The Rhodes Method

eleven

Wait for the signal and I'll meet you after dark
Show me the places where the others gave you scars
--- Willow, Taylor Swift

OCTAVIA RHODES

I have no one to call.

Vince, Logan and Myles are all out of the picture. They will have too many questions, and I will not be able to answer any of them. I also cannot look Damien in the eye after everything that has gone on. I can't trust him with my words because he will leave me alone to fall apart by myself again. Damien will force all information out of me, and that is not something I can deal with.

Sure, Vince can easily get me to talk. It is different with Damien because when I admit things to him, it is out of my own free will. I do it because I want to, and I really don't want to tell him.

I don't have friends I can ask either. I don't have any friends, now that I think about it. Veronica and Sarai aren't my friends. We were hardly ever friends.

I don't have anyone.

It is a cruel realisation to come in terms with. There are eight billion people alive, and I don't have anyone to turn to.

A stupid part of my brain tells me to speak with Cole. But I am not good friends with him and I do not have his number. I am pretty sure he requested me on Facebook, at least I think he has, but I have not checked yet.

There is one person I know. One person I know, who does not know me well enough to judge me. It is a stupid thought at first. But I'm grasping at straws here.

Damien's friend, Reid. I check my phone, and then I realise I have his number.

My mind reminds me – I had been with Damien, who needed to call his friend but had not has his phone with him. So I call him. I don't know why I am so desperate.

"Hello?" his voice rings in my ear, confused.

"Reid? Hey, it's Octavia."

"Tav?" his voice grows concerned. "Are you okay?"

"Can I come over?" I ask. "It's okay if you're busy or anything–"

"Yeah," Reid responds quickly. "You can. Where are you? I can drive to you."

I laugh lightly. "Yeah, uh, I don't exactly know where I am. But I'll figure it out." I am not familiar with the area I am in. I can take a bus, or walk, but I'm not the best with directions in all honesty.

I hear shuffling, and the sound of keys. "I'm driving to you. Send me your location."

Apparently Reid knows exactly where I am. He pulls up next to me in ten minutes, and I don't think I've ever been so relieved to see him before. He nods at me, and then he reaches forward to open my door from the inside.

When I first step into the car, he asks me, "Are you okay Tav?"

I swallow. "I am." But my voice is hoarse and I am obviously lying.

"What happened?" he asks me.

I do not respond. I stare straight ahead and try to pretend that the last hour of my life did not just happen.

Reid's frown deepens. "What do you want me to do, Tav? I can drop you home."

"No," I say plainly.

Reid drums his fingers on the steering wheel. "Back to mine then?"