𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐮𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐮𝐦 | 𝐜.𝐝 𝐟𝐟

𝙩𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙗𝙮𝙚𝙨.

Everyone was waiting up for me. All the house lights were on. My mind was racing, thinking of what to say. I certainly wasn't going to lie to them. And I couldn't risk verbally announcing that I'd be running off to Phoenix for the time being. This wasn't going to be pleasant.

Cedric pulled up slowly, staying well back from my truck. All three of them were acutely alert, ramrod straight in their seats, listening to every sound of the wood, looking through every shadow, catching every scent, searching for something out of place. The engine cut off, and I sat, motionless, as they continued to listen.

"He's not here," Cedric said tensely. "Let's go." Emmett reached over to help me get out of the harness.

"Don't worry, Zayra," he said in a low but cheerful voice, "we'll take care of things here quickly."

"I know you will." I barely knew Emmett, and yet, somehow, not knowing when I would see him again after tonight was anguishing. I knew this was just a faint taste of the goodbyes I would have to survive in the next hour, and the thought made the tears begin to spill.

"Alice, Emmett." Cedric's voice was a command. They slithered soundlessly into the darkness, instantly disappearing. Cedric opened my door and took my hand, then drew me into the protecting enclosure of his arm. He walked me swiftly toward the house, eyes always roving through the night.

"Fifteen minutes," he warned under his breath.

"I can do this." I sniffled. My tears had given me an reminder, a memory.

I stopped on the porch and took hold of his face in my hands. I looked fiercely into his eyes.

"I love you," I said in a low, intense voice. "I will always love you, no matter what happens now."

"Nothing is going to happen to you, Zayra," he said just as fiercely.

"Just follow the plan, okay? Keep my friends safe for me. They're not going to like me very much after this, and I want to have the chance to apologize later." I added for good measure.

"Get inside, Zayra. We have to hurry." His voice was urgent.

"One more thing," I whispered passionately. "Don't listen to another word I say tonight!" He was leaning in, and so all I had to do was stretch up on my toes to kiss his surprised, frozen lips with as much force as I was capable of. Then I turned and kicked the door open.

"Go away, Cedric!" I yelled at him, running inside and slamming the door shut in his still-shocked face.

"Zayra?" Theo had been hovering in the living room, and the rest were already on their feet.

"Leave me alone!" I screamed at him through my tears, which were flowing relentlessly now. When in fact, I was communicating with them of my plans. We promised transparency between the five of us. I wasn't going to break that promise because my boyfriend seem to doubt him and his family.

I ran up the stairs to my room, throwing the door shut and locking it. I ran to my bed, flinging myself on the floor to retrieve my duffel bag. I reached swiftly between the mattress and box spring to grab the knotted old sock that contained my secret cash hoard.

Draco was pounding on my door.

"Zayra, are you okay? What's going on?" His voice was frightened. Bloody brilliant actor he was, though I could hear the underlying concern he actually had.

"I'm going home," I shouted, my voice breaking in the perfect spot.

"Did he hurt you?" His tone edged toward anger. Why are you being tracked?

"No!" I shrieked a few octaves higher. I don't know. He smelt me. I turned to my dresser, and Cedric was already there, silently yanking out armfuls of random clothes, which he proceeded to throw to me.

"Did he break up with you?" Blaise sounded perplexed. Are you in danger?

"No!" I yelled, slightly more breathless as I shoved everything into the bag. Apparently yes. Cedric threw another drawer's contents at me. The bag was pretty much full now. 

"What happened, Zayra?" Pansy shouted through the door, the pounding started again. What do you want us to do?

"I broke up with him!" I shouted back, jerking on the zipper of my bag. Follow my lead. Cedric's capable hands pushed mine away and zipped it smoothly. He put the strap carefully over my arm.

"I'll be in the Audi — go!" he whispered, and pushed me toward the door. He vanished out the window.

I unlocked the door and pushed past my friends roughly, struggling with my heavy bag as I ran down the stairs.

"What happened?" Theo yelled. He was right behind me. Don't go. "I thought you liked him." 

He caught my elbow in the kitchen. Though he was still shocked at what had happened, his grip was firm. I'm not letting you leave.

He spun me around to look at him, and I could see in his face that he had no intention of letting me leave. I could think of only one way to escape, and it involved hurting him so much that I hated myself for even considering it. But I had no time, and I had to keep him safe. And he wasn't letting me do that.

I glared up at my best friend, fresh tears in my eyes for what I was about to do.

"I do like him — that's the problem. I can't do this anymore! I can't put up with you anymore! I don't want to be responsible of a broken heart. I'm not going to make the same dumb mistake your mom did. I hate it — I can't stay here another minute!"

His hand dropped from my arm like I'd electrocuted him. I turned away from his shocked, wounded face and headed for the door. I shouldn't have brought up his mother's failed marriage.

"Zee, you can't leave now. It's nighttime," Blaise whispered behind Theo. That's low.

I didn't turn around. "I'll sleep in the Audi if I get tired."

"Just wait another week," Draco pled, still shell-shocked. We can get through this together. You don't have to leave. 

"Renée will be here by then." Parkinson desperately cried out. Your mother plans to see you.

This completely derailed me. "What?" That's impossible. They won't let her.

Pansy continued eagerly, almost babbling with relief as I hesitated. "She called while you were out. Things are going great for her. She has permission to travel with supervision."

I shook my head, trying to reassemble my now-confused thoughts. Every passing second put them in more danger.

"I have a key," I muttered, turning the knob. Theo was too close, one hand extended toward me, his face dazed. I couldn't lose any more time arguing with him. I was going to have to hurt him further.

"Just let me go, Theo." I said them as angrily as I could manage, and I threw the door open. "It won't work out, okay? I really, really hate you!"

My cruel words did their job — Theo stayed frozen on the doorstep, stunned, while I ran into the night. I was hideously frightened of the empty yard. I ran wildly for the Audi, visualizing a dark shadow behind me. I threw my bag in the bed and wrenched the door open. The key was waiting in the ignition.

"I'll call you tomorrow!" I yelled, wishing more than anything that I could apologize for everything right then. I gunned the engine and peeled out.