Toward the end of summer, after
another afternoon of swimming races, I was half-running to my cabin, freezing
in my wet swimsuit; it was remarkable how much cooler it was in the shade. At
the top of the stairs, I found Drei leaning against the door. A blush crossed
his cheeks before he turned away. My cheeks burned and were no doubt crimson; I
felt exposed wearing only a towel and bathing suit. If my mind hadn’t gone
blank just then, it may have questioned why I felt nearly naked before Drei but
perfectly comfortable around Nick in the same outfit.
“We need to discuss something, Abriel.”
From his tone, I knew I wouldn’t like what we had to discuss. But I wanted to
talk to him just so I could listen to his voice again. Until he had said
anything, I hadn’t realized how much I missed the sound of his voice. There was
a mature, secure nature to it that Nick just didn’t have in his.
When I had pulled my damp hair into a
bun and changed into dry clothing, I invited Drei in, settling on the rocking
chair. He opted to stand, despite my offer for him to sit.
“Your relationship with Nick worries
me, Abriel,” Drei started, regarding me carefully.
I shook my head gently. “I already
told you, Drei—”
“Let me speak, please?” His eyes
closed as if it pained him to have to ask. Then remembering how everyone else
listened whenever he opened his mouth, I understood. I was the only one who
ever interrupted him; I didn’t know why that was either. It wasn’t like I had
an excuse.
“Okay,” I said, hoping he wouldn’t
take it to mean I was open to his negativity.
“We have been researching the fire
his family died in,” Drei said slowly. “The culprit is whom we believed it to
be, and now we are questioning why they would target Nick. Something is not
right with him; you must have noticed how the others react to him as of late. In all my
years, I have yet to see them distance themselves so. He is
not an elemental and we do not know what his motives may be.”
“He’s not going to hurt anyone, Drei.”
I breathed slowly, trying to remain rational and calm, but feeling protective. “Nick
isn’t the government; he isn’t a bounty hunter. You just don’t like the fact
that we’re perfectly content spending time together. You were a better person
when I was lonely all the time.”
“You do not understand, Abriel; that
is not the matter—”
“Are you okay with the fact that Nick
and I like each other?” I interrupted, unable to just listen anymore. Though he
insisted it wasn’t the issue, I couldn’t help feeling it was a large part of
it. Even more so for his objections.
Drei bit his tongue, his face stoic
but his thoughts a chaotic mess surrounding him. “No,” he admitted, barely a
whisper. “I detest the thought of you enjoying the wretch’s company.”
“Well I do, Drei. And I’m sorry you
can’t be okay with it.” I looked down at my feet. There was nothing I wanted
more than for him to be happy for us; it was only fair. I was happy for him and
Valetta, as much as I wished I didn’t have to be some days.
“I wish you would consider the
possibility that his intentions are not consummately noble,” Drei practically
begged. I had never heard him like that before and it was weird. He had always
been the one in control. The one who was calm and knew exactly what to do. It
had never seemed possible he might beg for anything.
“I never ignore you, Drei,” I replied
softly, still unable to face him. “I always think about what you say, even if I
don’t agree with it.” My gaze focused out the window on the sparkling lake, how
it seemed to mock me again.
“I realize this,” he said. Another
thing I didn’t quite understand was how we could both know so much about each
other and, simultaneously, so very little.
The air filled with sorrow
and, when Drei left, I realized a great deal of it was my own.
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