Chapter 2- stare

Matt

It’s only been two weeks since the start of the year and Mr. Johnson decides that it’s the right time to do a group assignment. Groups of two.

Hopefully I get paired with someone smart or that's too scared of me to actually ask me to do the work and I can slack off. I’m not dumb and my grades aren’t that bad; mostly C’s. except for art, that’s usually A’s. 

I only pay attention when my name is called, being paired with…

Oh shit. 

I watch Soren groan into his hands, not even turning to look at me. 

When everyone moves to sit with their allocated partners, I sit and wait for a bit, then realize that Soren wasn’t moving. With a sigh I pick up my pile of stuff, scattered on my desk and walk to the front, dumping it on the empty desk next to Soren. 

The loud sound the books made slamming on the desk made the small boy flinch. I notice him scoot his chair away from me a little when I sit down. 

Was he… scared of me?

I don’t have time to expand on that thought when he opens his mouth to speak. 

“So can we split the project evenly? And then we can just stick to our own parts.'' He still doesn’t look at me but he looks nervous. Definitely scared. I nod in response but relish in the fact that he’s intimidated by me. 

Soren

Why did the only person at this school that hated me have to be built like a teenage bodybuilder?! Ok that was a bit of an exaggeration but how much does he workout? I try to focus on my part of the project but it’s kinda hard to focus when someone is glaring daggers into you instead of doing their work. 

I don’t know what I ever did to him to make him despise me so much. That’s probably the problem. I might have done something really bad and I can’t remember what.

Oh god, I’m a terrible person.

What do I do? 

The ends of my sweater sleeves are abused while I try to work up the courage to say something. I finally look up into his eyes, which are still as sharp as before. 

“I-I’m sorry.” It’s barely above a whisper, I wince at how weak I sounded. 

“What for?” He sounds annoyed and disinterested. I regret saying anything. But I’ve committed now and I’m gonna apologize for whatever he has this grudge for. 

“I’m really sorry but I can’t remember what I did to you to make you hate me but if you could please tell me then I'll make it up to you and-” he cuts me off with a… laugh? I don’t know what it was, maybe a huff of amusement. 

“You didn’t do anything. I hate everyone.” he says, not looking at me now for once this entire lesson. I’m still convinced I did something. Not because I think everybody loves me or anything but I just hate thinking that I could’ve offended him specifically.

“You don’t death stare everyone.” And right on cue, his eyes snap back to me, the look in them makes me feel like he’s about to tear me apart with his bare hands. Before he can presumably yell at me, the bell chimes and he flies out of the room like a hurricane. 

Matt

Soren stays silent, writing down information at the speed of light, brow furrowed as if he was confused and thinking about something completely different while his hands worked by themselves. I notice him about to say something when I’m suddenly looking into his deep, blue, now fearful eyes. 

“I-I’m sorry.” What? Was he apologizing to me? After a moment of confusion I respond in the only way I can.

“What for?” he retracts in on himself, making him look even tinier, not wanting to continue.

I don’t know what it is but he looks so scared of me and it unsettles me that he’s walking on eggshells to talk to me. Why do I feel bad? 

“I’m really sorry but I can’t remember what I did to you to make you hate me but if you could please tell me then I'll make it up to you and-” I exhale through my nose. He thinks he did something to me, thinks he did anything except live his life. 

“You didn’t do anything. I hate everyone.”

“You don’t death stare everyone.” I look at him, he looks kind of hurt and angry, but only a little. Why? I couldn’t think of anything to say back, there’s no way I could tell him the truth. The bell rings and I grab my things hastily before getting tf out of there.