The Only Exception

Part #14

Gareki's P.O.V

Guilt and sadness envelop me as I listen to Nai's screams and sobs. I try to comfort him by rubbing circles into his back and running my other hand through his hair but it doesn't work. His crying and screaming seems to only get worse as time goes on. Eventually Mitzi comes in I glare at her mentally daring her to come closer to us. She stops just a couple inches before us and kneels down beside us to talk to Nai. "Nai, please stop crying and screaming, everything will be okay." She whispered beside him and flinched when he screamed at her. "No it won't be okay! If he goes away than I'll never ever forgive you!" "It's for the best Nai, he's no good." She sighs and reaches over to pat his back before he smacks her hand away harshly. "Don't touch me! Either he's staying or I'm going!" She stands and glares at us both. "So be it. Stay I don't care, but both of you stay away from me until we defeat the president and get out of here." She then walks out leaving only the sound of Nai's sobbing and gasping for air in between. I kiss his temple and lay him down on the bed. He clings to my arm like a child and I pry him off. "Nai I need to go sort things straight I will be back I promise." He nods and buries himself in the blanket trying to hide his sobs and hiccups.

I walk into the kitchen and find Mitzi pacing. I tap my foot to get her attention and she slowly looks over face full of guilt. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do that to him or you." She walks over to me and looks at me. "I'm sorry as well, you know you're one of my best friends." "I guess the pressure just got to our heads and we took it out on each other." She laughs sourly. "Yeah I guess, friends still?" I hold out my arms and she wastes no time hugging me. "Yeah, but you're still a jerk." She playfully glares up at me a smile hinting at her face. We both laugh at this and say our good nights. I walk out of the kitchen and grab my jacket. I walk out into the halls and slip down the stairs silent as a weasel. We need more food but I also just want to be outside again. I slip silently through the doors as the wind blows shutting them a bit louder than intended. I stand there for a bit and let my mind wander.

By the time I'm done with the outside it's almost noon. I shrug. 'Guess I let my mind wander to far.' I slip back in avoiding guards and into the kitchen. I grab all the food I can and slip back up the stairs. I come back into the house and put the food into the kitchen. Mitzi is there with Bridget resting on her hip. She gasps at my sight and throws her free arm around me. "You had us worried sick!" I hug her back. "M'sorry, I was letting my mind wander outside for too long." "Just don't let it happen again, oh and Nai is in the room." I rush into the room to see Nai bawling his eyes out on the bed. I walk over and pull him to me. He pushes me away violently and starts screaming. "You left me! You promised you would come back but you didn't!" I sit up straight. "Nai look I'm sorry, I let my mind wander too far and lost track of time, forgive me?" He glares at me and his face turns red. "No! I will never forgive you for this! I hate you Gareki!" He seems to realize what he says because after he gasps and covers his mouth. I stare shocked, unable to say anything. I feel tears threaten to roll down my cheeks. I angrily turn my head away and stand up. "Fine." That's all I could say before I broke down running into the kitchen collapsing into Mitzi's open arms. I covered my face with my hands and sobbed into her shoulder. She hugged me tightly, "Gareki I know that was hard to hear but I know for a fact he didn't mean it." I shook my head violently his words ringing in my head. 'No! I will never forgive you for this! I hate you Gareki!"