So I lied.
Thoughts poured from my fingers.
They needed to come out.
Touches
Walter sat looking at his tablet scanning through the word document he had been using to keep track of this recent experiment. It was a recent development that he started journaling whenever he noticed a change in the group, or a difference in a close friend. Walter picked up the habit when he was a misguided teen that had needed a release and a place to put vent his feelings and thoughts. One of his many therapists had introduced him to art of keeping a journal. At first, he was skeptical at the idea of writing down his thoughts and ideas, but after a few weeks he found the therapy in the art form. So, nearly a decade later, he had incorporated his form of therapy into his experiments. He could keep track of his ideas, and the thoughts about the different outcomes of trials and tests. Walter also kept a daily journal, just a little book to jot down different things that happened throughout the day. He did this to keep track of his days. During the beginning of the Scorpions teams when Collins had been in the thick of it with Walter, he lost track of his day. He spiraled out of control, so he made an effort to scribble a few sentences about each day.
Sometimes he would peruse his notebook to view there were any trends happening among him or his friends. It usually was his friends. He may not have noticed it on the daily activities but his subconscious knew to jot it down. It was how he picked up on Sylvester's relapse with night terrors, Toby going back to his first wife or how he was able to track the monthly reactions of the female team members. Happy got angry, and Paige became more than normal. She became more tactile and more likely to be baited by Toby's one liners. Ralph also had a habit of avoiding his mother during these moments. It was one of these times when he was reviewing his daily notes he noticed a pattern concerning the Personal Liaison, or the official title of Paige on the Scorpion team. She had been on the team for nearly six months, and he noticed a little trend as he went over his journal entries. He noticed that his subconscious was reacting to the little thing, or he would not have focused so much. It began about two weeks after she started with the team.
October 13,
Ate two pieces of toast today. One had grape jelly, the other had strawberry. Happy broke an Allen wrench when she threw it at Toby's head. Sylvester bought the third season of a television show about geniuses. I do not find the humor. Paige chuckled at the comparison between me and some one named Sheldon. She touched my hand when she apologized.
He remembered the day, they had spent a good two hours watching the inane television show. He had been forced to sit through and episode sitting next to Paige and the arm of the sofa. Sylvester sat on the other side, and had an issue at sitting close the arm, so he was taking up half of the sofa, forcing Paige close to his side. Walter had to sit rigidly as Toby pointed out the similarities between Sheldon, the overbearing know-it-all of the group and Walter. Walter tried to chuckle but when he felt Paige silently laugh at the joke, he began to stew. Two episodes later, he only got more peeved because Happy had joined the group and she mentioned the same thing. She described it a bit more tastefully, but Paige did not contain her laughter.
After the third episode, he gently displaced Paige from his side so he could squeeze from the spot on the couch. He avoided her searching eyes as he retreated from the living room and climbed the stairs to the apartment. It was forty minutes later when he went into the kitchen to get a bottle of water and he found Paige waiting for him at the counter.
"Are you okay?" She asked looking him in the eyes. Her eyes had a way of cutting him to the quick. He shrugged and moved to the refrigerator to get a bottle. He pulled the tap off and took a swig.
Walter knew she wanted an explanation at his retreat, she had such an emotional intelligence that it pushed Walter from his comfort zone. "I just don't appreciate the comparison." He said looking at the floor. He knew if he looked into her eyes and if he saw the laughter shining at him, he was going to lose it.
"Between you and Sheldon?" She asked stepping around the island counter and stood in front of the usually stoic genius. "You do realize that Toby was just making a joke." Walter sighed, and tried to deflect her eyes be distracting himself with another drink of his water bottle. She took his other hand, brushing her thumb across his knuckles. "I am truly sorry for laughing. Will you forgive me, Walter?"
October 20th
Ralph came to work today, since school was canceled for parent-teacher conferences. Paige was gone for most of the morning. Ate two ego waffles with butter and syrup. Toby had one with peanut butter and bananas. Happy took Ralph to look at scooters. Sylvester ran into wall because of prank that Ralph and Toby played. Paige came to work upset. Sent Ralph to comic book store with Happy and Sylvester. Hugged Paige.
Paige had tried to enter the garage quietly, trying not to call attention to her state of distress. Walter found the quality endearing, and how could she possibly think she could blend in to the muted surroundings of the brick walls. Muting her beauty would be like using a blow horn to tell a secret. He noticed her distracted state because Ralph also noticed his mother and called out to her mother from landing above, he was testing a theory of central velocity. Paige had only managed to force a smile, wave at her boy before excusing herself to the bathroom. Walter called to Happy.
"Happy, do you think you could take Ralph and Sylvester to the comic book store?" Walter asked trying not to call attention to needing the garage cleared out. Toby had run out to pick up some food for dinner, and he was going to be gone for at least another hour or so. Happy gave him an exasperated look. "I think Paige needs some time to herself."
"Fine, but Walter you owe me. My job title is not professional babysitter." Happy muttered and called out to the boys about going to the comic store. Her comment was about Sylvester, not Ralph. The grown up jump up from his desk doing a wild break dance. Ralph came swiftly down the stairs as Sylvester knocked over a glass full of water. There was a squeak of sorry, and Walter waved the group out of the building. After tossing a bit of paper towel on the puddle, he went to seek out Paige. He stood on the opposite side of the bathroom door. He could hear the obvious sign of a girl crying. She was sniffing.
He knocked softly on the door. "Paige, it's me, Walter." He started inanely. He heard the sink faucet turn on. He figured she was splashing water on her face. "Would you like to come out here and talk to me?"
He was met with silence.
"I am fine." Paige mumbled and he now understood how she felt when he always said he was fine to her questions of his well being. "I just need time to understand everything." He knocked again, and repeated the action with calling her name. Walter was channeling his inner Sheldon. This caused her laugh and open the door. With tears shinning in her eyes, Walter felt beguiled by her beauty.
"Did something go wrong at the conference?" Walter asked as they made their way back to the main living room of the garage. He was holding her hand, but let go once he deposited her to one of the stools at the island. He then moved to the stove and set the kettle on to boil. Walter noticed that in moments of distress for Paige, she preferred tea to any other beverage. Paige also preferred his favorite blend, and English breakfast blend.
"They want to put Ralph in the special education class." Paige whispered while she watched Walter move about the kitchen as he prepared the tea. He stopped at the admission, but paused for only a second, and then pushed forward to pour the now boiling water into the two mugs.
"For any particular reason?" Walter asked while placing the mug before Paige and stood opposite at the island. He knew the reason why, it was always the same reason. Ralph's high intelligence quotient was off the chart, that often he became bored with the days lesson. So to other, it seemed as if he did not understand the simplest of teaching. He high IQ was also opposite of his low emotional intelligence which made it hard for him to relate to kids his own age.
In layman's term, he did not conform to the pigeon hole cut-out that the public school system was shoving him in to fit. Paige had launched into the description of the teacher stating at how challenging it was to keep Ralph's attention. That his lack of engagement was difficult for him to thrive in the educational atmosphere. The teacher also felt it would be beneficial to place Ralph into the special education program at the school. They had waved off her explanation of Ralph being gifted mentally, stating that he had barely passing grades. The grades he was failing were nonsensical like social studies and English. He scored off the charts for classes that involved math, which made sense since he was mathematically gifted.
"I feel like I am being forced to put a label on Ralph that does not apply." Paige sighed and another lone tear threatened to fall down her face. He moved to her side, successfully trapping her hand beneath his hand. He brushed his thumb across her knuckles offering some semblance of support. He gave her hand a little squeeze. "I don't know what to do, Walter."
"You keep doing what you are doing. I see the way you are with, Ralph. He is unconditionally loved by you and he is thriving." Walter tried to comfort Paige. "the school system is flawed, where Ralph is concerned. The idea of no child left behind is ridiculous. He is probably smarter then all of the teachers combined. They just don't understand his capabilities. It was the same way when I was in grade school."
He sat back on the stool letting go of Paige's hand and focused on blocking out the memory of the many time a wood ruler was slapped across his fingers. He shuddered at the sound of a wooden ruler hitting flesh, and he still used metal rulers to this day. While he was falling through the memory cloud, he felt Paige wrap her thin arms around his waist. He was pulled from his sixth grade class by the feeling of Paige pressing up against his body.
"Thank you so much, Walter." She whispered into his ear.
November 1st
Blood sugar level is elevated due to Halloween party with Ralph and team. Had lunch with Happy at new diner to discuss Collins. Discussed Happy to Toby during couch time. The temperature was elevated twenty degrees compared to previous years. Team had water fight. Paige found my ticklish spot.
Happy stood in front of the oscillating fan swaying as the blades turned from side to side. The temperature in the garage was near boiling. The air conditioning had been turned on and running for days. But there had been rolling energy surges causing the electricity to falter. The government had issued out a warning to the population to use the energy sparingly because of the need for emergency services. Happy hated the heat, especially in the winter months. Now it was halfway through the day, the heat was unbearable. She wad already disposed as much clothing as she was able to keep in line with decency clause in the teams vision and values contract. A ridiculous rule to placate the prudish tendencies for Sylvester. The briefest of skin caused him to flush. Toby had waggled his eyebrows in her direction when she first started unbuttoning her plaid blouse. Within an hour, it was completely open, and half an hour later she had shrugged it off completely.
Sylvester had been out in the common area but he was stopped in his tracks by her angry stare as well as Toby yelling at him to go hide in his office. Happy smirked at the human calculator as he retreated into the depths of the office, slamming the door as he went. Walter stared down from his perch on the loft, but he kept his thoughts to himself because at that moment Paige came into the garage after picking Ralph up from school. She had forgone the previous outfit for a loosely fitted spaghetti strap top, and a dark pair of jeans that were Capri length. Seeing so much skin was distracting. She was also wearing a pair of peep toe heals, and Walter had to remember to swallow the gulp of water in his mouth.
"Walter!" Ralph called out to the team leader. He was toting a water gun, it was pump action that looked like it could carry a two gallons of water. "Mom said we could have a water fight!" The boy ran up half of the stairs meeting Walter halfway, and the genius could only smile at his enthusiasm. Walter put his hand on Ralph's head; patting his head and catching his eyes with Paige.
"Did she now?" Walter winked at Paige's exasperated face. "This is quite the artillery you have. Can I see it?" Ralph handed the super soaker to his idle, and Walter held it up, gave it a pump and then brought the site scope to his eyes, glancing down the barrel and aiming directly at Paige. She had been distracted by filtering through the mail on her desk. Ralph shouted to his mother, and she turned just as Walter pulled the trigger. He had figured there was some kind of safety mechanism and that one pump would not be enough to have a trajectory of nearly seventy feet. But the water blasted from the water gun, arched perfectly and landed exactly on Paige chest. Her face ran through so many emotions that Walter did not have the ability to clearly identify each feeling.
He rushed down the stairs to the soaking office manager. Apologies falling from his mouth, Paige was still shaking from the adrenaline and shock. He was within seven feet when she held up a hand to stay his approach. Paige turned facing her desk.
"Ralph." Paige called, "Sylvester, Cabe are you guys ready?"
The three men took aim and lambasted the Scorpion leader. Cabe Gallo busted through the door, taking aim with his water rifle. Sylvester came out of his office with a pair of water pistols and taking aim at Walter. Ralph was taking aim from the stairs, and the streams of water all hit their target. Walter yelled in surprise and Paige turned with a bunch of water balloons in her hands. She tossed the grenade of water and it burst in his face.
Toby yelled to Walter, "Grab her purse." Walter ducked as yet another bomb of water came his way, Walter charged forward, and tried to grab her tote, that was holding the arsenal but she had already was a step ahead and twisted from his reach. Walter tried to reach around her body, but he was met with another blast was water coming from Ralph on the stairs.
Walter ran from the foray, reaching safe ground so Toby and Happy could regroup in the garage's loading bay. Toby handed Walter a fully loaded rife, which Walter strapped around his body. He took a two pistols and also stuffed him in his belt buckle. Happy had outfitted herself with two rifles, and what looked like a bazooka. Toby was busy hooking up what looked like a hose.
"Okay, here is the plan team." Walter stated bringing the two into a huddle. "Toby, you hang back using the hose effectively covering Happy and myself. I am banking that Cabe and Sylvester are hanging in the foreground. Sylvester hiding by the desk, and Cabe is most likely in the kitchen. Happy you go that way, and I will take up the second floor. Ralph is probably somewhere hidden in a bird's eye view. He is small and the perfect place for a sniper would be at the landing to the left. Paige is upstairs. I heard her try to sneak up."
The team split, and it was an all out battle, Toby blasting the in the direction of Cabe and Sylvester. He was only effective in blasting Sylvester, but he had provided enough for Happy to sneak past the calculator and start her rampage at Agent Gallo. It was like a scene from Kill Bill. Just less blood, guts and knives, and more water. Walter had taken the opportunity to sprint up the stairs, stopping only to take aim at the sniper that was Ralph. His laughter rang throughout the garage and Walter smiled but continued on his warpath in the direction of Ralph's mom.
"Paige." Walter called out hoping to discern her whereabouts in the upper apartment rooms. The second floor of the garage consisted of the Walter and Sylvester's apartment. The pair co-habitated in the two bedroom loft for the past four years. The living room of the apartment opened up the garage below, and the team used that area as a common decompression space. He heard footsteps against the wood floor and Walter turned towards his bedroom. He opened the door quietly, there was yelling and screams below, but Walter was focused on his target. He stepped into the room, sweeping his eyesight about the room, and he noticed that the window was open. The fire escape was a separate way to the roof. He turned about face, and went to the door back to the main public access to the roof. He rushed up the stairs trying to stifle his footsteps up the stairs. Walter made it two feet before he felt the contact of thin rubber burst open against his back.
"I swear." Walter bellowed and turned the gun directly at Paige who was standing on the pony wall. Walter took aim and let out an ammo of water straight at the balloon launcher. Her peels of laughter echoed against the cement surrounding. He whisked about and found the actual perpetrator. She was standing with her hands up and empty.
"I give up." Paige cried holding her hands to the genius. Walter did not take pity and began spraying her with the different guns. She rushed forward, sopping with her clothes hanging to body. She managed to get toe Walter and reached towards him to take a pistol from his belt. He tried to dodge her hand but she ended up poking his side.
Walter danced away, but the jerk did not go unnoticed by the office manager. So after the afternoon of water war finished, Team Ralph winning, and the heat finally broke, the team had settled into a meal of take-out Thai. Ralph's pick since his team won the battle, that the team dispersed to different areas of the garage. Sylvester, Ralph and Toby had settle themselves in front of the giant television screen. They were playing another game of war, but in the virtual world of Call of Duty. Happy had gone to the loading bay with Cabe. The special agent had mentioned his love of restoring cars, and the pair had been working on severe restoration project. A 1962 mustang. It was a brilliant find in a junk yard. The slamming of metal could be heard about the garage.
Walter and Paige were seated in his office. She had sacked out next to him on his leather love seat, she was pretending to work, but Paige was solving one of the daily Sudoku puzzles. She was stumped on a square. "Would you like help?" Walter offered as he continued to tap away at his tablet. He fully knew what she was spending her time. Also she let out a puff of air in frustration when she became stuck on a row. "I could probably solve it in one minute."
Paige rolled her eyes, and tossed the phone to the coffee table She wanted to test a theory. "No one appreciates a know-it-all, Walter."
He snorted, "I highly doubt that. What would you rather want a know-it-all or a know nothing?" She rolled her eyes a second time and she moved closer to his side to see what he was working on. It looked to be schematics or blue prints of a building. He was ignoring her presence, so she reached out with her index finger and poked his side. Walter nearly jumped at the contact. His tablet fell to his lap, and Paige launched into another attack. He started laughing, and contorting into different positions to keep the attack of her fingers, he then tried to strike back, but Paige seemed to be immune to being tickled. It was forty seconds later.
"Stop, stop," Walter called out between laughs. "Please stop."
Paige moved closer as Walter slouched in his seat trying to scoot from her grasp and trying to get to the floor. "Say uncle, and that I am the best in this business."
"I cannot say...that." He said trying to avoid the onslaught. "Fine, fine." He gave in. The office manager stilled her fingers that were resting on the side of Walter. He took notice of how Paige was straddling his legs. His hands were resting on her waist as if holding her in place. His thumb brushed up and down. Making eye contact, a flush danced across her face.
"Well?" Paige demanded, moving the hair away from her face and peering down into her eyes. "I am waiting."
"Patience is not your strong suit." Walter laughed, "Fine. You are the best part of this team." She giggled, stood from his lap and went back to her phone. It was his turn to roll his eyes when Paige opened her mouth.
"Thought so."
*********************************8888888888888888888888888*********************8
I thought I was complete with Scorpion. I liked this idea of writing different smaller stories for each journal entry. Think of it, condensed one shots, but a few per chapter.
Thank you to everyone that reviewed on Walter Was Wrong. You all were amazing and inspired to keep writing.
Ema.
