Headsets For Fear

PRESENT 12 : MAVERICK

Twenty One days after

After a sumptuous dinner of steak and turkey salad, the four of us sat in front of the television to watch a few of our favourite episodes from F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Nora had never watched anything beyond the first season, so she was pretty confused. I didn't enjoy much, either. Back in middle school and high school, I loved it with all my life. Now it kinda came off as stupid to me.

Benji retired to his room too, saying that he had to make some plans for his new website. Since yesterday, he had suddenly grown very energetic. I liked it, how he wasn't slouching around and make a resting bitch face everytime I saw him.

Only Kaitlin was left in the enormous hall, laughing and fangirling hysterically.

Nora was going back to work tomorrow. She claimed that her health had improved, and it was hard to disbelieve her.

I figured out that now was the time to tell her about Margot.

I followed Nora to her room. She looked up at me and arched an eyebrow questioningly.

"I had to tell you something. That living member of the secret society? I think I met her."

She narrowed her eyes and frowned at me, as if she thought I was making a bad joke. I flopped down on one of the chairs in front of her working desk.

"What do you mean?" She asked.

I told her everything that Margot had told me.

After listening to my story, Nora remained quiet for a while. "If you're saying the truth -"

"Of course I'm saying the truth," I protested. "Why the fuck would I waste such a lot of my imagination just to harrass you?"

She smiled and replied, "No, we must consider all situations. So if you're saying the truth," She stopped standing and finally sat down on her bed. "Then I must look into it. I'll inform Alex tomorrow itself. Just give me her address."

I was waiting for her to tell me this. And no, I wasn't going to give her the address so easily.

"I need something in return," I said slowly.

"What?" She leaned forward.

I smirked and tapped my fingers slowly on the table. "You need to speak with Elijah."

"You know that's not possible -"

"You can manage it. I trust you. Just ask him what happened that night. And what I can do to make amends."

"And why do you think he'll tell me anything?"

I almost jumped at the sharpness in Nora's voice. She was glaring at me. I wondered if what I was asking for was so extreme.

But even though I was confident about my stance, a chill went down my spine. It was one of those times when Nora was truly angry.

"Nora, please," I begged her, rising hastily from my chair. "You gotta understand. I won't be able to live in peace if I lose this opportunity. I don't care what you decide to do with him next. Just let me know what happened."

The hard gaze in her eyes softened ever so slightly. "You won't tell me the address if I don't talk with Elijah?"

"No," I replied resolutely. The noise from outside had become lower. I wondered if it was because Kaitlin had turned off the TV, or because of the tension that was floating in the air.

"Fine," she replied hesitantly. "I'll try my best. But you can't ask anything more of me later."

"Thank you," I said, my body relaxing. Then, wanting to crack a joke, I added, "But no promises."

Her glare told me I hadn't done the right thing.

"No, I won't ask for anything else," I promised.

She took a deep breath. "Well, get lost now. Let me think everything through."

I nodded quietly, not wanting to annoy her any further.

I pushed open the door of my room and went to bed.

I knew that if I stayed awake for any more seconds, my mind would start swirling with probabilities about what Elijah would have to say. So I called it a day.
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