Dyslexia.

{Her POV(November 8th)}

I examined his expression, his posture. He looked....scared. All I did was grab his sleeve..I can't understand why he would be scared...

I looked again and his face was instantly cold. How can someone go from looking scared to looking scary in seconds?

"What do you want." His voice pierced through my thoughts as I scrambled to place words.

"I-uh-Welcome to the school!" I blurted out not knowing what else to say.

His face immediately softened "Thank you." He nodded and turned to walk away.

"W-wait!" I shouted before running up to him.

"Yes?" His face looked cold again but there was no malice in his voice.

"We're here...a little later than everyone else and I don't like walking home alone. Can I join you?" I asked nervously.

"I'm not interested" He said flatly, trying to turn to walk away. I again reach out to grab his arm to which I'm met with similar shock and fear.

Suddenly it all clicked. He's definitely being abused. It's the only thing that could possibly make sense. Why else would he react in such a way to a simple everyday contact.

If he was in danger I needed to do something about it. "I'm sorry, I uh-nothing I'm sorry." I said trying to make him less suspicious of me.

He didn't bother to reply and instead began walking away. I waited a few seconds and decided I was going to follow him home.

"I'm not crazy" I thought to myself as I followed him home. Down every street and at every turn, I always waited a few seconds to seem like we just happened to be going the same way.

After nearly an hour and a half of walking he made one last turn onto a street full of upper class houses.

"Really good exchange program" I muttered to myself as I saw him walk up the steps to his front door.

His key flashed in the light of the early sunset as he unlocked the door and stepped inside. I walked up to the front of the house trying to find windows for me to peer into.

Unfortunately they all had blinds on them. Finally I simply decided to knock on the door.

*Rap Rap Rap* my fist quickly knocked on the door like I was the law enforcement.

I took a step back and one big breath before I heard his voice behind me.

"Excuse me" He says pushing past me as if he never entered the house.

I spun around in shock turning to see him standing on the steps behind me. The very same steps he just walked up to enter his house. The house I watched him enter.

How in the world did he get behind me...? What's even more confusing was that he had his key out as though he hadn't yet entered.

I stepped aside as he put the key in the lock and opened the door. He turned around inside and glimpsed at me briefly before closing the door.

Even though I was stunned by what had just happened I decided to calm myself and knock hard on the door again.

*Rap Rap Rap*

I heard a light *click* as the door unlocked and he opened it.

"Is there a reason you've followed me to my home and continue to harrass me?" He asked sharply.

"I'm not sure how things are done here" He continued "Though, I'm positive it's not like this. Please leave me alone."

Why was he acting so cold to me? I didn't understand but it seemed like his reaction only enforced my initial thought.

"He must be getting abused." I repeated that thought over and over in my mind as I took out my cellphone and called the police.

An officer picked up. "Police department what may I assist you with?"

"Yes I'd like to report a possible abuse case."

"Okay and where is this?"

"Oh its at...I'm sorry I don't know where I am.."

"Are you calling from a smartphone ma'am?"

"Oh I..yes I am, why?"

"Check your maps app"

"Right, Sorry" I scrambled to click the app, my phone suddenly very slow.

I click on the maps app angrily as it doesn't open. Then finally it does but the whole area I'm in is grey...no signal.

"I don't have signal" I said angrily as I became frustrated.

"Thats okay, we've already traced your call. There is an officer on the way."

*Buzz*

My phone vibrated as the call ended and I was left to wait in the slowly cooling weather, the moon rising above slowly.

About 40 seconds later or so, a squad car rolled in.

I waved them down hastily. I'm sure I seemed crazy, but he could be in danger.

The blue and red lights flashed infront of me, sending me into a state of shock as a memory took control of my body.

It took me back to the day, I could feel my knees hit the concrete as salty tears streamed down my cheeks.

In that quick flashback I lived through it again, The red and blue lights, the red and white lights, the white blanket on the stretcher, the police stopping me from running into the house.

Then I snapped out of it when they called my name.

"Ms. Varon, Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, Just a flashback"

"I understand" he said straightening himself out "Can you please describe the situation to us?"

I nodded reluctantly as I stood back up.

"I'm suspicious someone may be being abused. They exhibited the signs of abuse trauma and I want it checked out."

The second officer finished writing in his notepad and nodded to the first officer.

"Alright, We'll check it out and conduct an interview. You can go home or stay right here, If you leave the area you will not be notified of the outcome."

"I understand, Would it be possible if I sat in the car?" I asked, Suddenly feeling the creeping chill of the autumn night.

The officers glanced at eachother before answering.

"I suppose you could sit in the back, but not the front. We would get in trouble otherwise."

I nodded, "Thats reasonable, I'd rather the back than this weather."

As one of the officers escorted me to the car, I watched the other officer knock loudly on the front door.

"Police! Open up." *bang bang bang* his knocks were loud and serious. Likely to draw immediate attention.

I sat in the car and the door shut with a thud.

I watched the front door open as the boy stepped out. I could hear muffled sounds and suddenly the first officer stepped into the house curiously.

I waited anxiously for several minutes, The door closed behind them and none of the windows were opened.

My leg began to shake as nervousness crept over my body.

Suddenly the front door opened as light shone out and the figures of the officers silhouettes were outlined.

I breathed a sigh of relief as I noticed that nobody was in cuffs.

Then I felt guilty, I had followed this poor boy home and disturbed his night by calling the police.

I saw as the police shake his hand and earned back towards the car.

As they opened the door for me I asked.

"Was everything okay then officers?"

"He was fine, He actually told us he thought you were harassing and stalking him." The cop said laughing.

"It's a good thing he didn't want to press charges against you little lady, could've been a real headache for your parents" He continued still laughing.

"Well kid, Did you want a ride home or have you got arrangements?"

"Oh uh, I'll walk...I think it'll be nice to get some air." I said, My mind still reeling.

The officer nodded as he got in the car and pulled away. I watched them go, thinking through the events of the night.

I didn't want to bother the boy anymore, though I felt like I needed to apologize.

I took a deep breath and began my strides towards the front door.

I knocked lightly on the door and once again heard a small *click* and then another sound, one like something heavy and metal scraping agaisnt other metal as it slid.

Then the sliding noise was met with a pang, indicating the object had hit its range.

The door handle turned slowly as I anxiously waited. The door finally opened, the light from within illuminating his figure briefly before my eyes adjusted.

He looked cold and angered, I suppose rightfully so as he opened his door for the fourth time in the hour.

I stared blankly for a moment before I found a word to use. I spat it out quickly and it was obvious I was anxious.

"Hi" I said making a slight waving motion with my fingers.

He said nothing.

"I just..." I said taking a pause to breathe. "I....look, I wanted to say I'm sorry. I know we've only just met and still haven't really and already we've got off to a bad start."

I looked at him with pleading eyes hoping for something, yet again I was met with silence.

"I'm really really sorry, I'm not sure if the officers explained why I called them but I want you to know it was out of concern for your safety and again I'm really really sorry."

I began fidgeting with my fingers and rubbing my hands to warm them up.

His eyes flickered down towards my anxious movements and his face softened.

He finally spoke. "I accept your apology."

Joy spread throught me as the sound of his voice calmed my nerves. "Thank you...I-uhm..I should get going.."

He stuck out his head and looked in either direction of the street. "Where's your ride"

It was supposed to be a question but his tone told me he knew the answer. "I don't have one.."

"I'll walk you home then, It's starting to get late." He said as thought I didn't have a choice.

I watched as he grabbed a black leather bomber jacket and slipped on combat boots.

He walked out of the door and closed it behind him, walking several meters up the street before stopping and turning back to me. "You coming?"

I nodded and quickly began making my way to him. As I caught up, we walked without saying a word.

He made sure to be on the outside of the sidewalk and offered me his arm while we crossed streets.

It was weird, my mind was racing and every so often I would steal a glance at him. Only to find his icy glare focused on the road ahead.

He stopped moving but I didn't notice too lost in my own thoughts until his voice cut through them like a warm knife through butter. Precise and clear.

"Stop." It was a warning not a command.

I looked behind me before I looked up "Why?"

He simply nodded in my direction and I noticed it as I turned around. I was only a few inches away from a streetlight pole.

"Oh...thank you" I muttered, my face turning red. It's embarrassing to be so clumsy, I'd never done that before.

We continued walking as I shifted my gaze from the ground to his face. It was hard to read him, I knew what was supposed to be there but I couldn't put anything together. Almost like I had dyslexia.

After about 20 minutes of walking I noticed something out of the corner of my eye, a flash of light. I thought it was nothing and tried to keep walking but his commanding tone cut through again.

"Stay here." I noticed his gaze focused like lasers on the same place I noticed the mysterious movement.

He walked across the road into the dark alleyway. I heard a scuffle of movement and some muttered voices and then...

*BANG*

It was loud, like a gunshot. I covered my ears and squatted down.

A few seconds later I saw the top half of a person as they fell and hit the floor.

He walked out of the alley holding a flip phone to his ear. I could only make out a few words of what he was saying. I picked out "Dead", the intersection we were at and "Quickly."

He closed the flip phone and put it in his pocket as he walked back towards me.

He stopped infront of me and extended his hand, I grabbed onto it and pulled myself up from the squatting position.

"What was that?" I asked, fear evident in my tone.

"Just a want to be gangster." He replied "I told him to stop following us and he pulled a gun and fired at me. So I knocked him out, turns out it was only a cap gun. Don't worry I informed the authorities."

I felt inclined to believe him. Maybe because it put my mind at ease, or maybe it was because I didn't want to believe I saw the hilt of a pistol sticking out of his coat.

He finished walking me home with a softer look on his face. It felt warmer around the rest of the night, even with the chill creeping in.

We stopped walking and I looked up at him, we locked eyes. He put his hand on mine and said "This is it, You're home safe"

I looked around and noticed we were a few paces away from my house. He smiled warmly at me.

I felt butterflies in my stomach but I didn't understand why.

"Thank you...have a good night" I said turning away. I could feel his eyes piercing through me as I entered the house.

I felt comfortable until I remembered, I had never told him where I lived.