killer, gbd (EDITING)

14

Grayson had walked past me without saying anything, without offering me a smile. My brows tighten as I follow his quick footsteps back to Susan's lab.

My intentions are to follow him, but as soon as he enters the room, he slams the door behind him. It makes me flinch and I shake my head, confused.

Taking a light step forward, I press against the door, first with my palms, then with my ear. "Grayson, I'm sorry. I know the significance it has to you, but you must remember that each one of you had a job to do. They are doing their job, and I know she will gladly do hers. Let it be." Susan's voice is authoritative, but soft with sympathy.

"I'm just," Grayson let's out a long sigh. "I'm just," He starts again, but is unable to finish, so Susan does it for him.

"Worried, I know, dear." I hear her set something down. "You're worried that if you let her go you'll never see her again, but, love... She is a big girl, she can take care of herself." Her voice is muffled.

"I don't understand why I can't go with her," He says.

"It's a simple mission, it doesn't require more then one of you. And they feel strongly that Aria should be the one to do it," I raise my head from the door, my lip curling a bit.

"Do you think they'll separate us?" He asks, and my face softens. I had considered the thought, but it was before I had any attachment to him. Thinking about it now, I don't know what I'd do.

"No, no I don't think so," I hear him give him a pat. "But, my dear, it is not good to left feelings untold. If you do believe that you two will be separated, I beg you to tell her how you feel." My breath catches in my chest, and suddenly I feel as if I should walk away. None of this was meant for my ears.

"But, I'm not sure what I feel," He says softly, and the breath leaves my chest. I expected some relief, but it doesn't come.

Susan laughs out loud. "I may be older now, but I see the way she looks at you," My eyes widen, heat burning at my cheeks. "And, I see the way you look at her." My hand lifts to my face, my fingertips covering my lips.

"But," Susan cuts him off before he can finish.

"Ah, don't say anything. I don't need to hear it," She tells him. "I'll talk to her about the mission, okay?" My heart beats in my chest, but echos to my ears. I bring my head away from the door and walk out to the kitchen, trying to keep my footsteps silent.

The door opens and the sound makes me jump. "Aria, sweetheart!" Susan calls to me. I turn around to look at her, but my attention is consumed by Grayson. His brows tighten across his forehead, lifting where they are closest together. The expression he holds is torturous, conflicted.

Stopping in front of me, he looks down at me, his eyes searching my face as if I hold the answer. But no words come from this, he sighs and walks past me. I steady my shaky hands before walking back to Susan. She pulls out a lab stool and offers it to me.

"Make yourself comfortable," She smiles and sits into her own stool. "I received a letter about the next steps for you." Her smiles drops, but her face doesn't hold the doom that Grayson's did.

"Okay," I nod, painfully curious on what could have Grayson so upset.

"Duke has requested a final thing from you before you are passed over to different management," She nods.