Blackbird

Chapter 11

"The government has almost given up their search for us, so we could always go outside and do something together?" Ilva suggested thoughtfully.

We're sitting on the balcony with fresh smoothies on the table in front of us. The sun is blaring down on us and there isn't a cloud in the sky, but all I feel is hot and sticky.

Things haven't been the same between Ilva and me since the "meeting". I frown.

"Mabye", I say, sipping my smoothie, "Or mabye not."

Ilva sighs impatiently and turns towards me, "You have to stop avoiding me, you know."

"After what happened a week ago? Not likely", I coldly reply.

"You know I didn't mean it Emilya" she says, like a guilty child, "We were just messing around!"

"You see, that's what makes me want to stay away, the fact that you treat murder as 'playing around'", I exlaim in a fit of sudden passion, "All this killing and drunken nights isn't you. I want to know the real you, Ilva."

"It hurts too much", she mumbled sadly.

I go to turn back around.

She grabs my shoulder, "Why don't we do something fun together?"

She notices my face.

"That doesn't involve killing", she adds hastily.

I drain my drink. Ilva pushes hers towards me, untouched.

"Your boyfriend doesn't like me", I suddenly remember, grateful for a minor excuse.

"That idiot? I was drunk. I dumped him ages ago", she laughs, "It was my right to slap you after you'd slapped me, not him."

She slaps me.

"There", she says cheerfully, "now we're even."

I nod in defeat. I really didn't want to go on an activity with her. I didn't trust her now and didn't think I ever could again.

Author's note: Double update! Also, picture of Arbor above ^^^^^