24.
1909 Words
CHAPTER 24
RINI POV
It took five full minutes for my heart rate to slow and my breathing to even out, but even then I still felt an empty, restless yearning. My thighs rubbing together to create some sort of friction to ease the longing - it does not work.
I sigh deeply and move to the basin to splash some water on my face, I need to cool off.
I look up into my reflection and startle a little because my eyes have a slight white ring around the pupil and my skin is flushed but glowing.
I blink a couple times and the white ring is gone. Freaking weird.
My phone vibrates in my back pocket, causing me to jump and almost drop it as I fumble to answer.
“Yes, hello?”
“Rini! Where are you?” Suzie’s worried voice squeaks down the line.
I wince slightly and exhale. “I’m sorry, I’m hiding in the bathroom from Melinda and her minions.”
“Did she hurt you?” Her voice is hard now, unforgiving.
“No, I managed to hide away before she saw me.”
“Ok good, she’s loitering around the nurses station and when you didnt show up, I panicked that she’d stashed your body somewhere and was waiting at the nurses station to finish the job when someone found you.”
Goddamnit, why did she hate me so much? I literally had done nothing to Melinda but exist.
“Go and get some lunch,” I told Suzie. “I’m going to head to the library and hang there for a bit.”
“Yeah, that’s what I’m going to do. Leave my best friend who is injured to go and eat by myself. Makes perfect sense.”
I smile a little. If getting hurt resulted in our friendship getting stronger, then it’s totally worth it.
“Ok,” I say. “What if you meet me there in a few minutes? I think Rafe stuffed some energy bars in my bag this morning that we can eat.”
Amusement colours her tone when she replies. “Of course he did. I’ll be there soon.”
We hang up and I gather my strength as I arrange my crutches and duck my head out of the door. The hallway is clear and I can hear lots of noise coming from the direction of the cafeteria, which is thankfully the opposite direction to the library.
I’m slow moving and so very on edge but I make it to the library without any incident, and when I spot Suzie waiting at a table with a bright smile for me, I start to relax.
“It must be said again,” she says in greeting. “You look so hot and your butt in those jeans? Damn!”
I giggle and roll my eyes as I take a seat next to her. “You’re ridiculous.”
Suzie winks at me and takes my bag from me to start digging through. Rafe has stuffed an apple, 4 energy bars, a bottle of water and a packet of chips in there. I could kiss him for being so thoughtful.
Suzie’s eyes are filled with mischief but before she can’t comment on our little picnic, a tray absolutely piled with food appears in front of her and Silas is standing there smiling at Suzie, who upon realising who it was, turns away from him dismissively.
I’m going to have to speak to her about that because this new turn of events also has to be unpacked.
“Um thank you,” I say to Silas when it’s clear Suzie isn’t going to acknowledge him. “I’m not sure Suzie is going to be able to eat all of that though.”
Silas pulls a chair out, then scoots it so close to the back of Suzie’s chair that he’s basically straddling her back.
“I wouldn’t care if she did, but I brought the food for both of you. I figured if you didn’t show at lunch that you weren’t going to be eating and I didn’t want either of you to go hungry. If you want something else I can drive out and bring something else back.”
He says it so casually that I’m sure it’s the absolute truth, and it’s this admission that finally thaws Suzie a little. She turns to look at him, really look at him and she nods slightly. “Thank you, I appreciate you looking out for Rini.”
“And you.” He adds.
“What?”
“I’m also looking out for you, but I don’t need your thanks, you being satisfied is enough for me.”
Jesus Christ. Who was this dude? We had all gone to school together for years now and whilst I do remember him watching Suzie discreetly over the years, he had never made an approach that I knew of.
“Why?” Suzie asks.
“What’s that angel?”
“Why do you care if we eat or not?”
He smiles at her softly. “We’re not there yet, but that’s ok, I can be patient.”
He leans in and presses his lips against the top of her head, his eyes closed like he’s savouring it.
Suzie stiffens but doesn’t push him away. She does turn back around to face me and inspect the food that’s been laid out in front of us. Silas doesn’t move back, content to be as close to Suzie as she will allow, even if she’s not longer acknowledging him.
The tray has literally every item the cafeteria sells on it and double items of the sweet items.
Suzie picks up a sandwich and takes a big bite, sighing once the taste hits her. Her positive reaction makes Silas hum in approval, and he shuffles in his chair a little. I can guess at why he’s adjusting himself and grin.
“So Rini,” Silas starts. “How are you feeling?”
I start in on a fruit salad before answering. “Yeah good thanks.”
Honestly the dull pain of my feet has started to amp up a little but I am never admitting that to him.
“There you are! I don’t think I’ve even stepped foot in here before.”
I sigh in deep frustration. Of course Rafe is here, of course I can’t get an hour away from this madness.
Rafe places his own over flowing tray down and sits next to me, pulling my chair as close to his as possible and slinging his arm around the back of my chair.
Rafe puts the fruit salad he has on his tray and places it on Suzie’s before pushing her tray closer to her and Silas and pulling his tray closer to us.
Silently he takes my hand and places two pills in it; pain meds that he somehow knew I needed.
“You need to stay on top of them baby girl, there’s no reason to be in pain when you don’t need to be.”
Suzie raises her eyebrows at his soft tone and endearment but doesn’t say anything.
I throw the pills in my mouth, ignoring the juice Rafe offers me and swallow them dry.
Rafe gulps in reaction and shakes his head as though clearing a thought.
Silence creeps between the four of us and I feel so awkward. I really want to speak to Suzie about how crazy the last 48 hours have been but I’m definitely not doing that with the guys around.
“Are you going to eat?” Suzie demands, looking at Rafe but I know she’s really talking to Silas.
“Not until you’ve eaten your fill,” he replies.
“Weird flex, but okay,” she grumbles but then turns to me, adamant to continue like the guys aren’t there.
“We’ve got gym next, you obviously can’t participate and I’m not running drills alone, so should we cut?”
I smile. “I still have to show up to get marked off. You know I can’t miss any classes if I want to graduate early.”
Suzie sighs. “Yeah yeah, school school school, escape escape escape, I know the drill.”
“You’re the smartest girl in our year,” I point out. “You know you could graduate early if you wanted.”
Suzie’s face darkened. “You know I have no where to go. I’m the biggest disappointment to my family and unless I do exactly what they want, they won’t fund me.”
“You could not disappoint anyone.” Silas snapped.
I glanced at Rafe who looks a little surprised at Silas’s reaction but says nothing to tease his friend.
Suzie continues on like he hasn’t spoken. “Do you want to hang out after school today then? My dad will be home and will probably be insufferable, but once we make it to my room, we’ll be safe.”
I’ve never hung out after school before and it shames me to admit I don’t think I’ll be allowed. I have chores to do when I’m home and dinner to cook. Luna isn’t going to let me off my chores so I can have fun.
“You should come to us,” Rafe says instead. “We can order some food in and hang out in the media room.”
“I have chores to do,” I say quietly to him. “Please don’t make this worse.”
“No you don’t,” he says simply. “Not tonight and not ever again.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve taken care of it, you’re not doing chores again and you can cook if you feel like it, not because you have to.”
“You don’t have the power to do that Rafe.”
Rafe moves slowly towards me, doing his best not to spook me. “Oh baby girl, you would not believe the things I can and will do.”
The innuendo was so thick I had to work hard not to shift in my chair to ease the instant need I felt. Rafe pressed a kiss to my cheek and then pulled back, his attention across the table.
“Come on Suzie, don’t you want to see the compound? Spend some quality time with Rini?”
Suzie looks at me uncertainly, trying to gauge my reaction and clearly not wanting to make me uncomfortable.
For some reason I believe Rafe that he’s found a way to reduce my responsibilities at his house and I do really want to spend more time with Suzie, so I nodded at her.
“Your parents won’t care? I’m not part of their pack.”
Rafe waves her concerns away. “They’re out meeting with some of the leaders of close by packs about the Blue Moon ball and won’t be back until tomorrow morning.”
Suzie hesitates for a second and then smiles at me. “Ok, it sounds fun.”
“Yes!” Silas responds, pumping the air. “Double date!”
“It’s not a double date,” Suzie and I state in unison.
Neither of them seem offended by our statement, if anything, it boosts their mood more.
All four of us fall into easy conversation for the remainder of lunch and it feels so natural and right.
- Writer
