Page 36 of Origins
My mother’s message was brief—as usual. She only wanted to know how classes were going. I replied that I was studying for the evening. And I knew that would be it, there would be no other inquiries into my life.
The other message was from Finn.
Answer your damn phone.
I wasn’t sure what he was talking about—I had no missed calls. Before I could attempt to compose a response, the phone began to ring.
Finn.
My heart raced as I stared at the cell. What in the world was with this timing? I couldn’t ignore his call, though. Who knows what would happen if I dared.
“Hello?” My voice was weak, but I didn’t care. I just needed this to be over.
“Come to the door,” Finn replied emotionlessly. Then there was a click as he disconnected just as abruptly.
I stared at my phone in disbelief; and outside of my panic, a sense of righteous fury began to swell inside. It was an unfamiliar feeling, but I latched onto it like a lifeline. Anything was better than the fear. Because I was scared of Finn’s reaction, but still…
Howdarehe command me around like this.
I’d come to the door, of that I was certain. And I would be calm and mature about it, too. Someone had to be the adult between the two of us.
My mind was in a haze as I stomped through the house and swung the front door open. I was not surprised to see Finn there, looking completely unashamed—and impeccable. He was furious, but I met his gaze without flinching. If it surprised him, he didn’t let it show.
He opened his mouth to speak—
“What are you doing here?” I pointed my shaking finger at him. “You…youbutthead? I’m very angry with you.”
Finn’s eyes flashed dangerously, but I couldn’t remember why I cared. All of my succinctly planned arguments were of no use at the sight of his smug face. How dare he be angry? He was the one who lied to me. He was the one who was wrong.
“Did you just call me a butthead?” His voice strained, and his temper appeared to be holding by a thread. “Who do you think you are talking to?” He stepped into the entryway, bringing himself only a few inches in front of me.
I glared at his larger, taller frame. I wouldn’t be intimidated. “Who do youthink thatyouare talking to, Finn?” I threw the words back at him. He was so close I could feel the burning heat of his body. But instead of making me feel secure—like it would have before—I became only more furious.
He had no right to be mad at me. I wanted to punch him in the face.
“You lied to me,” I spat out the poisonous words.
“What are you talking about?” Finn’s eyebrow twitched. “Who was that man on your phone? And why has your phone been off? Where did you go today?”
I was seething. “Why would you lie to me?” Somewhere in the back of my mind I knew it was a bad idea to rile him, but at the moment all logic had fled. “You were my friend. How could you do that to me? Ihateyou.” I pushed against his chest, needing him to leave. I didn’t want to see his stupid face ever again.
Finn’s temper snapped, flaring to life. His eyes went wild as he suddenly lunged forward and gripped my arm, shoving me against the wall with a crash. I didn’t even have time to blink in surprise as pain exploded through my arm and back, and he was in front of me again—trapping me in between him and the wall.
The fact that he had gotten physical didn’t penetrate through the despair that had taken root in my mind. I only needed him to understand—why would he have done those things?
“Why would you do that?” My heart broke all over again. Seeing him face-to-face made everything more real.
“What are you talking about? Why would I dowhatto you, Bianca?” Finn’s hand was on my face, lightly touching the bruise I barely remembered getting now. “Are you taking your medication? You seem to be confused.”
Reality slammed into me, and my heart lurched as my fury fled. “Stop asking me that question.” I twisted, trying to break free. But my actions only seemed to intensify his anger.
He pressed closer and his grip was now a painful force on my chin. My arm throbbed from where he had thrown me, and it was now being twisted behind me painfully.
Finn didn’t seem to notice that he was hurting me—or didn’t care. His hold tightened as he forced my head back, so there was no way I could miss the blazing inferno in his eyes. “Where did you go today,exactly?”
The power in his voice shot a shrill of terror through me. I had never heard him sound like this before. He was terrifying.
I had been stupid. I had angered Finn—causing him to lose his temper. Now I was trapped with no way to fight back.
