His Honesty
2373 Words
Ripley enters the coffee shop and takes a seat on an oversized sofa. She sinks down into the cushions and once adjusted she takes out her books and proceeds to text him that she was there. She then stares at her phone, wondering if he got her text yet?
Ripley felt a little excited to see Elias, even though he was a big grumpy goof he had his moments where he could truly be the sweetest guy.
He was so tall and big she couldn't help but feel like an ant next to him. She liked his wavy black hair and his bright green eyes, she also liked the way his jaw was so sharply defined as well as the roughness in his deep voice. She also liked - 'oh my gosh!'
She thought to herself. Ripley had a crush on Elias!;
'No!, No!, No!' she shook her head as her hands grip her cellphone to her chest.
'He probably just tolerated her because he felt bad for her or something' Her mind railed in thought.
"No, the sooner they get done with this project the sooner they can go back to one-sided interactions…" Then after thinking about it for a minute, Ripley realized what she had just said to herself and got irritated;
'You know what?!' she thought to herself.
'No, I'm not going to treat myself this way or let anyone else treat me this way'. With a determined mind, she was going to ask him what his issue with her was.
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Elias was running a little late due to his mother taking far longer than he had expected to get ready. As he looked out the window, his mother's throat cleared up and said;
"How long are you going to be gone?"
"I don't know mom"
"Who are you meeting up with?"
"A friend from school".
"Is it a girl?"
This made Elias roll his eyes. Ever since the accident, he's been a lot more reserved when it came to that department or any department, and his mom knew that. She meant well, but these questions were grinding on his patience.
"Stop, it's for school and nothing else". He rolled his eyes and sank back down into the car seat.
His mom gave him a knowing grin and said; "Okay, just text me when you're done".
"Yes, mother" Elias groaned exasperatedly.
Elias looked down at his phone and saw her message show up on his screen as he typed her back and told her, "I'm on my way".
When he was dropped off, he entered the coffee shop. One quick look around the place and he spotted Ripley sitting crossed-legged on a couch with the skirt of her dress draped over her knees. A few scripts were spread across the coffee table as she took a sip of coffee as she scrolled through her phone.
He gripped his cane and walked over to her, "Hey, sorry for being late" he said Ripley responded by giving him a slight smile of acknowledgment.
They worked for a couple of hours before deciding they needed a bathroom break. Ripley had gone off first and left Elias to watch their stuff when she entered she looked at herself in the mirror and said, "You can do this, It's a conversation" she then reached for some paper and dabbed it across her forehead a few times before checking her hair and leaving.
She say back down and when she noticed him not making any movements she asked, "Youre not going?"
Elias shook his head and said, "Nah, I'm good".
Ripley noded her head slowly and ask him,
"Hey, Elias can I ask you a question?"
Elias straightened up and said, "Yeah, sure what's up?"
"Did I do something to you?
Her question dumbfounded him and when he asked her," What do you mean?"
"I mean I know I annoy you-" Elia's eyes widened in astonishment 'Where the hell did she get that from?' He told himself.
"But I just feel like if I did something wrong you should feel free to tell me just so that I could be more aware of it next time around"
Despite all the questions racing through his head he managed to compose himself for a moment and ask her, "Why would you think that I'm mad at you?" he asked in a gruff tone of voice.
"I don't know," she said looking down "You always seem a little annoyed when I'm around and I feel like you never really want to talk to me."
Elia's head begins to reel in several harsh criticisms directed at himself. This whole time he thought he was giving her space because he didn't want to come off as creepy or possessive, while meanwhile she thought he hated her. He felt like the biggest jackass in the world, even more so that she remained extremely sweet to him and helpful even when he needed help on his English homework.
A million apologies danced across the tip of his tongue but all he was able to say was, "You don't annoy me, you just talk a lot so I let you".
This made Ripley blink a couple of times before dropping her head while giving him a soft "Okay". Ripley didn't know how else to respond to that, so now she just felt self-conscious.
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Elias POV:
'What the f**k! Did I just do!?' Now she looks ten times more sad than she did before.
Fuck
Fuck
Fuuuuuuk...
How do I tell her that I don't know why the things that come out of my mouth sound that way? I can't believe that I told her "You don't annoy me you just talk a lot so I let you, " I made her sound like a narcassit.
After a few moments of silence my nerves got the better of me so I jumped up and said, "I want some ice cream".
She looked up confused, and I continued "we should go get some Ice cream".
"Um, now?" Ripley asked.
"Yeah, I mean we've done quite a bit today and since we were given the assignment just a few hours ago I would say we're ahead of the game. So let's go for some Ice cream". I said already packing my bag and before she had a chance to respond I reached towards my cane and got up from the couch.
End of Elias POV:
_____________
Ripley was surprised by his eradic behavior but then noded anyways and followed him as he waited for her.
They began walking down the sidewalk of what Ripley deemed to be a cute suburban village. Ripley mused how this whole area looked like one of those happy little towns she would see In all those Christmas movies her cousins liked to watch throughout the year.
"So what's something fun you guys do around here?" She asked.
"Well, there are a few things... like hiking, miniature golfing and a few other stuff but it depends on whether you have a car or not".
"Hm, hiking sounds fun and that can give me a good excuse to bring my sketchbook".
"Oh, boy, so you're one of those". He rolled his eyes as he opened the door for her.
"Yes, I'm one of those". She said rolling her eyes in return. The mood had began to lighten as his eyes kept contact with hers.
Elias took a deep breath and then said, "Yeah, we should go some time. I mean, I know a nice spot for that kinda thing if you're interested." He said the last part with a shaky breath but Ripley just chalked it up to him having to walk so much.
"Okay" Ripley replied as they stepped up to the counter.
Elias ended up ordering a cup of coconut Ice cream with chocolate chunks, and Ripley got a cone with marshmallow Ice cream with gummy bears.
They grabbed a seat at the corner of the mostly empty shop and started talking.
"So Mr. Grumpy pants tell me about your self," she said licking off a gummy bear.
Elias arched his brows at her but decided to let it go.
"Um, well I have black hair?" He said confused. He doesn't like talking about himself especially when he already dislikes who he is.
"Wow, I never noticed," She said faining shock and as she smirked.
"No I mean something none obvious; like did you grow up here?"
"Yeah, I've been here my whole life" He said colmbing back his hair.
"Do you have any hobbies?"
"Um, not anymore but I played baseball for a long time".
"Really how long?"
"Um since I was five until the beginning of freshman year".
"Oh, wow! That's a long time. So why did you stop?"She asked.
Elias gave her a funny look before gestured over himself and then it was Ripley's turn to get embarrassed, "Oh, I'm sorry". Elias shook his head and responded.
"It's okay".
"Is that how you meet Jason?"
"Uh, not really Jason and I meet when we were in the same little league team".
"Oh,"she paused "so if you don't mind me asking what happened between you two? I mean you don't have to say anything if you don't want to. I feel like if I knew someone that long the tension between us wouldn't be that thick you know?"
Elias nodded his head but dind't answer.
"Like did you steal his girlfriends or something?"
Elia raised his head, "What?" he asked surprised.
"Yeah, or did you take his parent's precious jewels and trade them for forbidden secrets?" Elias then knew that she was teasing him but his bewilderment at her inqueries had taken him by surprise.
"What!? What am I to you? Some 1950's archeologist?"
"Maybe". She nodded once before taking another lick of her Ice cream.
Elias could'nt help but grant her a rare smile.
She must have sensed how her question made him uncomfortable and this had been her way of breaking the tension.
"So when are you going to take me on that hike?"
"When do you want to go?"
"Mm, what about Saturday?"
"I can't I have to go to my chiropractor".
"Oh?"
"Yeah, I've been in therapy for the past few months to correct my spine".
"Have you been in therapy for long?"
"Not really but for a long time doctors didn't want to touch my back but now I found one who will but his office is like three hours away".
"Well that must make you feel a lot better though, I mean having your spine corrected must take a lot of pressure off of you".
Elias wanted to tell her "No" that despite the relief he feels on his back the guilt will never leave him alone but he never said that instead he just replied with a "Yes".
"But I can take you out on Friday after school".
Ripley nodded once and smiled at him, "Okay, it's a date".
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Elias POV:
I watched her passionately talk about all the graphic novels that had inspired her to start drawing and how she loved visualy seeing as well as experiencing a story take place. My chin rested on the top of my hand as I admired the adorable way her eye's lit up when she got excited and counted myself as lucky to be able to experinec that.
"Why don't you join a club? I'm sure our school has a comic book or art.. something at our school, why not try one of those?"
"I wan't to but club rush doesn't come around until the ending of this month".
Elias noded his head, "I think that would be great for you" He said encourenginly.
Ripley began to feel her traitoris heart lurch and then she asked,
"Why have you been so cold to me?"
Elia paused and then blink a few times before answering.
"I din't wan't to weird you out"He finally admited.
"Why would you weird me out?"
"I was told that I might have made you uncomfterable to I backed away".
It was Ripley's turn for her eyes widen in wonderment.
"Who told you that?" She demanded.
I shook my head not wanting to throw Lily under the buss.
"Just someone".
End of Elias POV:
__________________
"Just someone" Elias said dismissively.
Ripley then got the feeling that she knew who that someone was but decided to keep it quiet since she didn't want to betray Lily feelings despite Lily's involvement.
"Well, you don't annoy me and if you ever feel that way you should talk to me. I promise I don't bite," she said taking another lick from her Ice cream.
"What about, you?" Elias asked quietly.
"Me? What do you want to know?"
"Tell me how you grew up? It sounds like you've seen a few places".
"No, not really. I've mostly just lived on the Island, my dad was the one to move around a lot because he's in the military".
"Cool, what branch?"
"Army,"
"So your mom took care of you while he was a way?"
Ripley felt hesitant to answer, so she just said.
"We mostly just stood without "Abuela" (Grandmother) and "Titi's" (Aunts).
Elias nodded taking another bite from his ice cream.
"So, you moved from the Caribbean to Pennsylvania and then Washington? That must have been quite the change, huh?"
Ripley's eye widen as she paused, "Wow, I'm surprised".
Elias tilted his head, "Why?"
"Most people in the states just assume that all Latinos come from one place".
"Really?"
Ripley nodded as she bit down into her cone.
"I'm used to it" she said casually but Elias didn't like what he was told.
"Well you shouldn't and you shouldn't have to get use to peoples constant ignorance".
Ripley stopped eating and looked up at him. She never heard someone outside of her community and the internet speak so passionately about her struggles; she wasn't use to that. So she shook her head and tried to move the conversation on another topic.
She liked how honest he was. Ripley guessed that she had gotten used to people pretending to care for so long that when someone did, she wasn't sure how to react.
- Writer
