"What are you doing here!?"

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"Uh, this is my house numb nut!"

I whisper yell back.

"Your my neighbor!?"

Sal questions.

"That's what I just said!"

"Don't get all bratty with me."

"Don't tell me what to do!"

Sal swiftly grabs my arm and spins me into him.

"What the hell!? Get off!"

I cry out in protest my voice beginning to get louder.

'How is everything going to shit in five seconds?'

Sal wraps a hand around my mouth tightly and pushes me up against the wall. Flash backs of that elevator scene from earlier today plays into my mind.

I blush like a mad man- or...woman.

"Your going to shut up, and listen to me."

Oh no, not this time. And he is not smudging my makeup this time either!

I push him off of me and slap him; causing his mask to shift a bit, and I see scars?

"I said don't tell me what to do."

Sal keeps his head turned to the side for a few more moments before he raises a hand to where I had hit him and turned his head to look at me.

I'm not backing down this time, I'm standing my ground.

"You hit me."

Sal let's out with a hint of great surprise in his voice.

"Yeah, and I'd do it again! You deserved it. And ya had it comin' too."

I reply, glaring at him.

It's true, he did deserve it. I don't care if he's only been doing this kind of stuff to me for like three days, that's three days too long and I'm getting sick of him thinking he can push me around.

Sal contiues to stare at me, I look into his eyes to see if I could find an answer as to what he is feeling. He looks...impressed, but also annoyed.

I'm starting to lose my confidence in that slap right now. Surely that couldn't have hurt him that badly, right? Because he has his mask on, so it would hurt less?

He just stands there and stares at me, he finally let's his hand drop from his face and he walks a little closer to me.

I back up from him but only for my back to eventually hit a storage shelf, I quickly move away from the shelf and open the door of the storage room.

'I want to get out of here, right now.'

But Sal is quicker, he grabs my arm and pulls me back. He swiftly closes the door behind me causing a loud SLAM sound. Then walks up to me and states,

"Why did you do that?"

"Why did I do that!? Oh please! You have got to be the dumbest person I've ever known! 'Why did I do that?' Well let's look over the reasons, shall we?"

I take a breath and pull out my hand to count all the reason on my fingers.

"Number one : you chased me down the hallways at school and let your friend almost beat the shit out of me, twice!"

"Number two : you tricked me into believing you were a nice guy, and then turned your back on me."

"Number three : you ruined my makeup! Do you have any idea how long that took me to do!?"

"Number four : your friend almost ripped my nice shirt, and it's now stretched out!"

"Number five : you made me think you actually liked m-"

I stop my sentence immediatly as I realised what I was about to say.

"What were you about to say?"

Sal pushed. I didn't even look at him, I kept glancing around the room; at anything but him.

"Nothing, it's not important."

"Oh, I think it was if it's got you so red."

Sal walks a little closer. I cross ny arms in protest and chew on the inside of my cheek.

'Why does it matter to him?'

"Why does it matter to you?"

"Because it sounds like you were just about to spill your guts, so, tell me what it was you were about to spill your guts about?"

"Bite me."

I spat back at him, I'm still ticked off about what he's done to me. And it felt good to finally address it but I don't want him to know that much.

"Sure, where do you want it?"

Sal flirts, I turn redder than before.

'Oh gosh, not now! I'm suppose to be mad at you!'

"Oh? Why are you so flushed, Y/N?"

I can already tell he's smirking under his mask.

"I-I'm not."

I protest.

"Mhm, then what is it?"

I don't respond, he walks even closer and I still don't bother to look at him.

"Y/N. Is it cause of what I said?"

"No! No way. It's cause- It's cause..."

"Cause..?"

"Hey kids? Is everything alright in there? We heard the door slam and got worried."

My mom interrupts.

'Oh, thank god.'

"Tsk."

Sal lets out, I roll my eyes at him and reply.

"Yeah, we're fine! Just are looking through my old stuff."

"Oh, okay? But it's dinner, your father just got home Y/N."

I visibly tense, Sal obviously noticed too cause he looks at me weird.

"Hey, you alright?"

Sal touches my shoulder. I jump at the sudden act, and I finally turn to look at him; all the color has drained from my face.

"Huh? Oh, uh- yeah. Fine."

I stutter, Sal gives me a worried look as I walk out of the storage room. After a second or two Sal follows behind me.

We walk out and into the dining room, and Sal sits next to me, and his dad sits on the other side of me.

I feel safe around Sal, maybe it's cause I know he could probably murder someone easily.

*Cough* me *cough*.

We all begin to eat, and everyone is enjoying the meal my mom prepared for almost three hours.

"Thank you mom,"

I smile at her (she sits directly infront of me).

"Yes, thank you very much mrs. Daniela."

Sal's father smiles at her too.

Sal says nothing and I am not having it. My mom prepared this dinner for hours and she doesn't even recieve a 'thank you' from everyone.

I elbow Sal, he looks at me with a glare and a confused face.

I look up at him and whisper,

"Say thank you."

He glares at me then softens with a sigh and turns to my mom.

"Thank you for dinner."

My mom smiles at him then replies.

"Anytime, dear."

My mom begins a conversation with Henry.

I smile in satisfaction and go back to eating, not long before Sal whispers in my ear.

"Are you happy now?"

I look at him and smile, a big toothy smile.

"Yes, thank you."

He looks to have smiled for atleast a moment because his mask shifted up but then it dropped. And he acted like it never happened.

I smile and shake my head while looking down at my food.

'Same old Sal.'

7/15/22

AKA : July, 15th/2022