Eden’s Phone

* incoming call from Jude *

Eden : Hey.

Jude : Hi, En, what’s up? I gotta be honest, I wasn’t sure you would answer.

Eden : Of course I’d answer it. I miss you, Jude .

Jude : Have you seen the news that blew up about you and Isaiah?

Eden : Yeah, I saw. The messages have started. So far, three news channels have called me.

Jude : I am so sorry, En. So, so sorry. Listen, I wouldn’t call you so late if it wasn’t an emergency, but it is. Isaiah has asked me to let you know that he is sending you three of his security guards.

Eden : That’s not necessary, but thank you.

Jude : Look, Eden, maybe you don’t understand the level of scrutiny you will be under, the morbid curiosity, the intrusion, the danger… There might—there will be stalkers and all sorts of dangerous or, worse, stupid people seeking you out. You need protection, and you need it now. You are not safe. Isaiah is going out of his mind with worry, and, frankly, so am I.

Eden : I already have protection. I have three security guards outside my dorm room right now. One of them is insisting I let him stay inside with me. It’s not happening.

Jude : Oh, you have…? How did…? How did that happen?

Eden : …

Jude : Eden?

Eden : The minute the news broke out, the security guards were outside my door, blocking out the reporters. Not even one of them got to me. I hadn’t even realized the truth about me had come out, and suddenly all these reporters were clamoring to get to me… I was ugly. But the guards were there in an instant, shielding me. They sent everyone packing real quick. Then, it was the guards themselves had to break it to me—what had happened.

Jude : Who sent them, En?

Eden : Theodore Vanderau .

Jude : Ah.

*Silence*

Jude : That will destroy Zay.

Eden : Queen Olivia of Asteria offered me her security as well, if it helps.

Jude : It will not help.

Eden : How is Zay doing?

Jude : Not good. Really not good.

Jude : He’s in a really bad place, Eden.

Jude : Gosh, he’d kill me if he knew I was telling you this.

Eden : Is there anything I can do?

Jude : What did you usually do when you used to fight and stuff like that?

Eden : We don’t… We didn’t fight. I’m not sure I know how.

Jude : What do you mean?

Eden : I don’t know how to fight. How to disagree. I never learned—wasn’t allowed. But on the other hand, Isaiah would never fight with me. Never has, never will. He always does what I want, he always gives in to me, because he feels pity for what I’ve been through.

Jude : Eden, listen to me, that’s not true. If you could see how absolutely ballistic the dude goes every time you so much as refer to the p-word in front of him, you wouldn’t say such things. I mean, he just loses it.

Eden : Still, he never disagrees with me about anything. He can’t. It’s one of the reasons why we needed this time apart. It’s not healthy.

Eden : Is he in pain?

Jude : I don’t think he’s able to feel anything but concern about you, Eden. Actually, panic is the right word. He’s panicking .

Eden : I will be fine. I need him to know that I will be fine. Don’t—please tell him not to hurt because of this.

Jude : I don’t know that he can avoid it. But he’ll be glad you have the best protection in the world right now.

Jude : I’m sorry this happened. People are truly evil.

Eden : As if I don’t know it.

Jude : You have known evil beyond any imagination, and look how you chose to turn out. Brave, kind. Good. These people are just bored cowards with a stupid phone in their hands and nothing of worth to offer to the world.

Eden : You are so sweet, Jude.

Jude : I know that it isn’t my place, and I will probably mess up this up, but I gotta say it. Look, you said that you think you don’t know how to fight, but that’s simply not true, En. You have been fighting your whole life. And winning. So, if you ever want to fight for you and Zay, just know that you can.

Eden : Thank him for offering me his guards. And please just keep him from… From being too stressed, ok?

Jude : Ask me that again tomorrow.

Eden : Why? What’s going to happen tomorrow?

Jude : Crap.

Eden : Jude?

Jude : I gotta go, En. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said anyth—

Eden : Don’t you hang up on me, Jude. What is that stupid boy going to do tomorrow? Stop him, dammit.

Eden : Jude? Jude!

Eden : Tell me right now what he is planning—

Eden : I love him, Jude.

* Jude has ended the call*

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