“Walked across the beam on your first attempt, even standing on it. You should be proud. No one ever does that.”
Gray snapped her head back to flash me an angry glare. “You…made me attempt an impossible task?”
“Not impossible. Only one other person has done what you did.”
A heavy pause sank between us. Only the energy of one person could have that effect.
“Chrome,” Gray whispered, shadows of guilt filling her gray-blue eyes.
I flattened my lips into a resigned smile. “Yeah.”
“You knew I’d do it?” Her question was full of skepticism.
“I did.”
“How?”
I shrugged, still balancing us both on the beam. “Just a hunch, I guess.”
Gray’s gaze held mine in a trance before she sighed. “I guess we should head back down now?”
“Yeah,” I said, stepping back while maintaining my hold on her arms. “Let’s go.”
I walked with ease across the beam, guiding the princess along behind me. I felt her wobble with each step, but she didn’t fall.
We reached the small platform, and I gestured to her to go down the steps first. She didn’t hesitate and began her descent. I followed behind, replaying everything that happened on the beam. I told myself she didn’t return my affection, that I was simply the first person to show her true kindness. To offer her friendship. Fuck, I needed to introduce her to Hazel to give her another friend, but timing was everything. Nothing could look suspicious.
My adrenaline rush took a nosedive.
Just friends. Only friends. No point in getting my hopes up.
My feet touched the concrete floor, and I turned, putting my attention on the princess once again. “You okay?” I asked, assessing her body for any potential injuries.
The princess’s eyes drooped, presumably from the waning adrenaline in her veins. She tried to hide her shaking hands by crossing them over her chest, but I could see the quiver of her muscles. “Yeah, I’m great.”
I walked closer to her. “Hey,” I said softly. “You did amazing.”
“I failed.”
I laced my fingers together in front of me, angling my head to scrutinize her. “No. You didn’t. Princess Gray,” I started, “you’re going to be fucking deadly. I don’t envy anyone who pisses you off.”
Gray snorted, shaking her head. “I’ll just get punished. Publicly.”
I dropped my chin. “But no one will dare to test you once you stand up for yourself.”
“Or it could make them want to challenge me more. Eventually, there will be someone who will best me,” she argued.
“I hate to break it to you, but the only person who will be able to best you is Chrome. And I can promise you, he will never challenge you,” I assured her.
Gray’s face paled. “What?”
“He’s got more experience, it makes sense that he—”
“No, the last part.”
“That he won’t challenge you?” I asked, furrowing my brow in confusion.
“Yeah,” she responded with a desperate nod. “Why not?”
