Page 134 of A Dead Man's B-Side
Her eyes turned menacingly dark, “Don’t play that crap on me, Sasha. I’m very capable. In fact, you do not tell me what I can and cannot do.”
“I–… I just think it would be best if you’re rested, and once you’re ready–”
“That’s not something you get to decide. That’s not a call you’re allowed to make.”
I watched her, wondering if the risk of her withdrawal getting in the way of tomorrow’s plan wouldn’t be outweighed by her resolve.
She was still going through withdrawals, no matter how hard I could tell she was trying to suppress them. She kept most of her limps out of sight and with every shudder, she’d complain about howcold it is. Her eyes kept going in and out of focus, slipping between the present and the abstract.
It didn’t matter in the end because Paris got what Paris wanted. And if she set her mind to playing her part at the Fenlon party, come hell or high water, she would be there.
I didn’t attempt to threaten her again, because I knew that would only make things worse. “Alright. If you think that you’re up for it. I certainly can’t stop you.”
I raised my shoulders in a show of impotence, and she relaxed, nodding in agreement. “Well, I don’t mean to be rude, but would you mind giving me some space? You tend to hover, if you didn’t know.”
I don’t hover.
I told her as much, but she only cracked a smile. “You kind of do. It’s okay, I won’t tell.”
I grumbled, feeling out of sorts at the revelation in my character, and stood to leave, only after asking her a few times if she was sure.
Wolf was waiting near my door when I turned the hall corner and looked at my approaching figure with his mouth agape. “God, have I been banging about for nothing?”
He looked between the door and myself as I rolled my eyes. “Yes, and I’m sure everyone residing in this hallway hates you for it.”
I was still trying to figure out if I should tell Rain, despite my promise and dedication to do the exact opposite, about my apprehension should Paris join us. Maybe I could reveal only half-truths. Except, Rain was quick-witted and would see the truththrough the smoke faster than I would be able to ‘produce more smoke’.
I went to pull out my key and unlock my door, Wolf shoving in after me as if it were his own place and b-lining straight for the space between my nightstand and the wall. He pulled out a box of cigarettes and got to work lighting one, smoke exhaling with his words. “Big day tomorrow.”
Watching him suck from the death-stick with such dependency made me understand why Evan thought I was such a horrible influence on his younger brother. But only slightly.
I scoffed, shrugging off my jacket. “You don’t have to tell me.”
Miraculously, I didn’t find myself anxious about the success rate of our plan. It was quite simple, really.
Find Scott either off his rockets, as Rain had put it, or close enough. If he wasn’t, we’d get him there ourselves. Once that was done, we would move him to a private room and pull whatever family secrets he had out from between his loose lips.
I liked to believe I was good at these kinds of operations, the covert ones, but I could acknowledge that working with a group took a great deal of the pressure away.
“Hey, Sasha?”
“Mhmm,” I answered, busy emptying out my backpack before walking over and cracking the window Wolf hadn’t remembered to open.
“How’s Paris doing?”
I shrugged, the lie forming in my mind. I’d already said earlier today that I had asked something of her. “She’s fine.”
Wolf nodded slowly, looking to the ground. He sniffed, took another drag of the cigarette, ran a hand over his hair, and then said, “She relapsed, didn't she?”
I froze. He wasn’t supposed to know that. His gaze, which I’d been avoiding, suddenly felt compelling to look at. As if I needed to look him in the eyes for this conversation. “How… did you know?”
Wolf tilted his head with a smile. “You brought her a plate of food–don’t say it was for you; we both know that’s a lie–and you wouldn’t do that for simple information. You’re too prickly about kind gestures.”
What was it with everyone and my mannerisms?
I let out a sigh from deep inside, one that exhaled all the fatigue that’d been building up along with my breath. I should have opted for sleeping on the floor instead of that god-awful, uncomfortable chair. “She’s better now.”
Wolf nodded again, handing me the cigarette. “Are you? Was what happened today because of her?”
