Tenderness is a Dangerous Thing

Zack Riley was a boy who knew tragedy very well. He lost his mother when he was nine years old and his father worked long hours, mostly to avoid the loss of his wife. To pass the time, Zack would spend a lot of time on the playground near his house, taking out his childhood resentment by fighting with the other kids. Anna Reece on the other hand came from a big, full family, with two sisters, a brother and loving parents. She was the sweet innocent type, who lived a few doors down from Zack. She was always trying to be nice to him or invite him over, but he was a stubborn little boy, who mistook her sweetness for weakness. One day while fighting, Zack was losing badly against two boys twice his size. Anna stepped in trying to help Zack, the boys left Zack alone, but Zack’s reaction was far more negative than expected. He started mocking Anna and calling her a brat, although in reality he had fallen in love with her and her kindness. Being the stupid foolish boy he was, bullying her was his way of trying to get close to her and this continued for ten years. Zack grew into a delinquent, bullying everyone, constantly fighting, smoking and receiving bad marks. While Anna became more popular, had high grades and helped others study for tests and exams.

At the age of eighteen, Anna was a slim, well-toned young lady, with long brown hair and brown eyes. Many in school referred to her as an angel. She was always sweet and polite. Zack, on the other hand, was big, muscular and clumsy. He bleached his hair over the summer and got an ear-piercing, making him look like a typical high school delinquent. Despite Zack bullying Anna, he always held back a little, afraid of truly offending her. Anna tried to act strong and brave, trying to make it seem like his words didn't affect her as much as they did. Sometimes she would cry herself to sleep at night, wondering why he disliked her so much, when she foolishly didn't dislike him.

One day, Anna met a transfer student, Mark, and they became friends. Although there was nothing by warm looks between them, rumours managed to spread fast that Anna and Mark were dating. When Zack heard the news, he panicked because it felt like something important was being taken away from him and this resurfaced memories of his mother’s death. Rain poured outside when Zack left school. He was wearing a grey hoodie and black jeans. He walked briskly towards Anna’s house, not entirely sure what he was going to say, but knowing he had to see her. By the time he spotted Anna, his clothes were soaked. Anna was under a black umbrella, wearing a dark red skirt and a grey jersey. Zack quickly caught up with her and pinned her against the fence. Her umbrella slipped out of her hands, and she looked at him, shocked. “Is it true? You found yourself a boyfriend?” Zack asked breathless. For a moment, Anna just looked up at him with her wide eyes and then the stuttered, “What? No... I mean...” Zack's grip on her shoulders tightened, and his fingers dug into her flesh through her grey jersey. His green eyes were dark and stormy, boring into Anna’s brown eyes, as if trying to read the truth directly from her soul. The rain pelted down around them both and plastered his hair onto his forehead. “No, or yes?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous. “Don’t lie to me, brat. I heard the rumours at school. You and mark, huh? Walking home together, smiling at each other like a pair of love birds.” Zack leaned in closer, his breath hot against Anna’s cheek. “So, tell me, is it true? Have you let him touch you? Kiss you? Did he put his hands on what’s mine?” His words were laced with possessiveness that sent a shiver down Anna’s spine. He seemed almost feral in his anger.

Anna felt her heart beating louder in her chest. A dampness formed between her legs, and she was breathing louder. “Uh, no... No, Mark and I... we’re just friends. He... He likes talking about anime,” Anna said nervously. Zack’s eyes narrowed, his gaze flicking over her face as if searching for any sign of deception. He didn't release his grip on her shoulders, keeping her pinned against the cold, wet fence. The rain continued to pour down, dripping from the ends of his hair onto her face. “Just friends?” he scoffed, a humourless laugh escaping his lips. “That is what you call it? Walking home together, giggling like idiots? You think I’m stupid?” He leaned in even closer, until his lips were almost brushed against hers. “And anime? Really? So, he talks about cartoons, and you just sit there and listen? Or maybe you like it when he gets excited and waves his hands around?” His voice dipped with sarcasm and bitter jealousy. His thumb traced the line of her jaw, a surprisingly gentle touch that contrasted with the intensity in his eyes.

Anna’s breath hitches when his thumb touched her skin. She shifts slightly against the fence, keenly aware of how trapped she was. “I like anime too. Really nerdy, huh?” she says awkwardly. Her muscles instinctively tightened, waiting for him to make fun of her or say something cruel as always. Zack’s thumb paused on her jaw, his expression unreadable for a moment. The sarcastic sneer on his lips falter, replaced by a flicker of something else — surprise, maybe even a hint of interest. “Oh, so you’re a nerd too now?” he says, his voice losing some of its aggressive edge. “Is that what you and Mark bond over? Talking about stupid anime characters and their stupid powers?” He leaned back slightly but didn’t release her. His eyes roamed over her face, taking in her features as if seeing them for the first time. “What else do you like about it? The big eyes? The ridiculous outfits? Or maybe you just like having someone to fan a girl with?” His tone was still mocking, but there was a genuine curiosity beneath it now. He seemed to be trying to understand this unseen interest Anna has.

Anna didn’t want to explain the appeal of anime to Zack. She didn't want to explain how she found the muscular villains attractive. Or how anime had a tendency of promoting romance between bad boys and seemingly innocent girls. That delinquents like him were the appeal... “What does it matter? Let me go already.” Zack's grip on her shoulders tightened once more, his fingers digging into her skin through her grey jersey. He ignored her demand to be let go and focused solely on the conversation. “What does it matter?” he repeats, his voice low and intense. “It matters because I’m trying to figure out what you see in that loser. Does he know more about anime than me? Is that it?” he leaned in again, his forehead almost touching Anna’s. The rain continued to fall around them both, creating a private, isolated world against the fence. “I bet he doesn’t even know how to fight. Probably cry when he gets a paper cut,” Zack sneered.