Stealing Perfection

Chapter 7

The next few days pass in a blur. I keep on loose jackets, and try to use my arm as little as possible. Unknowingly to my parents, I pop painkillers like candy, and change the bandages at night. Terran realizes I am hiding something, but does not catch onto it.

Five days later, I sneak to the base with my arm almost healed.

The throbbing and pain has reduced to a dull ache, so it is far more bearable. Once I reach the compound, everyone is talking and chatting. I find Gemma in the side of the room, and she is chatting with another girl our age, Waverly. I walk up to them, and they turn to me.

"I heard Kat telling Alton that the 'thing' is tomorrow night." Waverly says. She is the biggest gossiper around. Her chestnut brown hair and dark chocolate eyes deem her trustworthy, but that is a lie. She isn't manipulative, but she does gossip about everyone in the compound. So when she tells me this, I know she is not lying.

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"The thing you guys were planning." Gemma says, hints of annoyance in her tone. She doesn't look at me, and keeps her eyes on the ground. I turn to her, my face blank.

"What's your problem?" I inquire. Her head snaps up at me. Instead of the bright sharp green, they are a dull, olive color.

"Sorry, did you actually care about me for once?" She grumbles. My mouth drops open. "I thought you would be to busy with your new friend Lance." She adds. My heart starts to drop. Have I been ignoring her lately?

"I have no idea what you're talking about." I squeak out, head spinning.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about." She snaps, and glares at me.

If I stay here and listen to her yell at me, it will only fire me up. I don't have time to listen to her yell at me, but I can't leave her now. I wish I could tell her about the mission, to gain her trust. I need to leave, and find Kat or Lance.

"Shut up." I hiss, and push past her. I hear her laughter behind me.

"Where are you going, to find your new boy toy?" She shrieks, and my face flushes. I feel her arm clasp around mine, and I shake it off. "Don't walk away from me!" Several people have turned in our direction.

"Get away from me, I don't have time for this." I grumble, and shove by the groups of people. Footsteps sound behind me.

"Stop being a coward and talk to me!" She yells. I spin around in a flash, and jab my elbow into her rib to get her off of my back.

"I don't have time for this!" I repeat. She reaches out and grabs my right arm. A white-hot pain rushes up my arm, and I let out a cry. Her hands slack, and I pull away sharply. I cradle my arm with my left, and try to regain my composure.

"What the hell was that?" She demands, and I grit my teeth together.

"You don't care anyway, leave me alone." I force, and walk away from her. I continue down the hallway, and peek through the doors to find Kat. I rub my arm, and bite my lip at the lingering pain.

I turn a corner, and run into a hard body. I mumble "Sorry", and slip past the person without looking at the person I have ran into. My hands are shaking, and my face feels hot. I know I am about to cry, and I would like to be alone when the tears come streaming down my face.

"Are you okay?" A soft voice asks, and a hand grabs on my left arm. I look back, and Lance is standing there, confused more than ever.

"What's going on about the.." I pause and look around, and we are alone. "The mission?"

He opens his mouth to talk, but it is obvious that the mention of the mission has upset him. "It's going to happen tomorrow night."

"Well that's bull shit." I say. The corners of his lips turn up in a smile.