Warrior (Book Three of The Silver Society)

Chapter Seventeen

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Randy was nervous when Beth called him and asked him to meet her. She was still distancing herself from him, more every day, and he was afraid of what she might do next. Still, he had to go to her. It was the first time she had asked to see him, and he couldn't say no.

Even with her new, short hair, Beth was beautiful. Her aura radiated so strong with light that Randy could see it. He was not generally able to see auras, but Beth's seemed to glow around her so powerfully that even mortals noticed. Now, Beth sat in front of a tree, her knees pulled to her chest, with a long blue skirt wrapped around her legs. It had snowed the night before, and Randy knew Beth had to be freezing sitting on the ground. She didn't seem to mind, however, and he wasn't going to push things.

"Hey, honey," Randy said when he reached her.

"Oh, you're here," Beth said, startled. "I didn't even feel you coming... Sorry." She did not stand, but she looked up at Randy from the ground, her eyes filled with more sorrow than Randy would have thought possible.

"Beth, are you okay?" He asked in concern.

"I'm not even close," she replied honestly.

"Yeah, I'm sorry. That was a dumb question," he admitted.

Beth shrugged. "Actually, I'm sorry," she said suddenly. "This was a stupid idea. I wanted to see you, but I... Never mind."

"No, Beth, what is it?" Randy asked.

"I know I haven't let you be around much lately, and I feel bad about that."

"It's okay," Randy replied quickly.

"No, it's really not," Beth said firmly. "I've been unfair to you."

"Beth, you're going through hell. I get that. It's been hard to just sit back and watch, but I'm trying to give you the space you need."

"I know. That's why this is so hard."

"What do you mean?" Randy asked.

"I just... I don't know what to do anymore, Randy," she replied. "I don't think I can be around you the way I was before."

"Why the hell not, Beth?" Randy asked, his sharp tone surprising both of them. With that can of worms having been opened, Randy saw no point in not continuing, so he spoke again. "I love you, Beth, and I've done nothing but try to be here for you. Why do you keep pushing me away? What happened to you?"

"What do you mean?" Beth asked.

"You just keep pushing me away, and you won't talk to any of your friends except Jade and that new girl Aurora, and all you do is hide away from the people who loved you before all of this happened. I mean, you'll talk to anyone else in the Silver Society, but not me. Why?"

"Because you don't get it!" She snapped. "You're part of that life, Randy, that perfect life that I'm supposed to have lived that was nothing but a lie!" Beth began to cry.

"What are you talking about?" Randy asked in confusion.

"You're just like them, Randy! All you care about is appearances! Perfect this, and perfect that, and being the picture-perfect boy who'll make his mother proud, and screw everyone else! Screw the fact that I'm having a nervous breakdown! If you can't play the hero, you don't want to be bothered, and since I don't know what I need, you can't save me! No one can! You don't love me, Randy! You love rescuing me! And I don't want to have to be rescued anymore!"