Page 22 of Equilibrium
She kept smiling the whole time, while I just wanted to get away from here. People were whispering around us, staring at me as if I were a wild animal in a cage. I guess that in a way, I was. Angry Ophelia was never a good thing for the rest of the folks that would find themselves in close proximity, and Storm was literally causing havoc in my head with his I-am-here-but-not-really-here bullshit.
My mood was so sour that Atlas didn’t even try to joke or to threaten me today. I swear to God, I had to get out of this funk and start thinking about ways to escape.
“Hey, earth to Ophelia.” She clicked her fingers right in front of my face.
“Dude, seriously?” I shook my head. “Why are you here?”
“Because you seemed lonely, and I wanted to meet you for as long as I could remember.” She shrugged as if it was normal wanting to meet me. She was making it sound as if I was some sort of celebrity around here.
“I don’t understand.”
She leaned back into her chair, placing her legs on the table. Wow, manners are not to be found around here, apparently. My mother would have a coronary if she ever saw her sitting like this. Not that I was the embodiment of ladylike behavior, but Zoe, or ZoZo, would legitimately give her a heart attack.
Dammit. I liked it.
She had this pure energy around her, and it pulled me closer, even if I didn’t want to talk to anybody here. I didn’t notice it before, but she had a large bag with her with the same insignia as the club.
Noticing me looking at it, she smirked, flashing another one of her brilliant smiles.
“I could get you the same one, if you want.”
I didn’t want one, but I liked that she was so comfortable being here.
“I’m sorry, but—”
“You’re forgiven.”
“What?” This chick was fucking confusing.
“You were about to apologize for something, and I’m forgiving you.”
And here I thought I was the crazy one.
“You’re going to love it here. On Sundays, we do these cookouts, and the guys are doing the whole drive through Santa Monica on their bikes later in the evening. And then there’s the training.” She kept going and going. Didn’t she need to take in some air or something? “There’s a big-ass gym in the basement. You’re gonna love it. Do you spar? I love sparring. You’ll kick my ass, but I think we could be a good fit. What are you doing tomorrow? Maybe I can pass by after work. I’m working at the restaurant owned by the club, just one street lower. Oh, oh, I know. You should come for some pancakes. I know it isn’t anything super special, but those are delicious, I’m telling you.”
Jesus fucking Christ, Mary, Joseph, Holy Ghost, all the demons, I need fucking help. She was going a hundred miles in a minute.
Mute.
I needed a mute button for her.
“Zoe.” I stopped her just as she started talking about her work week. I didn’t need her damn schedule. “Could you slow down, please?”
“Oh, of course.” Crimson colored her cheeks. “I’m sorry. I must look extremely crazy to you.” You think. “But we don’t get too many female fighters, you know. And you, well.” She shrugged. “You are ruthless. You don’t care who or what, you just go for the jugular. I admire that. You’re loyal but you’re also brutal.”
That’s one way to put it, I guess.
Funny thing was, I didn’t want her here, but I also didn’t mind her company. For all the rambling that just came out of her mouth, she was cute. Maybe it was because she reminded me of Ava, or maybe I was lonelier than I initially thought.
I observed her for a minute, and she didn’t seem to mind. That carefree smile slowly pulled one of my own, and before I knew it, I was laughing at the ridiculous situation I found myself in. Here I was, on the precipice of my life, and instead of trying to find a way to get out of here, I was sitting in the backyard of the club that could quite literally destroy me, laughing with a girl I just met.
“I like you, Zoe.”
“I know. I’m awesome.” She chuckled, and I howled again, almost plastering myself on the table.
“Where have you been all my life?”
“Here, in Santa Monica. Chilling, definitely not killing because Indigo, who’s my brother by the way, would have a coronary. Making pancakes, babysitting rowdy bikers. You know, the usual.”
