Borderline

Chapter 10

"No, we're not going to a school, and that's final. I don't care what Carter does to me, I refuse to-"

"Ryder, listen to me." Joshua had pulled me over so that I was sitting on his lap, facing him. My head had been buried in my shoulder as I cried, remembering too many bad memories all at once.

I squeezed his shoulder to indicated that he had my attention.

Eli was standing in the sidewalk, looking completely out of place.

"That was so long ago. I bet all of those girls got what was coming to them." I didn't even have to tell him what I had been thinking about. "Plus, that was two cities over. They're probably still there, being stuck up, snotty little bitches."

He looked at me with a hint of a smile, and I knew where he was going with this. "They're probably on the cheerleading squad."

I couldn't help but laugh a little at that. Something about those bitches going on to lead stereotypical girl lives was just funny to me.

I calmed down a little and wiped my eyes with the sleeve of my jacket, then stood up and made myself somewhat presentable.

I sighed and walked over to Eli, who looked extremely uncomfortable.

"What kind of school is it?"

Eli perked up at the fact that I seemed to be considering the idea, and I saw a look of surprise on Joshua's face.

"It's the boarding school I go to. The new school year starts next week, but everyone always goes in early to get settled."

I thought about this for a minute before saying my next words. "Fine. I'll do it. But only under one condition."

"Sure! Anything!"

"I have to be in a room with you and Joshua."

Joshua's face didn't loose its surprised expression, and Eli's changed to match his. "Not what I was expecting when I said anything..."

"So? Can you do that?"

Eli looked at me apologetically. "Well, girls and boys can't room together..."

I rolled my eyes. "So don't tell them I'm a girl, stupid! Everyone already seems to think that I'm a boy, so we'll just let them think it and not say anything."

"Oh...well, maybe..."

I let out an exasperated sigh. "Come on, you two. It's getting late, and I have a feeling we've got a lot more walking to do."

***

We reached the school at around 10 o'clock that night. However, when we reached the front gate, it was closed and locked.

"Welp," I said, already having second thoughts about this plan. "Looks like they're closed! Let's go somewhere else, okay?" I tugged on Joshua's arm, but he didn't move.

"No, Ryder. We'll just sleep close by until they open again in the morning." Joshua dragged me down the sidewalk until we came to an alley.

It wasn't as wide as the one I had before, but it would do for one night. I dropped my bag next to Joshua's and sat down, leaning my head against the wall behind me.

Eli poked his head around the corner. "What are you guys doing?"

"Setting up camp. You gonna help? Or are you just gonna free load?" I pulled an old blanket out from my duffel bag, one that I had brought from my box, and laid it on the ground.

"Can't we just climb the fence or something?" Eli asked.

I shrugged. "I probably could. But you and Joshua don't have the same training that I do. You'd get caught almost immediately."

Eli walked over to me and out his hands on his hips. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Before I could say anything, Joshua spoke. "It means that we would get caught on tape by the security cameras, while Ryder wouldn't be seen because she knows exactly where to jump the fence and when."

Eli stared at him.

I sighed, irritated that he still didn't seem to understand. "I'm an assassin, dumbass. I kill people for money. That's what my booth is- was- back at the warehouse."

Eli's eyes widened. "You've killed people?!"

I squeezed the bridge of my nose with my fingers. "No, they all survive after I pump them full of bullets."

Eli couldn't seems to move. I rolled my eyes and laid down, exhausted. Joshua laid beside me on the blanket and wrapped an arm around me.

"Eli, can you either lay down or go away? Cause I really don't like people standing over me." When I spoke, Eli jumped, as if he didn't realize I was still there.

Without saying a word, he sat down.

"There's an extra blanket in my bag if you want one," Joshua said, his voice muffled by my jacket.

Eli pulled the blanket out and laid down on it, turned away from me and Joshua.

Eventually, after what felt like forever, I let sleep take over and I drifted into darkness.