Chapter 38 #2
But she greets me kindly anyway, pulling me into a hug that makes my body tense and Cayden stand up straighter, as if waiting for me to snap.
“I’m Cayden’s little sister, Olivia. You must be Darlia, I’ve heard so much about you! Please, come in. Mum will make some tea!”
She’s the complete opposite of Cayden, just like he said. Cayden’s guarded and reserved. She’s warm and open. I don’t like it, it feels unnatural.
“Um, sure?” I pull away, standing up straight and throwing my hands into the jumpsuit pocket, fidgeting with my nails, trying to hide my nerves. But Cayden sees straight through me, placing his hand in the pocket and grabbing my hand in his.
“Relax, love. You’re safe.”
Realistically, I know that. We’re eight hours away from The Academy and in the middle of nowhere. I know I’m safe wherever Cayden is. But I can’t relax. Maybe it’s a reflex, but I just can’t do it. I can’t let my guard down.
“You’re somewhere new. It’s okay, no one is expecting you to trust them instantly. Just trust me, okay? I won’t let anything happen to you, never again.” There’s a sincerity in his voice like I’ve never heard before, and it makes me relax slightly.
“Oh, you two are cute! Mum is going to love her,” Olivia says, reminding me she’s still here and taking me out of the moment with Cayden. I smile, finally seeing the familiarity in both of them.
“Oh ha-ha, go make tea and be useful,” Cayden says, rolling his eyes, and I laugh as Olivia drags me inside.
“He’s so calm with you, it’s unnerving,” she whispers like we’re friends as we walk into the house and towards the kitchen where his mum is standing. Again, I’m smothered in another hug and I tense, although this time not as much.
“Welcome, dear. Oh you poor thing, please make yourself comfortable. My name is Moria.”
Moria leads me to a chair, forcing me to sit down. I don’t say anything immediately, I just observe like I’ve been trained to do. Bella gets the hug next; she definitely takes it better than me, hugging Moria back before sitting down beside me with a smile.
“Ready to admit he’s your boyfriend now? You’ve met the family, that seems official to me.” Bella smiles, nudging me slightly, but I’m not interested.
“Don’t, Bella.” I’m on edge. Too much is happening all at once, and I need a moment.
Just a single moment to pull myself together.
Thankfully, I am left alone after the one attempt at conversation.
Moria does hand me a cup of what they call tea, but only offers me a warm smile, no attempt at conversation.
“Go easy on her. This is her first time seeing everything since she was four. She doesn’t remember the world like we do,” Cayden whispers to Olivia, thinking I can’t hear, but I can.
“I just can’t imagine having to live the life she has, the poor thing. Mumma is going to smother her.”
“I won’t let her, don’t worry. Just let everyone know to keep their distance and give her time to adjust.”
That catches my interest. I look up to Cayden trying my best to convey my confusion. “Others? Are there more people here? You said just your mum and sister ran off together?”
Cayden smiles, shaking his head. “Nothing gets past you, does it, love? Don’t worry about it for now, okay? We will show you later, take some time to adjust.”
But I can’t.
If there are more people here, I need to know who they are. I need to tell for myself who they are, I need to meet them. I won’t be able to relax not knowing who else is living here without me knowing, and Cayden knows that.
“Just this one time, would you believe me when I say I don’t think you’re ready and leave it for today?” I shake my head and he sighs with a chuckle. “Didn’t think so. Alright, get up.”
Cayden takes my hand in his, leading me outside and towards the barn. The door is ajar, and it sounds like there’s music playing inside. I hear laughter and conversation; it seems like there’s a lot of people just waiting inside. But then I hear Bella’s voice, and my interest piques.
“If you need a minute alone, just say the word and I’ll pull you out, okay?”
I nod, waiting in anticipation as Cayden looks down at me with a defeated look in his eyes as he opens the door of the barn. All of a sudden my heart stops, and my jaw drops. Inside are all the girls from The Academy who just disappeared, even some more than that.
Alora, Elena, Franchesca, Rose, Chloe, Kylie, Daphne, Lucy, Kaylee, and Eva. All but one, Lauren.
My feet move before my brain kicks in, and immediately I’m pulling Kylie into a hug. “You’re alive, you’re really alive,” I whisper, my voice breaking as I hold her close to me. And for a moment, the world goes quiet.
Cayden got them out.
Cayden saved them all.
“How are you? You just disappeared, they didn’t tell us anything. Are you okay? Are you hurt?” I pull back just enough to check her over for any obvious injuries, and she laughs, shaking her head at me.
“I’m fine, honestly. Moria and Olivia feed us far too much.”
“Good, that’s good…” I’m still struggling to process everything else that’s happened, but then I look back to Cayden. My anger at him has long past faded, and I run into his arms, pulling him close. He saved them all, my friends, my sisters. Cayden saved them.
“Thank you.”
“Am I officially out of the doghouse?”
I laugh. I have no idea what that means, but I’m guessing it’s a way of saying I’m mad, so I nod, pulling back just enough to wipe my eyes free from the tears falling down my cheeks.
“Yeah, you’re officially out of the…whatever you just said.”
He groans, a smile curving his lips that’s wide and bright, the dimples that I love now completely on show.
“Thank god.”
And then he leans down, pressing his lips to mine and pulling me close. I only try to pull him closer, but he breaks away.
“You really are cute when you’re mad, you know that, right? Your cheeks get all rosy and you have a pout, it’s the cutest thing ever.” I glare at him, and Cayden laughs, kissing me again and holding me just as tight.
“Sorry baby, truth hurts sometimes.”
He kisses me again, softly, gently. His lips move with mine, consuming me, like he wants to consume every part of me. His arms wrap around my waist, pulling me in closer, but again we’re interrupted by Bella who pretends to cough to get our attention.
“He is so your boyfriend.”
“Oh piss off, Bella.”