Left for Dead (book 1 in the Super Nova series)

Chapter 22

He says "I don't want you to lie to me. It's alright to say no."

I say "if you don't want me to lie then I won't say no."

He says "really?"

I nod and say "really. It just took me a while to figure it out."

He says "that's alright."

I say "alright, let's go back in. I'm starving."

He nods and says "okay, let's go." He looks at me for a second, then slowly reaches out his hand towards mine.

I grab his hand and say "seriously, I'm starving."

He laughs and leads me back into the dining room. We sit back down where we were and I say "sorry. I uh, I was just-"

Beatrix says "you don't need to apologize. What I said was probably way over the line, I'm sorry."

Finn says "don't apologize, something great came from it."

Echo says "what?"

I raise up my hand, which was still holding Finn's.

Blaire gasps and says "it finally happened!"

Ace says "'bout time."

Kathryn says "congratulations! But if you don't mind, we kind of have to order."

I nod and say "good, I'm starving."

Tiberius says "the food here's really good."

Beatrix says "the best around. Trust me, you're gonna like it here."

Finn says "I hope so."

Kathryn calls over a waiter and we all order our food.

Beatrix looks at me, then Finn, then whispers something to Echo. I decide to ignore it.

Echo gasps and whispers something back.

I turn to Blaire and say "this place freaks me out. Everyone knows my name, everyone keeps calling me Super Nova, and people say I'm going to end up being their queen!"

She laughs and says "yeah, it does sound strange. Oh well. Sucks to be you."

I roll my eyes and make a sarcastic laugh.

She says "but seriously, it is kind of freaky."

Ace says "maybe if we're friends with the queen-"

I interrupt "I'm not the queen!"

I press the ice pack back against my face and say "but they did say that if I choose I can have you killed for punching me across the face."

Blaire says "seriously?!"

I nod and say "and Mr. Brown is a doctor here."

Finn says "it's weird."

Ace says "sounds like it."

Kathryn says "who's Mr. Brown?"

I say "our history teacher from before I became a fugitive."

She says "he's here?"

I nod.

She says "that's strange."

I nod and say "it is."

I suddenly remember the dream I had. About me being dangerous.

I look around the room, at all the people. People who expected me to save them.

I will not tur myself in. I will go against my own promise.

I will fight.