CONFINEMENT

CHAPTER TWELVE

   Harrison stormed through the streets, his heartbeat rapid but not because of the fast pace, more because of the anger and confusion surging through his body. He hadn't fallen for her, right? No way, she had only been his for around two months, and she was from the Slums! She came from somewhere where the civilization lacked in every aspect and where most of them acted like animals. But she didn't... She was kind of... different, he guessed. And that was alright, he had probably just been really lucky, but that didn't change the fact that she wasn't as pure or evolved as his peers from the Center. It was probably just their constant close proximity that messed with his head. Still, whenever people called her his girl or his Saving, his heart skipped a beat and he felt sort of proud. Proud that she belonged to him! She was his and only his, but did that mean he had feelings for her? Lord, he hoped not! But how could you tell? It wasn't like he had tried anything like it before. But he had also never really had a female presence in his life, at least not anyone other than Agnes and Albertha Somerset. So yeah, it was probably just the proximity and the fact that no one else really interested him at the moment.

   He took a turn onto the street he knew so well, and bolted up the stairs of the apartment he considered his other home. He didn't even knock, just stormed into the apartment, and met Theodores confused eyes as he stormed into the kitchen. He leaned back in the big brown leather couch, a sandwich in his right hand and a beer in his left. "Hyde?" He spoke, surprised but not necessarily confused.

   "Sorry Theo, I just..." He lost his words. What did he need again? Theodore took a last bite of his sandwich and rose from his seat, then walked to the fridge and pulled out another beer that he handed to Harrison. "You look like you need a drink." He said casually. Harrison grabbed it and thanked him, and they went to the couch to sit.

   "I don't even know why I'm here," Harrison said with defeat as he sat down and looked at his feet. "I guess I really needed to get out."

   "Hey man, it's fine. We don't have to talk about it, but I'm here if you need it." Theodore said softly, and Harrison felt his mind relaxing a bit, just by knowing he had someone to count on. He leaned back in the soft leather, suddenly feeling very heavy and defeated.

   Theodore shifted a little in his seat. "It's about Castania, isn't it?" He questioned cautiously. Harrisons body went stiff and his eyes shot up. "What?" He said frantically.

   Theodores arms shot up in defense. "Hey, I'm not judging you or anything," He began, leaning over to grab his beer from the coffee table. "But you mentioned how she was doing your head in, so I thought you just didn't get along, and argued a lot." He swirled his beer around for a bit, then took a deep breath. "But then I saw you together at the evaluations, and I figured that maybe she's doing your head in because of something else..." There was no need to be specific, Harrison knew what he meant. He debated if he should lie and scorn him for implying such nonsense. That she was doing his head in because of love? No way! How stupid could you be! But... Was it really nonsense at this point? And he already said he wasn't judging, and clearly, Theodore had figured it out on his own just by observing them, so was there even a point to lie about it? Why had he even come here if he couldn't be truthful? The fact that Theodore so freely admitted that he liked Teddy helped as well, if he had admitted that he was starting to like him, was it really so bad if Harrison admitted to... Liking Castania?

   He took in a deep breath and leaned back in the couch, his head rested against the cushions, and he massaged the bridge of his nose. "I don't know what's going on with us." He stated, unclear on what else to say.

   "You like her, don't you?" Theodore took a sip of his beer, and Harrison felt his interested eyes lingering on him. He drew out a breath. "I don't even know." He said in defeat, then sat up straight and looked at his friend. "I mean, how can you even tell?"