The Traitor

Chapter Sixteen: The Things That Go Untold

It took me less than five minutes to gather everything I would need and be out the door, though I didn't need very much. My stash included a jacket, a granola bar, which I stuffed into my jean pocket, and map I dug up of Wen territory. Though I knew most of the layout, I also knew I couldn't risk getting lost while on the other Side. As it stood at the moment, I wasn't exactly popular over on the Wen side and I imagined neither was Jasper, so it was essential that we got back over to the Daine territory as fast as we possibly could. Double checking to make sure I got everything I would likely need, I quickly sprinted down the hall and to the elevator, then pushed the bottom with the arrow pointing down and waited for it's ascent to my floor. The elevator dinged as the doors opened, revealing Savannah standing in the center of the elevator.

Great, I thought, the last person I want to see. I decided to just ignore her as I stepped into the elevator and pushed myself up against the wall, standing as far from her as the elevator walls would possibly allow. I pressed the button marked 'L' for Lobby and we began our torturous descent. I can honestly say that it was one of the most uncomfortable experiences of my life.

But not two seconds after the elevator ride began, Savannah said sweetly, "Teya, I'm surprised to see you here." The likely hatred behind her fake happiness and delighted surprise to see me there was well hidden, like a half empty bag of Doritos sealed and unknown behind the bright red packaging. I didn't believe she was happy to see me for a second and I continued to stare at the floor, the buttons, the wall, the ceiling- anything I could casually look at that wasn't her or her blue-eyed death glare. I wished she would just leave me alone, but I was stuck in an elevator with the blonde-haired perfectionist on what felt like the longest elevator ride of my life. "So," she began, as if trying to make friendly small talk like we were lifelong friends, seeing each other for the first time in awhile. "Where are you headed? I mean it's getting dark out, shouldn't you be going to your room?"

I gave her a look that clearly said 'I don't have time for this,' then asked in a calm, but agitated voice, "Savannah, what do you want?" I was tired of her and her games and whatever caused her quick mood change from earlier, and I really didn't feel like talking to her at the moment.

"What?" she asked innocently, as if someone had just accused her of stealing from the dollar store, though they both knew she wouldn't settle for anything less than name brands that were too expensive for anyone else to afford. "What makes you think I want something? I'm just trying to make conversation with a friend? Is that so wrong?"

"A friend?" I repeated in anger and disbelief. She had convinced Sophia not to even talk to me and then turned around and started acting like we were friends. What was her problem? "Just less than half an hour ago, you shot me an ice-cold death glare and told Sophia not to talk to me, and now you're trying to be my friend?" My voice was acid, but I could tell my words hadn't affected her in the slightest bit.

"Look, Teya, I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to go down like that," she apologized sweetly, and in my opinion way too sweetly to have meant it. We both knew she was faking it. But why? Why did she care whether she was my friend or not? "I got false information about you and I just wanted to try and start over." Her eyes glossed up and silently began begging with me with a look that I think was supposed to guilt-trip me.

"Savannah I-" I stopped short. Had she said... "Hold on, you said false information? What kind of false information and where did you hear it from?" Something was definitely going on, if only she would cooperate enough for me to find out.

But she froze and I noticed that she was staring as though she had just seen a ghost. Or someone had caught her in a lie. I was definitely going for the latter. "Oh, I um, I heard people talking at a table in the dining hall about something you did, but no matter. It was just a rumor," she tried to cover up. A rumor? What kind of rumor was going around about me now and who was spreading them? I wanted to scream at Savannah, but I knew it wasn't her fault someone was spreading rumors. Still, I couldn't help but be a little impatient with her.

"Rumors? What kind of rumors?!" I practically yelled at her. Right when I didn't think it could get any worse. Savannah flinched as she took a step back, eyes wide and eyebrows which now sat in the middle of her forehead. I tried to recover my tone and said, in a more patient voice, "What did you hear and who was saying it?" Yep, that didn't sound like I was on the verge ripping my hair out and murdering the next person who spoke to me, so I took it as I did better recovering that time. Savannah, however, still stood a good two steps back from where she originally stood and her eyes were still the size of silver dollars.

The elevator dinged as we reached the lobby floor and I just stood there, waiting to hear her response, not entirely sure I hadn't convinced her once again never to talk to me. She proved me wrong when she answered softly, "Oh, um, I didn't recognize who it was, but it doesn't really matter, right? They were just rumors." The fast pace of her words and the fact that she was smiling like she was trying to get out of a parking ticket made me even more suspicious of her. "Anyway, you should probably hurry and go, if you're planning on rescuing Jasper tonight. You don't want to still be on the Wen side in the morning or you might be captured as well," she pointed out, giving me a little push out of the elevator as she waved to me while the doors shut. Confused, but realizing she was right, I began sneaking out of the Lobby, and to the dark outdoors. The moon shone brightly down, illuminating my way so I could easily find the train station. I knew I wasn't far from the border, so I decided to just walk along the track, which would eventually lead me to Wen territory.

It wasn't until I had made it to the train station when I realized I had never mentioned to Savannah that I was leaving to rescue Jasper.