Chapter 12 #3
“Eryx know you out here alone?” He looks over my shoulder to his friend, “Being a peeping tom?”
Of course he caught me staring, cause why not. “First of, don’t know, don’t care. He’s not my keeper.” I bite back. “Second of all, the better question is, why are you out here, maybe you’re the peeping tom.”
“Shina was worried about you, it being dark out and you still not being back. What made you think running through the woods at night was a smart idea? You do know the trail forks up ahead right, do you even know your way around here?”
He’s right, it was dumb of me to come out here like this, but I won’t give him the satisfaction.
The reason is still valid, I needed to clear my head before I exploded.
I needed to get away from there if even just for a little bit.
“It’s not night time yet, and I don’t need to know where I’m going, I have my phone.
You know…” I wave my phone in his face and pull up the maps app, “Maps?” I look down and. .great no fucking signal.
A knowing grin on his face. “Got any bars Princess?” he mocks me.
I want to punch that smug look off his face. “Whatever, how hard can it be.” I pull my flashlight out and start walking. He follows behind me. “Come on, don’t be like that. I thought we were friends, you're my shot buddy.”
”Shot buddies?” That gets a smile from me.
There’s something about Caine that makes me want to open up.
“I was trying to clear my head, and heard there was a waterfall through this trail. Although I see thats kind of pointless as I won’t even be able to see it with the sun going down.
” I take a moment to take in my surroundings.
Wow it really is dark out here, and as much as I hate to admit it. I’m glad Caine found me.
“What happened today, why do you need to clear your head? I thought you had a really good argument against him. You had strong points. You shouldn’t let him get to you. He’s just trying to get a rise out of you.”
That makes me stop and turn towards him. “You think I’m upset about that? Eryx can be an ass but it’s nothing I can’t handle.” I turn around again and continue walking. We pass the four mile marker. Just a little while longer.
“Then something happened after class?” he pauses, “Or someone?” Not letting up, he’s really digging for answers here.
Ding, ding, ding. Nail on the head. “Something like that.” I’m too embarrassed to admit Jason got under my skin.
“Does Eryx know?”
Why does he keep acting as if I belong to him? “Uh, no, why would he? And you’re not going to tell him about this either.”
“You know he’s going to find out one way or another right?”
Why do they even care? “Well, let him find out on his own. Won’t be from me, and it better not be from you either.
If we’re going to be friends then I need to know I can trust you.
That you can respect my choice over your loyalty to him.
I need your loyalty too.” Whatever happened today is none of his concern.
Just then we come to the five mile marker and I can hear the sound of rushing water in the distance.
“Don’t worry princess. This stays between us.” He urges me forward, “Now come on, the waterfall is this way and with the full moon out tonight it’ll illuminate the area just right. You’ll love it.”
A few minutes later we come to a clear that damn near takes me breath away. “Wow!” An audible gasp escapes me. This view is absolutely breathtaking.
Caine comes up next to me. “I like coming out here when I need to clear my head.”
I see why he does, it’s peaceful here. Isolated from all the noise its the perfect place to organize your thoughts.
Lately it’s been so loud in my head. It’s been such an adjustment from the routine I had these past three years.
You’d think I would have had time to process everything that happened in that time I was at Blackridge, yet it’s out here that has me questioning everything and reliving what happened.
I have Ro and Shina here, and I guess Caine too now.
Yet, I can’t help but feel this immense feeling of isolation.
I miss Thoren so much. I miss my mom so much.
Everything is different now and I feel like I don’t know myself without them.
I can’t help but blame myself for what happened.
Were it not for me, we wouldn’t have been on that road.
“Tell me something about yourself.” I tell Caine. “Something you don’t tell the others.”
He looks at me for a beat before he responds. “I would like to have a farm and just live off the land. Rescue some cows, maybe get some chickens too. Fun fact, but I’m vegan.”
Well, I definitely wasn’t expecting that. He’s supposed to be the enforcer. Brute and ruthless. Hearing him want something that is the polar opposite is a twist I wasn’t expecting. But honestly I see it.
“I’m expected to be this machine, have no emotions and be without remorse. It’s who I need to be for them. They’re my family. Don’t get me wrong, I will go to war for Eryx and Roman, and if anyone hurts the ones I love I won’t hesitate to do what I need to, but—”
“But it’s not who you are,” I finish for him.
“Yeah.”
“Well, when you get this farm, I’m going with you.”
“Deal,” he smiles at me.
“Hey, I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”
“Yeah?”
“Where did you get your piercings and tattoos done at?”
“Why? You wanting to get something done?” He eyes me curiously.
“Well, yeah, actually. I’ve been thinking of getting my…” I look down and then away as I gesture to my breast, embarrassed.
“I do the majority of my own piercings, and I would offer but I’m sure Eryx would have my head if I were the one to do those for you,” he smirks at me.
“But I know a girl who’s done a lot of the work on me who would be great for you.
She does both piercings and tattoos, so if you wanted one of those, she can hook you up. I’ll have her reach out to you.”
“Oh, thank you. I’d really appreciate that.”
We talk for what feels like forever, before he leads me back to the school. I pass along my number to him so his friend can reach out.
Caine was right. The waterfall was amazing and I did love it.
We stayed there by the water just talking for a while.
I got to know more about him. Like the fact that, like Shina, he is really good with computers, which is how Eryx got access to my schedule.
I still got to get back at him for that one.
Being vegan, he loves coming up with new fun recipes; which I’m definitely having him teach me a few of them.
How he’s known Eryx and Roman since he was five, but since Roman is a year older he and Eryx became best friends.
I asked about him and Shina too. He can try to hide it but I know something is there.
He’s actually really sweet. He’s such a different person than the one he presents to the outside.
I see the way people stare when he walks by them.
The tattoos scare most people. On the outside he’s the grim reaper, but not he inside he’s a delicious, gooey, cinnamon roll.
Don’t let that fool you though. When it comes down to it, he’ll do whatever it takes. Caines a protector.