Page 69 of Apathy
I picked it up, and as soon as the screen lit up, my heart started beating faster at the sight of the missed calls showing on it.
“What the fuck?” I mumbled, unlocking it with the press of my finger.
I clicked on the green icon with the telephone on it and saw fifteen missed calls from Lauren, and half a dozen messages as well.
Ash, for fuck’s sake, pick up your damn phone.
That first message was sent three hours ago.
Fine, don’t pick up your phone, but I need your help. Skylar needs you.
Shit, shit, shit. I stood up, going over the rest of the messages, my blood turning into ice when I came to the last one.
I hope you’re having a very nice sleep, you dipshit. We are at Winworth Memorial Clinic, in case you would like to know. Skylar was attacked.
Skylar was attacked?
The air whooshed out from my lungs, my legs feeling weak as I reread the message she sent an hour ago.
Skylar was fucking attacked, and Lauren’s been trying to reach me for hours. Motherfuck—
I jumped up and went into my room, walking toward the wardrobe. I pulled off the shirt I had on and took another one, pulling it on. I tried calling Lauren, but the calls were going to her voicemail. I had a feeling that she was either ignoring me, or her phone died.
Without waiting another minute, I took the leather jacket from my bed and walked downstairs, grabbing my keys from the stand next to the door.
“You’re up early.” My uncle’s voice stopped me in my tracks, just before I exited the house.
“I have somewhere to be,” I answered through gritted teeth, praying that he wouldn’t ask for more than I was willing to answer. “I’ll catch you later.”
I turned the doorknob and stepped out when he started talking again.
“Ash.” I turned around, waiting for him to continue. “We need to talk later. I have news.”
Of course, he had news. He always had some kind of news, but for the first time in my life, I couldn’t give a shit about the plan, his news, or the revenge we came here to enact. All I cared about was the girl who was getting caught in the crossfire, who was now lying somewhere in that hospital, probably scared.
“Yeah, sure,” I mumbled. “I’ll talk to you later.”
I almost sprinted from the doorway toward my car when he called out again.
“Ash!”Dammit. I turned around, holding my keys, ready to get out of here. “Remember why we’re here.”
God-fucking-dammit. He knew. He knew my head wasn’t where it was supposed to be, and I could bet that the “talk” he wanted to have later on, would turn into a full-blown lecture, trying to remind me who the enemy was.
As if I didn’t know. As if I didn’t have scars to remind me. As if I didn’t have nightmares for years, tormenting me every single day, keeping me awake at night.
But I couldn’t deny that being with Skylar made me think twice about the plans we created before coming to Winworth. My resolve was wavering, and it had nothing to do with me being scared. No, it had everything to do with a pair of angelic eyes, feathery touches, and sweet nothings whispered in my ear. I thought I was playing the game, making her fall for me, but I had a feeling that I became a pawn, letting my emotions lead.
Instead of answering him, instead of reassuring him that I knew what the stakes were, I simply nodded and unlocked my car, sliding in without a second glance at my uncle. We disagreed on many things but bringing The Order to its knees wasn’t one of them.
If I wasn’t mistaken, that was one of the rare things we agreed on—exacting revenge on those that killed my parents, his friends. People should be thankful that there was somebody out here, brave enough to stand up to them.
Then why did I have a sour taste in my mouth every single time I thought about the Blackwood family now? Where was the anger, the viciousness I used to have? Maybe my uncle was right. Maybe I needed to be reminded of everything we lost, in order to continue this ordeal.
Seeing Skylar, being with her, it all made me rethink about what I was supposed to do, and I could see now how it affected my resolve to get things done. Perhaps going to the hospital like a lovesick fool wasn’t the best idea, I decided.
Even if my heart protested against me, I knew I had to put some distance between us. Because if I didn’t, I would destroy us both.
I had to erase the memories of her from my head and remember who she really was to me—an enemy, a foe. This wasn’t the great love story of my life, where I could get the girl even though she belonged to the opposing family.
