Sweet Like Cinnamon

Pt 5

"Woah, you look dead," Alyssa commented as we sat down for lunch.
I shrugged my shoulder, too dead to talk. I didn't care what she has to say at the moment. My fucking body feels useless after yesterday. My brown hair was a calamity with strands of it sticking out every way.
"Chin up Eli, I know your lover isn't here, but it's unfair to Garrett and I for you to be depressed, and you're still not doing that stuff, right?" she said, referring to what happens at home.
"Just shut up, you don't fucking understand," I snapped at her.
"Ugh," she scoffed, "What's up with you? You're never contentious."
"Yeah dude," Garrett butted in, "what the hell?"
I tugged at my lip ring, trying to suppress any emotion. She just doesn't get. No one ever gets it.
"Stop pulling on my dick Garrett," I sneered, "No one was talking to you."
Alyssa gasped and Garrett shot up out of his seat. He came over to me and grabbed me by the collar. An all too familiar feeling washed over me and I froze. Garrett just glared at me.
"What?" I questioned, "Are you just jealous because Mikaela's talking to me and not you? She didn't fucking kill anyone, you're just mad."
Garrett's eyes softened and he let go of me. I got up to stand with him and it was my turn to glare at him.
"Oh? I was right," I said while adjusting my collar, "Don't persecute me for your blindness."
He shook his head and his cold voice came back, "No man, you're the one who doesn't understand. She killed my brother... she killed Eren."
My eyes widened. How does he know Eren? He never told me he had a brother. He's lying again. He has to be. Mikaela would never kill someone.
"Whatever." I deadpanned.
I left school. Ha, I've never ditched and it makes me feel free. I need to do this more often. I decided to make my way over to Mikaela's house since she wasn't at school today and walking clears my head because I'm pretty sure I lost two over my "friends".
I came up to the familiar double door and knocked. I heard claws hitting the wooden floor and stiffened. I didn't know she had a dog. My hands become clammy and I tugged on my lip ring to try to calm down.
I didn't notice she opened the door. She was wearing white fuzzy socks and a dark blue hoodie that went past her thighs due to her short height. A very large dog stood besides her in a calm manner. It looked up at me and tilted his head in confusion. A large bark escaped his mouth and I flinched.
"His name is Moose," she spoke, "He won't hurt you. He's my service puppy."
A small smile escaped her lips as she looked down a Moose. She left the door open as she walked to the couch, indicating I can come inside. She was curled up on the couch in several blankets and Moose laid down next to her.
"Did you get your plate fixed," I asked.
"Why yes I did," she smiled triumphantly.
I took a seat on the chair to the side of the couch and looked at Mikaela. Her blonde hair was as messy as mine and her green eyes looked as vivid as ever. She is very cute. I shook my head of the thought.
"Thank you for checking up on me," she said softly, "I was feeling lonely." Moose whined.
"I wanted to see if you were okay," I paused, "And I didn't know you had a dog."
"He's the last thing in life that keeps me happy," she looked off and shook her head, "He's a Bernese Mountain Dog."
I nodded my head, still nervous to be around him. My leg started bouncing from anxiety.
"You're nervous and sad. What happen."
How did she notice I was sad? The nervousness I get, but no one ever asks if I'm okay. My heart pounded as unwanted memories came up.
"My dad was-" I swallowed the lump in my throat, "Killed by a dog. A very large one."
She looked at Moose and cupped his face, "Listed Moosey. You're the best boy ever and I know you will never hurt a soul, but if you hurt Eli, I will never forgive you."
Moose barked happily at her and she hugged him.
"I'm sorry about your dad. It sucks, I know, and it's okay if you're still scarred. It's hard losing someone you love."
"Thanks," I smiled, "Where are your parents?"
Her eyes dulled in thought and she tugged on her lip ring like I do. She shrugged her shoulders, "My mom is alive, but I haven't seen her in a couple of years and my dad died from drunk driving."
I looked at her sympathetically and was about to speak before she cut me off, "I don't need sympathy, but thanks. Anyways, what happened to your mom?"
I instinctively put my hand up to my right eye and felt the scars. "She's in jail... for child abuse," I said, not realizing I've opened up to her. I waited for her response. No one knows how I went blind in the right eye.
It felt like hours before she finally said, "I swear to god I'll send Moose after her."
I chuckled and shook my head, "She was drinking a couple weeks after my dad died. I have the same eyes as him and she didn't like it. She smashed the bottle and took a piece of glass and just started hacking away."
She got and leaned against me. Her knee in between my leg as she flicked my hair away and touched my scars. She was dangerously close to my face; her hot breath glazing over my cheek. My heart started pounding in a rush for how close she was to me.
"Your eye is beautiful," she said quietly.
I leaned forward and rested my head against her shoulder. Her words were comforting. I felt safe in her presence and free. Her small arms wrapped around me torso and she leaned into me. She smells sweet, like cinnamon.
I must have been at her house for hours because before I knew it, it was 2 AM in the morning. I shot up from my seat and frantically checked my phone for any messages. He's going to ruin me. I need to get home.
"What's wrong," she questioned, "I know it's late, but you're freaking out."
"I-I just need to get home," I stuttered.
She got up and stood in front of me. She stood up on her tiptoes and cupped my cheeks. "Shhh," she soothed, "It's okay. You're okay. Do you think you can stay here?"
I looked into her eyes. There was a different emotion in there than the times before. She looked lonely.
"Yeah," I calmed down, "I can stay."
She hugged me. Her head came to my chest; ear at my heart. I wasn't expecting this from her.
"Thank you,"she mumbled, "I don't want to be left alone again."