Between Ties

28. If Im Being Honest

"Maverick's been quiet, and that's bad, the darkness doesn't just pull you in all at once it happens gradually until you're fully consumed and I can't even begin to imagine the pull of his darkness trying to drown him in it. It's strong magic! We can't let this happen. The entire community of good witches will be killed if my father gets his way, good witches, kids and people who are just trying to live! No one fucking asks for the magic. You're born with it without a choice and why should witches die over something they have no control over!?" He was serious and it was strange to see a change in Nix, I had never seen him care this much,

Something wasn't right.

"I don't give a fuck about what happens to Maverick and the witch world. That's not my world! He broke-up with me and I don't understand why you would wanna suddenly save kids and witches, and the brother that disowned you." I bluffed and everything I said was a lie but I needed information out of him, I don't trust him "why are you making this your problem!?"

"For the same fucking reason that I didn't consider killing Maverick for his power when I thought the power stealing spell was real!!" He yelled "I love that kid! He is my brother even when he doesn't want to be, and I risked my life to save him once and I'll fucking do it again! I am bad! I'm bad person! I make fucked up decisions! But Maverick!" He swallowed and then said "he's not like me, he has a good heart and I need to fight for him, I can still save him. I know I can!" He didn't look at me but instead I stared at him,

The side of his face that stayed emotionless as I could tell that he was fighting to not show me any.

"You love him, Rhyett. I know you will help me." He was sure,

And if I'm being honest I would help, to save Maverick. That's all I care about in this situation, Maverick and the innocent lives.

"Where are we going?" I asked him and then he responded "I'm taking you home." He nodded "the long way." He smiled small and then he shrugged.

"Great!" I was sarcastic, this made him smirk.

"By the way." I think I'm going to regret saying this so I said it softly "I don't think that you're that bad of a person. I hate you, but you care about him like I care about him and I hate you less for that, I guess." I rolled my eyes and then stared out of the window at the trees and road signs as we zoomed passed everything, moving like a bullet through the air.

Great guitarist but a shitty driver.

"Best friends?" He asked and then I glanced at him with a disgusted look on my face.

"Best friends don't attempt to force each other into kissing them." I didn't forget when he visited me in my apartment. I spat out my words still feeling sick by him.

It was hard to get past the things Nixon had done to me and how he had made me feel...

I was, I was...

I swallowed.

Abused, sexually. I didn't like to think about it, but being around Nix forced me too because I didn't feel safe around him. He violated my trust and my willingness to open up. I'm still vulnerable and he opened a wound I didn't really heal from yet,

It happened in Cali, my moms boyfriend. He...
I....

I can't think about this right now.

I inhaled deeply pushing the memory of that night aside, the colour of the off-white sheets, the dimmed warm lights, his hands gripping my wrists...I forced that memory to fade out.

I didn't want to think about it.

I-

"I'm sorry." He spoke breaking my train of thought and then I rotated my head to see him.