Lie To Me

CHAPTER TEN

NEITH

The cheers and enraged cries enveloped me. Just when I was about to greet Cyril at the ring, my phone vibrated in my pocket.

Meet me at the hospital asap. Love you.

It was a text from my mother. How would I ever explain why I'd be late? I mentally strategized. I would first congratulate Cyril, then tell him I had to go and get a ride to the hospital. It was so flawless; my mom wouldn't even ask.

I nodded to myself and looked back up in Cyril's direction, only to see the ring empty and Cyril nowhere to be found.

I bit my lip harshly and searched the area for Dimitri instead.

"Hey. Where's Cyril?" I tapped him on the shoulder, ignoring the motionless body he was ruthlessly splashing water at.

"Probably changing." He replied curtly.

Of course. I trudged over to a free seat and gazed around curiously, hoping to catch sight of Cyril whenever he finally came out.

The minutes passed perpetually. I had been sitting there so long that Vicks had woken up and was now interacting with the few people who had stayed after the match.

I tapped my feet and took another look around the room.

Then, with a swift motion, a dark-haired girl toppled backward through the door at the end of the corridor. Seemingly shaken up, I watched as she slid her arms through her cropped jacket and patted down her jeans. We shared a second of eye contact before she crinkled her nose at me and continued down the hall.

A click sounded at the door and when I looked up, I was met with the same icy eyes that I was after. "Neith?" He questioned almost exasperated. Was I intruding? "Um– Uh yeah I was just checking where you might be because I have to go home and you're the one that drove me here and Dimitri said I could find you he—" I rambled on before he cut me off, "Right, I'm sorry we could head out right now just let me get a few things."

He left the door agape as he shuffled back inside. I took this time to cool my warm cheeks with the back of my blood-drained hands.

The door was pulled back all the way before my hands dropped from my face as fast as they could. My nerves were curled up all across my body and I regretted not running back home. His face was sapped, somber filled under his blues, making them pop out clearer than usual. His hair was a matted mess that somehow still managed to fall across his forehead, but his cracked lips and cheeks gave away some doleful effect.

"You ready?"

This time his voice was more composed. Was he getting down and dirty with that girl from earlier? It was not my business to question, but it does graze a small part of me. I was practically ogling him all evening when he was simply doing a good deed for me. Gladly I kept my thoughts to myself.

"Yeah," I gulped before nodding, "I am."

I made way for him and fiddled with the hem of my shirt as I followed him out of the hallway. He was approached once again by different groups of people, and it took us about five minutes to feel the crisp air of the night. "So how was the fight?" I tried to squeeze in some small talk to reduce any obstruction.

"I was unprepared Neith," He was a little ahead of me, but he turned his head slightly to give me another glance at the lethargy that daubed his face. He didn't seem to be in the mood to chat. "But you won regardless?" I hesitantly replied. He did not react to it.

The car flashed when he clicked a button on his keys, and before I could get my hand on the handle his bruised hand covered it and then pulled. I stared at his face once more, but his glazed eyes were looking further into the distance.