Finding Truth

Chapter 15

I take Gwen down to the mat with a swift kick out to her legs as I spin and dodge her attack.

"Woah, guess there's a first for everything." Gwen puffs out between breaths.

We've been going at this practically every day for the last month. Well, when she isn't having me run a million miles, try to make things explode with my mind, or even stop things from hitting me square in the face by using my shield.

It's exhausting but it's been rewarding. I'm pretty confident I wouldn't die in the first 30 seconds of a fight anymore, maybe even the first five minutes now. So there's that bit.

I held out my hand for Gwen to grab to help her up and I just about dropped her right back on her ass.

"What's up with you anyways Sammy?"

"I don't know what you mean?" I snap while staring down at my hands as I try to rub off the sweat of today's lesson onto my pants.

"That's a load of bullshit and you know it. Don't even fucking try with me. We've been together nonstop for what? Two months? I know."

"But you don't actually know." I barely breath out in a whisper walking over to the bench.

Gwen sit's down next to me and wraps an arm around my shoulder pulling me in.

"Listen Sammy, I may not understand what you're going through or exactly how things have been with Aden, but I do know that something is up. Not only that, I know it's been eating at you a lot. Spin the beans before I have to beat it outta you."

"So violent, aren't you Gwen?" I chuckle.

"You know it." She lets go of me and taps my shoulder with her fist. "And don't you forget it."

I let out a loud "Ughhhh" and turn to face her while pulling one of my knees up to my chest while propping my foot up on the bench.

"If I tell you, you have to swear to me this stays between us. I trust you Gwen, but I know you're loyal to the crown. Which happens to include Aden."

"I know how to keep a secret or two, trust me, and Aden is just Aden to me. I can separate the crown from our friendship if that's what you need."

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"Yeah. I just don't know where to start."

"Start at the beginning and go from there. You can leave out the nasty bits though." Gwen says with a wink.

I couldn't stop the small laugh coming out shaky.

The next few hours me and Gwen stayed seated on the bench and I filled her in on everything I could think of. It took me a while to explain the situation that happened in the garden, because frankly I'm still not even sure what happened. What took the longest, by far, was trying to express my emotions about Aden and how I feel about his actions as of late.

I knew he was planning to string me along until I fessed up about what happened in the Garden, not that he knew something happened in the garden, at least I hope not. Still not sure about that one.

Anyways, as for him stringing me along... it's gotten out of hand. I don't think we've even touched each other in the last month. I can't even believe it when I think about it. It's gone from a game to just hurtful.

He gets so angry every time I say no when he asks me what happened. I probably would have told him eventually, but at this point it's just principle. I guess that's what happens when you put two very strong headed people together.

Either way I don't think it justifies his actions to act like I'm just a roommate that happens to sleep in the same bed as him at night. Which was another thing. That's IF we sleep in the same bed because he's never home. Or I should say he's never in the room anymore. I rarely see him.

__________

It's nearing three in the fucking morning. I've been sat criss-crossed on the bed for almost four hours now waiting for Aden to walk through the door. I'm tired of this bull shit. He needs to go a fucking pair and realize he doesn't have a right to know everything about my life.

Every minute is fueling my anger and I'm on the verge of exploding into a red rage when he walks through the door. I don't know what time it is anymore, I lost track staring at the wall in my own thoughts, allowing the rage to fuel me to stay awake.

Aden closes the door behind him and takes a few steps into the room before realizing I'm awake. We make eye contact and he stills.

"Weren't expecting me to be awake? Were you?"

"Uhh.. actually no I wasn't"

"And why is that exactly? Oh wait, don't answer that. I already know. You come home at the most absurd hours of the night so you DON'T HAVE TO FACE ME. AND THAT'S IF YOU COME HOME AT ALL!"

Anger is rolling off me in waves and all he does is continue to stand there staring at me.

Untangling my legs I move off the bed and start walking towards him. Once I reach Aden I'm poking him in the chest.

"You really have nothing to say for yourself?"

Blink Blink

"Hummm.. well.. let me speak for you then. You're being an insufferable prick and I won't put up with it. My training is going well and at this point nothing is holding me here anymore. I'll be fine back out in the real world. I need answers about my family and I'm not getting them here. All I get is a broody twat that I thought was my best friend and the love of my life."

"Sam-"

"Don't." I wipe a tear that's escaped. "You don't get to feed me some shitty excuse now."

"I won't feed you one then."

Aden turns and walks out the door without another word while I'm left, tears running down my cheeks silently.

I know what I have to do, even if it sets the King's army and worse... Aden.. on a hunt for me.