He was a scary guy.
And it was a certain suicide to go against anything he did. Dania knew that which is why she tried to intervene.
“Ells is just goofing around,” Dania laughed, though it sounded forced.
“Very funny, Ellie, now give me back my lunch,” Stu had said, reaching for the bag. I had backed up and held it out of reach.
“It’s not yours. It belongs to Flynn. I’m going to give it back.” I tried to walk away, but Stu grabbed a hold of my arm and pulled me back.
“Give me my fucking lunch, Ellie before I make you,” he growled an inch from my face. I could smell the cigarette he had just smoked on his breath, and his cold eyes gave me chills.
Backing down, I shoved the paper bag into his chest and left, feeling sick inside for not holding my ground.
“Ellie,” Flynn said, not too quietly.
I ignored him. I didn’t want to talk to him.
Ireallywanted to talk to him.
He poked me in the back, and still I wouldn’t turn around. I felt something wet in my eyes. It burned. It couldn’t be tears. I didn’t cry. Ever.
“Ellie! Why won’t you talk to me? You’re my friend!” he yelled, pushing his books on the floor.
“Control yourself, Mr. Hendrick,” Mr. Goodwin said, looking mockingly stern. As if anyone took him seriously.
Flynn poked me again, more insistent this time. “Ellie! Look at me!”
I whipped around in my seat and trained my eyes on the wall behind him so I didn’t have to look at his face. If I did I’d feel even worse.
I didn’t want to feel anything. I hated it.
Flynn made me feel too much.
It was time for that to stop.
“Look, Flynn, I am not your fucking friend. Leave me alone!” I hissed before turning back around in my seat.
“You’re a liar. You are my friend!” he yelled, and he stood up and pushed his desk over.
“Mr. Hendrick, you need to leave. You’re disrupting the class,” Mr. Goodwin said.
Flynn left and I should have felt better because he was gone.
But I didn’t.
I felt worse.
If that was possible.
**
I spent the rest of the morning with Dania and Lyla, building blocks and watching the toddler knock them over. There was no more talk of our discussion the night before but the discomfort between us had lessened considerably.
There was still a weight of issues that would most likely always be there, but I didn’t want to run the other way just because we were in the same room.
Once the snowplows had been down the roads a few times, I figured it was time for me to head back home. I knew Flynn would be waiting for me as classes had been cancelled at the community college for the day.
“Thanks for letting me crash on the couch. It was a hell of a lot better than the storeroom,” I said to Dania, as I was getting ready to leave.
