riot | william pierson

Chapter 13 - Battle of El Guettar

March 22, 1943, El Guettar

Four days. Four days since Pierson yelled at me. Four days I've been hurting even more than before. And the worst? I don't even know what I did, causing him to treat me this way. He's ignored me since that day. He doesn't even look my way. I don't catch him staring at me anymore. When he sees me, because I cross his way or vice versa he immediately looks away. Or walks another way. Just anything to avoid me. I've never seen him this cold and distant towards me. So, I stay with Aiello the whole time. He's all I got left, and he's also the only one I can count on. Before we moved out to El Guettar, I asked him to keep my mind away from Pierson, which he is kinda successful at. Sometimes he does catch me looking his way though, but then he just covers my eyes. Is this childish? Probably. Do I care? No. It helps me. Does that mean I don't care about Pierson anymore? Also no. Four days are just not enough to get over someone. If I only knew the reason.

"Frank?" I address my best (and only) friend. Right now, we are protecting our position just a few miles southeast of El Guettar. We've been here since yesterday. Until now, it has been relatively quiet. We are far enough from the others to be out of their hearing range.

"Yeah?" he asks. I'm convinced he's going to kill me because of my request.

"I know you don't want to hear that, but..."

"No."

"I didn't even finish?"
"You don't have to. I won't let you talk to him. He blew his chance."

"I just want to know why he's this way towards me."

"Because he's an ass, that's why."

I sigh.
"He hasn't been before. Something must've happened."
"He's hurt in his pride, that's all."
I look at him.

"I need to know," I insist.

Aiello throws his head back, then sighs.

"Fine. Maybe another rejection will finally cure you."

I snort.

"We'll see."

"You know what I really like about you? Your optimism. Even in the darkest times."

I make a face.

"I'll be right back."
"Oh, I know you will."

"You know what I don't like about you? Your pessimism."
"I'm just realistic."

I get up and look around for Pierson who I finally spot a little afar. I take a deep breath before walking over to him.

"Sergeant," I say as I approach him.

Though I can't see his face I sense him rolling his eyes. And I also know he is about to leave.

"Stay where you are!" I say harshly. Oh wow. Flabbergasted, he stops and turns to face me slowly. Oh wow, that really worked?

"Excuse me?"

"I need to talk to you. You can leave when we're done."

"When did you outrank me?"

"I didn't. But I still won't let you leave."

He crosses his arms in front of his chest. His face stays cold.

"So?" he says impatiently, raising an eyebrow.

I slowly shake my head in disbelief.

"What did I do to deserve being treated this way?"

For a millisecond his eyes narrow. It's a small, barely noticeable move, but I still notice it. He stays silent. Does not even the man himself know why?