“As soon as this is over, I’m going to find my own goofy grin,” he grumbles, but the smile in his eyes betrays his Grinch-stole-Christmas tone. “Did I miss it?”
“Just getting started,” I tell him, motioning to the wall of the school.
The lies we tell influences them. The present is pregnant with the future.
The message is getting a lot of pale faces as it finishes appearing like magic.
“Logan is leaving town, and the sun isn’t too far from setting. I’m going to Diana’s.”
As I stand, Jake tosses up my knife, and I catch it by the handle as he takes my seat in front of the monitors.
“Stick to the sidewalks. The boots won’t lie,” he says, eyeing my girly combat boots that are fully equipped with blood red shoestrings.
Walking around with my weighted bags and my men’s boots might be a little suspicious.
The cold has washed in, which is perfect. It makes wearing a hoodie less conspicuous. I nearly froze to death in my dress.
But I wanted to return home in style—wearing the color red.
“Lay out pillows in case she faints,” he says as I walk out, and I smirk while taking the brisk walk, maneuvering the shortcuts through the buildings. The town is built like a circular maze, the roads getting wider as they circle the city. Town hall is directly in the center.
From the sky, it’s amazingly beautiful.
It’s only ugly when you’re in the middle of it and can see the truth.
I walk around back to keep anyone from seeing me at the front, and I knock twice, checking over my shoulder to make sure no one is watching.
When Diana opens the door, my heart unexpectedly sputters. I thought I’d steeled myself against any emotion I might feel when I came here.
I blame Logan. He’s tearing away the ice I put in place.
“Can I help you, hun?” she asks sweetly.
I push the hood back. “You could let me in.”
Her eyes narrow, and her smile slips.
I feel like an ass for scaring her.
“Diana, I need to talk to you, and you know what you told them today.”
“I’m sorry, dear. I think you should go,” she says, closing the door.
My hand shoots out, and I shoulder my way in, feeling worse when she gasps and stumbles back, trembling.
She’s on edge because she told the story no one else has had the balls to.
“Diana, I need you to sit down. I don’t want you to get hurt, and I’m only here to keep you safe.”
“Keep me safe?” she asks, confused as she looks over me, obviously convinced I’m not a match for anyone.
My hoodie hides my knife, but I decide not to show her the blade. She might actually faint.
“Once upon a time you loved a little girl. You betrayed her to save your son. Today, you finally stood up for her and gave her a chance to be heard.”
Tears waver in her eyes as she takes another step back.
“Who are you?” she whispers, emotion riddling her voice.