Freaks

6- Sweet Boy

꧁☀︎︎꧂

Harper had never caught a single glimpse of Jackson after Alice's attack, gladly. But she has an entire conversation of forgiveness ready and written in her head. Something she'll have to follow through with tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Aster tells the boys what Alice did and Harper's marvelous turn of events here, in the cabin. All sitting where they sat before, two to the left and two to the right. All tired looking and somewhat sweaty in the humid room.

"So that's what's next." Aster ends, looking at Harper's purpled cheek, "We'll see if they'll forgive her."

Malakai shakes his head disappointingly, "I can't believe she threatened you. She's fucking crazy."

Aster sniffles with laughter, "I hope she has nothing to do with Landon. But I also hope she has...everything to do with him and everything else. Otherwise, we're at a dead-end and Harper just backed away from a good fight."

Luka hums, "I would've punched her back. But I guess we would all be back at a dead-end, wouldn't we?"

Harper examines him and his face, looking straight ahead at the window. She wonders if this is him accepting her exchange. Or if it's just him mocking her. It's hard to tell at times what he's thinking or implying or...just about anything Luka does is confusing.

Harper catches eyes with Malakai who peers at her slightly, "Aster." He finally whips his head, "Why don't we..write down things...we need to find out?"

She only turns her eyes, mildly confused, "Okay?"

Harper leans away from Luka on the arm of the couch as the other two get up from their spots and head across into the kitchen. It's easy to tell what Malakai intends, at least when he lets you. She knows what he's trying to do, he's trying to get her to talk. But she's not doing it first.

And she waits, like a dog waiting for its owner. She bounces her leg and taps her fingers back and forth, huffing, trying to make it more obvious than it already is. Eventually, she stares at the ceiling, compensating on giving up and also soothing the pounding headache she still has from the punch.

I got punched. I got punched...and I did nothing about it...for him? Why am I like this? I have to speak to get the point across, I have to, don't I?

Her eyes dance on the ceiling for a furious minute. Then she lifts her head, her chest rises, and falls heavily. She turns her head to him, mouth opening, but her vocals are replaced with his, "Don't."

She quickly closes her mouth and throws her neck back.

He looks at her with boredom, "I don't wanna hear it."

Her eyes threaten him as she smiles, "I was just gonna ask for an apology."

His brows rise in astonishment, a smile formed just like hers, "An apology?"

"Yeah." She blinks, "For getting mad at me? You know? When people do that they usually apologize to the other person."

"Oh do they?" He frowns as he looks back to the window, "How nice of them."

She puckers her lips to the side, licking her teeth thoughtfully, "I did what you wanted me to do. Can you at least not be mad at me for that now?"