Empty. Zander's seat was empty. I thought I saw him just now. Where has he gone off to? Gladion is gone too...Could he...?
I placed my utensils down with a clatter, earning Ducan's and Wiliam's attention.
"What happened?" Ducan asked.
"Nothing. I just need to use the washroom," I lied and make my way to the door. The moment I was out of sight, I made a dash to Gladion's meeting room. Please don't say anything stupid, I prayed.
"Actually Fortis..." I heard the moment I reached outside the meeting room and I slammed the door open.
"Zander!" I warned and they turned to look at me.
"Hi, Fortis. Is there anything you need from him?" Gladion scrutinized me, clearly unhappy that I had burst in without notice.
"I...I did not see him in the dining hall and I...um..." I fumbled with my words. I'm a goner if I say anything wrong.
"Why? You're worried that he'll be skipping his meal?" Gladion guessed.
Not knowing what else to say, I grabbed onto the straw of life that Gladion had unknowningly threw out to me.
"Uhuh," I bobbed my head up and down.
"Oh, you've became such good friends already?" Gladion enquired.
"Yup, friends!" I laughed nervously and avoided Zander's bewildered gaze.
"Oh then it's okay, we were just about to discuss your training progress. I shall not delay his breakfast any longer then," Gladion revealed to my astonishment. So Zander was not planning to tell on me...
I glanced over at Zander sheepishly and he gave me a look that said 'What the hell are you doing?'
"Run along now children," Gladion dismissed us with a wave.
I need to continue this act or Gladion would sense something fishy going on. "Come on, let's go Zander!" I cheerily waved him over and he stood up with a murderous look on his face. I forced my smile in place until the door was closed behind us. Shit. What have I done?
"Since when were we friends?" Zander confronted the moment we were out of Gladion's earshot.
I gulped.
"I'm serious. What were you trying to do back there?" Zander demanded.
"I..." I stared up at him, speechless.
He deserved to know what happened. I swallowed the lump in my throat.
"Okay, I thought that you were going to rat on me so I did that to stop you..."
"I said that I don't need you to tell me. Which part of my words do you not understand?" he glowered.
I narrowed my eyes at him. "I just don't trust you, that's all."
"Even without trust, you should've known that I won't risk it just to turn you in."
"Yup, just like how you would rather let me die than risk your own safety."
His face softened. "I..."
I raised a brow skeptically. Is he going to deny it?
"Never mind," he finished and headed towards the dining hall. I huffed and went into the dining hall after him.
Ducan looked up as Zander and I took our seats at the table. What happened? Ducan conveyed through his eyes. Nothing, I shot him a quick smile.
YOU ARE READING
Just the Start. (The Clovers series: Book 1)
FantasyA single invitation, a single disobedient act, a drastic change in life. Fortis was raised singlehandedly by her mother. Her mother was loving but extremely protective and Fortis was unable to understand why. So far, Fortis had followed most of her...