DeadLocked

Chapter 8- Affairs

Chapter 8

Affairs

~13 players remaining~

~o~

[ Finn's POV / Two hours earlier ]

Viola wanted needed a few extra hands in searching the study, so Terry and I offered to go with her, and Bradley. Ryan refused to come and so did Natasha, which I found quite peculiar. As we were packing to go and tear through the study, I pulled Ryan aside and gave him a puzzling look. "I know a lot of us can't stand Natasha...why don't you just come with us? She can hold down the fort by herself." I shrugged, a few strands of hair falling in front of my eyes. Ryan nervously rubbed the back of his head, and looked over the blonde sitting in the window. "No...i'll stay. I don't know if you've noticed but..she's been really out of it since this whole thing started." He said, eyes not once moving from her. I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms. "Really? She seems the same to me, cold and heartless."
"Finn." Ryan glared at me, and I shrugged in defense. "What! It's true. I honestly don't know how B puts up with her...she's so rude." I glared at Natasha. She'd always been a bit of a smart ass, and a huge jerk. But for some reason Bradley wanted to date her. I never approved of it but it's not like that mattered. I just wanted him to trust me more since I was the only one who knew his secret. My eyes trailed back to Ryan, and I sighed. "Fine, stay and keep watch on the mean girl." I huffed, pursing my lips. He blinked a few times and narrowed his gaze. "She isn't mean. She just has a hard time expressing her feelings.." He muttered, and I went back to packing my bag. "Oh really?" I asked. "How is keeping B all to herself and not letting them hang out with us for days on end expressing her feelings?" I asked, slinging my small bag of food over my shoulder, waiting for an answer. Ryan stopped talking to me and went to help Viola with more supplies. Something was off about him, and I didn't like the idea that came into my mind.

"Finn, you ready to go? Vi says we can head out whenever, she'll catch up." Bradley came up behind me and poked me gently in the shoulder. I smiled at him and nodded. "Yep!" I told Terry that we were going to be in the hall, and he waved us off, telling us he'd be there soon. I walked alongside Bradley into the hall, the two of us starting the long walk down the stairs. "So Viola said the study is on the third floor right?" I asked, and he nodded. "Yeah, she said it's big enough to be a library, or a small one at least." He smiled at me, and I noticed his smile didn't seem natural. He seemed really uneasy, but he was always great at masking it. Although...I was always good at sensing the mood. "What's up?" I asked, stopping on the landing before the next set of stairs. He tilted his head. "What do you mean?" He laughed, and I turned to face him. "You seem off, although all of us do, you've been acting a little stand offish.."
Bradley tensed up for a moment, clutching his lunch and looking around in a slight panic. "Uh...it's nothing. I'm just worried about Tobi and the others is all." He smiled again, that same bull shit smile. "B, if you're hiding something you can tell me...I promise I won't say a word." I crossed my heart, and he looked to the floor, almost ashamed.

He finally looked up again, and sighed. "Abigail knows about...me." He confessed, and my eyes widened in shock. "If you think I told her I didn't. I've never told anyone about that." I said, taking a step towards him. "I know, I thought about it yesterday and it just didn't make sense, after all you always keep your promises."
"Thank you...but how do you know she knows?" I asked, and his eyes went blank for a moment before he looked back to me. "I met with her the other day remember? She called me Bradley, and the worse part is I have to meet her again tomorrow." He frowned, and I lowered my head. He was about to speak again when I held up a hand, shushing him. I didn't need the details. "I'll go with you, to make sure she doesn't hurt you." My voice tried to sound reassuring, I didn't think it did but Bradley smiled. "I'm not scared of getting hurt, I'm scared that she'll tell my sister..what would Viola think of me then..?" He asked as we started walking again, now passing the fourth floor.