Page 36 of Cruel Titan

Resuming my note-taking, I ignore Elliot as he talks incessantly about the great party until the bell rings. I’m looking forward to the sound of saws and hammering and escaping the cruel eyes that have held me captive for the past fifty minutes.

28

Asher

Making my way to the darkroom, I step inside as Elliot follows instead of going to his class. “Okay. So now it’s your turn.”

“My turn for what?”

“To say you’re sorry.”

“I’m not.”

“Whatever. You know you want her to give you another chance. I know I want her to so I won’t have to watch you sit and whine all night in the corner again.”

“Get out.”

“Truth hurts.”

“Yes. It does.”

Elliot waits a few seconds for more of an explanation but decides I’m a lost cause and finally leaves me be. Quinn being at the party isn’t my concern. Her walking into Ruby Flame again, that’s what bothers me. I know she won’t listen, but I have to try again.

There’s no point in staying in this room. I’ll never be able to focus, so I head out to wait on her … like the weakling that I am.

It’s awhile later when the bell finally rings and she walks out of the shop classroom with Grant, which is just something else that pisses me off.

I step in front of her, blocking her path. “We need to talk.”

“No, we don’t.” She shoves past me, forcing me to follow her through the hallway.

“Please.” The word leaves my mouth before I can stop it, halting her in her tracks. Standing with her back to me, people continue walking by and Grant, thankfully, keeps walking, but Quinn doesn’t move. “Please, don’t go today. I’m sorry.”

She slowly turns around, I’m expecting to see her usual stubborn or angry glare, instead I’m met with tears. “Stop it.”

I reach up, gently swiping my thumb across her cheek before leaning forward and brushing my lips along the same path, whispering against her skin, “I’m so sorry.”

Her body tenses under my touch, and she shoves me away. “No! You are not fucking with my head again.”

“I’m not.” I reach out for her, but she retreats, looking at me with nothing but hatred.

“Yes. You are. If I forgive you, you’ll rip out my heart and hand it back to me on a platter tomorrow. You don’t care about anyone but yourself, and you took away the one man whose love I never questioned … it’s your fault my dad isn’t here, so save your pitiful apologies. I will never trust you.”

“You shouldn’t have trusted him. That was your first mistake.”

She moves in front of me, her face in mine as she says, “No. You’re the mistake.”

Spinning swiftly, she hurries away. I watch her retreat, moving both literally and figuratively away from me. She doesn’t trust me, and I understand why. But she still hasn’t figured out that putting her trust in the wrong person is the deadliest game of all, and some people are better at hiding their deceitfulness than others. It’s time to reveal another piece of the puzzle; time to show her just how trustworthy people can be.

29

Quinn

I’ll admit it. I’m hiding in my room. I spent the evening trick-or-treating with Candace and Tanner. It was cute watching how much fun he had running around in his Lego Batman costume. It was definitely worth getting out of the house for, but now I’m back in hiding. Victoria texted saying that if I changed my mind, she would be really excited. But after Asher’s heartfelt apology, I’m scared I won’t be able to resist him again. It’s easy to reject hateful, vengeful Asher. Sweet, caring Asher … he’s the one who twists and yanks on my heart, fully capable of shattering it to a million pieces. My phone chimes with a message, and I can only assume it’s the vengeful Asher who is in full swing tonight.

Asher: I left you a sweet treat in the Corvette.

What did he do now? My heart races as I drop the phone on the bed. I know I shouldn’t go and look, but there’s no way I can resist.