Page 9 of Barron's Second Chance
She was studying in her room when she needed a soda break. Kelly's soft voice floated down the hallway, stalling her progress.
"I tell ya, Susan, that boy is walking around the house like a bear with a sore paw."
"Sorry, Kells. I still adore your son, but it serves him right for what he did to my baby."
"Is there any way -"
"None." She had heard her mom firmly say.
"So he hasn't come round here?"
There was a heavy pause. Eden's foot was suspended on her toe, afraid to make the slightest movement in case her presence was rumbled.
"Yeah," her mom sighed heavily. “He has.”
Eden's eyes widened in shock. Her mom had never told her that Barron had visited.
"Eden is adamant that she wants nothing more to do with Barron," her mom explained. "She's blocked him from everything, and she seems to be doing better. I still hear her sometimes crying in her room, but even that’s become less frequent."
Eden cringed at that. So much for thinking she was being quiet. She’d have to remember to turn her music up the next time she felt an emotional release coming.
"He came around twice asking after her. One time she legitimately wasn't there. The other time, I was so mad at him that I wanted him to go away. Eden was having a good day, smiling and laughing. She had changed out of her sweats and had helped me cook dinner. She was getting back to her normal self, slowly but surely. I don't know what he would've said to her, but I know it would've set her back twenty paces. I don't know if it was the right thing to do, but -" She could picture her mom shrugging in uncertainty,
"I get it," Kelly interrupted. "Even though I wanna strangle Barron, I would protect him as well. I think you did the right thing."
Eden quietly trudged back up to her room, heart in her throat and tears burning her eyes. The fact that she had such a physical reaction to Barron trying to see her proved that her Mom probably made the right call in fielding his visits.
She was proven right, three weeks later, when Barron managed to track her down while she was defenseless. It was the first time she had spoken to him since she had caught him with Lissa.
She was studying late at the school library, which stayed open an extra hour for students on Mondays and Thursdays. As her head was bent over her biology workbook, she saw a presence come closer to her through her peripheral vision. Her body tensed, sensing who it was before they spoke.
"E," Barron softly said.
Eden gripped her book tightly, refusing to glance up.
"E, can we talk, please?"
Tears again burned at her eyes, and she held her breath, trying to keep them at bay. Anger and sadness coursed through her, but she was determined to stay in control of her emotions. At least in front of him.
"Eden, please look at me," he softly said, coming round to stand in front of the desk she was working on.
Slowly she lifted shimmering blue eyes to his. He looked tortured. That was the only word she could use to describe him.
Good, she thought sourly. Let him drown in his guilt for what he did to her. To them.
Hazel eyes raked over her, almost in desperation. He smiled hesitantly. "Are you doing okay?"
And just like that, Eden's breath let out in a puff of disbelief. She hurriedly stood and began gathering her books, stuffing them haphazardly into her bag.
"Shit, Eden, wait," Barron rushed out, hands stretched towards her, palms out as if to calm or slow her down. "I'm sorry, that was a stupid question."
She shot him a ‘ya, think’look before putting her arms through the straps. She stormed past him, ignoring the stares of the other students.
"Wait!" Barron called out, striding behind her urgently.
Eden ignored him and continued walking down the empty hallway, arms crossed protectively at her chest.
"I'm only asking because I'm fucking miser -"
