After Hours

Chapter 33.

Ember's POV.

   I wake to some sunlight pouring in through the cracks in the rafters above me. I wake before Grayson and just look at his peaceful face, sleeping soundlessly. I feel tears begin to pool into my eyes.

  "I'm going to miss you so much," I whisper, letting a tear of my own fall onto his cheek.

   His eyelids flutter open and he smiles at me. I quickly brush my tears away and force a tight smile onto my face. He leans up and plants a kiss on my forehead. I smile and return the kiss on his forehead.

  "Gross," I hear Eva say and she walks up to me, smiling. "How are you guys doing?"

   I smile at her. "Fine. Just fine."

   She smiles and rubs her stomach. "I'm starving. Can I get something to eat?" she asks.

   I'm so glad she finally wants to eat. I guess the talk we had yesterday really had an effect on her. "Of course," I say and go to the door.

  "Cameron!" I yell. "Can you come here please?"

   Eva walks over to me and throws an arm on my shoulder. "Why is he so fond of you? I thought he was evil?" she says.

  "I have no idea," I say, taking the food that Cameron hands me.

   Cameron pulls me aside again and whispers in my ear. "I'm coming to get him in three hours. Please make this believable," Cameron says.

  "And Eva," I add.

   Cameron sighs. "And Eva."

   I smirk at him and close the door. I get a horribly sad feeling and walk back to Grayson, hands fumbling in front of me. I can't lie to him. I need to tell him exactly where he's going. But he won't let me stay here with Cameron. I'm sure he'd rather die than have me stay here, and I feel the same.

  "Want some?" Grayson asks me, his mouth filled with muffins.

  "No, I'm ok," I say, brushing a crumb off his chin.

   He shrugs and eats the rest of the muffin, Eva helping herself to all the delicious things in front of her. I sit down, legs crossed on the ground and fumble with my hair. I'm the one that needs a shower. Sorry. This is no time for joking. What will Grayson do when he realizes that I lied to him? That I'm going to die here and there is absolutely nothing he can do to stop this. I want him to go. I want him to go home, but not knowing that I lied to him. I can't lie to him. I need to tell him the truth.

   Right?

  "That was amazing," Grayson says, bringing me from my thoughts.

  "I'm glad," I say, and gently lace my fingers through his. He seems surprised by my actions and blushes down at me.

  "Love is very confusing," Eva says, from her spot on the floor.

  "Love?" Grayson asks, smiling. "I like the sound of that."

   I smile. "Love is confusing. Very."

  "I thought I might have had love. Then, he was ripped from me. I think he might have had a crush on me, but never love. Or maybe he did. He just went so fast," she says, tears welling up  in her blue eyes.

   Devan. I know it sounds bad, but I kinda forgot about him. He did go so fast. So quickly he was ripped from Eva. How would that have been if it was Grayson? I have to sympathize with her.

  "I'm sorry about Devan. I didn't know how you felt about him. At least the last person he saw was you," I whisper.

  "Yeah," she says, wiping her eyes.