Stockholm Syndrome? - Chapter 15: Chapter 15

The next two days passed by very quickly. Nothing out of the ordinary happened. I stuck to my routine. Since I didn't have soccer practice, it was replaced by Netflix. I was able to sit for hours watching a bunch of series.
Clark invited me to go out with his other friends on Friday. I declined, preferring to just sit at home and watch Daredevil. It had become one of my favorite series to watch, particularly because the plot reminded me of someone else. Daredevil didn't believe in the criminal justice system even though he was an attorney, choosing to take the law into his own hands and fight crime at night. He was in that respect similar to Felix.
I hadn't heard from Felix ever since he let me leave his house. I had no idea where he was or what he was doing. I just hoped he kept his promise.
Since I didn't have soccer practice, I hadn't run into Konstantin. It was good for the both of us. He risked being punched in the face and I risked disciplinary action taken against me and possibly an assault charge.
On Saturday afternoon Stella and Clark got me out of the house for something that had nothing to do with school or soccer. We met up at the coffee shop Alex worked at. It was a nice cozy place.
"Stella thought you weren't over Len. But it's good that you are going out", Clark was saying. He was sitting across from me. Stella was sitting on my left.
"Mm", I said and took a sip of my iced-tea.
"Have you decided what you are going to wear?" Stella asked.
"No. And no, I don't need help", I said.
She looked at me with daggers in her eyes.
"Just let her help you. She's going to anyway", Clark said.
"Fine", I said. "Be at the apartment at 6 and not a second earlier. I need to mentally prepare myself for the torture".
"Hey! I'm a great stylist. I bought you an amazing jacket, didn't I?" she said and instantly regretted herself because she gave a quiet "sorry".
I frowned. "For what?"
"Mentioning the jacket", she said.
I scrunched my face in confusion.
"You wore it that day. I'm going to shut up now", she said sheepishly.
I smiled. "Don't worry about that. I'm bummed I couldn't take it with me. By the time they close that case it'll be covered in mold. It's useless keeping it in evidence if you ask me", I said.
"Maybe the guy left a strand of hair or something on it", Clark chimed in. "Cases can be built on a single strand of hair these days".
Stella nodded.
I hoped Felix had left nothing on that jacket. Protesting his innocence when I had denied seeing the kidnapper's face was going to be a challenge.
"I hope they catch him", Stella said.
"I do too", I lied. "On to things that aren't totally hopeless, how's your crush?" I asked Stella.
Clark choked. Of all things he could do, he chose to do the most cliché thing. He could have just kept a straight face, but no, he had to choke. Although admittedly choking isn't a choice. He fell into the simplest trap ever.
"You okay buddy?" I asked stifling a laugh.
"I don't – what are you talking about?" Stella asked with a raised brow.
"Stop talking about yourself here, Clark could be dying", I jokingly snapped at Stella. "Want ice-tea?" I said offering my cup to Clark.
He shook his head and continued pounding his chest slightly. After a few seconds he stopped coughing.
"I didn't know you have a crush", he said looking at Stella straight in the eye.
"If I didn't tell you, it's none of your business", she said.
Clark shrugged, trying desperately to come off as nonchalant.
"So, how is he?" I asked Stella.
She answered by pinching me on my thigh before saying. "Uh...he's great. He's fine...and existent? Uh yeah"
"You don't even sound sure he exists", Clark said cocking a brow.
"He exists", Stella said firmly.
"Why haven't you made a move then? Don't tell me dwarfie Stella is shy", he said.
"I unlike other people don't jump into relationships easily. Urinary tract infections and dry heaving is not part of my plan", she said.
"Explains why you are still single", he said biting on his straw. "What's your plan? 12 cats? Or is that too little?"
Okay, I had opened a can of worms. I wanted them to feel uncomfortable and face their feelings, but I hadn't imagined it going that way. I could barely get a word in.
"No. 12 is just fine. It's better than a guy who can't keep his 2-inch inside", she said with a glassy look.
"I'm surprised you even know about inches, considering your absence of action", Clark said.
"I'll have you know..." Stella started but I wormed my way in.
"Okay okay, how about we talk about something that won't have you two sizing each other up like animals in the wild?"
"Tell that to that animal", Stella said pointing at Clark.
"I am an animal", Clark said proudly. "I have heard it many times".
"I'm sure it wasn't a compliment", she said twisting her lips. "If you guys will excuse me, I need to use the bathroom", she said as she stood up.
I watched her walk away briefly before turning to Clark.
"You are one of the dumbest people I have ever met", I said.
He raised his hands a little in the air, simultaneously frowning and said, "What?"
"You really cannot see that you and Stella like each other?"
He shrugged and said nothing.
"Tell me you don't like her", I said.
"She's a good friend, but beyond that, I don't", he said.
"Sure", I said dragging the word.
He gave a little shrug.
"So this guy you are going out with, where'd you meet?" he asked changing the subject.
"We haven't really met actually. He's Stella's classmate. He saw me with Stella at the club fair and now wants to meet", I said.
"Excited?"
It was a good question. I didn't really think about the date. I just figured it would be two people getting to know each other. I didn't know why I had to dress up for that, but Stella insisted. Damian and I had talked in the past few days. I got to know a little about him. He'd chosen a little restaurant just a little distance from my apartment for our date. I liked the idea. Simplicity worked with me.
Maybe danger worked more.
"Archer?" Clark inquired about my silence.
"Um, sorry. Yeah, I am. We've been talking on WhatsApp, he's a nice guy", I said.
"I should order one more of these", Clark said looking at his empty cappuccino cup. Just then a tall blonde walked to our table.
"Hey", she said to Clark as if they were long-time friends.
"Hey. How are you?" Clark responded, looking delighted to see her.
"I'm great", she said.
"This is my friend Archer. Archer, this is Cindy. She's in my class", Archer introduced us.
We both said our greetings.
"You are still coming to Club Neptune, right?" she asked Clark.
"Definitely!" Clark replied.
Just then Stella walked back to the table. She sat down quietly.
"I'll see you there!" Cindy said and flexed her legs the way she came.
"Who was that?" Stella asked.
"Clark's..." I started but Clark felt his reply was better, pushing his way into my words and rendering me silent.
"My classmate. Only the hottest girl in our class", he said.
"I hope she has brains", Stella sneered.
"I hope she gives brains", Clark said.
"I think I threw up a little in my mouth", she said.
"And you wonder why guys won't kiss you", he said.
"That's it!" Stella said as she stood up and took off her purple converse sneaker. She threw it at Clark who – totally caught off guard – didn't even try to dodge the hit. The shoe landed straight at his forehead, causing him to push his cappuccino cup to the floor. Luckily it was empty.
"Stella, what the hell?" he shouted.
People's eyes were already on our table by then. Everyone was just looking at us and the crazy girl who'd thrown a shoe at her companion. It was a pretty reckless thing to do. It could have hit other people, but that was typical Stella. When it came to Clark, she threw punches first...well in this case, a shoe.
"Oopsie. I didn't notice you over that manwhore shield you got on there", Stella said.
Clark held onto her shoe. "You will never get this".
"It doesn't matter. I have another pair just like this", she said.
The manager walked to us. He couldn't be older than 25. People were still looking at us, but not as much as before.
"Hey...guys. Is everything okay?" he asked awkwardly.
Stella gave him a confident grin. "Everything is fine, right Clark?"
"Everything is fine", Clark grumbled as he massaged his forehead.
"Uh mam", the manager said addressing Stella. "We would appreciate it if you did not throw objects around. As much as we like for our customers to express themselves, you and your boyfriend should try to solve your quarrels in a peaceful manner or at least not here. You could have injured a customer or damaged our property, and we'd make you pay for that".
"Pssh, I..." Stella said but I cut in, pulling her down into her seat.
"She understands. We apologize, right Stella?"
"Right" she murmured looking away from the manager.
Clark stopped massaging his head and looked at the manager in shock. "Did you just call her my girlfriend?"
"I...I thought..." the manager stammered.
"Not in a million years!" Stella and Clark said simultaneously.
"In that case, I apologize"; he said and walked to the counter. I watched him leave and when I turned back, Stella and Clark were glaring at each other.
"I guess we can cross commanding unnecessary attention off our list of things to do", I said with a little bit of cheer. It was a desperate attempt to stop things from escalating again, though I must admit I enjoyed what Stella did.
"I'm going to get another cappuccino", Clark mumbled and stood up.
When he was out of hearing range I said, "You really need to stop hitting him. I know hitting the guy you have a crush on is all you know, but that is so 2nd grade".
"I still have another sneaker on", she warned.
"I'm just saying", I said.
"I don't have a crush on that whore. I find him repulsive in every way possible", she said.
I saw Alex walking to us. He raised his hand for a high-five with Stella when he got to us, checking back to see if Clark was looking.
"That hit was spot on!" he said.
"Yeah well I have skills", Stella said.
"You were centimeters away from him!" I said.
"Don't burst my bubble. Centimeters or not, you would have missed", she said.
"So, why did you want to send charmerboy to an early grave?" Alex asked.
"For the same reason as always; he's a pig", she replied.
"Well be careful what you throw at him next time. You might kill him. It won't be fun when you realize he's a pig that you liked", Alex said.
Stella looked at him menacingly, "I have a sneaker and I am not afraid to use it".
"I have customers to attend to", Alex said and hurriedly walked away.
"At least now I'm not the only one", I said with mock relief.
"Archer, say one more thing about Clark and I will beat you all the way to your mom's house", she said.
I put my hands up in surrender, giggling slightly.
Later in the evening I sat in my apartment. Stella promised to come at exactly 6 pm to help me prepare for my date with Damian. It was a little over 5:30 pm. I was certain Stella was itching for it to be 6 pm so she could come torture me. Alex was not back from the coffee shop.
I sat in the living area studying. I wanted to catch up on my schoolwork before things got really hectic. Soccer practice was going to be intense with the opening match coming up and Damian also played a role. I couldn't foretell how our date would go, but there could be a second one and a third one and so on. I had to get my affairs in order.
That was laughable. I could get my schoolwork in order. There was just something I didn't seem to do; forget about the man who'd kidnapped me.
I paged through my textbook slowly, but heard another sound that wasn't made by the pages. It sounded like the floor was being sanded down. I immediately looked at the door just in time to see a note being inserted underneath it.
I ignored it for while. It wasn't unusual to get notes slipped underneath the door. Sometimes it was the building manager and sometimes it was students advertizing parties, clubs and stuff they were selling.
I eventually went to the door to get the note, mostly because I was unable to study anymore. The note had distracted me. It was folded.
I took the time to unfold it, wondering what was being sold. Students went as far as selling their cutlery for money.
Hi Archer. I really hope you get this and read it. I wanted to tell you that I have kept my promise to you ever since we parted, but now I can't. I'm sorry to break it but I have no choice. Don't think it never meant something to me, it did. But I can't keep it anymore.
It wasn't signed, but I knew who it was from the second line. I held onto it for a while, unable to react. When I unfroze, my immediate thought was to run to the door and hopefully find the person who'd snuck the note under my door.
The thought of seeing Felix again, the thought of gazing into those dark eyes...it was bit too much to handle. Memories of his face attacked me at every angle, but when I opened the door and looked down the corridor, there was no one there. That face was still going to be a memory.
I looked around like a madman. I looked up and down the spiral staircase. I wished I could pry through the elevators with my eyes. I looked at people's doors, wondering if Felix could be behind one of them. I thought to knock and ask. It was a terrible idea and I knew it the moment I thought of it. Felix was gone; if it had been him who put the note there in the first place. He could have hired someone to deliver it for him.
I looked at the note again and read the last line aloud as I walked back into the apartment and closed the door.
"But I can't keep it anymore".
He was going to do it again. He was going to kill someone. And there was nothing I could do about it. I had nothing but the address-less note in my hand.
I crushed the note in my hand as anger rose from the pit of my stomach and threatened to consume me. Felix was going to break his promise and his victims' blood would be on my hands. I had let a monster live.