PULSE [H.S]

056

"To ignore evil is to become an accomplice to it." — Martin Luther King Jr.

My nerves skyrocket.

I sit at the table of a coffee shop, sipping on my latte as I wait for him. As I wait for Aaron. I agreed to meet with him a few days ago, but only if it was in a public place with eyes around.

My stomach clenches as he enters the shop, stepping inside from the rain. He takes his hood off as he scans his room, his lips twisting upwards when he spots me. I almost gag when he leans down and kisses me on the cheek before taking a seat.

"Hey, Kiz," he says casually.

His face makes me angry, and I can't believe I ever thought this man was attractive. All I feel when I look at him now is the bile rising to my throat. All I see is the man who abused me, took away my confidence, and stole my smile.

He quickly gets up to get himself some coffee, returning with a steaming cup of black liquid. He takes his black, just like his soul.

He says, "It's nice to see you."

"What do you want, Aaron?" I ask him.

Easy-going coffee shop music plays in the background, and I hear the noise of various conversations going on around us. It's such a peaceful environment for such a violent storm.

He asks me, "Did you see her on her birthday? I know that was always a hard time for you."

The mention of Rae makes my blood run cold. When I told Aaron about her, I never thought one day he would be dangling her life in front of my face.

"I did," I bite out. "We don't have to make small talk. Tell me what you want from me."

He sighs. "You used to be a lot nicer, you know."

"You don't deserve my kindness anymore," I reply.

His hand on the table turns into a fist, and he starts to get frustrated with me. I remind myself why I'm here. To tell him enough to get him off my back for a while, not to poke an angry bear.

He says, "So, what is Styles up to these days?"

"I don't really know what you want me to be looking for," I say, leaning back in my seat. "He doesn't talk to me half of the time, and he's a bit grumpy if you haven't noticed."

He questions, "Yet you live with him?"

"I'm in the process of apartment hunting. I had to leave my old one," I say flatly, not being able to keep the attitude out of my voice.

He smirks at me. He says, "I want to know where he stands with Bloodstone. He and his friends have been plotting something."

"Can you tell me what happened in Greece?" I ask, playing dumb. "I still don't understand it."

He studies my face. He says, "They didn't tell you?"

"No," I say, looking down at my lap. "They treat me like a child, Aaron. Like I'm too fragile to be told anything. I know I am out of my depth with all of this, but I deserve to be told the truth, especially when it involves me."

His eyes soften, and I can't believe he is falling for this bullshit. But I can't judge him too much. I fell for his bullshit for a long time.

He says, "Your team was used as a decoy while the Beta team got the real target."

I furrow my eyebrows, saying, "What do you mean? We were just there as a distraction?"

He nods, tapping his fingers on the table. He says, "I tried to make sure you weren't involved in it, but my father insisted. I wish you hadn't been there."