Allegiant (24 page)

He smiles. “I didn’t say I did terrible.
I’ll pass.”

I nod. “Good.”

We walk back to our apartments in relative
silence. When we reach the street corner closest to home, Garrett
asks, “So, I take it last night went well?”

“
Yes.”

“
You’re no longer fighting
with James?”

I shake my head.

Garrett falls silent, and I want to ask him
about Meg. Would James get in trouble for telling me as much as he
did? “I have a question.”

“
Shoot.”

“
Why can’t I know who a
Guardian’s Ward is? Say, for example, Meg’s,” I try to ask
nonchalantly. “Why is that so secret?”

Garrett gives me a knowing smile. “You’d
make a terrible interrogation officer.”

I roll my eyes. “Why can’t I know?”

“
Let me guess,” Garrett
pretends to think. “James told you Meg is hanging around because it
has something to do with her duty, right?”

One eyebrow lifts in question. “Are you
telling me he’s lying?”

He chuckles. “No. He’s telling the
truth.”

“
It’s Dane, isn’t it?” I
stop walking. “Meg is Dane’s Guardian.”

Garrett stops a few steps ahead of me and
turns. “Would that upset you?”

“
No.” I try to look
unaffected and fail. “Yes. I don’t know.”

“
And that’s precisely why,”
he says matter-of-factly. “Guardians don’t need jealousy or
animosity among Wards. You’re not supposed to know we even exist.
It only complicates matters.”

I start walking again. “How so?”

“
Suppose you told your
friend Shel that she has a Guardian. What would she do?”

“
Probably freak out,” I
concede. “She’d think I was crazy.”

“
Exactly,” Garrett says.
“And if you knew who her Guardian was? Would you be tempted to tell
her?”

I shrug. “Maybe.”

“
And if she knew? Would she
be creeped out that this person felt her emotions? Was capable of
watching her every move? Guided her decisions so she was kept safe
from danger? Would she try to have a friendship with this
person?”

“
Okay! Okay! I got it.” I
push my phone into my pocket and reach for my keys as we approach
the front door of our building. “Knowing who a Guardian’s Ward is
should be kept secret.”

Garrett nods in agreement.

I open the door, and he follows me inside.
“You know more than about Guardians than any other human I’ve ever
interacted with,” he says. “You’ve handled it well, but I’m not so
sure about the general population. You know how humans are prone to
frenzy whenever they discover something they don’t understand.”

I laugh and throw out a couple of examples.
“Crop circles? Area 51?”

Garrett smiles, then whispers, “I can vouch
for the crop circles.”

My eyes grow wide.

He shrugs. “Hey, a few of us got bored.”

I shake my head in disbelief. “You sure know
how to mess with people.”

Garrett laughs as he pulls his apartment key
from his pants pocket. He opens the door to his place as I turn to
head toward mine. “Here’s to a relaxing weekend without studying
for exams,” he says.

I walk backward down the hallway to my door.
“That sounds absolutely perfect.” I flash him a thumbs up. “I’ll
talk to you later.”

He smiles. “Later.”

I open my apartment door to find LB waiting
to greet me. I toss my backpack aside and bend down to give her a
good rubbing with both hands. When she’s satisfied, she wanders
away and I stand. Here we are with three whole days of nothing
spread out before us. Again. I’m all down for relaxing, but I’d
rather not be entirely alone. I pull my phone from my pocket and
read Dane’s message. Spending time with him is definitely out of
the question. I wish I could go back in time and erase all the
heavy stuff between us; so we could be friends again and just joke
with each other like we used to.

Since that can’t happen, I decide to call
Shel. Maybe I can spend some time with her this weekend in Ann
Arbor. Luckily she picks up.

“
Hey there,
stranger.”

“
Hi!”

“
What are you up
to?”

“
I’ve got class in ten
minutes. Why? What’s up? Oh, loved your Wicked Witch costume by the
way. That was hilarious!”

I smile. That party seems like it happened
eons ago. “Listen, what are you doing this weekend? Are you busy? I
was thinking I could come and visit.”

“
Aw, man,” Shel groans. “I
have this charity dinner thing for the hospital on Saturday night,
and we’re setting up all day tomorrow.”

“
What are you doing?
Volunteering?”

“
Yeah, waiting tables and
stuff while the rich benefactors pay big bucks for dinner. It’s a
donation to the hospital.”

“
Sounds thrilling,” I sigh
and then pause. “Could you use an extra pair of hands?”

“
You want to spend your
weekend as a waitress?”

“
Could I? Anything is
better than sitting here by myself.”

“
Sure! I mean, I’ll check
with the coordinator, but I don’t think it will be a problem. The
more the merrier.”

“
Cool.”

“
Can you get here tomorrow
night around eight or nine? We’re supposed to be done with set up
by then and we can hang out until we’re needed the next
day.”

“
Sounds good.” I reach for
a piece of scrap paper on the table. “What’s the name of your new
dorm again?” Shel recites her address and I jot it down. “Got it.
I’m looking forward to it!”

“
Me too!” Shel sounds
excited. “This dinner just got a whole lot better! The time will
fly by with you there.”

I laugh. “I hope so! Although I don’t know
how good I am at waitressing.”

“
It’ll be simple,” Shel
reassures me. “I think it’s just clearing tables, maybe getting
drinks. Stuff like that.”

“
I trust you.” I check the
clock. “Shouldn’t you be heading to class?”

“
On my way as we speak,” I
can hear Shel smile. “Talk while I walk. I heard you met up with
Dane the other night.”

Why doesn’t this surprise me? “I’m shocked
that you didn’t call to grill me about it.”

“
Matt told me not to,” she
says simply. “Besides,” her tone changes to imply that she’s hurt,
“I was hoping you’d tell me about it yourself.”

“
This week has been crazy
busy,” I say in defense. Crazy busy with exams, with worry, with
guilt, with stress…

“
Midterms?” she
asks.

“
You got it.”

“
Well, I’m looking forward
to seeing you
and
hearing about Dane,” she says as I think I hear a door
opening. “’Kay, I’m at my lab. I’ll let you go.”

“
Okay. See you
tomorrow.”

“
Yep, bye!”

I end the call and set my phone on the
table. It amazes me that my personal life remains interesting to
others, but then again, your two best friends should be concerned,
right?

My stomach growls, luring me to the kitchen.
I move to stand in front of the refrigerator and open the door.
What fabulous frozen thing can I reheat for lunch today?

So?

I rub my eyes with the heels of my hands. I
blink to focus and realize I must have fallen asleep with my
Communications book open in front of me. That’s what I get for
lying on my bed while trying to read boring material.

I glance at the message from Dane and then
note the time. It’s almost ten at night. I can’t believe I forgot
all about his earlier text. At least now I have a response, should
he ask to come see me.

Sorry. Yes, midterms are over.

How did you do?

I think I did pretty
well.
I know I did great in three out of
four anyway.

I don’t miss those days.

I smile.
Are you sure you remember those days old
man?
Dane is only three years older than
me, but it’s still fun to tease him.

Very funny. If I was there you’d pay for
that comment.

How so?

It takes him a minute to
respond.
That’s a loaded question. Don’t
tempt me.

Hmm. Maybe I should back off the humor.

What are you doing this weekend?

There it is. The question I
was dreading.
Visiting Shel.

That’s not very nice.

What?
How do you mean? Shel sounded happy to have me.

My phone rings a moment later, and I answer
Dane with a bewildered, “Hello?”

“
I’ve been asking to come
see you.”

I sigh. “I know.”

“
And the first free minute
you have you run off to Shel?”

I get defensive. “She’s my best friend! I
haven’t seen her in over a month. I saw you last week!”

I can hear Dane exhale. “It feels like
you’re putting me off on purpose.”

Ding! Ding! Ding! You are correct, sir.

“
I’m sorry,” he quickly
adds. “Things here are nuts. Teagan, work…”

I shudder at the sound of Teagan’s name. I
don’t know who’s worse, her or Meg. “What’s going on?”

Dane’s tone turns sullen. “She’s involved
her dad to get her way.”

“
Are you sure?”

“
When your boss advises you
to reconsider certain decisions in your life or your job is on the
line I’d say that makes you 105% sure.”

My mouth falls open. “That’s terrible! Can
he do that? I mean, legally?”

“
It’s a family owned
business. I’m pretty sure he can do whatever he damn well
pleases.”

A sick feeling starts to wrap around my
stomach. Why do I feel like this is all my fault? I mean, it’s
really not; Dane’s the one who decided to break off his engagement.
But, I am involved and Teagan knows it. “What did he say
exactly?”

“
He said he knows I’m a
good kid, but he has to look out for his only daughter. He said if
I can’t find it within myself to follow through on my proposal,
he’d understand – but I should be prepared to seek other
employment.”

What he says angers me. “I can’t believe
this. You love your job.”

“
Don’t I know it?” He
pauses then laughs sarcastically. “He did say he would write me a
glowing letter of recommendation.”

“
This isn’t right.” I sit
up. “There has to be something you can do.”

“
Yeah, there is,” he says,
disgusted. “Marry Teags.”

“
Besides that,” I
groan.

Seconds of silence pass then Dane clears his
throat. “You know what? I’ll figure something out. I have a
savings. I’m employable. I can work for my dad if I have to.”

I frown. I know that’s the last thing that
would make him happy. “I’m sorry. This whole situation sucks.”

I can picture him with a wry smile. “Thanks
for commiserating with me. Although a real life, in-person hug
would be better.”

I feel terrible for him and honestly wish I
was there to hug him. “Consider this a virtual one,” I say softly
before I really think about it.

“
Thanks,” he says, somewhat
sad. “So, when
will
I get to see you?”

I hesitate. If I tell him I can’t see him it
will only make things worse, and he doesn’t need that right now.
“I’ll work on it,” slips out before I can catch it. “Seriously, I’m
not trying to be a jerk. It’s just…I have a lot going on right
now.”

A cool arm slips around my shoulders from
behind, and I immediately tense. I look out of the corner of my eye
to see James take a seat next to me, his hip pressing against mine.
He flashes me a smile, and I know he doesn’t know who I’m talking
to.

“
I guess I can buy that for
now,” Dane concedes.

I try to relax under James’ arm. “Listen, I
have to go. I’ll call you later, okay?”

“
Why?” He sounds confused
at the abrupt end to our conversation.

“
I have company.” I smile
at James, so he won’t be suspicious.

“
Who?”

“
I’ll talk to you tomorrow.
‘Bye.” I end the call before he can ask any more questions and
discreetly silence my ringer just in case he calls back. “Hey.” I
toss my phone aside and turn toward James. “I didn’t expect to see
you tonight.”

“
Surprise,” he smiles at
me. “Who was that?” He nods toward my discarded phone.

“
Shel,” I say quickly. “I’m
going to visit her tomorrow and stay the weekend. I volunteered to
help her with a charity dinner at the hospital.”

James frowns.

“
What? I told you I needed
some girl time.”

“
I know.”

“
Then what is
it?”

He raises his eyebrows.
“Who else is going to be
volunteering
at this
dinner?”

My face scrunches in confusion. “How should
I know? People from the hospital, other volunteers like Shel and
me.”

“
Volunteers like
Dane?”

I lean away from him. “Seriously? I thought
we were past this.”

He tries to look innocent and says, “I just
want to be prepared.”

“
No,” I say adamantly.
“Dane won’t be there.”

“
You’re sure?”

“
I’m positive.” I narrow my
eyes. “You’re doing that control freak thing again.”