Defenders of Destiny Bk 1: Destiny Begins

Hurt Under The Surface.

Warning ⚠️: This book contains graphic content. Viewer discretion is advised.

"Hey..." Esther looked up from her book, eyeing Kent as he awkwardly rubbed his neck from where he now stood beside the couch she sat on in the lobby area of the apartment.

"Hey." Esther didn't know what else to say as she watched the male try to awkwardly figure out what to say next, amusement coursing through her veins at how awkward her usually loud and outgoing friend was.

"How are you?" Kent's question made a laugh ripple from Esther's throat as she gently placed her teal bookmark into the book before gently shutting it.

"Really? What are we... Middle school students texting? Talk to me like we used to. Don't be shy and make it weird." Esther teased which immediately made Kent's slightly larger ears flush red as his blue gaze fell to the ground now.

"Sorry. I just feel like ever since we escaped from The Monarch and settled here... You're almost avoiding me. Maybe I'm wrong, but, I just felt like you didn't really want to hang out lately." Kent's words caused Esther to falter slightly as she realized that he was right in some ways.

At first it had been normal... They could joke around like they normally did. But something had always made her take a step back from him...

Sure, they'd had history but now... Now that she remembered all the memories she'd shared with David... It almost felt like she was betraying David by allowing Kent the memories that David was now missing out on.

"I mean... I understand what you mean... But..." Esther paused as she thought over the conversation she had the night previously with Joelee. Remembering what Joelee had said caused her to flinch as she rethought what exactly she was going to say to him now.

She didn't want to ruin their friendship but she knew he wanted something more.

"Things are different now... We're not the same people we were before we were kidnapped. Things aren't going to be completely the same... You know?" Esther chose her words carefully, trying her best to spare his feelings but he didn't seem to understand what she was trying to say as he took a seat next to her with sympathy clouding his baby blue eyes.

"I guess I never stopped to consider that... You must've gone through just as much as I did at The Monarch... The constant shock therapy... The painful serums... I'm sorry for not considering your feelings sooner, Esther." Kent's words caused her to immediately deflate as she realized he definitely was taking this conversation in the completely wrong direction than she had intended.

"Actually... I wasn't meaning that, Kent. I'm saying... Over time... People change. Feelings change. You start to... Grow out of things. You understand?" Kent still looked confused much to Esther's disappointment as she released a groan before rubbing her head in an attempt to find a more blunt but yet gentle way of telling him that she no longer had a crush on him.

"I'm saying... We should let go of our childish crush, right? It wasn't ever really serious... I mean... You're younger than me and if I was too young to consider being in a serious relationship, then you definitely were. We shouldn't ruin our friendship by making it awkward and dating." Esther's said slowly but Kent immediately looked away as she spoke, Adam's apple bobbing up and down as he swallowed rather heavily before giving a hesitant nod.

"Yeah. You're right. We were just kids. We're adults now so we need to get over it and move on." Kent's reply seemed almost forced but he looked up with a soft smile, awkwardly patting Esther's head before he stood rather quickly.

"I have to... Clean my walls. See you later." Kent murmured as he turned to make his way towards where Esther knew the stairway was, not noticing the tears forming in Kent's eyes as he made a quick exit.