text message to Clara// backdated to the evening of the 10th or 11th

[icanbuyafez]

[This is weird, because Eleven never texts.]

Are you at home?

Comments

text;

[therecipe]

[ this IS weird ]

Yes, I am. Did you need me?

[Action]

[icanbuyafez]

There's no response, but a couple minutes later there's a knock on Clara's window. Eleven is outside, having climbed up the usual tree that had grown near the apartment building. He looks hesitant and confused, closed off - and very deep in thought.

[Action]

[therecipe]

She sort of figured that's what was going to happen and had been sitting by the window while looking at the phone waiting to see if he'll add another text.

But no, he didn't. It was weird he texted to begin with. She carefully slid open the window for him and offered a hand to help him inside. "You alright?"

[Action]

[icanbuyafez]

He took her hand to climb in, not answering her immediately. He pulls himself up to sit on the edge of her bed, still staring downward, his legs dangling nervously. "I...

I'm not sure." His voice is smaller than usual, scared and confused and vulnerable.

"The bullies came again at school. Not for me, this time, but a friend of mine - Sheska. She's shy and quiet, but she's smart, and really nice." He'd told her about the bullies before - being the youngest and the smartest, especially around people were were six or seven years older than him, had not made him very popular in high school.

"... I got in their way. I set the fire alarm off to get the teachers to come outside and see, but... well, it took a bit before any of them got out there." His hands ball up into fists at the thought, and he looks angry and frustrated - at the bullies for picking on them; at life, for being so unfair about these things; and most of all, at himself, for being so helpless in these situations because of something as simple as how small he is. "I don't care when it's me, but they shouldn't pick on Sheska, it's not fair!"

Despite how upset he clearly is at Sheska's treatment, Clara knows him well enough by now to sense that he hasn't said what's really bothering him just yet.