Silverlake

Chapter 19

I stood up off of the ground when Sterling tried to move and instead winced. 

"We should get you to a hospital." 

"No, I'll be fine. I might have to crash at your place though." He winked despite his eye starting to swell. 

I rolled my eyes and helped him to stand up. "Is that so?" 

I took most of his weight onto my shoulders.  The park seemed smaller than before; the glow and enticement of the deserted park was gone. 

We reached the car quickly. He wouldn't try anything else tonight. Part of me wanted him to come back, partly for answers and partly-

"Reese?" Sterling was sitting with his head laying against the passenger seat and his eyes closed.

"Yeah?" I paused before reversing the car. 

He opened his eyes slightly and tilted his head, "I don't want to talk about it."

"Okay, we don't have to. I don't -"

"It was nothing. I'm fine. You understand? You can't tell anyone what happened."

I pulled out of the amusement park and out onto the street without saying another word. He touched his forefinger to the steering wheel and the car stopped. 

"What the hell?"I yelled. 

"I mean it. Don't tell anyone." His voice was no longer the one I recognized. He was cold and withdrawn into himself. 

I couldn't help it, I pushed. "Or what?" 

"Get out of the car." He now spoke in an even tone that sent shivers down my spine, so much where I almost listened. Almost. 

"Excuse me?"

"Get out of the damn car!" His fists hit the dashboard, making me jump. I hadn't looked over at him until then. His arm was clear of any scratches and his eyes were bright. 

"You were hurt?" I half asked and half wondered. I had carried him to the car didn't I?

"Mere inconvenience."

"An inconvenience? You were about to pass out! And you were making jokes, but now, ugh! Now you're yelling at me and telling me not to tell people?" I unbuckled my seat belt. 

"Now you're overreacting." 

I got out of the car. 

"Where are you going?"

I stared at him incredulously. "You told me to get out of the car, don't you remember?"

His car door slammed but I kept walking away from the car and far away from the amusement park. 

Sterling's hands were on me, pulling me around to face him. I knew he didn't want to hurt me, but his full strength seemed to be back and I could feel his hands still on me after he had taken them off. 

"I just don't want anyone to know!"

"Why! Can you just tell me that? What is with you anyways? What is with this whole town!"

"What is with me? I'm doing this for you. I didn't want to tell anyone so that they didn't have to know about you. You almost killed him. You wanted to kill him. Bad magic is one thing but--"

"But what? huh? So this is all my fault?"

He grabbed my wrists and forced me to look him in the eyes. "You wanted to kill him. You almost did." I tried to pull away. "Stop it, stop it," his voice was warmer now, but I could still hear the warning, "I care about you, Reese, Reese, look at me." I did, finally.