Monthly Restart

CHAPTER FIVE

-July 30: Thursday-

The sound of the tip of the pen tapping continuously on the table was the only thing that serves as the breaker of silence in Daisy’s room. With the current time of 6:32, she nearly forgot about her school if not for her mom who knocked on her door, breaking her thoughts.

Looks like I really can’t figure it out alone. She thought before releasing a sigh, putting her pen and paper back to her bag. She then stood up opened the door, revealing her mom who’s looking at her with a smile. “He’s here.”

With those words being state, a frown replaced the small smile she’s wearing. “Fine. Give me a sec.” she excused, retreating back to her table to take her bag and check her reflection from her mirror for the last time.

“Let’s go, mom.” She said and was about to close her room’s door when she noticed her mom’s stare. “What?” she asked with a brow raised, her hand leaving the door knob to touch her face. “Something on my face or what?”

I looked good when I checked myself on the mirror, though. She mentally wondered when her mom remained silent and just shook her head and closed Daisy’s door, then tapped her daughter’s arm before letting out a chuckle.

“What was that?” Daisy asked, still confused with her mom’s movements. “Mom?” she asked, but her mom just walked forward, causing her to walk and catch up to her. “What’s that mom?”

Still, no answer. “Hey mom.” She called out once again, but her mom just spared her the same glance that seems utterly suspicious in Daisy’s point of view. “Mom, hello? I’m here.” She continued before rolling her eyes.

“Mom, seriously?” she asked, stopping on the fifth step on the stairs, series of steps away from her mother who’s nearly downstairs.

 “Tell what’s with you getting weird today or I’ll stay here and skip school.” She said, crossing her arms while blankly looking at her mom who turned around to look at her.

With that, her mother laughed. “Come on, Mrs. Evelyn Middlemist.” She asked in a formal manner. “This won’t end if you won’t answer me, or if your answer won’t satisfy me, mom.” She said, causing her mom to laugh at her serious expression.

“Fine.” Her mom gave up, followed by a laugh. “I just felt like you’re already grown up.” She said, confusing Daisy more. “Like a lady who’s about to experience love.” She said, causing for Daisy to roll her eyes.

That’s it? Blinking her eyes several times, Daisy still can’t think of a reason why her mom suddenly thought it. “Why are you thinking that, mom?” she asked as she continued to walk downstairs.

“Nothing.” Her mother said and chuckled once again before going straight to the kitchen. Instead of thinking deeper about it, Daisy just rolled her eyes and walked to their living room, seeing Eric comfortably sitting at their couch, his eyes focused on his phone.

“What car do you have today? Blue?” she sarcastically asked, getting his attention. Yesterday, the car he brought was lime green, opposing the black color of the first car he used to replace his big bike.

Eric smirked. “How’d you know?” he asked, putting his phone back on his pocket before taking his bag and stood up, cockily looking at her. “Planning to become a fortune teller?”

“Shut it rich guy.” Daisy said, rolling her eyes. “Mom, we’re going!” she shouted, looking at the kitchen’s direction. “Be safe!” her mom shouted back.

Eric just looked at her with amused face as he catches up to her. “You speak as if you’re not rich either.” He said, purposely continuing the topic.

Instead of answering him back, Daisy just shook her head and focused on walking, her pace getting faster until it turned into running, making her walk to go outside a few seconds faster than the usual. Eric, on the other hand, just smirk and walked normally.

Heaving a deep breath to regulate her breathing, she silently looked back through the opened gate and saw him casually walking which made her roll her eyes and get on the shotgun seat.

Soon after, the car door opened and Eric went in the driver’s seat. “What’s up with you today?” he asked, putting on his seatbelt. “You woke up on the wrong side of your bed or something?” he mocked as he started the engine.

“I didn’t wake up on the wrong side, stupid.” She answered, glaring at the guy who’s unfazed by her insult and is just blankly staring at the road as he started to drive.

“No one told you to run to go to my car.” He said, glancing at the girl who’s now looking outside the window. “No one told you to be bitter early in the morning, either.”

I really don’t know what feelings were included in his words. Daisy thought, her eyes still focused on the view that’s a little blur due to the car’s motion. What’s with this ice guy anyway?

“I just can’t figure it out.” She finally answered, her gaze now on the guy who’s busily driving. “I planned to do the activity alone since I know I can’t count on you two, but I can’t figure out whether I should put all my honest remarks or add some sugar to make you two look nice.”

Hearing her rant made him chuckle. “I’m not that bad.” He said, making her wince at his cold tone. “Yeah. Say that to a kid and they’ll tell you you’re lying.” She replied, looking at him with blank eyes.

With that, he smirked as he glanced at her. “Are you sure you’re having monthly memory loss? You seemed fine to me.” He said, making her avert her eyes and just look outside the window once again.

“Shut up. It’s my memory who’s monthly erased, not my personality.” She muttered. So she’s still sensitive about her memory loss. Eric mentally concluded. I did not return late, didn’t I?

“Fine.” He gave up. “At least the one I grew up with hasn’t changed at all.” He said with a smirk, switching the tide of the conversation.

Daisy snorted. “You’re the one who changed, not me. Based on my diary, you’re a sweet kid back then.” She said, a small smile spreading on her lips, but then, it faded and her brows knitted in confusion when she saw something ahead of them.

“Why the hell am I-”

“Stop the car.” She said, her eyes still focused on the scene she’s looking at. “What-” before he can continue what he’s saying, Daisy looked at him with her finger pointed at the direction where she’s looking at before. “Look.”

Doing what she said, Eric slowly stopped the car to get a better look at where she’s pointing at. “What’s with that?” he asked, blankly looking at an alley’s entrance where people are forming a circle, all gossiping while looking inside; the crowd wears worried and cautious expression.

“Seriously? That’s all you’re gonna say?” she asked, looking unamused at the guy who’s blankly staring bac at her. “Aren’t you curious why they’re all looking at that alley with expressions like that?”

Eric looked back at the crowd. “I’m not.” He said, returning his blank gaze to the girl who’s glaring at him. “It’s not my business anymore. So why would I bother to-”

His words were stopped when Daisy shook her head and removed her seatbelt, before opening the door to go to the crowd that she’s eager to check. “That girl.” He muttered, unbuckling his own seatbelt and followed the girl who’s currently tiptoeing to see.

“Why the heck did you go out?” he asked, grabbing her by her arm to made her look at him. “They’re looking anxious, worried and scared, Eric.” Daisy pointed out, pertaining to the crowd. “Some were even taking videos as if they’re entertained, aren’t you curious about their behavior?”

“Can’t you hear the sounds? Those sounds like the people in front were in pain or something.” She concluded. “The bumping and loud noises like something collided with something. Aren’t you curious about it?”

Psychology nerd. He thought, his cold gaze now looking in front of them to check it out. Knowing that leaving her is not the best option, he looked at her who’s focused on tiptoeing once again. Fine. Whatever.

He then walked and towed her with him, his grasp on her arm tightened as they push forward to check it out. After reaching the front, it turns out that the crowd’s attention was pinned to the eight guys fighting.

“I knew it.” She said, biting her lips before looking around. Spotting a metal pipe that is on the ground, she grabbed it and was about to charge when Eric tugged her back through her arm he’s holding.

“Don’t do that.” Eric said, his voice colder than usual. “But can’t you see that?” she reasoned; her finger pointed at the fighting scene. “It’s obviously unfair! They’re already surrounding the guy!” she said, looking more pissed.

Meanwhile, the seven guys who’s blocking the guy from the crowd were cockily looking at the cornered person. “Looks like you can’t protect your pretty face anymore, huh?” the guy with left ear piercing asked, his right cheek have purplish bruise.

“I’m protecting myself, not just my face, dumbass.” He reasoned out, cautiously looking around to guard himself from the seven men. Why did I even let go of my pipe...crap. He thought, wiping the blood from his lower lip. I’ve injured them enough but why don’t they back out already?

Left with no other choice, he looked at the guy in the center and kicked him down, followed by punching the two beside him to create an opening for him to escape. Seeing the opening, he ran, but not long after, the other guys went after him again.

“But- Hey it’s Calvin!” the non-stop bickering of Daisy and Eric was finally put into a halt when she pointed at the guy in the middle of the four men while the other three was behind him.

Why are they here? He thought, his attention was diverted making him receive a hit of a wood from behind him, causing him to fall on one knee. His hand touching his now injured back.

Before the guy in front of him hit him with a bat, Daisy throw the metal pipe to him, making him drop the bat and look at her with burning eyes. Why did she even do that? Calvin thought after witnessing what she did.

“This isn’t your fight, miss. Stay away while I’m being nice.” The broad guy who seemed like the leader snapped at her. “Or maybe,” he paused, looking at her with a grin. “You can stay and-”

“Don’t move an inch.” Eric whispered, confusing Daisy. But her question was answered when Eric casually walked towards them, pausing the fight because the attention was already on him. “Seven versus one? That’s lame.” He mocked.

“This is not your business Anderson. Get out.” Calvin said, now standing properly, his gaze matching the blank gaze of the newcomer. Hearing that, Eric smirked. “That girl’s business is mine. I’m not here for you.” He said, his cold eyes now looking at the guy who called out to her.

“Stay away while I’m being nice.” Eric said, repeating the words he used towards Daisy. “Oh?” the leader asked, obviously belittling the person who’s standing in front of them. “Make me.”

Not wasting any second, Eric’s fist flew to his face; the pressure and impact made him fall. “Stay away while I’m being nice.” He repeated, coldly looking at the angered leader.

Standing up, the guy aimed to punch him back but was overthrown by the punch Eric gave him on his stomach, causing him to step back and press his hands on his punched stomach. “What are you waiting for?! Get him punks!” the leader ordered.

With his command, the six moved and aimed at him. The first two swung their knives, one aiming at his head while the other aimed at his arm, making him move simultaneously to avoid getting contact with the knives, then he made a comeback by punching them and getting a knife to use it as his defense.

“Don’t steal my prey.” Calvin said, taking the two from the rest who’s aiming for Eric. He kicked the one of the guy’s right leg while he twisted the arm of the other one, before stealing the bat from him.

“If you did it quick back then, Daisy won’t see those stupid crowds watching you.” Eric said while using the knife he took to put a deep cut on the guy who’s about to hit him with a wood, then cut the other guy’s stomach to stop him from punching him using the brass knuckles he’s wearing.

“You should’ve stopped her then.” Calvin said, hitting the guy who’s back was shown on him on his head. “This isn’t a good sight for a girl and you know that.” He added, kicking the guy who’s aiming to stand back up, causing him to fall again.

“It’s your fault. No one told you to pick a fight.” Eric said, then his gaze turned to the leader who’s just watching them while sitting and leaning on the wall.

“Who’s the loser now?” he asked, kneeling on one knee while his knife is a few millimeters away from the guy’s face.

“I-you’re both monsters.” The guy said, looking at them with ear and anger evident on his eyes. His gaze then went to his injured gangmates, then back at the guy who’s threatening him and the other guy who’s blankly looking at him. “This isn’t over.”

After that, he slowly started to stand up, the same with his fallen gangmates. “We’ll come back.” He threatened, limping away together with the others.

Unfazed, Eric just blankly watched then move away before lazily throwing the knife away before standing up, now looking at Calvin who’s skillfully swinging the bat. “Don’t expect me to thank you.” Calvin said, dropping the bat on the floor.

“I did not do that for you either.” Eric replied. Feeling that it’s already safe, Daisy stepped forward and blocked the crowd by spreading her arms. “The show’s over everyone! Get out here. Now.” She said, her tone authoritative and powerful.

With the crowd slowly moving away, she then looked at the two who’s now staring at her with the same blank eyes. “What?” Daisy asked.

“You shouldn’t have come here in the first place.” Eric and Calvin stated at the same time, making Daisy sigh and roll her eyes. “Seriously?” she sarcastically asked. “I didn’t know it’s you, Calvin Strauss, who’s the star of the fight. Why are they fighting you anyway?”

“None of your business.” He blankly said. “Whatever.” Daisy frowned. “And you, Eric Anderson, I didn’t tell you to follow me when I stepped out the car.” She stated, looking at the him who’s silently looking back at her.

With that, Eric just shrugged. “Just enter the car if you have the plan to hitch a ride.” He said, looking at Calvin. “Don’t ask him, Eric. It’s obvious that he’ll go to school with us.” Daisy said before rolling her eyes.

“I can manage my-”

“Shut up.” Daisy said, glaring at him before taking his arm to guide him towards the car. “I’m not blind. I saw you getting hit on your back and your cut in the lip isn’t invisible to me either.” She said, not giving him the chance to explain.

“He can walk by himself.” Eric said while following them. “That’s exactly why.” Daisy said in a duh tone, turning around to face him. “He can walk so he can go and run away when he has the chance. Got it?”

With none of them saying any oppositions, the three successfully went back to the car, enveloping them with awkward silence. “I’m not thanking any of you.” Calvin said, comfortably sitting at the backseat, his hand gently touching his lip.

“I did not do that for you.” Eric said for the nth time. “I’m not looking for gratitude either.” Daisy seconded.