Page 5 of The Masks We Break

Back in high school, there was a rumor as to why he always stayed so quiet. If you asked him a question,anyquestion, you better prepare yourself for the truth because Blaze never lies. And preparation was something I didn’t do.

I finally pull into Solace Square, and the tension winding in my muscles begins to untangle. This place is my safe haven. A secret pocket of peace away from the bright city, the busy campus, and away from being under my father’s thumb.

When I open the front door, the buttery smell of fresh popcorn invades my airways, and I want to melt into the couch next to Amora.

Her brilliant blonde hair is wrangled into a bun on the top of her head, barely visible over the massive love seat. The graphic anime she wants me to watch is playing on the LED framed TV, illuminating the room in vibrant colors.

I drop my tiny bag she loaned me and flip off my heels, groaning at how good my toes feel when they flex.

Her bright blue eyes flash over the brown leather. “Yessssss! Take that dress off and join me! It’s nice and warm under here!”

And I do. But even when the heads are sliced off giant abominations with wires, and walls fall onto something called abnormals, all I really think about...are marble eyes.

THREE

“Bro, move to the fucking right.”

I grit my teeth, narrowing my eyes at my friend, Bellamy, and his smart-ass mouth as we struggle to get the couch through the front door. Somehow I let him convince me that we could unload everything without renting a dolly.

“Don’t be a pussy. Between the both of us, we can bench almost six hundred pounds.”

We’ve played football side by side for seven years, talked more shit to each other than an entire frat on initiation night, and tag teamed in bar brawls at least a dozen times. Yet still, when he questions my strength, I can’t help but give in to the juvenile tendency and prove him wrong.

He’s a pain in my ass, but I can’t lie; with him, shit gets done. He’s the quarterback, the captain, and a decent guy who can inject inspiration into a team down 60-0. So while Iwantto bare my teeth and drop the couch on his feet, I move to the right.

Sure enough, it slides in with ease, and Bellamy’s bright teeth peek from behind a triumphant smile.

Of course.

We maneuver the couch into my new living room and collapse in unison on the cool leather. He stretches his arms above his head, a thin layer of sweat glistening on his dark skin. His biceps are half an inch away from touching my new furniture, and my left eye twitches involuntarily as I track his movement. My hand shifts of its own accord, adjusting the watch on my opposite wrist.

He must feel my stare and laughs, drawing his arms back and slapping his hands down on his knees. “Come on Mr. Clean, only a few more boxes. Then your ass is ordering me some pizza and grabbing a six-pack.”

I grant him a curt nod but wait until after he’s gotten up and I’ve inspected the clean leather before following him outside. The rest of the boxes are easy enough to carry in, the heaviest being for myguestbedroom.

At Solace Square, every room must be filled by an applicant, but after a little bit of negotiation and giving the property manager what she describes as the best orgasm of her life, she made arrangements.

I’ve waited too long to be alone to share this space with anyone. It’s time I had more control of things inmylife while ridding myself of anything that threatens to take it away.

And as slight as it may seem, the Square is the first step in doing that.

Bellamy helps me lug more of the containers into the spare room before clapping his hands together. “All set, bro. Need any help unpacking these boxes?” His hands linger near one markedwall.

Inside it is a cluster of files containing pictures of different high-profile clients that work with my father. Not to mention an ungodly amount of yarn I use to try and connect the dots. Dots that once deciphered, can help me destroy the old man, and expose everything I’ve watched him cover for years. When really, he’s a sheep in wolf’s clothing, and those fangs he bares are only for show. It’s time people knew how little he’s really made of. But for now, it’s best kept a secret as even I can admit it looks like a conspiracy wall, and I’d rather not have Bellamy worry.

I keep my voice calm and shake my head. “I’m ready to eat, Bell.”

He nods, his dark eyes lighting up. “Hell yeah.”

After he walks out, I take a quick look around the room. With the newfound independence, and the ability to start dismantling my father’s foundation, things may differ this time.

Perhaps now I can stop thinking of the girl with hexagon glasses and wide hazel eyes and focus on the chessboard.

* * *

I slowly wrapa strip of tape around my wrist, methodically counting my pulse in time with the seconds.

6:58.

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