❛ Sometimes we'll sigh, sometimes we'll cry and we'll know why. Just you and I know true love ways. ❜

DEAD POETS SOCIETY
chapter nineteen

AFTER EVERYTHING THAT happened with Charlie and his stupid stunt to try and get girls into Welton. The leaves had finally settled, and the members of the Dead Poets Society could go back to relative normalcy, at least for the night. This was when Knox had explained everything that happened on the night of Chet Danburry's party.

⠀⠀⠀Chris was quick to leave Knox alone (which Eliza pointed out would've been helpful if she had been there). He was mistaken for Mutt Sanders', a football player with an unfortunate name, brother. He drank a little too much and found himself on a couch, squished between kissing couples. At some point, he realized that beside him, Chris had fallen asleep. His foggy mind egged him on because, if not now, then when. So he kissed her as she slept. Then, Chet Danburry noticed and beat him up in the middle of the party, with his other jockey friends helping.

⠀⠀⠀Eliza stated she would hand his ass to him on a silver platter if he ever did something like that again. Knox gulped, nodding his head.

⠀⠀⠀Knox had then stated that he would go to Chris' school and apologize for what he had done.

⠀⠀⠀The boys were ecstatic and insisted that he do so, but Eliza was wary about the idea.

⠀⠀⠀Knox turned up to Chris' school unannounced, trying to apologize. It was sweet but also a little terrifying.

⠀⠀⠀Eliza tried to talk him out of the idea, but Knox wouldn't budge on his plans. So, Eliza insisted she tag along even if he didn't want her to. Hopefully, having another girl to back Chris up against when she inevitably grew worried and uncomfortable would help. She would even drag Knox out of the school, kicking and screaming if he overstepped his bounds again.

⠀⠀⠀So, Knox and Eliza had snuck through the kitchens, where Knox had made friends with the chef, Harry, who let him sneak out through the back. They took Knox's bike, where Eliza had to stand on the back and cling for dear life to Knox's shoulders.

⠀⠀⠀When they finally made it to Chris' school, Eliza couldn't dismiss the butterflies filling her stomach nervously while Knox dropped his bike and all but sprinted into the school. Eliza rushed after him, losing him in the crowd of students, but soon found him frantically talking to a girl who looked similar to Chris.

⠀⠀⠀Eliza caught up to Knox as he turned a corner and found Chris at her locker, her mouth agape at the sight of Knox barreling towards her.

⠀⠀⠀"Is this a good idea?" Eliza asked, trying to hold him back, but he pulled himself out of her grip and made his way through the swarm of teenagers.

⠀⠀⠀"Excuse me," he mumbled to the girl standing between him and Chris. She nodded, closed her locker, and made her way to her class. "Chris."

⠀⠀⠀"Knox," Chris sighed, turning to Knox swiftly with a frown etched on her features and her eyes drifting down the hall to see if she could find Chet. "What are you doing here?"

⠀⠀⠀"I came to apologize for the other night," Knox assured her, following along as Chris pulled him out of the hall and prying eyes. "I brought you these and a poem I wrote for you."

⠀⠀⠀"Knox!" Chris exclaimed. "Don't you know if Chet finds you here, he'll kill you?" she asked, her eyes straying to the girl standing awkwardly at Knox's side. "Can we help you?" she asked softly, trying not to be rude to her but feeling exasperated by the boy in front of her.

⠀⠀⠀"Uh, no, sorry," Eliza said, holding her hand out to Chris. "I'm Eliza Keating, Knox's friend," she explained as Chris took her hand, the two shaking hands awkwardly, before pulling back quickly. "Knox was insistent on coming to apologize, and I wanted to make sure you didn't feel pressured or like he's a psycho out to get you. I promise he's not. He's just an idiot. But the second you want him gone," she stated, whistling as she pointed out the door where she'd drag Knox out.

⠀⠀⠀"And I don't care about Chet!" Knox shouted quickly. "I love you, Chris!"

⠀⠀⠀"Oh, God," Eliza muttered, running a hand over her face.

⠀⠀⠀"Knox, you're crazy," Chris laughed patronizingly.

⠀⠀⠀"Look, I acted like a jerk, and I know it. Please, accept these. Please," Knox pushed, holding the wildflowers he picked to Chris.

⠀⠀⠀"No. No, I... I can't. Forget it," Chris muttered, walking out of the alcove she had pulled Knox into and scurried into her classroom, closing the door behind her.

⠀⠀⠀Knox turned as she walked away, watching as she entered before following him.

⠀⠀⠀"What the hell are you doing?" Eliza asked, catching Knox by the back of his coat before he could make a fool of himself.

⠀⠀⠀"I'm going to finish what I started!" Knox shouted at Eliza, turning to her and taking her by the shoulders. "Liza, I love you as a sister, but I need to do this. First, she needs to hear my poem, and then..." he sighed, relaxing his shoulders. "It's over."

⠀⠀⠀"Over?"

⠀⠀⠀"If she doesn't want me or accept my apology, then... okay. I'll have to move on," Knox assured her, a new fire coming into his eyes as he clenched his fist. "But I'm not giving up just yet!"

⠀⠀⠀"Fine, Discipline, but then it's over, and I'm holding you to it!" Eliza stated, raising a finger at him. "And if it works out," she continued, smiling sweetly. "We should go on a double date!"

⠀⠀⠀Knox laughed, patting her shoulders before turning to Chris' classroom and opening the door.

⠀⠀⠀"Knox," Chris sighed, hiding her face behind her hands. "I don't believe this."

⠀⠀⠀"All I'm asking you to do is listen," Knox assured her, setting the flowers on her desk and unfolding the paper in his hand. Eliza stood at the door, allowing him space but assuring Chris that if anything went too downhill, she'd be dragging him out just as she said.

⠀⠀⠀"The heavens made a girl named Chris," Knox began, as nervous as he was when he first read it in class. He looked up as the room turned quiet to listen. "With hair and skin of gold. To touch her would be paradise."

⠀⠀⠀Chris grew red, holding her head in her hands out of embarrassment as he continued to read the poem.

THE SCHOOL BELL rang, and Knox dragged Eliza along behind him. On the stairwell, they found their friends collecting their books for their afternoon classes. Charlie turned to see Knox and Eliza running up to them, a smile growing on his face as Eliza flung herself towards him and held on for dear life.

⠀⠀⠀"Don't ever let me do anything with him ever again," Eliza told Charlie, holding her stomach, feeling nauseous from embarrassment.

⠀⠀⠀"That bad?" Charlie chuckled. "How'd it go? Did you read it to her?" he asked, turning to Knox now.

⠀⠀⠀"Yeah," Knox shrugged like it was no big deal, Eliza rolling her eyes at his antics.

⠀⠀⠀"What'd she say?" Pitts asked, just as eager as Charlie to know how it was going.

⠀⠀⠀"Nothing," Knox shrugged again.

⠀⠀⠀"Nothing! What do you mean, nothing?" Charlie spat, turning to Eliza in the same breath, asking, "What does he mean, nothing?"

⠀⠀⠀"Nothing," Knox shrugged one last time, turning on his heel and shoving his hands into his pockets. "But I did it," he stated, walking down the hall cooly as the boys chased after him.

⠀⠀⠀"What did she say?" Charlie shouted after him, abandoning Eliza's side. "I know she had to say something!"

⠀⠀⠀"Come here, Knox!" Pitts exclaimed, following along with the other boys.

⠀⠀⠀"Seize the day!" Knox cheered, not giving into them.

AUTHOR'S NOTE —

Alright, alright, alright. So here we are with a little bit of Eliza and Knox filler. There hasn't been a lot of space for Eliza and Knox to be the best friends that they are in recent chapters so I felt that having Eliza go with him to Chris would be a good idea. Plus, it places just what Eliza and Knox are to each other so that Chris doesn't feel threatened.

Next up is Charlie having a fun dinner with Keating. You know, like when the boyfriend meets the parents. Yeah, it's gonna be fucking wild.

SONG: True Love Ways by Buddy Holly

Thank you for reading! Leave comments telling me your thoughts on this chapter, but however you interact, know that I really appreciate you reading. I hope you enjoy, and until the next one.