C07: Daniel - 1

It was Tuesday.

I walked up to the graffitied locker swung open and stood behind the owner. I tapped Daniel on the shoulder.

"We need to talk," I told him before he turned around to face me. His dark curls had gotten longer since I spoke to him last. "And you need a hair-cut."

Daniel looked less than impressed about my appearance as the sour look on his face only worsened.

"About?"

"Elliot."

"I thought you told me you don't want to talk about it to anyone. To shut my mouth before you castrate me with your own hands."

"That's right. But I couldn't stay out of his way." I folded my arms.

"Why were you even avoiding him? He's your boyfriend- you made things seem wrong when you ignored him all this ti-"

"Daniel." I interrupted. "He hurt me. I'm scared of him. There's no way I could act normal around him. I feel safer being away from him."

"Look he was just- dru-"

"You and I both know he was anything BUT drunk." He shut up. Lowered his head. He understood me, but was fighting it. "Anyways," I continued. "He confronted me yesterday and I told him me and you slept together. He should stay away from me n-"

"YOU WHAT?!"

"Told him we sle-"

"Why Lila- what the fuck is wrong with you-"

"Can you just fucking go with it okay? Until I sort this shit out," I pleaded. He stared at me for a few seconds, thinking.

"And Lila when do you plan on doing that?" I don't know.

"Soon."

Daniel hung his head. "For your sake," he looked up. "For Elliot's sake. I hope you do."

I don't know how this is going to pan out. It pisses me off. We parted and as I turned around I spotted Elliot looking in my direction from the other end of the hall. Fuck. I put my head down and walked quickly, but not quick enough. He grabbed my arm and suddenly memories of that bloody party came back to mind. The screaming. My screaming. The hand prints left on my arms. On my shoulders. I yanked my arm away from Elliot and turned to face him.

"What."

He looked hurt. I didn't falter. Yesterday I didn't respond to his question. I got up, walked to my door and went for a walk. When I got back Elliot was gone.

"So what- are you and Daniel a thing now? Just like that you cheat on me and leave with him?"

"Leave it alone Elli-"

"I will not!" His shout startled a couple of people. Whispering soon broke out.

"Elliot please. If you care, you'll leave. Now is probably the worst time to do this." He reached for my shoulder. I stepped back.

"None of this makes any sense Lila..."

"I know."

"When will it?"

"Not for a while." I took that as my queue to leave. I left.

I thought about something as I got further away from Elliot. Maybe if I really did date Daniel... Elliot will hate me enough to leave me alone. He wouldn't have to find out about what he did at that party.

Daniel isn't going to like this.