* * *
After a somewhat friendlier gym class today than I was expecting, I call out Octavia’s name as everyone else leaves the gym. I watch her hesitate for a second before saying goodbye to Indi. I know they came in together today, not that I’m stalking her or whatever, I just happened to see Indi pick her up as I was heading to my car this morning.
Yeah right, stalker.
She turns and struts toward me, looking hotter than anyone should, especially in that outfit.
Down boy, now is not the time.
She juts her hip out as she stops to face me, arms folded across her chest. “Yes?”
“I’m sorry.” The words fall from my lips, and she deflates a little. “I never meant to hurt you, and I know that not telling you things, and letting Linc and the others do what they thought was right, was the wrong thing to do but I didn’t know what else to do. There’s still a lot you don’t know, but I’m basically powerless. I just wanted to keep you safe, and I went about it in the wrong way.”
She runs a hand through her long, dark hair and lets out a sigh. “East, I just… I feel betrayed, ya know? I thought you were the one person who hadn’t changed. Who was still on my side.”
“But I was on your side! I am on your side, V. I might have gone about it the wrong way, but I will always be on your side. Just let me make it up to you.” I don’t even care that I sound like I’m begging. I wish I could say I haven’t loved her my entire life, but I’d be straight up lying.
“I guess.”
“Let me drive you home, we can talk some more?”
She looks over her shoulder, like she’s expecting to see someone, but turns back and smiles sadly at me. “Sure, why not? I came in with Indi today, but this will save her going out of her way to take me home.”
“Thank you.”
She nods before scurrying out of the gym, and I take a few deep breaths to calm myself.
You’re not forgiven yet. Don’t get ahead of yourself.
I tear through my office, getting everything I need as quickly as I can so I don’t keep her waiting.
Heading out through the back, I jump in my car and pull it around to the front of the school just in time to watch her coming out of the front doors with Indi. She waves goodbye to her friend and heads for the car, a wary smile on her face.
This is progress, I just need to remember that. Baby steps, East. If we rush this, we’re going to fuck it up.
Once she’s in, she buckles up and I cruise out of the lot slowly. No need to draw more attention to us than necessary. I’m just a guy giving a girl a ride home. It can’t be any more than that right now, even if I want it to be. The thought of being blackmailed, and having that hurt her in the long run… a shiver runs down my spine at the thought of it.
I won’t be another bad guy in her story, and I refuse to be the reason she ends up pushed into a corner.
I’m pretty sure that at twenty-two, being blackmailed isn’t supposed to be the thing I’m thinking about when the girl I’ve loved my entire life is in my car, but here we are. Echoes Cove warps fucking everything.
She connects her phone to the bluetooth and starts playing Who Am I by Besomorph, and I frown a little. “You doing okay, V?”
Her brown eyes look more than a little lost when she looks over at me. “I’m fine. I’m just tired of everything already, and I get the feeling that this is just the beginning.”
“I’m sorry. I wish there was something I could do to help you.”
“Is there any way out?”
I clench the steering wheel until my knuckles turn white, trying to find the words.
“You managed it, right?”
I glance over at her, at how hopeful she looks, and hate that I’m going to be the one to crush that hope in her. “Yes and no. I didn’t have a choice. It was my father’s choice, but trust me, just because I’m not in, doesn’t mean I’m out.”
“Do any of you ever not speak in riddles?” She sighs as she flops back in the seat just as we pull onto our street.
I consider her words. “We do, it’s just something of a minefield with all of this. Things with you are so different than usual. Nobody knows exactly what the Knights want with you. It could be something to do with Stone, it could be something entirely different. It’s more about not saying the wrong thing.”