The Thief

9. Empathy and Apathy

Evane

I sit down at the piano and stroke the familiar keys. Many songs fly into my mind as I wonder what to play. Nothing feels right. Nothing fits my mood. But what is my mood? I'm not happy, but I don't think I'm depressed either. Maybe I don't have a mood. Where does it say that we must always have feelings? After all, sometimes apathy is better than emotions. Emotions are too often pain.

A knock sounds at the door. "I'll get it!" I call to Merrik, wherever he is.

"Hi," Asher says at the door.

"I wasn't expecting you. How'd you know where I live?" I don't move out of the doorway, forcing him to stay on the porch.

"I've been here before, remember? Just not inside."

"Right." An awkward moment passes through us.

"Can I come in?" he asks.

I bite my lip then move out of the way, closing the door behind him. "Why are you here exactly?"

He turns around in a circle, not sure where to go or what to do. "I was in the neighborhood, thought I'd stop by and see how you're doing?"

"You don't have to do that," I say.

"Do what? I'm just being friendly." He sits down on the couch and I sit back on the piano bench.

"No, you're treating me like I'm fragile, like I can't handle this."

"I didn't say that."

"Handle what?" Merrik appears in the room, Paco at his heels. "Why's he here? Aren't you the kid I arrested?"

"Yes." Asher looks back at me. "Have you not told him yet?"

"Told me what? Wait are you two...?"

I stand. "No, Merrik, just go back to your room I'll explain later."

He shakes his head. "No way. You're going to tell me what's going on now." Of course now is the only time Merrik is using his authority against me.

I swallow and sit back down. "There's this thing about me going around school."

Asher stands abruptly. "It's my fault, sir. I unintentionally started the rumor."

Merrik puts his hands on his hips. "What is this rumor?"

"That I smoke pot."

Merrik takes a deep breath and runs a hand through his hair. "And you started this?" he points at Asher.

I stand too. "Technically yes, but it was really this other guy. If he hadn't heard Ember and I talking nothing would have come of it."

"Do you blame him?" Merrik asks me. His tone tells me if I say yes he'll arrest him again. Or possibly just beat him up.

I look back and forth between them. "I don't know. It doesn't matter anyway, he's trying to help now."

"That true?" Merrik looks to Asher.

"Yes, sir. I'd like to make this right."

Merrik nods. "Okay. Do you have a plan? Do you think this rumor can be shut down?"

Asher and I share a look. "I don't know," I say. "It's high school, rumors are hard to stop."

Merrik's phone rings. He looks at the screen. "Crap, I'm late. I gotta go. We'll talk about this later." He looks at Asher. "Remember what I said about laying a finger on her." He answers his phone and leaves before Asher can react.

"Thanks for that," I say once the door is closed.

"Sorry. He's right, though. We need a plan."

I sigh and sit back on the piano bench. "I really don't want to think about it right now."

Asher leans against the piano. "Okay." Asher looks around until his eyes finally land on the piano. "Will you play me something?"

I chuckle. "Um... I guess." I stroke the keys again, but again no songs feel right. So I just start playing. No music to follow, almost no thoughts either. The sound comes from within me and it fits. It seems to fill the hole that has been inside me. I close my eyes and let it wash over me.

I don't know how long I play, but by the time I finish I had forgotten Asher was here. I release the last note and open my eyes again. Asher is turned away from me and he doesn't look back at me for a few minutes. When he does it's hard to describe the look on his face.

He swallows. "That was..." I can see his mind working for a word, but it can't find anything.

"Thanks," I say.

"Um... I'd like to show you something." He holds out his hand. I stare at it for a moment. "Don't worry, you can trust me."

"Okay." I put my hand in his.

Hi how's it going? Are you enjoying the story? What do you think they can do about the rumors? Where might Asher be taking her? Let me know your predictions in the comments and please give this chapter a vote if you liked it! Thanks for reading!