Page 105 of A Dead Man's B-Side
Wolf poked his tongue out against the inside of his cheek and seemed even more irritated than before. “Sasha, if I have to pry every detail out of you–”
I let out a breath. “I found them talking here late that night after everyone else returned to their dorms. Evander and Thaddeus.”
I left out the part of me going after Mr Browne because the last thing I needed was Wolf seeing a connection in my hatred for the man. “They just talked about me because… well, on the plane, I may have drugged your brother and, essentially, robbed him. He deserved it, and I won’t apologize.”
I shook my head to emphasize my point before waiting for the boy in front of me to speak. Wolf nodded and began ironing out his eyebrows with his thumb and middle finger.
I could tell that he was processing this information as well as he could with the tidbits I’d given him. “And so… why was he on the plane with you?”
I looked around before I leaned back against my chair and let out a breath, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it with ease. “That,” I spoke around the smoke, “I do not know and was hoping you'd provide insight for.”
Wolf continued to stare off into space for a moment as I wondered how long I could leave the cigarette tipped between my lips before the ashes began leaving a burning sensation on my thighs.
“I couldn’t tell you.” He said.
I raised a brow, but he only shrugged. “I really couldn’t. I haven’t spoken to Evan since I was thirteen, when he left home. In fact, I haven’t seen him in that long either. I would go a step further and say he’s avoiding me.” He gestured towards me with a bittersweet sigh. “Example number one.”
I hummed and nodded slowly, watching as the sincerity behind his eyes began to sound in his voice as well. I plucked the cigarette out from between my lips and leaned forward in an instant, getting closer, voice getting lower. “Well. That may be sad for you.” I pointed the cigarette towards him before turning it to myself. “But that is great news for myself, and I will tell you why.”
Wolf blinked at my bluntness but was ultimately unsurprised at my lack of… concern. “I’m sure you will.”
I took another drag and let my arms fall lazily against each side of the velvet armchair. “Thaddeus and Evander had been speaking about the society. Evander revealed that there was a truth-telling ceremony that usually takes place instead of the vials Thaddeus demanded of us. And they don’t exactly ask nicely. Thaddeus forwent that idea because he wanted to gain our trust.”
Wolf nodded along, brows curving further with every word out of my mouth. “Well, we can thank Thaddeus a thousand times, I guess.”
I clicked my tongue and lightly tapped his forehead with my middle finger. “Thaddeus didn’t do it for you, you idiot. He did it to get into our heads without us hating him in the process. He’s sugarcoating himself.”
“He said that?”
“Even if he didn't, you wouldn't take my word for it?”
Wolf raised a hand. “I would but–… Sasha, you have a habit of spiraling when it comes to anyone you don’t like. You dig and you dig until you find something about them that proves you right.”
I threw my hands up and scrunched my face in offence. “When have I done that?”
“Mr Browne, for one.”
I pointed my cigarette at him. “Mr Browne has always been suspicious, you just refuse to see it.”
“And Marigold?”
I shook my head. “What about her?”
Wolf folded his hands together. “You find her strange and so you find her suspicious and so you watch her like a hawk when she walks into any room.”
My shoulders were hiking up further at the absurd accusations as I waved an arm out, trying to emphasize my accurate judgement. “The girl can’t even throw out trash without looking back to the class fifty times, you don’t find that suspicious?!”
Wolf sighed, letting the topic go before trying to mediate. “Okay,fine, maybe she’s a little weird and maybe Mr Browne is hiding something, so you say, but you don’t have to worry about mebelieving you this time. Thaddeus is… definitely someone to look out for.”
I settled down, bitterly taking another drag. I was irritated but also relieved that we were finally on the same boat. “Yeah… yeah, so as I was saying, Thaddeus is planning something and I want to figure out what it is.”
I probably should not have mentioned what Thaddeus might have in mind, as it so happens to directly correlate to me, but the words were out before I could stop them. A small voice, one that assured me I was safe in my own skin, convinced me that I could keep the two worlds I felt I was tipping into with every step forward separate.
“So… What, you really want to find out?”
I scoffed. “You have anything else in mind?”
Wolf shrugged, “I say wait it out. It’ll all come out one way or another.”
