Legends

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR: The middle of the street, Centre Street

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She was fired at the library for unfriendly behavior. They had said she made a big commotion out of nothing. No one had believed her.

But she didn't mind it. Being gone from the library meant one less place where Mr. Singleton could stalk her.

"You told me you quit," Asher said, bringing her back to the present.

She had said that indeed. Hearing the pain in his voice, she regretted telling him – or not telling him after it had happened. She lied to him because she didn't want him to know the truth of what his father did. She had thought he would never believe her.

"What was I supposed to say?" she spit out, trying to keep the tears at bay.

"The truth."

Those words made the tears try to come out harder. She stayed silent while collecting herself and subtly wiping away the few tears that managed to escape.

She didn't want this conversation. Asher should have known, but she had never told him. Yet now it was too late to admit it all. It only hurt her to know that she made a mistake. Telling him now was trying to right that mistake, but she didn't feel relieved.

"I was too scared," she finally admitted.

"I could have helped you," Asher said, turning to look at her. "I would have protected you."

"You did help," she said, looking him in the eye. "After that incident at the library, I met you in your pickup and we drove to the other side of the lake."

Asher let out a breath. "So that's why you were so eager."

She nodded while biting her lip. "I wanted you to be my first. I was truly scared that it would be him."

"Did he go further than that?" He couldn't keep the pain out of his voice, but it was the worry that made his voice break.

"I don't want to talk about it." She stood up again, but Asher's voice stopped her – again.

"Elena, please. I want to know what my father did to you."

She didn't turn to him because she found it too embarrassing. She was weak, just like Mr. Singleton had said. And even in his death he haunted her with those words. To this day, she still wasn't strong.

"He never went further," she admitted. "But he also didn't do it just once."

Asher sighed and moved his hands in his hair. "This is so messed up."

Elena could only nod. It was messed up, but she didn't want to talk about it – or even think about it. She had admitted all of that now, and wanted to leave.

But the silence that hung in between them restricted her from doing so. She stayed with Asher and she didn't know why. Especially since she wanted to leave – leave the past, leave Asher, leave Saint Charles. But she waited out the silence.

And eventually she was the one to break and start a conversation.

"The company asked for you."

Asher looked at her questionably. "What company?"

"Dupont. The one that started the gallery."

"You work for them?"

Elena nodded and kicked the ground with her feet. "They asked for 'The Golden Couple,' but I got my individual chance."

"I would have come," Asher said as if it was obvious. "If that's what you wanted me to do, I would have come."

"But you didn't like it," she said while shaking her head. "That's why you never started the career you were offered."