Looming Secrets

Chapter 7

Jason

I don't like to be lied to and I don't like lying. Ironically though, lying is the only thing I can do to cover up secrets. To protect those around me.

It's all I've been doing since the day Seth (my twin brother) died. Most of the time I try to just dance around the questions and avoid telling lies.That's exactly what I've been doing last night—going around in circles, trying to avoid more lies.

They say ignorance is bliss. They're wrong. Ignoring questions only lead to more questions, and  unfortunately, lying is the only way to stop those questions without putting anyone in danger.

Other times, you just want to lie to get rid of the person asking you.

The warning bell hasn't even rang yet and Ari was already in biology class. Judging from her opened books, I'd say that she's been here for a while, probably waiting to bomb me with questions.

I suppressed a groan and ducked back into the busy hallways.

If I go in there, Ari will be annoying enough to make me punch a wall. But if I don't go in there now, I still have free period and training with her. Granted, I can easily skip free period, but I will seriously want to strangle someone in training if she doesn't keep her mouth shut. I guess the only possible way to make her shut up is to satisfy her curiosity now.

I sighed and stepped through the door. The second my foot lands on the ground, Ari's silvery eyes flickered up from her book. Great.

I walked over to my counter—which was inconveniently behind of Ari's—and then sat down, while laying out my books.

"I want to talk to you," said a soft, melodic voice.

"What?"

So many emotions passed through her face. Concern, nervousness, fear,  curiosity. "How?"

I frowned and faked confusion. "How what?"

Ari's fingers anxiously played with the hem of her loose shirt. "How did you use the compulsion? Who gave it to you?"

"What compulsion?"

Frustration flared in the blue of her eyes. "I know you know what I'm talking about."

I smirked. "I know you don't even know what you're talking about."

"Stop acting dumb."

"Stop acting smart."

"Ugh, are you calling me stupid Jason?" she shot up from her seat. "Because I swear if you don't tell me what was going on last night, I will—"

"You'll what, Puffball?"

She opened her mouth to say something, but the warning bell rang. Apparently, it made her change whatever she was going to say. "You know what? Forget about the spell."

I waited a few seconds just in case anyone came into the classroom, but it remained empty. "There was no spell."

"Yes there was, but whatever, you won't tell me anyways. I just want to know about those things that tried to sneak up on us."

I considered telling her what those things were, but then I decided that she didn't need them in her nightmares. "There was nothing that sneaked up on us."

Ari rolled her eyes at my act. "What are you talking about? You killed them. How can you not remember them?"

I paused. Lie to her. "Fine. There were things that attacked us last night, but I don't know what they were."