The Only-Live-Once Society | Book 2

Chapter Two

"Elijah..." I start, but I don't really know what to say.

It's not what it looks like? What does it look like? I'm in the dark with a boy I've previously kissed, one I've spent the last eight weeks with. I hope Elijah knows me well enough to know nothing was happening.

"Come," he murmurs, stretching out a hand for
me to take.

I do, immediately. Relief floods me when our hands connect. I don't look back at Vince as we make our way to the Combat Barn.

Finally, I get to be alone with Elijah. Which is what I wanted. It's what I have been waiting to for.

But let me tell you, absolutely no amount of training or gun-wielding-attackers can prepare you for your boyfriend, who you haven't seen for eight weeks, taking you into a fighting ring and saying, "Hit me."

"Elijah..." I trail off. "No."

"The last time we fought in this ring, you hit like a five year old. This morning you were attacked by grown adults who are part of an organisation out to get you." He takes a deep breath. "Hit. Me."

"This really wasn't the reunion I was hoping for."

Elijah's eyes look dark and wicked, "Should I have accosted you in the field? Professed my feelings for you there?"

"You heard Vince then?"

"Yes." He starts circling me. "Are we going to do this?"

"No."

Elijah stops moving and looks at me. I don't backdown. He's so beautiful it almost makes me want to cry. Just being near him makes the world seem a little less scary. I instantly feel safer, even though we're far away from the school and alone in a barn. The last thing I want to do right now is fight.

So, I say, "My ribs hurt. I'm bruised. I'm sure your shoulder is sore too. I didn't come out here for more fighting."

His brows knit together. "Then why were you heading to the Combat Barn with him?"

He's jealous. He always seems so sure, so comfortable. I forget before everything else he's a teenage boy who likes a girl. It really can be that simple.

I know I'm a spy in training or whatever, so I should keep my emotions in check, but being a teenager means being riddled with emotions. Right now I'm feeling both frustrated and happy, I don't know what one will win.

I take a step towards him. "I wasn't going anywhere with Vince. I thought you'd be here. He followed me, I actually threw him to the ground in fear. We weren't training or anything."

I add the last part because I'm unsure of how much he saw or heard, but training is kind of our thing. I have no doubt if it wasn't for Elijah, I wouldn't have been able to fight off anyone. I am who I am because of him.

"Looked pretty cosy to me."

"Elijah," I plead. "It's you I wanted to see."

"Prove it." He growls.

I rush at him but not attacking. I jump into his arms and wrap my legs around his waist, my hands on his neck and I look into those perfect green eyes. Then I do something I've been dreaming about for weeks. I press my lips to his. I feel him physically unwind as we deepen the kiss, and we stay like that for as long as we can.

When we draw apart he smiles at me.

"There you are," I whisper.

"I've been waiting for you," he breathes.

We kiss once more then he sets me down. We sit shoulder-to-shoulder on the barn floor, hands entwined.

There are many things I like about the night, I like how easy it is to get from A to B with very few people being able to spot you. I also like how light will filter down and highlight certain parts, I feel like it's a reflection of real life.

When the lights to the barn automatically turn off with the lack of movement, we don't make them come on again. We sit in the cover of darkness and I fill him in on the last few weeks.

The thing that sucks the most about being in a safe house, or multiple safe houses, is the limited contact with the outside world. Not that I even have very many people to talk to anymore, but it would have been nice to keep in contact with Elijah.

"How did Grace tell you where we were today?"

He shrugs, "Encryption. It was only to be used in emergencies, but she wanted to let me know where you were and where you were heading. She does that sometimes."

"She could have let me know there was a way to contact you."

Elijah shakes his head, "And risk Vince knowing?"

"You still don't trust him?"

"No. I don't. You shouldn't either. It's all too easy that he just happened to free you, and he just happened to end up here. And his mum just happened to escape, and he just happens to know nothing about it."

I laugh, "Say just happened once more."

Elijah doesn't laugh with me. "I mean it. It's too many coincidences..." We're silent for a moment. "Do you trust him?"

I shrug, "Jury is still out. I do think he had no idea about his mum though, you should have seen him. His reaction was genuine. But I don't think he's here out of the kindness of his heart."

"What do you think he wants?"

"I really don't know."

We talk for a bit longer. But it's the start of October and I begin to get cold. I shiver and wrap my arms around my chest. Elijah notices and immediately pulls me to my feet to walk me back to our dorms. We don't kiss again and we say goodnight quickly. What's seven hours when you've just spent weeks apart?

Going to bed, I feel happy to be back. Indirect moonlight comes in the window and makes our room look dreamy. It shines on the beautiful crystal light Tessa has hung from the ceiling, making the room dance. I can hear Tessa breathing peacefully in her bed, and I'm not surprised when I look and see Grace watching me.

"You're back late."

"I was with Elijah."

"I know."

I laugh, "Of course. Sometimes I think you're closer to him then I am."

I see Graces blanket move in a shrug, "I've known him longer and his world wouldn't shatter if I were to go missing again. It probably helps I'm a raging lesbian."

"Fair." I say, suddenly bone-tired.

My old life in with my parents seems worlds away.

Tomorrow is a new day. A day where I'm hopefully not being attacked and there is no drama, where we can fall into a routine again. I brush my teeth and clamber into bed, my body aching.

I slip easily into sleep.

And then, suddenly, I am wide-awake. A figure is standing over my bed.

I don't rush to action. I can't seem to move. My heart pounds and my palms sweat. The moonlight is gone, the room is practically pitch-black, I can't make out any details of the figure-it's just a black silhouette.

For a wild instant I think it's Elijah. Then a dim light comes through the window and shines on Vince's face.

"What's wrong?" I whisper, sitting up. "What are you doing here?"

Vince's eyes are dark and devoid. "It's not safe here."

"What?"

"I don't think you're safe here."

"Vince..." I say, unsure what to say.

"We need to leave . . ." He starts to pull my blanket from me. "Why aren't you moving?"

"Vince, what-"

"We need to go."

"Have you hit your head?" I hiss. "Are you sleep walking?"

He stops moving and blinks at me. "You won't leave. You won't leave without him."

"I-"

"Fine." He snaps. "But it's not safe here."

He turns on his heel. An instant later, the door to my room silently closes. I blink a few times, not sure what just happened, and when I wake the next morning I'm convinced it was a weird dream.