Bookview Valley 3

Chapter Seventeen: A Couple Words

Wednesday, September 1st

"It's been a while."

I glance up to see Nick sit himself down onto the ledge beside me. I turn back to the view of the school below my feet; the wind blessing me with it's soft touch. His feet swing out next to mine as they dangle in the air together.

"How did you know I'd be here?" I ask, looking back at him; his gaze never left me.

"Somehow, I just knew," He shrugs and motions out to the school before us, "Aren't you afraid of the drop?"

"I don't plan on falling off," I tell him, but I glance back down to where the sidewalk is a good many feet beneath me, "It's just a nice view."

"It is," Nick agrees, his eyes still on me, but then he looks away, "What have you been up to? I feel like I haven't seen you...in a while."

"I...I've been busy," I stare out among the buildings, refusing to face him, "I've had a lot on my mind, because of the whole Skeleton business, you know?"

"I can't believe that's still a thing," Nick sighs, "I thought that would end when high school ended."

"I wish it would have ended with Luci," I agree.

"Luci...he was terrible...,but damn I miss him."

"Me too." We kind of swing our legs silently for a few moments.

"Are you trying to find the new skeleton?"

"What do you mean?" My eyes train on the music building across from me.

"Morgan," He says my name softly, but sternly enough I finally face him again, "You went after Luci and Jamie. You strived to take them down. Please, just tell me if that's what you're doing again?"

"I mean...I wouldn't say I'm striving-"

"Morgan. Please."

"Yes, I'm going after the Skeleton again," I stare into his blue-green eyes as they stare into me, "I have to stop this whole thing once and for all."

"What even is this whole thing?" Nick pleads with his eyes for any information. I know he just wants to know what's truly going on. All he knows is that Jamie and Luci were doing some ritualistic thing, and that there was a red skeleton. He doesn't know that there's an actual cult, with a leader and everything. I'm not entirely sure if I'm ready to tell him that either. Like Vincent said, anyone I tell could get hurt. I'm protecting him.

"I..I don't know," I sigh, "It's a mess."

"Then let me help."

For some reason I wasn't expecting him to ask to help. I thought he'd tell me not to, or ask me to stop, sure, but to help? He's already been hurt plenty of times before. I even suspected him once, but this time? To help? I can't risk him, "No. I don't want you to get hurt again. Much less to actually get killed."

"But you can risk yourself?" Nick scoffs, the wind ruffles his hair seeming to put a calming filter on the rage in his eyes. His arms are crossed, his body turned towards me, and there is a lot of rage.

"My brother was part of this," I point out, "So, I have to bring this thing down, and I could do it a lot more easily if I knew you weren't in harms way."

"Last time I was out of harms way you suspected me," Nick snaps back. I flinch.

"I'm sorry for that, I truly am, but please Nick," I place a hand on his arm, "Just give me some time. I will tell you things, but right now I have to figure things out."

"Let me help you," Nick puts his hand over mine, "I just want you safe."

"Nick...okay, how's this. Let me figure my stuff out and if I figure out something you can help with I promise I will let you know."

"You promise?"

"I promise." We sit there, the window floating between us, my hand on his arm, his hand on my hand, and way too much space between us. What happened to us? When did everything go so south?

I turn away, back towards the many school buildings before me, my hand dropping to my side. Out of the corner of my eye I can see him do the same. We stare at the view, the mountains far away in the distance. The moon blares at us with its cold light and the stars seem to laugh at my predicament.

"Have you talked to Dean?" Nick finally breaks the silence.

"No," I say, the name twisting in my stomach. I left everything so awkward between us too. I set a mental reminder to check on him.

"He asked about you the other day."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, but I told him I didn't hear from you either."

"Will you tell him, if you see him before me, to come talk to me," I pause and take a deep breath, "I should probably give him a run up of what's up too. Let him know I'm okay."

"You should," Nick agrees, "I mean you barely sent a text when that whole club thing happened. We thought...well just make sure he knows you're okay."

"I will," I nod.

"You don't have to be a stranger."

I glimpse up at Nick, but he's still looking out over the roof, "What do you mean?"

"I know you're getting everything figured out with the Skeleton, but you can still talk to us. We miss you."

"Oh, I miss you guys too. I'll work on it," I tell him, "I don't mean to push you guys out of my life. It's just been so...hectic."

"I know, and I don't blame you. With everything happening...just remember we're here for you."

"Thank you, Nick," He turns to me and I give him a smile that he returns.

"Always," He says. We continue to look out at the view, my soul calm for just this moment. Everything seems like it will be okay as I sit next to Nick, our feet dangling over the side of the science building. I'm surprised no one came up here to tell us to leave, but all I can say is there were stairs for a reason.

In this moment, I don't want anything to change. I mean, of course I want the cult to be stopped, but at this very second I could just sit here forever. Nick and I on this rooftop looking out over our small town forever. Just ignore the past and the present. I hope the future is looking as bright as the moon tonight.