Love Lines

32: Blown Away

Chapter Thirty-Two

"What are you—are you doing here?"

I'll admit, I was nervous. Him being here wasn't a good omen. Not to mention how he got here. I never thought about it before, never really voiced my worry over it. But here we were, Chris standing in a place he literally shouldn't be able to.

"I think you know."

I turned my head a little as I took him in. He was dressed how he normally would, jeans, a t-shirt, beat up Converses, but there was something about him that was a little different and I couldn't put my finger on it. Other than the fact he was oozing hatred and anger, there was just no indicator...

"Need a little help? I know it's dark and all but...we've known each other for years so you should be able to figure it out. But I'll help...because I'm feeling generous."

He held out his left hand for me to see and I watched his skin suddenly caught fire. With patience, he waited for me to get it as the surprise of the fire died down and I was able to track it up his arm. It covered his whole hand and wrist, being fed in by his life lines...

Life lines that were now glowing green and blue and purple.

I looked up from his arm slowly to meet his eyes and swallowed. "You're Elite."

He smiled and put out the fire, plunging us back into semi-darkness. A silver ring I'd never seen glinted on his third finger as the dim light from the lantern caught it. "I am."

"How?" I whispered. "When..." My onslaught of questions were cut off by a growl. We both looked over at the wolf, who was standing by the gate just a few feet away. His teeth were bared at Chris in warning.

I took the opportunity while he was distracted to move away but as quick as his back swing was while playing tennis, Chris wrapped his hand around my arm to stop me. This was by no means a friendly gesture. The wolf didn't like it, snarling his disapproval through the bars and ramming himself against the iron to make his point. It wasn't a hard hit, just enough to try and snag Chris's attention. But Chris was completely focused on me as he began to drive the point he was making home.

"You know, I'm not even supposed to be here but I couldn't help myself. I'm not one for dramatics but this was something I had to do."

He hauled me to my feet in one swift move, everything about him not consistent with the boy I grew up with, the one I trusted. Completely dumbfounded, my wits were scattered about me in pieces.

"So here we are, Nat." He wrapped an arm around my shoulders like there was nothing wrong. "You and me once again...go ahead and ask your stupid questions. I know you have tons. I would."

I kept my lips sealed, knowing it probably wasn't the best thing to do. We were always taught to keep them talking, to prolong the inevitable so help could possibly arrive. But for the life of me I couldn't make my talking apparatus work. I was too shocked to even think up anything other than what I'd already said.

He didn't seem to like that too much. Chris wanted me to ask questions, wanted to tell me all about it...just like the villains always do.

"Well if you're not going to talk, do you mind if I say something?" He waited until I nodded and gripped my arm tighter so I was really pressed up against him. "My...friend told me not to come here tonight. They were afraid something might happen. But I decided this was too good of an opportunity to pass up. I mean...there I was mooning over you, watching you torture both of us with Cyrus...even I have to admit, that paper trick was pretty damn spectacular. I had no clue how wrong I was about you, about everything. For years, I thought you were the girl of my dreams. But you weren't. Sorry if I made you believe otherwise."