Page 94 of Degradation
I watch them as they talk to each other, sometimes joking around and laughing, but it seems as if something is weighing on them. They keep looking at me, taking turns. It’s like they believe that if one of them isn’t watching me at all times, I’ll disappear in a puff of smoke. They seem to really care about me. I almost feel bad that I’m sort of playing them when it comes to the lab and Envy.
But I’m closer than they are. I got a glimpse of Shade’s laptop in the lab this evening and he’s getting further away.
I steel myself to the guilt I’m beginning to feel. Plan B needs to be something I can actually do, I remind myself. That means I need money. Myownmoney, not some weekly allowance like a little kid that will stop as soon as I’m bad.
The food comes and I dig into my burger and fries, glad they brought me here because thenormalfood is really good.
My phone buzzes and I pick it up, assuming it’ll be Lu because it’s always Lu, but it’s not. It’s Blake.
We need to tell them.
Not yet.
I’ve started forgoing the opening and closing since no one else does that and Lu told me that’s how old people text.
What if that car was for you?
I frown at the message.
The others said it was a drunk driver.
That’s because they don’t know everything. It’s time.
Not yet.
He sighs but leaves it alone.
For the rest of the meal, we talk and laugh. Nothing bad happens andit’s nice. The guys take me back to the house afterward and we sit in Blake’s room to watch a movie.
I’m glad they’re with me after today, especially since the car might have been meant for me. Is Blake right? Is someone trying to kill me? Why? I mull it over for a long time and I know Blake is right. Although there haven’t been any more notes, the car could be considered an escalation.
I fall asleep listening to the guys talking and errantly wondering if Shade will kiss me again.
The next week goes by quickly. I don’t receive any notes, and nothing weird happens. There are no more black cars potentially trying to kill me either. Walking gets much easier and I’m able to start my shifts back at Grinder, as well.
Items of clothing have begun to appear in my room here and there in a steady trickle. Shirts and jeans, stretch pants and sweaters. All of them are soft and breathable, comfy and cottony. Everything is new, and in my size, but when I ask the guys where they’re coming from, they just smile at me and shrug, though I feel their eyes running over my body all the time.
I know it’s them though because I keep finding clothing bags in their rooms.
There’s a Dagorhir battle on Tuesday, but I only watch from the sidelines as my ankle is still weak. I notice that, while Mich is there, he doesn’t come and speak to me, which is a little weird. I haven’t even been able to thank him in person for helping me on Halloween. He hasn’t really been in Grinder either.
Afterward, Lu finds me. Her cheeks are red and she’s out of breath, but she’s grinning from ear to ear. ‘Did you see that? I almost won!’
‘I saw,’ I say, smiling back. ‘You were great! I hope I can join again soon. It’s not as much fun spectating.’
‘Guess what! Shannon, you know, my cousin. She’s got something for us. She’s going to get it to me as soon as she can.’
‘What is it?’ I ask, my skin prickling with anticipation.
‘She wouldn’t say on the phone, but she sounded excited, so fingers crossed!’
I shove my cold hands in my pockets. Maybe this’ll soon be at an end. I’ve been getting impatient that it’s taking so long, and I wish I could find out more myself, but the police report is the next step. I hope it arrives soon and tells us something real. We’ve made such little progress. But then Blake’s investigation seems to be going slowly, too. Whatever he’s trying to find in the security system diagnostics is taking forever, and I know he’s getting frustrated as well.
‘Anything else happen?’ Lu asks in a low voice.
I shake my head. ‘No more black Camaros.’
‘Good. I’ll see you at the coffee shop later?’
