Chapter 8: Awkward!
A few days passed. They already had lunch and Larissa went up to the library. Adam and her agreed to meet up there. He was holding an algebra book. Ah, yes. Algebra was the best thing for her. She was really good at math and loved numbers... especially phone numbers from cute guys. She has dated seven guys before in her life.
In her other schools, she was always the 'new girl', so guys kept asking her out. But, boy, they didn't know what was coming if they broke her heart. You just have to know one thing...
They ended up in the hospital.
***
(Larissa)
I was doing algebra today. Oh, how I missed all the fun! I was relieved to come back to the numbers. I felt smarter now!
"Now do you get it?"
"No. It's too hard! I'm starting to think this is messed up and wrong." He said all pissed off.
Haha, and you thought he was the one asking.
I told him my loopholes and tricks in algebra...he didn't get them.
"Oh, come on. Try one more time!"
He looked at me and sighed. "You seriously think this works?"
"Positively! I've done it forever. Everytime I need to come up with a plan, these steps make it easier."
"Oh, then it must work." He said. Hehe, he knew what I was capable of. Huh, never noticed. He continued doing the trick.
After a few minutes, he looked at me. Almost relieved to look. He cracked his knuckles.
"You seriously know how to work things."
"Thanks!" I said proudly.
"I never thought this day would come." He said to himself, looking at the ceiling.
"What day?"
"The day my student would beat me in algebra." He turned to me and chuckled. I smiled and giggled a little. We turned to the book on the table infront of us. We were side-by-side.
"So, I guess we are done with algebra."
"We sure are," I said still looking at the book, then I turned to him. "Whats next?"
"Next is science." He said finally looking at me.
"What?!" I said almost wanting to yell louder. If there were librarians here, I would have already been 'shush'.
"Yup, you do know how to experiment, right?"
"Yeah...." I said scratching my head. He sighed and got up. Probably to look for the spanish text book.
I stared into the window. I realized it was barely noon. Say, like, 2pm?
My thoughts were interrupted by a loud and terrifying thump. I jumped out of surprise and found a giant book in front of me. Damn.
"You have got to be kidding me."
"No, I'm not. You need to know how to mix things in an orderly matter. If you don't, the experiment might end bad."
"Why?! Its not like if I'm ever gonna use it!"
"Sure you won't." He said sarcasticly and sat down.
I looked at him in disgust. "You really must hate me. After all I've done to you, this is how you repay me?!"
"Hey, first of all: I don't hate you. I care about you. Second: nobody ever said that you had to give me the Sneaker."
Shit. He was right.
But wait.
"You care about me?" I asked confused.
"Yes. You're my student." He said looking at the first page, but not actually reading it.
"But you don't have to care. Ya just have to care how many zeros will my dad put on your paycheck."
He looked at me with astonishment. Then, he made deep eye contact. "Larissa, no. I would never cared about those zeros before my student." He said almost mad.
I crossed my arms. "Sure." I then looked away.
I felt his eyes on me... still.
"I mean it, Larissa." He said, dead serious.
"Nobody else means it. Probably because nobody has ever cared."
"Don't say that."
"Nobody. Has. Ever. Cared."
He kept looking at me.
"You're wrong."
"And nobody will ever care."
"You're still wrong."
"Yeah, just like I was wrong when I told you my algebra tricks."
"Stop, Larissa."
I stopped. Not because of the command. Because I was hurt. All the years, nobody cared. They kept me hauld away. And they wouldn't hear my opinnion.
"Why should I?"
"Because its not true."
"What? The part when you said you cared? Of course its not true." I said trying to sound casual.
"No. The part when you said that nobody cares."
"That is 100% true. Put yourself in my shoes, Adam."
We sat in silence.
"I'm sorry." He said, now changing his tone into a concerned one.
"You haven't done anything."
"No, I meant, I'm sorry you have to be stuck here."
"... You are saying it like if you were responsible for all of this."
"Well, I still feel bad for you."
"Don't. It's useless. I don't matter."
"But-"
"But nothing. Live your life. I don't even get why you are here. You're wasting it."
"I don't mind wasting my life here."
"Because of the-"
"Its not because of the zeros!" He got mad now.
"You denied it so quickly. People who deny quickly-"
"Stop!" He said, now shutting me up for good. I've never heard him so pissed. He was already standing. I was avoiding his eyes all the time.
"You keep saying stuff that you don't mean! Stop! Now. You are hurting yourself, even if you don't notice." Why such poetic language, Adam? If I was hurting myself, wouldn't I already notice?
I was now trying not to yell back. This is what you get, Larissa. He's your teacher. You can't do anything about it.
"I do mean it." I was this close into getting a slap.
"No. You and I both know: you don't! I know you have a bad reputation. I know that your life is not fair. I know that you want to live it right. But you can't. I know its hard. I know it hurts. I know that you hate me. And I know that you feel like no one cares. But the truth is, they care about you so much, they lock you here so that you won't get in trouble. And that you won't get hurt by any of those guys who broke you." He said with such intensity.
He knew how I felt. I was about to cry. Nobody has ever understand me like that. He had been the only one to ever understand. I felt this urge to hug him. Hug him so hard, his bones would crack. Not to hurt him. To thank him.
"How do you know about that?" I said, letting one tear escape. I hastily wiped it.
"I talked to your father."
"But he doesn't know how I feel."
"But I do."
I immediatly looked at him. He had sweet beautiful eyes I could easily dive in. And I couldn't take it much longer.
I hugged him.
He didn't get surprised. It's like if he knew that it was coming. I started to cry and buried myself in his chest. He softly rubbed my back in a careful manner and slightly pet my head.
"It's okay." He whispered into my ear repeatedly. I nodded and he hold me tightly.
I felt loved in that moment.
***
(Adam)
She finally looked at me with hope in her eyes. I knew what she had been through. All this time she was angry, was because of this: being stuck here like a bird in a cage.
She needed a hug.
I was about to hug her, but realized she already came to me. I felt her body trembling. I hold her tightly and reassured her that she would be okay.
"Its okay." I whispered in her ear. I really felt bad for her. I felt that same anger. But my anger was controled. Why? Because I knew that she was here for a reason. She had to be safe. I didn't want to let go.
I started to feel my chest a little wet. She was crying. I wanted to die right now. Her pain was contagious. I pulled slightly and she looked up.
"Why do you care so much?" She said with obvious confusement in her face. Her mascara had run off and she looked a little scary, but still beautiful.
"Because you're interesting." I said honestly.
She laughed and then ended up with a sigh. "I am?"
"Yes."
"Maybe its because I'm bipolar?" We both chuckled a little.
"No."
"Is it because I'm weird?" She said in more of a sad tone.
"No."
"Then why?"
"Because you're... you." I said simple as that. I wiped a tear that had been, some how, annoying me. When I wiped it away, she looked brighter. I realized what I was doing.
I let go of her. She looked confused.
I can't do this. I can't. You can't fall for her, Adam! Don't you get it?!
What was I meant to do now? Excuse myself?
"Um, I think someone's calling me." I blurted out. Shit! Worst excuse in the book, man! I then turned to the door and ran downstairs.
Dammit! I left her there all alone! She must feel awful now! I hit my forehead and sighed when I was finally outside.