Stranger With Pride (An Original Story)

Prologue

"Do you want a bag for those sir?"

Elliot was busy trying to fish out a couple dollars from his pocket and couldn't answer her. After finding a few dollar bills, he threw it on the counter and took his bag of Lay's and walked out the store forgetting about his 37 cent change.

He was already late to Rose's house and he had promised her he'd be there a quarter after school ended. He checked his phone. 4:12. Shit. She hated it when he wasn't on time at her house. Especially when it was a Friday and that was their traditional Friday movie night. Tonight, it was Rose's pick and Elliot was hoping it wouldn't be James Whale's 1931 Frankenstein. It was her favorite.

He didn't mind the black and white horror movies because after all, that's the only type of movies Rose picked for movie night for the past two years. But he just couldn't stand that one movie. It wasn't like the book. At all. Elliot preferred reading the books before watching the movie and tried to get Rose into reading it, but she thought it would be a waste if she'd already seen the movie first.

He couldn't wait to see her. She'd been absent from school for two days unexcused and Elliot missed having her in his fifth period History class, arguing with Mrs. Wright, about anything that Rose knew wasn't correct. They had every class together except seventh period. He had P.E. and she had art class. He bets the school has been trying to reach the Lombardi house for hours, but knowing Rose, she was probably deleting messages from their answering machine.

Elliot turns the volume up on his 2004 Honda Accord radio, letting Amy Winehouse's voice accelerate as he continues to turn up the volume. He puts his hand back on the steering wheel, tapping his finger to the beat of Fuck Me Pumps. Rose had put him on Amy Winehouse last summer one night when he slept over. Their parents didn't mind since they'd basically known each other since first grade and been best friends ever since.

After shutting the door to his car, he did a slight jog towards her porch and walked up the steps. He could've just walked in because of how close the families were, but he wasn't rude so he knocked. Or tried to.

Before he could put his hand up, the door opened itself. Or so he thought. Standing in the doorway was an irritated freckled chubby, redhead who looked no taller than 5'6 with two hands behind her back. He was just about to speak when a mischievous smile wiped across her face.

"Behind my back, I have two movies."

"Huh-"

"Shut up! I'm talking," she rolls her eyes. She also hates being interrupted.

"I'm sorry-"

"Anyways," she rolls her eyes again. "I have two movies behind me. Choose a hand and that's the movie-"

"Can I come in? It's windy-"

"Anyways! Choose a hand," she was getting more irritated than before.

"Left!"

"Ugh! Psycho." She stands to the side to let him in.

Elliot was glad it was Psycho and not Frankenstein because he's been catching up on Bates Motel and wants to look at this movie in a new perspective.

"What was the other movie?" I say, tossing the bag of chips on the couch.

"The Bride of Frankenstein. Four years after the first."

"Have we seen that?"

"Nope. My dad got it from VideoBlock the other day."

VideoBlock was Rose one of the only spots out of their small town that made her feel good. It had movies originating from the 30's-90s. Elliot had only been in there a couple times, but didn't like the vibe he was getting just being in there.

She popped the DVD in and plopped down on the couch next to Elliot and kept six inches between them, which is a lot of space they've ever kept between each other. Usually, she'd lay her head on his shoulder towards the beginning of every movie, but this time was different.

Every worst scenario played in his head through the beginning of Psycho and he started worrying and thinking about things he'd done in the past that might've pissed her off. Then she scooted towards him and laid her head on his lap while wrapped in the living room blanket.

He sighed of relief. After all, he couldn't handle her losing interest in him. Especially to another boy.