Jewel's POV
After what seems like endless hours of being on my hands and knees scrubbing the base boards in Eric's office, I'm finally able to leave. He doesn't even come by to tell me that I'm done or that I've done a good job. He sends some random kid. Asshole.
I make my way to the chasm. It's been a long time since I've come here. I forgot how much I like the sound of the water rushing. I sit down and let my feet dangle out over the edge. My arms encircle the metal bar at my chest.
From up here, the water looks black. It pounds against the stone and rocks. If I just close my eyes, the sound of the water will drowned out my thoughts.
But of course, that's impossible when people come around to bother you.
Jake appears at my side out of no where. He sits next to me. I keep my eyes closed saying nothing at his sudden arrival.
He bumps my shoulder with his, making me look at him. "What are you doing out here?" He questions. I do not need a babysitter.
I shrug and turn back to the raging waves. "Something new to look at, I guess."
We sit in silence for a while. A part of me wants him to leave. But another part likes the fact that he came looking for me.
"Ya know Addie has been going around saying that you slept with Eric, right?" He says out of the blue.
My eyes widen as I face him. "What?" My voice sounds scared.
He shakes his head in confirmation. "Yep. Nobody believes her, though. I mean why would Eric go after an Amity transfer, right?" He jokes.
My chest tightens. Gripping the railing, I say, "What does being Amity have to do with anything?"
Jake leans forward a bit looking more closely at the water beneath us. "It's Eric. He doesn't seem the type to go after good girls. But rumor has it, he got some Erudite chick knocked up."
"How did you hear about that?" My voice goes up an octave. Why am I panicking right now?
He starts to stand up, brushing off his pants. Looking down at me, he puts his hands in his pockets and shrugs. "Word travels fast around here. Even Eric can't hide his secrets forever."
As I watch him walk away, I hear Ryan's words in my head. There was a pregnancy scare. What if it wasn't a scare? What if she really did get pregnant? What if she lied?
Swollowing hard, I stand and head towards the leader corridor.
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I knock on Eric's door, lightly. There's no answer. I knock again. Nothing. Where the hell is he?
Thinking of all the places he could be, I head to the training room first.
I walk in and see Four lacing up his boots on a near by bench. A sudden urge to talk to him takes over me.
I approach him with a smile which he returns, surprisingly. "Funny to see you here after hours." He says.
I lace my fingers together like I always do when I'm nervous and laugh. "Yeah, well ya know. There's a first time for everything."
He rests his elbows on his knees and looks at me closely. "Looking for someone?" How does he know?!
I nod my head.
Raising an eyebrow at me, he says, "Eric?"
I look down at the ground. "Yeah."
He sighs while standing up. "Well you're too late. He just left."
"Do you know where he went?" I ask, hopeful.
He steps closer to me, looking down intently. "To Erudite. He goes there every Wednesday."
My eyebrows knit together. "Why?"
I think he isn't going to answer me because he just stares. Like he might feel sorry for me.
"Jewel." He says, slowly. "Maybe you should just keep things professional between you and him. Wouldn't want to see you get hurt."
He rests a calloused hand on my elbow before walking away.
Damn you, Four. Why must you be so elusive?
Before I even realize what I'm doing, my feet start walking to the exit. Once my body starts translating to my head, I know that I've made a decision.
I'm going to Erudite. Tonight.
Sorry for not having any Eric in this chapter. I really don't like it when he isn't but I have to give this story context so sometimes he has to be left out. What do you think? Does Eric have a kid after all? Comment and Vote!
