“But what if I were to tell you it wasn’t?” I pause long enough for his gaze to find its way back to mine. “What if this whole thing wasn’t out of your league at all?”
He grunts, mumbles something completely indecipherable under his breath, then shakes his head and says, “You’re joking, right?”
I hold my ground, hold the serious expression on my face. “Trust me, it’s no joke. In fact—”
But before I can finish, before I can even get to the point, he cuts me right off, having already drawn his own conclusion as to what this is about and eager to stop me before I can go any further. “Listen, Ever—” He sighs, kicking his foot out before him as he buries his hands deep into the front pockets of his jeans. “While I appreciate your concern for my safety, I want to make it clear that I have absolutely no intention of drinking the elixir and becoming immortal like you.”
My eyes go wide as I fight to keep my jaw from dropping to my knees. I can’t believe he actually thought I was offering such a thing.
“I mean, I know I’ve said it before, and I don’t mean to get all judgmental on you or anything, but that kind of unnaturally long lifespan…well, I have no interest in that sort of thing.”
That makes two in as many days, I think, unable to keep myself from gaping.
“After going to Summerland, and after seeing Lina, well, I think you’d have to be pretty crazy to want to stay here. To choose an extra-long, extended stay in such an imperfect, hate-filled world when there’s something so much better waiting ’round the bend—so to speak.”
And even though his words hit me, hit me as hard as Miles’s did, I don’t cry. I’m done with all that. For better or worse, I am what I am and there’s no going back. Though that doesn’t mean I have any intention of convincing all the others to join me.
“Surely it’s not that bad—is it?” I say, hoping to lighten the tone.
But he just lifts his shoulders, voice completely serious when he says, “No, I suppose you’re right. It’s not all hatred and hardship out there. Every now and then, if you’re lucky, you can stumble upon the occasional pocket of happiness.”
“Wow, that’s a little dark, don’t you think?” I force a laugh, though hi
s words have left me more shaken than I care to admit.
But he just shrugs and squints, his eyes narrowing to where I can just barely see them. “Anyway, not trying to insult you, it’s just not my thing, that’s all. I have no interest in it.”
I shrug too, ready to move on, out of this parking lot, and onto the real reason we’re here.
“So…” He looks at me. “Is that it? Are we good here?”
“Sure, we’re good. But we’re a long ways from done.” I motion for him to follow as I make for the gate. Taking a moment to close my eyes, and see the lock springing open in my mind, before calling over my shoulder to say, “Trust me, we haven’t even begun yet.”
I push the gate open, assuming he’ll follow, and surprised when I glance back only to find him still standing on its other side.
“Ever, what’s this really about? Why’d you want to meet here of all places? I thought you were through with school?”
I shake my head, taking a moment to gaze at a group of buildings I’ve managed to ditch all week and didn’t miss even the slightest bit. “Turns out I’m not. Besides, this is the only place I could think of that would offer us the space and privacy we’re gonna need.”
His spliced brow jumps, clearly intrigued.
But I just roll my eyes and head for the gym, knowing he’s right behind me this time.
“That door locked too?” His gaze moves over my arms, my legs, the back of my neck, pretty much anyplace where my skin is bared.
I nod, concentrating on the door, hearing the bolt slam back into place before I open it and say, “You first.”
He heads inside, his rubber flip-flops squeaking against the polished wood floor as he makes his way to the middle of the room, where he stops, lifts his arms to his sides, throws his head back, inhales deeply, and says, “Yep, it’s definitely got that universal high school gym stench I remember so well.”
I smile, but only a little, before I’m back to business again.
I didn’t come here to joke around or engage in useless small talk. I came here to save him. Or, more correctly, to teach him everything he needs to know so that he can save himself in case I’m not around to do it for him.
Because no matter how angry I may be with him, no matter how many doubts I may have about him, I still feel it’s my duty to guard him from Haven.
“So, I figured we should just get right to it, no use wasting any more time than we already have.”
He looks at me, face wearing the slightest sheen of sweat. Though it’s unclear if it’s due to the stuffy, hot air or the apprehension of wondering just what it is that he’s gotten himself into, what might be expected of him.