“Yeah, we might not know what’s going on,” began Damien. “But it’s obvious that it’s some weird shit. Unless it’s something we need to know that you’re not telling us, then only then is it a problem for me. But I trust that you’d tell us if we did need to know.” Again, the others nodded.
I smiled at them. “Thanks for getting it.”
“So, I’m guessing Magda’s nothing but ashes now. Which one of you killed the bitch?” asked Max. When neither Jared nor I responded, he narrowed his eyes. “She’s still alive? Tell me that you guys have at least sent her packing.”
When he again received no response, each of the squad either cursed, sighed, or groaned in annoyance. Well of course they did: they all had big hard-ons for Magda − and not good ones.
“In a couple of evenings, she’ll be gone,” I stated. “I’m pretty sure she won’t bother me in the meantime. Not after what happened last night.”
Unfortunately, my words didn’t seem to have placated them. In fact, Max looked about to have an outburst. The sudden ringing of my mobile phone distracted everyone. Not in the mood to hear any of the squad rant and support Jared’s argument that she should leave, I took advantage of the distraction and quickly scarpered to the bedroom to answer my phone.
(Jared)
I sighed at Sam’s retreating back. She’d known that we would all gang up on her, attempt to pressure her into changing her mind. Luckily for her, she’d been saved by the bell − or cell, as the situation might be.
“Why are you keeping Magda around?” demanded Max in an abrasive whisper. “Please don’t tell me you still have feelings for her or something. Coach doesn’t deserve—”
I held up a hand, barely refraining from balling said hand into a fist and smashing it into the guy’s jaw. “Whoa there, Slaphead. The only thing I feel for Magda is pure and utter contempt, so get your facts straight before saying shit like that.”
“You’re saying it’s Coach who wants her to stay?” asked David. “Why?”
Realisation appeared to dawn on Chico, and he sighed tiredly. “Coach is as ruthless as they come, isn’t she?” The others all seemed to understand too…bar one.
“I don’t get it,” said Harvey. No surprise there. He was great at forming strategies, but common sense seemed to be something he lacked.
“I want her gone,” I explained, “but Sam’s determined that she stays. She wants Magda to be in close proximity when she feels the blood-link break so that she can’t escape the physical pain of it. I’ve tried talking her out of it, but Sam thinks of this as the worst possible revenge.”
“I hate to say it, but she’s right,” said Salem. I nodded, sighing.
“We’ll get going,” announced Chico. “See you later.” Giving me respectful nods, the squad then left the kitchen, heading for the front door.
Max, however, lingered. “You swear that you don’t still have feelings for Magda? That you’re not going to betray Coach like that?”
I snorted. “I’m not even going to credit that f**ked-up question with an answer. And what does any of this have to do with you anyway? Still have some delusion that you and Sam will get together?” If he did, I’d have to rid him of that very quickly.
“No.” The tension left his body, and he exhaled heavily. His tone was no longer confrontational when he spoke. “Look, I cared about her. Still do a little; I admit that. But I don’t care about her the way you do. To you, she’s all there is. For me, it was never that intense. If you want the truth, when you two got together I was more upset with myself than the situation.”
That surprised me. And confused me, actually. “With yourself?”
“Like you, I have a guard up. Don’t deny that you have it. I can see it in another person. Coach is a great girl, but I hadn’t been able to lower that guard for her. I’d wanted to, but I couldn’t. Maybe, in time, that would have happened, but maybe it wouldn’t have. And I can’t help thinking that if I can’t lower my guard for someone as great as her, then I’m never going to lower it for anyone, am I?”
Huh. I sure wouldn’t have guessed that that had been his issue. Odd how we could be similar in having a guard up like that, and yet we were still so different − unlike him, I didn’t resent the protective walls I had. Figuring honesty deserved honesty, I told him, “I’d never wanted to let my guard down, never wanted to let other people in. So maybe if letting someone in could still happen for me, it’s even more likely that it can happen for you. I know I’d never have done it for anyone other than Sam, though.”
He seemed to consider that for a moment. “So what you’re saying is that it’s a matter of finding the right person?”
I shrugged, thinking it was kind of strange to be giving advice to a guy that I’d happily strangle. “Maybe.”
“Like fate?”
“I’m not sure if I really believe in that, but, yeah, I guess − taking into account the large population − there’s a probability that each person’s going to have someone who’s well suited to them. Just because you’re a prick doesn’t mean there isn’t someone out there who won’t find that a problem,” I added, smiling.
He laughed. “You’re a prick, too, you know.”
“I know. But I wouldn’t hurt Sam. You don’t need to protect her from me, and you should note that it pisses me off when you try.”
“I’m not protective of her because I want her. She’s someone I look up to, who I admire, who’s given me a lot of the strengths that I have. I treated her badly at the beginning, and then again when she got together with you. I feel like I owe her for all of that, for who I am now, but it’s hard to give something back to someone who’s ten times more powerful than you.”
Yeah, I got that. “The thing is…if you tried to repay her for anything, she’d tell you that she doesn’t give to receive and then she’d bitch-slap you. Believe me, I know.”
He chuckled. “You’re probably right.” He went to leave but then turned back. “Whether you believe me or not, I am happy for you guys.”
“Good. It means I don’t have to slit your throat.”
Rolling his eyes, he waved and left.