Canvas & Keys

1. Don't Mess With Me When I'm Pissed

As for the others...I'm not sure how much more they can take. I would have thought they'd break by now, but they're extremely strong. They haven't said a word about what happened with their time with you guys, but Vince is trying his best to get it out of them.

It's bad. Really, really bad. By now, they've dropped Ash off at Paddon Manor. She was the least hurt of everyone.

Tell Hattie I'm sorry. And that I'm looking after them as best I can.

- Flannery

"She's not as bad as you've made yourself believe she is," Cruz said to me as I read through it again. "Like I'm sure Drake told you, she wouldn't have sent this until she was absolutely sure it was safe."

I barely noticed when he walked out of the room, reading through it a third, fourth, fifth time, trying not to imagine everything that Beau, Gage, and Savannah were being put through. And if Ash was the least hurt out of all of them...

Tell Hattie I'm sorry.

I swallowed hard, reaching up to wipe under my eyes with the back of my hand, just as Emmy knocked on the open door. When she saw my tears, her expression turned panicked.

"What happened?" she said in a hurry. "Did Ash...?"

"No," I mumbled, shaking my head. "No, nothing happened with her. It's just...Cruz got an email from Flannery."

She nodded, sitting down on the edge of the bed, and looked over at Ash before back to me. "He showed us. John's already on a call with Juliet." Looking at me more closely, she knew something else was up. "What happened before? I passed Drake a little while ago and he looked more than a little pissed..."

"We got in a fight," I told her, decided not to beat around the bush since she was bound to find out no matter what. "About Flannery and her lack of contact over the past two weeks. I told him I couldn't trust her and I didn't see how he did...and it just kind of escalated from there. I know I shouldn't have said some of the things I did, especially now with the email."

"Sounds like you have some apologizing to do, huh?" Emmy smiled slightly, nodding toward the door. "I'll stay here with Ash. Go. Talk to Drake. And then get some sleep. You really need it right now."

***

Drake's bedroom door was slightly cracked as I made my way toward his room. I took it as an open invitation...even though it more than likely wasn't.

Taking a deep breath, I slowly pushed it open, seeing his things spread out across the room and his unmade bed, but he was nowhere in sight. It wasn't until I saw the bathroom light on and a shadow moved along the floor that I knew where he was.

Drake was standing in front of the sink dressed in a t-shirt and pajama pants. He was leaning forward against the counter, his head hung down. I just stood there, leaning against the doorway until he looked up and saw me in the mirror behind him. He didn't say a word, just stared.

Well, let's get it all out there in the open, Hattie.

"I'm sorry."

He didn't acknowledge me. I wasn't surprised either, especially since I'd given him the silent treatment more than once when I was mad at him.

Standing up straighter, I continued, not taking my eyes from his. "I'm sorry for what I said about Flannery. It was out of line, especially since you've known her a lot longer than I have. I've only met her in passing and every time, she's helped us. You can't really blame me for being suspicious of a person I barely know, though, especially when that person is in the Order."

Drake looked away, but kept the same stance against the counter.

"I told myself I would trust her until she did something that would make me think otherwise. And so far, nothing has happened," I went on. "But two weeks without a word...well, it got to me, Drake. With her email now, saying she's going to take care of Beau, Gage, and Savannah as best she can...well, I have to trust she will do everything she can. I'm going to...because you and Cruz trust her."

I waited...and waited and waited and waited for him to look at me again. Or even say something, whether it was an acceptance to my apology or to keep fighting with me about it.

I got nothing.

So I moved toward him until I was just a few inches away. I noticed when he tensed immediately, feeling me so close. Too bad, buddy.

I wrapped my arms around his waist, pressing my face into his back. Closing my eyes, I breathed him in, reveling in the hug I was giving and not receiving and yet still made my stomach turn to knots.

"I trust you, Drake. I'm sorry for what I said. I'm just stressed and worn out," I whispered against him before turning to press my cheek against his back. "And I'm scared more than anything. I know I've got everyone behind me – John and Emmy...Cruz...the Brotherhood and the Knights...and now Flannery. And I've got you, Drake. I need you. You're not the only one who's been waiting for years. So have I...and I'm not about to let you get away from me any time soon."

And with that, I held him for one more long moment before letting go.

Sure, I'd said my peace...but now it was up to him to accept it. I meant what I said about not letting him get away from me, too, even though I turned and walked away from him then.

For now...well, my bed and I hadn't been on a date in a while and it was practically begging.

***Well, hello, my lovely readers!  

Are you guys ready for another awesome roller coaster ride in Canvas & Keys?!?  

For the next two weeks, I've still got my summer class, so I'll only be uploading once or so a week.  But after, I've got three weeks of only work (and that's only 3-4 times a week), so I'll be able to upload even more.  

Tell me what you think of the first chapter!  The next chapter will be up at the beginning of next week.  

You know what to do!  

Comment and vote!!!1***