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Chapter 18 - "Play nice."

"Where's Link?" she asked, without opening her eyes.

Donovan glanced to where Link stood with Maddy. The girl edged closer to him and laughed warmly. At least one of them wasn't in dangerous waters.

"Never mind," Carter said. "I have my answer."

Donovan continued to stare at Link, soaking in the smile on his friend's face. It contrasted the worried wrinkle of that morning. He didn't know how long they could be together without Maddy asking about his father but right then, Donovan enjoyed seeing Link happy.

"That's why Link doesn't wear cologne," Carter said, pulling Donovan back into the present.

Since she wasn't ignoring him or cutting him with her razor-sharp tongue, Donovan took this as a sign that she didn't want to discuss the night before. He accepted this, though it made him feel like a coward for avoiding it.

Donovan gave a single nod to her statement.

"Keeps attention on you," Carter said. She gave a low chuckle. "Makes sense. He smells just normal. Another way to keep him inconspicuous."

When she rested her head back on the lockers and stared at the far wall, Donovan chanced a glance at her. She looked relaxed, but that meant nothing, he knew her ability to hide her emotions. Even though most of the time she allowed others to see them clearly. Right then he couldn't decipher what she was thinking or feeling.

"How have you lived being surrounded by so much mediocrity for so long?" she asked.

Donovan shrugged, not sure where the choice of topic stemmed from. "Because I have to."

"I would have gone mad by now." She rubbed her face. "I'm glad I'm almost out of this pit of low intellect."

A tinge of weariness escaped with her words and Donovan wondered how the past four years had been for her. Though knowing her personality, personal history, and social standing it wasn't hard to imagine. He'd seen how she'd pushed Link and him away, it must have been a common tactic for her over the years. Only Link's desire to be friends kept them coming back to her. And Donovan could have ruined that last night. He inwardly swore again at his idiocy.

"Where do you plan to go after this?" Donovan asked, wanting to keep the neutral ground they walked.

"I haven't decided yet. Every college accepted me. I just haven't figured out how far away I want to go. What follows this for you?"

Two more years. A lifetime. No time at all. A letter of recommendation from the President himself and a world of possibilities. But also a path of a million unknowns for someone who'd only known one thing for the past six years.

"When Douglas's term ends in two years," Donovan said, lowering his voice. "I will no longer be," he hesitated even though he knew no one was likely listening to him. Still, he chose his words carefully just in case. "required to be Link's friend. We'll go our separate ways."

Separate ways. It was the truth in the situation but not in permanence. Donovan knew Link would be in his life for the rest of it. The only shift would be the job Donovan had.

Carter faced Donovan and he felt that wall whittle away just a fraction.

"Where will you go? What will you do?" she asked.

Donovan opened his mouth but realized his exact answer didn't exist. The bell rang, saving him from trying to form an answer to a large question.

"An explanation for another time," he said.

"I'll hold you to it," Carter said.

At the promise, Donovan couldn't help the tiny smile that appeared. Whatever the size of his mistake, she didn't seem to be letting it destroy whatever form of friendship they'd created before the moment.