“Are you finally admitting you’ve always been a narcissist?” Clara tried to listen to the breakdown he gave her, but truthfully, she checked out after psychopaths and narcissists.
Carver exhaled loudly. “Ouch. I give you a whole explanation to try and help you and that’s your takeaway? What the hell, Clara, I was just trying to help.”
She rolled her eyes. “I know, I know. Sorry. Shouldn’t have said that.”
“Did you learn anything from what I said? If we end up participating in the festival, you have to act…normal…” He cringed away from his last statement, and she assumed it was in preparation for her response.
“Normal?” She questioned, giving him a chance to correct his statement. She acted perfectly fine, thank you very much.
“Yeah, no offense, but you’re not exactly good at socializing.” Clara clenched her fists at her side to avoid smacking him across the face.I won’t break the rules; I won’t break the rules; I won’t break the rules.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Again, another opportunity for him to change his statement, and he would if he knew what was good for him.
“How many friends have you had in the last couple years? Do you go to parties? Do you talk to people regularly?” Anger welled in her chest. How dare he.
“I have friends.”
“Yeah? And are they nice to you? Are you nice to them? Would you confide in them?” She opened her mouth to yell at him, but he held up a hand, “My point is this. We’re supposed to be from Calyndor. Girls from there aren’t usually trained warriors. They laugh. They smile. They have a lightness about them that, quite frankly, you don’t have.” His eyebrows drew together, and Clara didn’t appreciate how serious he looked.
“Wonder why.” If he wanted happy and carefree, maybe he should have made better decisions. Her heart ached as once again, that fateful day flashed before her vision.
“I’m sure there’s a million reasons why I don’t know. I’m not trying to start a fight.”
“Well, apparently you don’t have to try.” Another biting remark was all she could offer to keep from crying.
“Clara, that’s not—” His frustration bled through every word, but what right did he have to be frustrated?
She cut him off, “Just shut up. We’re approaching the town. Stay focused.”
18CARVER
Carver felt the tension the second he started saying things he should have hidden. He knew better. He watched her shoulders tighten, her fists clench at her sides. He was honestly surprised she didn’t swing at him. He can’t say he would have complained if she had tackled him–the evening would have been a lot more interesting.
But she restrained her fury, and he had to give her some measure of credit for that. He didn’t want her to be angry at him. If she didn’t figure out how to act well for this assignment, she would be the death of them–a reality she didn’t seem to fully comprehend. He hoped she listened to at least some of what he said, and maybe once the anger faded she would see the validity and change enough for it to work.
Fat chance. She was a woman after all.
He could barely make out the silhouettes of the buildings as they exited the forest. He felt too exposed, and both slowed their steps. There were no lights or movement in the town, but that didn’t mean they were safe.
They approached the back of the first building, pressing themselves into the shadows as they waited for anything they couldn’t see. Clara moved gracefully, checking the edges, “I’mgoing up,” she whispered, motioning along the side of the building. His eyes moved to scan the roof, and he nodded his approval. Catching her eye again before she began climbing, he moved his finger in a circle to show he would walk the perimeter.
She was gone as soon as he finished the motion, already scaling the side of the building by the water pipe. He crept along the edge, careful at the corner and the alley between two buildings. Nothing moved and he relaxed a little.
He froze when he heard a rustle, and almost jumped when a mouse scampered out and darted around his feet. He blamed his jumpiness on the lack of sleep from giving Clara his room. That’s the only reason he startled.
He stood still when he reached the front of the building, staying in the shadows but observing as much as he could of the town. The stillness felt unreal. Shutters creaked from the wind, and branches blew across the town. Clouds filtered in and out across the moon casting constantly moving shadows. But there was no sign of life, so even in these movements the stillness was overwhelmingly heavy.
He did flinch when Clara soundlessly landed beside him. Even with her bag slung across her back and hair blowing in the wind, there was nothing to alert him of her presence.
“Dang it, Clara!”
Her teeth gleamed in the moonlight, “Jumpy much.”
He groaned, knowing she wouldn’t let him live this down easily. He thought about trying to find something to throw back at her, but decided the best course of action was changing the conversation altogether. “I think it’s abandoned.”
“Obviously. From the roof I still couldn’t see anyone. I guess it’s technically the best case scenario.”
Best case scenario. The words floated through his head, taunting him. Nothing about this situation was the best case scenario. Having her here was like preparing to live out a scenefrom his nightmares: to have her in front of him, close enough to touch, then watch her be ripped away by something he’s not quite strong enough to protect her from.
