Freaks

4 • answers

"I don't understand..."

"To be honest, I don't know a lot either," he sighs. "I overheard him talking the day before. It didn't make much sense until after the parade. He says he doesn't want to put people in an even more frenzied state. Haven is not the place it used to be, you know?"

I nod slowly, letting his words sink in, "So where does it get to the part explaining why you can't tell me?"

"Lucy, please."

"You're honestly keeping this from me?"

"I'm sorry." He says again, getting up. I follow his action but not able to look him in the eye anymore.

"I guess I should go now." I murmur after a moment of silence, sling my bag over my shoulder, and picking up the discarded fro-yo pot.

"I'll give you a lift." He offers, eager as always to drive.

"Don't bother. I'll walk." I reply curtly. A pained look flashes in his eyes as I walk past him.

Andrew and I have always had secrets between us, but it's always been secrets about our past, never our present, never through things we've been through together.

"Wait." Andrew grabs my hand before I can fully get away.

I stop and turn to him, waiting for an answer. "What?"

He glances around him warily before speaking again, he comes closer, "Look, I can't tell you everything, but just know this: the fire wasn't an accident."

My face morphs into a look of confusion, but Andrew lets go of my hand before I could say anything. He disappears into the crowded food court, leaving me to revel in his words.

The way Andrew said it made me rethink the past few days, he's keeping more secrets than he's willing to admit and I realise I am too. Perhaps, the secrets of our pasts are finally catching up to the both of us.

❧

   I would say the walk had helped me clear my head if not for the fact that, I was stood at the top step of the front porch thinking of which painkiller I intended to use to calm my impending headache.

It bothered me that what happened at the parade was so similar yet so different to the other events. It bothered me what the doers' motives were. It bothers me that Andrew knows, but feels like he can't tell me.

I push against the door, willing all the worries intent on plaguing my head with dark thoughts to shut up.

It was that moment, as I was attempting to rub away the headache, that I noticed a very familiar sight in front of me. My aunt looking apprehensive. My uncle looking nervous.

And Morgana.

As calm as ever, with that impassive facial expression of hers.

"You really need to call before you show up," I muttered as I took off my jacket, hanging it by the door.

"I'll keep that in mind," Morgana said in an almost bored tone, which suggested she most likely has already forgotten what she said, "I thought you would be happier to see me. Please sit."