Speak Now

Chapter 21: Tris can't settle for second best

"Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art.... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give value to survival."

~C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves.
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I'm pedalling faster than I've ever pedalled before, and my lungs soon start to burn. But I don't stop. Someone may have shouted my name but I ignore that too.

I swerve to avoid a truck as it barrels past me. Everything around me blurs into one constant stream of nothingness. My heart beats fast. My eyelids hardly blink. Everything is either  too little or too much.

On the road, a car's loud horn startles me and I turn to look. A boy with dark wavy hair waves at me, motioning  me to stop.

Stopping at the corner of a shop, I wait for Holland to join me. I hold the handles of my bike, staring warily at his approaching figure. He slams his car door and jogs up to me. His tall stature makes him stand out from the jostling crowd, his wavy hair swept to one side, a lopsided grin on his freckled face.

"Are you stalking me?" I point out.

Holland laughs, and puts his hands in his coat pockets,"Kind of. What's got you in a hurry? You're supposed to be at the tryouts."

I glance nervously at my watch,"So should you."

"Yeah but I was mildly curious as to why you fled school so suddenly."

"And so you followed me?"

Holland doesn't even look fazed,"You're Tristan's friend. I can tell he cares for you. It's only right I check up on you."

"I don't need checking up."  I quote with my fingers.

"Sure you don't. So what's up?"

I huff impatiently,"Mom's going to San Francisco cuz my aunt was in an accident."

Holland's eyes widen,"Jeez. I'm sorry. Can I drop you home?"

I motion at my rusted bike,"I've got this to take care of. It's okay. You can go." I feel bad for dismissing him in such an awkward way but Holland just shrugs,"C'mon I'll put your bike in the back."

I peer at his Cadillac doubtfully,"Are you sure? I don't think..."

"You're right." He agrees,"I'll just drive with you."

I shake my head,"It's okay. Seriously. I won't let creepy guys tempt me with candies and shit."

Holland laughs and I know he won't take no for an answer. And so I let him slowly drive besides e until my street looms up and I wave at him as I enter the driveway. My mom's car is parked in the garage, but it's trunk is open and Lilo, our butler, is heaving baggage into it.

He smiles at me grimly,"Miss.Prince, your mother us waiting for you in her room."

I look back to see Holland watching me from his car. When I wave, he smiles and drives away. A part of me wishes he'd stayed. God knows I'd need a friend to hold me down from trying to convince Mom not to go.

"Was that Mr.Kingsley?" Lilo asks as I approach the door. I pause, startled,"You know him?"

Lilo chuckles, his whiskers wavering,"Used to work for them. Good family until..." He stops.

"Until?" I prompt but Lilo shakes his head,"It's not my business to tell."

I peer at him,"C'mon Lilo, tell me. I won't tell anybody."

But Lilo shakes his head,"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything." And with that he goes back to his work, leaving me wondering what he had been about to disclose to me.