
4th grade. Ian was walking down the hall and went to grab his backpack from the black top. Kids were teasing him because his mom had a wicked lazy eye and gross blotches on her face. They made fun of him for letting her kiss him every morning after dropping him off.

A boy named Duncan Foster came up from behind and pushed Ian's face into the dirt and said, "There, it's just like kissing your mommy, huh?" Duncan laugh as he rubbed Ian's face in the dirt. Ian grabbed the rock next to him and hit Duncan so hard in the head it punctured his skull. Duncan laid unconscious for that entire duration of two recess sessions before someone noticed he was missing.

When his body was found, it was wrote of as a playground accident until later in sixth grade, it was confirmed as Ian's fault when he confessed out of guilt.

*****
The walk home was silent and quite awkward. "I would like to come over to your house if that's fine, Ian?" Gabi began. Ian tensed up as he read the note she handed to him. His house? Really? His? "It'd be best to go to yours. My mom hates guests." Gabi rolled her eyes and took the paper. She squatted and used her skateboard as a desk to write the next note. Ian gripped his backpack straps firmly.

Gabi stood back up and handed him the note. "We have no furniture yet so you'd be sitting on the floor." Ian gripped the paper so hard the blood in his fingertips flushed; turning a bright yellow hue. He clenched his jaw and looked at the ground. Seemed like an eternity waiting for his answer, and Gabi was fed up. "W-what's s-so bad ab-out y-your pla-ace?!" She growled, throwing her hands outward to each side of her. Ian noticed she was so agitated that she spoke a bit more clearly and didn't even care about the paper anymore.

Ian locked his fingers at the top of his head and bounced his leg on the heel anxiously. "Look, Gabs. It's not good at home for me. I hate it there and I'd never bring you. I couldn't anyways so let's just go to your place." Gabi sighed and folded her arms. "Fine." She said.

They continued walking to Gabi's place and Gabi began to feel bad that she yelled at Ian. "You know what I noticed?" Ian began. Gabi looked up at him. "Your impairment acts up the most with words that contain a lot of vowels and corresponding vowels with letters that can sound like a vowel. If that makes sense?" He continued. Gabi nodded. "I think you should try taking a deep breath before you speak and talk a little faster. That way it'll be harder for it to stump you." Ian smiled at her and Gabi felt butterflies. She scrunched her nose and picked up the pace.

When the two reached the house, they noticed the movers bringing in their belongings. "Hey! Look at that Gabs. Maybe I can help you unpack." Ian said. Gabi nodded with a shy smile. She walked in the house, her and Ian careful not to get in the way of the movers bringing in the couch. "Mom!" Gabi called. Gabi's mom came running. "Hey, sweetie how was your first-" she looked at Ian, "Who's this?"

Gabi took a deep breath glancing at Ian who smiled widely to boost her confidence. "Go-ood. Th-is is Ian." Gabi said with a smile. Taking the breath and talking faster made the words feel less forced and more natural. Gabi's mom clapped and exclaimed her proudness of Gabi speaking clearly. Ian and Gabi giggled.

"Well, Ian. My name is Hannah. You can call me that or Ms. Preggers Lady. Either is fine." Gabi and her mom winked at each other. Mia came downstairs with her phone and pillow. She caught sight of Ian and rolled her eyes. Ian narrowed his eyes at her as she walked off. Gabi and Ian lifted her boxes upstairs to her room.

Gabi used the box cutter to open the boxes. She looked up at Ian as his mind wandered. He looked like something was bothering him terribly. She wondered what he was thinking of.