How They Got Away With Murder | Book Three

Chapter Eight-Part Two

      Alyssa nervously rubbed her hands together, eyes burning into the closed doors of the clinic. She had spent the entire drive over preparing a speech. Now, she just hoped she could execute it. With one last mental assurance, she pushed open the wooden doors and strode inside. Her eyes landed on Connor and Michaela who hunched over papers at their usual table. She walked towards them, neither of the students noticing until she spoke up.

      "Hey." She quietly said. Michaela cast her head up with an unimpressed expression.

      "Here to defend the murderer-screwer?" She deadpanned. Alyssa's jaw clenched.

      "She's not...look, she had reason to keep this from you guys."

      "Like what?" Connor asked, finally glancing at her. 

      She waved her hand at them. "Like this. She knew how you would react." The boy sarcastically laughed.

      "How else were we supposed to react?"

      "I don't know. Less accusingly? She didn't do this to hurt anyone."

      "Personally, I don't care. Can I go back to studying?" Michaela snapped before returning her attention to the papers in front of her. Alyssa sighed and sent Connor a pleading look. He scanned her face for a moment as if deciding if it was worth it before standing up. She waited for him to say something awful, or better yet tell her to leave, but instead, he nodded his head towards the exit. She perked up, following him as he walked into the hallway. The doors slammed behind them, allowing them privacy. Connor stuffed his hands in his pockets.

      "So how long have you known?"

      "Which part?"

      "I don't know, all of it. When did Karmen first tell you about Frank?"

      Alyssa hesitated, knowing it would only make things worse. But she knew she couldn't lie.

      "Over summer break."

      His eyes bugged slightly, and he scoffed. "Wow. That long, huh?"

      "Does that matter? Karmen got with Frank before everything happened with Mahoney."

      Connor spat, "Did you know he shot Wes's dad?"

      She wouldn't lie, when she found that out, it had been a complete shock to her. She knew Frank did Annalise's dirty work, but she never assumed that he would kill somebody. She didn't hold that against Karmen; how could she? It wasn't her secret to tell.

      "No. But I still get why she would have kept that. I may not completely approve of Frank, but he makes her happy. That matters to me." She stated, recalling all of the times she'd seen the two together. She always had a feeling they would become something more than friends.

      "I'm sorry I kept this from you, Connor. But in all fairness, I couldn't have been the one to tell you Karmen's secret. That's for her to share and for her only. Try not to hate her, please?"

      "I don't understand. Are you asking forgiveness for yourself or for her?"

      She shrugged. "I don't know. Both of us? Look, I know we haven't been close in a while but I don't want you to hate me." She admitted, her voice growing quiet. For the first time that day, Connor's face softened.

      "I don't hate you. I can't."

      "You should. I ruined us."

      At hearing those words, he fiercely shook his head.