A Moment with Her

Decisions

             The week went by smoothly as Elias and Ripley had been texting each other constantly and talking more during lunch. 

            However, he would have to admit if it weren't for her confession at the coffee shop, he wasn't sure if he would have made the move. 

            He remembers his panic and how he had decided to take her to the Ice cream parlor just so that they could have a better place to talk and for once he feels like he did something smart. 

All he can remember from that day were her words; "It's a date, It's a date, It's a date" echoing in his head. 

Elias felt like he was walking on cloud nine but then... he fell.

            Elias was abruptly shoved so hard that he tripped over his cane and crashed against a wall of lockers.

Sarah stood glaring at him; "I don't know what game you're playing but Ripley's my friend and if this is your way of getting close to me, don't! It's creepy," she snarled.

Elias groaned as he did his best to find his footing. Leave it up to his Ex to think that anything he does is going to be about her.

Elias looked around, but the hallway was barely empty and the ones who were there pretended that they couldn't hear or see what was happening.

"f**k you, Sarah, not everything is about you," he spat. This made her eyes widen before she reached out and clutched his face with her hand.

"You don't talk to me this way. Your nothing and you'll always be nothing but Ripley, she's my friend."

"Yeah, you keep saying that but we both know you've been pulling this s**t long before the accident or Ripley even happened". He gritted through his teeth before swatting her hand away. 

"Tell me, Sarah, what's the real reason why are you here? Is it cause you're jealous?"

"Ew, of you? Please I got better guys on my DM's"she paused before glaring at him "and they can least look me in the eyes," she then broke out into a snide grin while Elias struggled for a moment to find his footing.

"You know Serah we've been broken up for a while. I think it's time that you and Jason to both go and f**k off together".

Her face hardened and said;

"You know it doesn't even matter what you say to me" She tilted her upper body to the side mimicking his posture "because no matter what people call me at the end of the day you're the one that they'll call a murderer" and with that, she slung her bag in a way; so that it would crash against his shoulder before falling on her back as she walked away.

So much for cloud nine, Elias gripped his cane and shuffled off. He hated himself as is, so it's to be expected that they'd hate him too. I mean, what's not to hate? He was selfish, mean and a hypocrite, but dammit, he was also human. He liked the way Ripley treated him.

Her gentle attempts to befriend him made happy and feel less alone and when his reality often screamed at him he felt more encouraged to see what she saw in him. 

'f*****g Sarah and her bullshit anytime she speaks it's like nails to a chalkboard and that just gets me irritable' he thought to himself.

As Elias stalked up the hall, he was filled with rage. Elias then felt a gentle tug on his arm and when he turned around he yelled;

"WHAT!" His guidance counselor jumped at his outburst and then told him to follow him.

"Oh, great" 

Elias said in a huff as he followed the heavyset man into his office.

_____

"Hey can I talk to you?" said Sarah firmly.

Ripley who was finishing her lunch looked up with her mouth full. She placed her hand over her mouth and nodded twice before turning her head to listen to what the other girls were saying.

Once Ripley had finished her meal, she motioned to Sarah and told her she was done.

They both got up and walked off disposing of their trays Ripley reached into her pocket and pulled out two pieces of gum handing one to her and taking another for herself.

"What up?" Ripley asked.

"Remember when you said that Elias, and you were going to the creek this Friday."

"Yeah" Ripley responded with curiosity in her tone.

"Well I'm just trying to look out for you," She said sympathetically "when I say this, but you should cancel your plans," she said hotly.

"Why?" Ripley said crossing her arms.

"Because he's dangerous, why do you think everyone stays clear of him."

Ripley is taken back by how quickly Sarah's whole demeanor changes because she never seen this side of her.

"What did he do?" 

"He killed someone, Ripley"

Then a cold shiver ran down her spine.

"He what?"

            "Yeah, the police say it was an accident, but nobody believes that" Sarah then takes a deep breath and says "Listen he wasn't the same loner that you see today, no, back then he was just another pretty face who played baseball but..." she started shaking her head "He was mean Ripley... like really mean! and once the news got out no one believed him… and neither do I," Ropley can see Sara's chin quiver " Ripley, you have to listen to me". 

Ripley takes a step back and looks at Sarah.

"I know it's hard to hear but-" Sarah is then cut off when Ripley interrupts her;

            "Sarah that's a really serious accusation. Just because someone is an asshole one moment does not make them a murderer. Besides, wouldn't he have been caught if he was? I need you to explain to me what happened? Because the way you're making it sound is like something right out of the CW". 

"You're taking his side?!" Sarah said in disbelief.

"I'm not taking anyone's side but if my experience has thought me anything is that there's always more to a story so just spill," Ripley said a bit firmer.

Sarah licked her lips nervously before saying;

"He was my boyfriend Ripley".

            Ripley's eyes widened for a moment and then said to herself 'That's what it was, that's why she's doing this'. A part of Ripley hoped that Sarah was just mad as her Ex and that what she told her was a lie.

            "He was my boyfriend and he wanted my best friend," She said with a frustrated sigh before continuing "and she wanted him. So they both went off to f**k around at her house and as they went on there merry way that drunk asshole shut off his lights and speed down the road and when he did... he almost ended up hitting Mikey" She paused and took a deep breath "Mikey is Jason's little brother."

Ripley stood silent for a moment before continuing; "Is he okay? what happened?"

            "He's a runner, he's always jogging through those woods at night since it's so close to his house". He was wearing everything he needed. He had a reflective vest, light-up sneakers, flashing backpack. There was no way he couldn't be seen... It was impossible." 

Sarah's sigh came out shaky and tears began pouring down her face.

Ripley stepped in and hugged her. "I'm sorry for your loss".

            Ripley wanted to tell her that despite how horrible the whole situation had been all of this sounded like a terrible accident between one stupid person's mistake, but was she in the wrong for wanting to give him the benefit of the doubt? However, Ripley didn't know what to say, so she remained quiet. 

"I have a lot to think about," Ripley said to her.

Sarah then stopped and pulled away from her embrace.

"What? you mean you're still thinking about going?" 

'Crap!' she thought. "Listen, if what you say is correct he's a horrible person but I have to stick to my morals. I have to listen to every side of a story before judging anyone. I've had too many bad experiences to just jump on the first narrative that comes my way. I need you to understand where I'm coming from". Ripley says pleading. She was scared that her new friend would end up shutting her out.

Sarah stares at her for a long time before her face settling with a deep a scowl she then wiped her eyes and said;

"You do whatever you need to but when he does something to you, just know that I warned you" and then she walked off leaving Ripley with a nasty feeling forming at the pit of her stomach.