Hazel eyes were suddenly on me, sharper, narrowed “you’re here to improve. To get better. Nobody is going to go easy on you.”
I muttered under my breath and turned my gaze away. I could feel the heat of Matthew’s on the side of my face.
“I get it.” I said through clenched teeth “stop glaring at me.”
“I’m not glaring.” Matthew scoffed. He glanced back towards Jack, then nodded towards the end of the field “go on, then, check on him. Might put your mind at ease.”
Half the reason for my mindnotbeing at ease was Matthew’s presence in the first place, but checking if Stryker was still alive would probably help.
It was the second time in a very brief period that I’d visited the healers’ room.
Stryker was easy to spot, seeing as there were only two people in there in the first place.
He had dark bruises under his eyes and a white blanket covered his torso, where the real damage had been done. He seemed tired- bored more than anything- and blinked up at me when I arrived at his bedside “hey.” He croaked, bringing a hand up to wave.
I smirked at him “hey. Your asshole friend tried to coach me today. He sucks.”
Stryker tilted his head “Jack?” He clarified slowly.
“Hm.”
“He’s not that bad.” He mumbled, offering a small smile.
I huffed out a laugh in return “you okay?”
“An elk charged at me, gutted me and threw me against a tree. So…yeah, great.”
“Fuck.”
“Yeah, fuck’s about right.”
I watched Stryker struggle to sit up, bringing a hand to his head.
“Hey-“ I started, but Octavia got there first, jogging over, her brown eyes wide.
“Lie down, you fool.” She hissed “you have a concussion.”
Stryker frowned at her, expression dazed. “That explains why I’m seeing things.”
Octavia laughed lightly “you’re not.”
I frowned too, and Stryker’s eyes narrowed further.
"I just need to check you up. What's your name?"
His mouth ticked up on one side, amused even when half asleep and clearly very confused."Stryker Aisen."
“And do you know who I am?"
"I think so, if I’mnotseeing things. Octavia Florence. Ex girlfriend. Virginity stealer."
A flush crept up Octavia’s cheeks "I didn'tstealyour virginity" she said hotly "it was mutually….exchanged."
A beat went by before Stryker let out a burst of laughter, all deep and rumbly and maybe a little bit painful if the way his hand settled on his side was anything to go by.
Octavia ducked her head, trying to hide both her blush and her smile.
"Mutually exchanged," he repeated. "That's a good one, 'Tavia."
