Caught In The Gray

Chapter Twenty-Four

Vanessa's dead and it's been haunting me. I keep seeing the image of her falling and hitting her head. I can't think about much else, besides her. Linc sent my home last night after Vanessa and I went to my room and didn't come out until the morning.

I'm even more of a mess now than I was before. Vanessa's death added an extra set of emotions and I can't decipher through any of them.

I'm still processing the fact that Vanessa's dead. I went to school with her for a few years and now she's gone. We weren't close, during school, but her death still has an impact on me. Part of me feels guilty, like I should've done something before she died.

"Adabelle?" Alaric asks and I look up. I stand up and grab my coffee mug.

"Shit, I thought you were gone," I say and move to put everything in the sink. "Sorry, I'll be gone in a second," I say and walk past him. His fingers brush my arm and electricity shoots through me.

"Adabelle, you don't have to go," he says and I turn around, looking into his gray eyes. "What's wrong? You've been acting off since yesterday," Alaric says and I shake my head.

"Nothing," I say and he looks at me.

"Addy-" he starts.

"I have to go," I say and start walking away. I walk back to my room and grab my backpack. I walk back down the hallway and Alaric is still standing there.

"Can we talk?" he asks I nod, hesitantly. Something in his gray eyes gets makes me stay.

"What do you want to talk about?" I ask, my fingers playing with my necklace.

"What's wrong? Please tell me," Alaric says and I shake my head.

"Nothing," I say and I look up at him. "Is there anything else you want to talk about?"

"Us," Alaric says and I start to walk away.

"I don't have time, I'm going to be late," I say and Alaric walks with me.

"Will you just think about us and if we're over?" he asks and I nod. "Can we talk tonight?" Alaric asks.

"Okay," I say and his gray eyes light up.

"I'll see you tonight," Alaric says and I nod, before walking out of the door.

I walk to the Transit and my mind wanders to what he said. Is there a future for us? I keep thinking about, trying to figure something out.

I feel like if I can find a way to get past what he did or to be okay with it, then there is, but I'm not ready yet. Vanessa's death only enhanced the feelings that I have of not being able to be with him. I'm torn between him and between what he did.

I've been trying to put him out of my mind, to stop thinking about him. I've been spending time thinking about other things like being at the Medical center. I've been at the Medical center for most of the day and when I get home, I'm exhausted and not thinking about much else. Now, thoughts of him are seeping in and I can't do anything to stop them.

I sigh and step off the Transit, walking towards the Medical center. I push open the doors and walk up to the staff lounge. "Hey," Nick says and I look up, setting my bag down.

"Hi," I say and look at him, there are dark circles under his eyes. "What's wrong?" I ask and he shrugs, putting something down.

"Nothing," he says and I frown.

"Did everyone in the clinic go home yesterday?" I ask and Nick nods.

"After a while, some of them were pretty insistent." Nick says and I nod. "Can I ask you something?" he asks, looking at me.